My new home tank install!!!

[fishmon]

I hate to announce it this way but after 17 years, we will be closing our Ironton, Ohio location and combining it with our Ashland KY. store. We will still have our Newboston, Ohio Location also. It just seems that since we opened the Ashland location we have pulled all the business from Ironton, which we kind of expected anyway, this will just simplify things somewhat, plus I might actually get 1 day off a week!!!!! Anyway.........the point of this thread, my display tank (180gallon) that is in Ironton needs a home along with some corals I have had in it for over 11 years and it just so happens my home tank is needing an upgrade. So, it looks like another positive is coming from a negative, my 180 in wall tank in my living room! Over the next week or so I will be posting some pics of the whole project from start to finish. I have the frame for the tank built in my garage along with the studs removed from the wall, my wife doesn't want a huge hole in the wall until the tank is ready to go in and it won't be taken down so until friday (the last day for Ironton) so the last layer of drywall is still in. The tank will be flush with the wall behind my couch and be framed in with trim to give me my own piece of "living art" the filtration will run into my basement and into my sump system which I'm still tweeking out now. I will keep you posted on the progress soon w/ some pics and specs on the system.

[Reef4Fun]

I want an in the wall big tank too lol, congrads, It will be really nice, I wanted my tank to be in the wall, but my husband didn't want to do it, now he wishes he would have done it for me. Do it the way you want, enjoy, thats what this hobby is all about

[firefish2020]

Positives from negative situations are always great! You with a day off? I don't see it LOL. Post pics of this Jim, this sounds like my future dream system. Especially the framing, that will look so great IMO.

[coralreefer]

I was wondering yesterday how your "project" was coming along

Sounds like you're going to have a lot of fun Friday. Good luck.

my wife doesn't want a huge hole in the wall until the tank is ready to go in and it won't be taken down so until friday (the last day for Ironton) so the last layer of drywall is still in.

Us women are funny that way

[fishmon]

These area a few of the pics on the start of the tank project starting with the view of the wall in the living room, the picture is where the tank will be over the couch [IMG][/IMG]
This next one is after removing the paneling in the garage then using a circular saw to cut the rough opening, I am removing the studs for clearance to the other side of the wall cutting the back opening 4" wider than the tank and 12" taller[IMG][/IMG]

Next is the completed frame/stand for the tank to sit on also the edges around the opening are covered with vinal caps to prevent any salt creep from getting to the drywall or framing[IMG][/IMG]
Last is the area in the basement where the filtration will be located, I have holes cut in the upper wall for the drain/ return lines to come in/out. [IMG][/IMG]
So far I am planning to use a rubbermaid stock tank (100 gallon) as the sump, possibly adding a fuge later. I will list the rest of the pumps etc. soon as I am still trying to figure out what I want to use.

[Lee_Bay]

Looks like it's gonna be cool. I only have one suggestion.....


Pull up your briches!!!!

[fishmon]

Originally posted by Lee_Bay
Looks like it's gonna be cool. I only have one suggestion.....


Pull up your briches!!!!

I ordered some "grow a butt" pills to help with that problem, but they haven't come in yet!

I still will need your help Bryan, if you are still interested?

[Lee_Bay]

np

just let me know.

[Lee_Bay]

Maybe you can help me talk Samantha into cutting a ginormous hole in our wall!!!

[coralreefer]

Originally posted by fishmon
I ordered some "grow a butt" pills to help with that problem, but they haven't come in yet!

I'll give you some of mine. I'm pretty sure they're extra strength

[firefish2020]

Looks like you thought of everything so far Jim, great idea with the vinyl

[Reef4Fun]

looks great! gives me ideas
oh, and those pills....I think I must have overdosed on those things , lololol

[gsergent]

Hey Jim,
If you get a chance to go to Jomars there is a picture of my 150 gal. tank, which goes from my aquarium room through the wall into the the living room. If you need some pointers give me a yell.

[fishmon]

Originally posted by gsergent
Hey Jim,
If you get a chance to go to Jomars there is a picture of my 150 gal. tank, which goes from my aquarium room through the wall into the the living room. If you need some pointers give me a yell.

