View Full Version : My new hole in the wall tank begins
Hi all
well the house move happened just over a week ago, after planning on selling my previous 4 foot reef tank, i eventually decided to move the tank and all the occupants with me!
Luckily we had the house keys a week before we completed as we knew the sellers so were able to set the tank up in the garage before we moved the house stuff.
I also had to move all the tank water in containers, things went a bit murky for a day or two but soon things picked up and now looks just as good as before, i didnt lose any fish or corals, however i did lose my bubble tip nem, very disapointed and with hind site probably should have taken him to an LFS before i moved as i think the drop in temp and lack of water movement didnt agree with him.
Anyway, i had planned a hole in the wall tank as soon as we viewed this house, didnt tell the misses till after we exchanged contracts though!
The tank is to be sited in the garage which is an integral type garage and backs onto the lounge wall, the tank will be 6 ft x 2 1/2ft x 2ft (L,H,W)
Ive ordered the tank from AC Aquatics and lighting is on the way from Marine Lighting for 3 x 250watt coralvue electronic ballasts, 3 x coralvue sunlight replicator pendants and 3 x coralvue double ended bulbs, 2 x 14k and 1 x 20k, not sure what this will look like but they were good enough to say they would exchange the 20k if i didnt like it.
The base is made from 2 pillars of concrete block turned on their sides with 3 concrete reinforced lintels across the top, then 18mm thick MDF followed by 2inch polystyrene.
The hole in the wall was easier than anticipated as it was only a single course of bricks thick, i expected it to be a cavity wall.
The builders turned up this morning at 7.30 at promptly started banging away at the wall, by 5pm it was complete, just a bit of plasterwork needs tidying up under where the tank is going and need to bed the MDF board down with some cement, this should be done in the next couple of days.
hope you enjoy the pics and ill keep the updates coming.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/1.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/2.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/3.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/4.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/5.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/6.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/7.jpg
Thats gonna be nice.
How much does it cost to get a builder to do that?
Keep them pics coming my man.
Thats gonna be nice.
How much does it cost to get a builder to do that?
Keep them pics coming my man.
£600 squids and a few coffees, plus £117 or so for building regs, i still have to build a fire proof partition behind the tank in the garage yet so add another couple hundred onto that
WOW
i didn't think u would have to include building regs and fire proof partition. thats my long term tank dream going farrrrrrrr back.
Dam that's some awsome work!
Some of these tanks have a awsome amount of work put into them but well worth it!
Good stuff mate !
petergillett
08-03-06, 00:14
Nice to see another "hole in wall" on the go!
When you actually get to move the tank to the wall, how will it be done?
Serperate everything into tinny containers then move, put everything back in and start over?
How big of a process are we looking at?
Muzzy,
Looks very promising. A quick question. Being in the garage won't it be very cold? How are you planning to address this? Have you insulated the garage? I'm considering an upgrade in my garage but it is bitterly cold there. Any info would be useful.
Luke
Looking great. Why the angle on the tank ? For access ?
the tank you see in the garage at teh moment is my old tank, this is not the new tank going in the hole, so its just a case of transfering some water rock and livestock to the new tank once params are stable.
As for heat loss etc, the garage is integral to the house, has a bedroom above and is on the neighbours side of a semi, the only heat loss will be from the door but this is already insulated with poly tiles and has rubber seals around the door, as well as this we have warm air heating in our house and there is a duct in the garage so it never drops too low, and... we have to build a fire proof partition behind the tank to enclose the tank area off from the garage in case a fire started in the garage and spread to the house, so i have no concerns on heat loss anymore than if it was in an ordinary lounge.
Looking great. Why the angle on the tank ? For access ?
yeah, there is a door from under the stairs that leads to the garage and if i had the tank 6 x 2 square it would limit access into the garage from this door, not a problem though as the tank builder can cut this angle for me
looks good so far going by your last tank this one is going to be stunning again!!
look forward to more pic's
Suffolk Reefer
08-03-06, 17:04
Looks as though its gonna be real nice....dead jealous...the only way I could accomodate one of those is to have it sitting in my neighbours lounge....mmm I wonder....;)
:) lucky you,very nice indeed.you wasted no time in getting started.
new house and the first thing you get done is the tank,very understanding missus:p . keep them pics coming:D
great work up to now.
the tank looks great as it is now so i cant wait to see the end result!
