Tswifty8's 220g Upgrade!

[Tswifty]

Ok... Figured I might as well start this up now. :lol:

Here's the story:

About 6 months ago I started up my 90g reef. Things have been going great thus far. Here's a picture:

Here's the original thread link:

Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!

Anyway, the other day I saw an add on Craigslist listing an undrilled 220g tank and stand for $600.

So I went after work "just to look" then came back to my house, and convinced myself that it wasn't for me. Eventually I talked myself into at least throwing in an offer. So I threw in a low ball offer of $300.00 (just so he would turn it down, and I could say "well I tried"). To my surprise the guy happened to be leaving for college in a few days, needed to get rid of the tank, and accepted my offer... I couldn't believe it!!!

So now I am the proud owner of a 220g (72" x 24" x 30") tank & stand:

Like I said, I was perfectly happy with my 90g tank, and wasn't planning on this upgrade. So you'll have to have some patience with me, as this build will probably move much slower than my last one.

Right now the tentative date for getting water in this bad boy is March 2009. (We'll see if that date gets bumped up though ).

 

[Tswifty]

I just couldn't resist :lol:

Filled up for a leak test:

Leak test was a success

 

[Tswifty]

I'm basically in the planning stage right now, and trying to decide on an overflow setup and if I'm going to incorporate a closed loop setup or not.

The dates I have set thus far are:

September/October - - Overflow & Closed Loop Construction

October/November - - New Stand & Canopy Build

Here are some of the plumbing layouts I have been considering:

1. Just your normal plumbing layout with extra emergency drains, trying to consolidate space a little more than a pre-manufactured Reef Ready tank.

2. Bean's Method... Using an external overflow, but this would require having the back panel routed down a little by a glass shop. I'm not sure what this would do to the structural integrity of the tank though.

 

[Tswifty]

I'll be working off this template for the stand construction:

DIY Stands Template and Calculator

 

[Tswifty]

Here's the area where the tank will be located (90" long):

The garage is on the other side of the wall, where the filtration and equipment will be housed:

 

[Schwe]

You know you can't wait 'til March.

Yer gonna SO pop everything on a 0% credit card and then "pretend" you bought it little by little and pay it off as though you were. :lol:

 

[DustinLH00]

Best of luck Tswifty! I can't believe you will have 2 amazingly active build threads at once, LOL.

 

[TankBusters]

I just built that same DIY stand with 2x6's. It came out great but I am just not happy about toe nailing the purple boards.

 

[OwNeD162]

Nice work on starting the new thread TJ
Are you allowed to go through the walls cause your renting?

 

[martinphillip03]

Signed up

Marty

 

[kudora]

sweet my first post on the new thread

 

[Aquarist007]

good going TJ--this thread will be as popular as the other one but its nice to separate the two tanks.

 

[timschmidt]

yeppers *sips on drink* I bet he is measuring stuff now...

 

[itZme]

T.J. are you going to build a small fish room and isulate it inside the garage? If not what are your plans for when it is 15 below zero and the garage is down to like 10 degrees? You will either need a few 1,000 watt heaters or have to heat your entire garage. I could see making a small enclosure that is vented to the inside and well insulated so it will be maybe 10 degrees cooler than the house but MUCH warmer than the garage.

Just a little early concern for your new, bigger, better build thread

If you ever need any help let me know. I can swing out there sometime and help plumb or drill the tank or even build a few walls with ya

 

[itZme]

I was also thinking this might be a better method of plumbing since you will already have to move the tank from the wall for the rear external overflow. Without the plumbing sticking out the back you can get it about 3-4 inches closer.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13303874#post13303874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Schwe
You know you can't wait 'til March.

Yer gonna SO pop everything on a 0% credit card and then "pretend" you bought it little by little and pay it off as though you were. :lol:

The stand build I think is going to take a long time. I'm confident I can build the frame no problem, but purdying it up is gonna take some time. So far I've been good and haven't used the plastic for any of my fishtank purchases. Don't give me any ideas though. :lol:

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13303888#post13303888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DustinLH00
Best of luck Tswifty! I can't believe you will have 2 amazingly active build threads at once, LOL.

Thanks

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304330#post13304330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OwNeD162
Nice work on starting the new thread TJ
Are you allowed to go through the walls cause your renting?

Thanks.

I'm not worried about putting a few smalls holes in the wall. I've already had to patch the walls a few times from other incidents. My landlord is pretty cool about that stuff. As long as the place looks like it did when you moved in, when you move out. He doesn't care.

That being said... I don't plan on picking up a sledghammer or anything like that :lol:

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304509#post13304509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by martinphillip03
Signed up

Marty

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304664#post13304664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
sweet my first post on the new thread

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304752#post13304752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
good going TJ--this thread will be as popular as the other one but its nice to separate the two tanks.

:thumbsup:

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304798#post13304798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timschmidt
yeppers *sips on drink* I bet he is measuring stuff now...

:lol:

Trying to put on paper what I'm visualizing for the equipment layout.

I'm going to make an "L" shaped table with two levels for the garage, and would like to use two 75 gallon tanks for the sump & refugium. Also I would like to incorporate a manifold on this tank to run all the little stuff, rather than using all individual pumps.