I have 2-210gallon in walls at our Ashland store that are viewed from both sides 1 freshwater planted and one reef, with those I was able to build the walls when I was installing the tanks. This one will only be viewed from 1 side for obvious reasons and this is the first time I have personally installed one in a pre-existing wall, and ran the filtration into a lower level so if you or anyone sees anything I need to do differently, let me know. I will be pumping up approx. 15-16' from the sump to the tank and I'm still debating what pump, I'm thinking of using blueline for the price factor and they have a good warranty, made by the same specs as Iwaki. It is a model 70 something that will be pushing around 1200gph at 16' of head. Then use a combo of closed loop and koralia/seios. This will kind of be a mutt tank as far as equipment goes as funds are kind of short due to home remodeling, new windows...........so I will be using stuff I have aquired over the last few years, the only friggin thing I didn't have was a pump that would push that high, kinda sucked. For lighting I'm using the old hamilton light that was on it, it was 3/175w mh and 2/165w vho actinic, I rewired in 1/400w for the center and 2/250w for the ends then changed out the vho tar ballast for electronic, so I'm pushin 1230watts/ 6.8wpg good enough until I come up w/ 2 more 400w ballasts. Anyway, sorry about the long post, I'm kinda excited!

[coralreefer]

I'm kinda excited!

No kiddin' you've been excited for 6 months

I've been trying to remember, how long has your 72 been set up?
Speaking of the 72 if any of those blue mushrooms from Dennis happen to float by during the move remember you old friends

[fishmon]

Originally posted by coralreefer
No kiddin' you've been excited for 6 months

I've been trying to remember, how long has your 72 been set up?
Speaking of the 72 if any of those blue mushrooms from Dennis happen to float by during the move remember you old friends

I have had the 72 up for about 5-6 years I think, and for the blue's, I'm SURE I can spare a chunk, they kinda exploded.

[gsergent]

Nothing wrong with being excited about somthing you love doing, to the point of obsession!, thats what I tll my Wife anyway! Hahaha!!!

[fishmon]

Update:
Decided on the Blueline HD100 it will pump about 1600gph at 16' of head, still working out the sump. I should be moving the tank tonight or tommorow, I'll post more pics soon.

[radone]

100 gallon rubbermaid in the basement would be sump
Looking good Jim, sorry to hear about the Ironton store that kinda sucks for us in Ohio.
Oh well now we have a reason to come see you more.


Are you fragging anything out from that tank?
interested in a couple things if you are. JLMK



Keep the pics flowing

[fishmon]

I was actually leaning more toward the 150gallon rubbermaid, but Tractor Supp. has the 100's on sale for 69.99, the 150's are 120.00 tough decision but anyway. I am leaning toward a very simple sump using micron filter socks (2-8") for the mechanical then just run my skimmers inside then plumb the pump through the bulkhead that comes in the tub. Later I plan to maybe add a fuge and definitely a ca. reactor. My wife is cleaning out the tank today (hopefully) and me and a couple of friends are going to try and get it on the stand tonight (THANKS BRYAN), this part will probably be the toughest part of the whole ordeal as the tank sits about 6-7 feet off the garage floor as my garage is 3' lower than my living room. So we will have to lift that sucker over our heads to get it up there hopefully w/o breaking it in the process! Yes, there will be pics of this too so I can have proof for bragging rights if we indeed can lift it up there or laughing rights for everyone else if it gets broken. Anyway, more to come......

[firefish2020]

Jim you should integrate a frag rack system in that sump it would be awesome and give you a place to put your frags. A great and economic addition IMO. Jim's farm raised coral! I like the sound of it

[fishmon]

Good idea Ron, I think I could work that in very easily, I don't know about the farm thing yet, but ya never know. I am going to go w/ the 150 gallon simply for the fact that if I don't I'll wish I would have, I have the extra room and the water volume will be nice too. If all goes well I should have water in the tank tonight up to the overflows at least, again if all goes well.

[coralreefer]

My wife is cleaning out the tank today (hopefully)

How did you manage to swing that

The sump sounds sweet, bigger is ALWAYS better, If you want a simple 'fuge for right now throw a big wad of cheato in it.
Good luck tonight I'll be thinking about ya'll . We'll be in tomorrow for all the details

[Lee_Bay]

WHEW!!!

[fishmon]

We got it in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 guys, 340 pounds 6+ feet in the air can you say busted guts? Seriously, it went in w/o a hitch, I didn't get it filled w/ water tonight but we got the hole cut out and everything roughed in, I think it turned out great so far, check it out from start to finish, I even got my first "fish" in tonight, a blonde kyla.............[IMG][/IMG]
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[IMG][/IMG] more to come................