:)
done some work on the electrics tonight, last week my wifes nephew who has just qualified as an electrcian fitted a new fuse board with a separate fuse with RCBO so the fish tank will have its own circuit, and done in such a way that if there is a power cut the fish tank will come back on when power is resumed also if another house circuit trips out the fish tank will not be effected.
as the nephew is in the trade he managed to supply and fit the fuse board, rcd's, reel of cable, 30 double sockets and mounting blocks, loads of conduit all for £30 all in! :)
spent 4 hours tonight putting this plug board together which will eventually be mounted on the wall next to the stand connected back to the fuse board.
builders back tomorrow morning to cement the MDF base down and level it up and finish of the plaster work.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/8.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/9.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/10.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/11.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/12.jpg
instantsquid
08-03-06, 22:55
Neat! :D
http://www.amandaslingerie.co.uk/new_tank_build/11.jpg
It's not straight :rolleyes:
Only joking, looking really neat.
Typical electrician, start as you mean to go on - look at all the rubbish he has left on the floor.
Seriously though, looking good.
Dont bed the MDF on wet cement, otherwise within a few days it will warp.
Typical electrician, start as you mean to go on - look at all the rubbish he has left on the floor.
Seriously though, looking good.
Dont bed the MDF on wet cement, otherwise within a few days it will warp.
oops, too late, just got home from work and the builders been back and already finished cementing the board down and finished the plastering off, im not sure it would warp as it cant move as its cemented down all over which should keep it straight, and once the tank is on top it certainly aint gonna move! ill keep an eye on it though over the next couple of weeks while im waiting for the tank to arrive.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/13.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/14.jpg
as soon as the plaster is dry we can finish decorating the lounge, get the new carpet in and finally unpack all the boxes for the lounge as we havent been able to do that yet since we moved in as we started ripping the lounge apart 2 days after we moved in!
my misses really is flawless, not sure many wives would allow this sort of thing a week after moving into a new house :)
Suffolk Reefer
09-03-06, 12:00
my misses really is flawless, not sure many wives would allow this sort of thing a week after moving into a new house :)
You aint kiddin mate, hold on to that one.........I would have to say that my wife is still coming round to the idea of the one that I have, let alone an upgrade:)
spent a lot of cash today, havent told the misses yet!
ordered a Deltec AP701 skimmer
2 x OR 3500 pumps and 1 x OR 6500, enough plumbing to re plumb a thing with lots of plumbing :rolleyes: plus some other bits and bobs like magfloats, bigger tunze magnets 4 x 30lb bags of argamax sand, reef putty, egg crate
tank has now been paid for and glass ordered.
got to finish off the decorating in the lounge this weekend, should take up most of it to be ready for the new carpet next friday.
should be an exciting couple of weeks waiting for all my goodies to turn up, feels like xmas again!
well it was a busy weekend, finally finished the decorating in the lounge, just waiting for the new fireplace and carpet.
ive now painted up the stand and wall behind the tank, finished the electrics as well.
once the stud wall is in place behind the tank ill be getting it plastered up and painting it in dulux sea blue emulsion, ive already done the edge of the hole and the plug board and i love the colour :)
the stud wall cant go up until the tank is in place and ive transfered the old tank to the new one, so about another month or more yet, tank and sump should be here in around 2 weeks hopefully less.
the new halides should be here this week and ill get those rigged up before the tank is in for easier access.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/15.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/16.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/17.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/18.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/19.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/20.jpg
You know, I've decided........... I hate you :D :D
That is looking good. Nice job, well done too. It'll be a dream when done.
But...............you've been in a week and got this
http://www.amandaslingerie.co.uk/new_tank_build/18.jpg
and I've been doing mine for 3 months and still only got this
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/hampshirereef/kitchen_fitting.jpg
you still doing yours, thought it would have been stocked by now :D
im doing my kitchen next as soon as ive sorted the tank and garage out.
no room for a tank in the kitchen as well though!
looks very professional keep the pictures coming i love these tank/project builds
:)
wish i had an ajoined garage
petergillett
14-03-06, 17:45
Upside down plug sockets. As most kit has molded plugs won't the mains cables really get in the way? Also condensation forming could run down into the plugs?
Maybe I missed something, but wouldn't want you to have to shift them after getting the tank in etc.
Nice idea to put proper sockets up there. I've just wrapped an extension lead round one of my light battons and hung it from there. Why can't they put long leads on stuff? Some EC 1.5m rule or something. Next thing an extension lead will only be allowed a 1.5m cable!!!
Upside down plug sockets. As most kit has molded plugs won't the mains cables really get in the way? Also condensation forming could run down into the plugs?
Maybe I missed something, but wouldn't want you to have to shift them after getting the tank in etc.
