Finally My Custom Miracle Build with Fish Room
It’s been a while since I have had a real tank. My previous tank (180) ended with some phosphate issues and a massive crash. I lost all of the corals in the tank! It was a painful experience but I have been able to live vicariously through a few friends in the hobby. Their encouragement and support have helped me realize its not how you fall down but how you get back up on the horse and try again. With that said I am ready to get back up on the horse!
Since my crash in 2013 a lot has changed. We moved from VA to MD (2015) and while I was a huge adjustment I tried to stay positive about not having access to as many great LFS within 30 mins of our home. While house hunting I decided since I had to move my next house would have to accommodate a full fledged fish room. This did not sit well with the Mrs. at first but she knows how important the hobby is to me and eventually helped find a perfect home that would accommodate a fish room. From my old set up a few of my fish survived so once we moved I set up a temporary tank and a few months later moved the fish over. Shortly after purchasing the new home I started framing for the fish room area but things slowed down drastically as we were between two homes. The past few weeks things have picked back up and now with a deposit officially placed on new tank I figured I would start my build thread. I talked to a few builders before finally deciding to go with Derek over at Miracles. I was quite surprised at how much quotes varied between builders. But the communication has been great and he has answered every question I have had with no hesitation. Response via email has also been outstanding...it's great to send an email late at night with a question and wake to a response. Estimated delivery time was between 8-9 weeks. It has been about a week or so since I ordered the tank. I like taking pictures so like my other tank build thread most updates will be accompanied by pictures. I will try to dig up some old pictures to catch everyone up to where I am currently am sometime tomorrow. Tank Specs -82" x 40" x 26" -Main display area is around 72" x 40" x 26" -All edges machine polished -Tempered bottom with 4 holes in the overflow section -Starphire on two sides and one end -Black Divider panel with 1-1/2” teeth at top -Vertical strips of glass in each corner for added strength -Eurobraced -Four holes drilled in overflow section -Black silicone seams -Peninsula style tank but only on side viewable through the wall Fish Room Plans -9.5' x 13.5' -Utility sink -Water storage/ mixing station -Cabinets of some sort There will be a ton of DIY on this thread, tons of pictures, and few bumps along the way. Hopefully this time around my tank will not end in disaster. |
Wow congrats I just finishing my 360g build so now I can seat back and watch others. The part I hate the most is the plumbing it will be much more complicated with the fish room.
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Oh very nice. I am glad things worked out between you and the Mrs. Happy Reef = Happy Wife.
This should be an interesting build. |
Let's Catch Up
Brand New Basement - 05/9/2015 https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/586/32...6d710b11_b.jpgIMG_4982 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on FlickrTo test how responsive the wife was to making changes to our new home I started off with a small project. I added a door to access the unused space under the stairs leading to the basement. The builder wanted $600 for this modification and I could not justify it any way I tried to spin it. From this https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3754/3...77f02a1d_b.jpgIMG_4985-2 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on FlickrTo this https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3922/3...9466e556_b.jpg20150509_172343 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on FlickrThe unfinished part of basement when I am finally done this will be broken into three areas 1. Walk-up bar and viewing area https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/663/33...6a3d0c57_b.jpgIMG_4991 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr 2. Fish Room https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3949/3...5e3a5581_b.jpgIMG_4993 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr3. Utility area https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/707/33...539721fd_b.jpgIMG_4994 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on FlickrFrom left to right - Fish Room, Walk-up Bar, Utility - 05/10/2015 https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3674/3...19432c91_b.jpgIMG_5011 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr Began Framing - 06/21/2015 I also ran some new wire for lights. If you look back at the pictures on 05/10/2015 there were only two lights in the unfinished area of the basement.
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looking good.. I found out when I built our home last year, NOTHING IS LEVEL period!
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Let's Catch Up - Part 2
06/23/2015 Started running electric in the framing. https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3780/3...6a4d4844_b.jpg20150623_134106 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on FlickrI framed out the three areas, framed doors for access to both areas (fish room and Utility), framed out soffit around the metal beam, plumbed the walk-up bar and fish room for hot and cold water. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/695/33...9399fc5e_b.jpgIMG_5035 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr08/16/2015 I framed around the window and began testing the outlets in the fish room. I also added a direct line for connecting my RODI unit. I also started the plumbing for the utility sink. This was changed later. 10/29/2015 - Basement flood This was a night one of the debates was on and I had intended to make about 20 gallons of water for a water change. I remember my wife calling me at 8 and running upstairs to watch the debates. The next morning I woke and realized I did not remember cutting the water off. This is the culprit - 300 gallons a day with a booster pump https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/661/33...09a42d6c_z.jpgIMG_5059 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on FlickrOver two inches of water in the basement in the unfinished part the carpet and padding was completely soaked and at this point I realized just how much they had not leveled my floor. You know its bad when you call in Servpro. My wife was very calm about the situation...for the next week I slept very lightly as I was afraid I would be murdered in my sleep...lol. I remember saying "Honey well we got the flooding out the way." No claim was filed...I did the right thing and paid out of pocket! 01/05/2016 Made a prototype of the tank to see how it would sit behind the wall. 01/25/2016 First layout of where the water mixing station and new sink placement. The area to the left will have my frag tank and a place to store QT tanks for fish. https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2810/3...b264070d_b.jpg20160125_195712 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr |
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Hah - I'm glad i'm not the first (nor probably the last) to flood a basement because I forgot to turn off the RO/DI unit. Glad to see that you managed to clean it up though. Looking forward to following along on your build.