Nice idea to put proper sockets up there. I've just wrapped an extension lead round one of my light battons and hung it from there. Why can't they put long leads on stuff? Some EC 1.5m rule or something. Next thing an extension lead will only be allowed a 1.5m cable!!!
i put them upside down as i wanted them high as possible but to be able to fit my timers in they had to go upside down.
the plugs for my halides should fit ok, i plugged my drill into one and there was enough clearance for the plug, if there isnt i can always cut the moulded plug off and put a replacent one on.
as for condensation running down the cable into the plug - if its a moulded plug on the lights not a problem, if its not moulded i may squirt some silicone in the end of the plug
i love this colour blue!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/21.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/22.jpg
Matthew5664
14-03-06, 22:20
#31 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1424495&postcount=31) http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/report.php?p=1424495)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/statusicon/post_old.gif Today, 05:45 PM
petergillett (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/member.php?u=15036)
I think the reson for only having 1.5m of cable is that if you coil it up and pass current through it, it becomes a crude electro-magnet which may interfear with pumps and the sort.
muzzy> loving the work keep it coming.
Ssssh, don't tell her, she hasn't noticed yet....
http://www.amandaslingerie.co.uk/new_tank_build/22.jpg
lol!
that will be my sofa once the tanks running, she can sit there for now though!
best of luck can't wait for the next batch of photo's
MaidstoneMarine
15-03-06, 19:39
I love these type of threads. Its good to see another guy cutting holes in his house for the sake of a fish tank!
It took me five months from start to finish on mine and I loved every minute of it! Nice plug board by the way althought I'd be tempted to raise it up so there's a definite loop in the cable before the plug goes into the socket. Moulded, siliconed or otherwise you don't really want water getting to a plug board.
You know we're mad for pictures and these type of threads so keep up the good work! And keep the pictures coming!
Chris
Just another excellant looking setup to make us jealous
Well done Muzzy
QUOTE=MaidstoneMarine]I love these type of threads. Its good to see another guy cutting holes in his house for the sake of a fish tank!
It took me five months from start to finish on mine and I loved every minute of it! Nice plug board by the way althought I'd be tempted to raise it up so there's a definite loop in the cable before the plug goes into the socket. Moulded, siliconed or otherwise you don't really want water getting to a plug board.
You know we're mad for pictures and these type of threads so keep up the good work! And keep the pictures coming!
Chris[/QUOTE]
i think it was seeing your tank a while back that first gave me the idea, but all the photos now seem to have been lost on the site, got any recent pics?
reason plug board is where it is, is because i wanted it lower than the tank so white sockets weren't visible through the tank from the viewing side.
im planning on running all cables through piping or conduit and all leads will have to run vertical before getting to the sockets so water getting in the plug board sockets wont be an issue.
new fireplace arrived today, misses wanted me to post a pic of it!
http://www.amandaslingerie.co.uk/new_tank_build/fire.jpg
Nice fireplace although if you remove it you'll have room for another tank. . . perhaps run it by the missus first though
Nice fireplace although if you remove it you'll have room for another tank. . . perhaps run it by the missus first though
:D
ill just ask her... she says no!
petergillett
15-03-06, 23:39
:D
ill just ask her... she says no!
The trick is not to ask...
hi
ok to keep you happy ive taken some more photos.
the lounge is now virtually finished with fireplace fitted in last night. Hope the neighbours didnt mind me chiseling out the skirting board at 9pm last night :confused:
carpet comes tomorrow (friday).
today ive been to a picture framing shop to look at samples of wood for making the trim around the front if the tank in, need to look somewhere else before i make a decision on that or rather the misses makes a decision on that!
today i got all excited when my first items were delivered for the new tank - 2 x 2foot square sheets of eggcrate! yeah i know sad, but its all i have so far except 2 buckets of salt!
but.. new halides arrive tomorrow so guess what im doing tomorrow night?!
ive taken a few shots of my current tank set up in the garage, its not as pretty as it was before the move, a few corals lost there colour a bit and i didnt exactly aquascape it, more like chucked everything in and hoped for the best as i couldnt see a damn thing in the tank as the sand got so stirred up! doesnt look too bad, sorry for the state of the back glass, really cant be bothered to clean it now as its gonna be emptied real soon :D
enjoy
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/23.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/24.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/25.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/26.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/27.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/28.jpg
The tank will look fantastic when its up and running.