Speaking of non-square - I find it almost depressing to own a level with my new place - there is one place where the previous owner obviously decided to literally cut some corners. I think its good your not putting too much of it on you and working within it (need to remember that). How are you planning to finish the flooring in the new section? If tile or vinyl if its too much out might be worth putting a concrete waterproof sealer and self leveling compound or similar just to straighten things out. As a final Q - how do you find that Rigid Mitre saw? I was looking at getting one for some framing and redoing the baseboards on my place. |
Instead of leveling the floor perhaps you should have dug it up and installed floor drains first... just in case. If you're putting in a fish room with a sink you're going to need a drain for it anyways so why not get the whole thing done at the same time?
Dave.M |
I like the frag tank and QT design, are you plumbing the frag tank into the display?
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thats all you have gotten done in almost two years???????? get moving on it!!!!!
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Nice
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Awesomeness
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Let's Catch Up - Part 3
01/16/2016 Air King DH55 Dehumidistat Switch arrived https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/674/33...f53eb778_b.jpg20160303_135225 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr 02/04/2016 Started cutting hole for my viewing area https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3821/3...ae11c0bf_b.jpg20160204_180657 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr02/23/2016 Re-plumbed the utility sink. Instead of cutting the concrete and doing a floor drain I am using a utility pump - Liberty Pumps 404 1/3 HP. Due to the way the french drains were laid in floor and the placement of main sewer drain. I could not cut into the floor without major reconstruction. My builder made a mistake and forgot to let me know the placement of the main drain was behind the line to sump pump and some slab vent. When I asked for the site plans the builder let me about the issue. https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3790/3...d9d9ba7b_b.jpg20160223_184640 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr Sink in place https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/778/32...19714f0c_b.jpg20160223_184934 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr03/02/2016 Vent for fish room arrives https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3828/3...53387c88_b.jpgIMG_6552 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr03/06/2016 Frame in place for viewing area https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3905/3...674ebb69_b.jpgIMG_6591 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr 08/14/2016 My hole saw arrived a few days earlier and my wife was in the kitchen when I opened the box. The conversation went something like this. Her - "Honey what is that for. I am a little concerned you need to cut a hole that big." Me - "It's to cut a hole in the back of the house for my vent." Her - "Maybe you need a smaller vent." Me - "To late I can't return it." I left the kitchen before she could ask anymore questions...lol. I was a little nervous about drilling through the house but it went pretty well. Once I had cut the siding I was at the point of no return so it had to work. In the end it turned out very nice.
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Nice energy recovery ventilator!
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Following along!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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I have now given up on trying to find square rooms in this house. Our sit in tub is so un-square when I pointed it out to the builder he was like looks like we missed that one. For the floor in the fish room I will probably use some of the stuff you put down in garages. The walk-up bar area I think it will be tile or some of the new stuff that is waterproof that looks like wood. If I do tile I was thinking of doing a mosaic in the center with a seahorse similar to my last stand. I love that miter saw. I have had it for many years now and it has worked flawlessly for many years. If you can get a sliding one. I had to buy sliding one recently to be able to cut wider material. Quote:
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This is gonna be fun!
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Let's Catch Up - Part 4
09/28/2016 I finally got some drywall put up. Drywall is a pain in the butt especially hanging it by yourself. The fish room has the mildew resistant (green) drywall. I figured since its going to be a high moisture area better to take some precautions. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/706/33...f177a23d_b.jpgIMG_8705 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3716/3...cf4495c3_b.jpgIMG_8707 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/723/32...96c8f4a7_b.jpgIMG_8709 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr 02/11/2017 And then there was mud. I hate mud! Mud and sanding is the worse but the end results are great. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/777/33...c11f585d_b.jpgIMG_0242-4 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/712/33...f0fe6b95_b.jpgIMG_0244-4 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3808/3...0d0ca0b9_b.jpgIMG_0245-4 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3827/3...abb40852_b.jpgIMG_0249-4 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr I forgot when I swapped the door out but I added the 48" French door to enter the room. I think it will make the entrance grand when entering the back area. https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3907/3...a48675b4_b.jpgIMG_0250-4 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr |
Glad you're back in. Can't wait to see the progress.
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Let's Catch Up - Part 5
02/11/2017 Had my buddy Tom39 (Tom) come by and help me with ceiling seams. I had pretty much completed all seams but the ceiling seams were giving me issues. Tom was kind enough to come by on a Saturday and literally spend the whole day helping me. 02/20/2017 Finally got around to putting some primer on the walls in the fish room. The first coat was soaked up by the drywall. So I will now need another coat. I need to move the sink and finish the drywall behind the sink. Once that is done I can add the last coat of primer and then apply some paint.
03/02/2017 Ordered my new tank. Below is the description on the invoice: 82" X 40" X 26" HIGH CUSTOMAnd with that we are all caught up on my progress. |
Great looking room! It looks like you are coming along fast here!
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