Lovely clean room - not full of clutter like my lounge :(
Makes me want to go home and start throwing things out!!
lights arrived today from fastlight.co.uk, although only got 2 of the 3 pendants so far as the suppliers are waiting for a shipment, other one will hopefully be here this coming week. They did send 1 wrong bulb, i ordered 2 x 14k and 1 x 20k but received a 10k instead of the 20k. the supplier has said they will send the correct one out and let me try the 10k and 20k out and to send back whichever one i dont want - great service highly recommend them.
gonna put them up tomorrow pics will follow of course
looking good muzzy so when you getting that tank in the hole
should be delivered in a week or so, will give me a chance to clear the garage out a bit, get the lights up and all the plumbing and bits n bobs to arrive.
i might have missed this on the theared but your stand you built has a cut off corner etc i gather this is for access behind the door etc but how will the tank fit on there, will it have a cut off rear corner same shape as the base or is there sumin goin there like the over flow. sorry for sounding dumb btw!
The old tanks looks awesome, how good's the new one going to look!!
Now where's that "jealousy" icon
good luck with the project
Chris :)
ins@ne - yes theres a door next to the corner of the tank and to allow room to get in and out i had to have the stand and tank made with the corner chopped off.
here is what the tank should look like
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/steves-custom-tank.gif
fitted the halides yesterday
still waiting for one more pendant to aarrive though
these are 250w coralvue electronic ballasts with coralvue sunlight replicator pendants and coralvue 250w 14k bulbs.
i was going to have a 20k in the middle one but the 14k are already bluer than my current arcadia series 3 14k's so i think ill have a 14k in the middle one as well.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/29.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/30.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/31.jpg
looks good so far, ill be interested to see this project out to the end
heres a clearer shot of the lighting
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/32.jpg
Looking great :) Ive got the same picture above my fireplace too :)
Looking great :) Ive got the same picture above my fireplace too :)
good old Ikea! ;)
I don't know whether i like you lounge more or your tank/tank build...however, your taste in decor (and tank etc :p) are awesome.
Keep doing this and you have a winner (keep the kitsch away!)
:D
sorry but i have no influence in the decor, thats my misses doing. well, i do it all she tells me what to do!
nice one on the pics mate thought thats what you was goin to do but was a bit confused lol
Coming on nicely.
Do those halides use remote ballasts?
I can't see them on the website.
looking good can't wait for the next installment of pic's
Coming on nicely.
Do those halides use remote ballasts?
I can't see them on the website.
yeah, the ballasts are here http://www.fastlight.co.uk/shop/index.html?target=dept_2.html
scooby_rex
20-03-06, 22:28
muzzy i have the same lighting as you (except the reflectors), with the 14k cv bulbs not sure if it is my perception but the blueness does settle after a few weeks, i didnt actually like the 14k cv's to begin with but now they are fantastic, im getting good growth on my sps frags and they have only been in 3 weeks.
looking good, keep up the hardwork
instantsquid
20-03-06, 22:38
Interesting point about the Coralvues - I have a mix of 10K and 20K but think it all looks rather blue! The other two lamps are BLV, again 10K and 20K and the result is much more balanced. Will wait and see if anything changes...
Great thread Muzzy - keep up the photo work :D
- Ian
cheers for the info on the bulbs guys.
i think ive now decided to go for 3 x 14k although i will try out the 10k bulb i have here once the other reflector arrives
done a bit more work.
plumbed in the pipes for the RO system today, its a bonus that the downstairs loo is the other side of the garage wall so running the pipework is nice and easy.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/33.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/34.jpg
also today i fitted the T5 actinics
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/35.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/36.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/37.jpg
your just dying for that tank now aren't you....
and so are we!!!!
thats an understatement!
theres not a lot else i can do now until the tank arrives, im going to start collecting RO water today, i have enough containers to make up 525 litres, plus the water i transfer from my current set up should just about give me the 800l or so that ill need.
Following with interest, it’s giving me a few new ideas I am sure my hubby is not going to like them as he also gets to do all the hard work and I do the pretty bits, your better half must be a saint to put up with the mess! Looking forward to seeing more.
:D Following with interest, it’s giving me a few new ideas I am sure my hubby is not going to like them as he also gets to do all the hard work and I do the pretty bits, your better half must be a saint to put up with the mess! Looking forward to seeing more.
yeah shes fantastic but she doesnt mind as at least she knows where i am and not down the pub every night! - i go lunchtimes instead :D :D
to be honest doing the hole in the wall only took a day and a half and the builders cleaned up after themselves, doing the lounge re-decorating was far messier and took over 2 weeks, but shes very happy with the finished result and ill be even happier when the tank is finally running.
found a few more things to do this afternoon, finished painting the ceiling in the sump room, and glossed the baton holding my actinics to the wall, fitted the sump light, put my clip on fans together and tested with the habistat cool controller oh and cut the polystyrene for the sump tank to sit on, must be something else i can do??!! :D
instantsquid
22-03-06, 17:17
found a few more things to do this afternoon
Why aren't you at work like the rest of us??? :p
- Ian.
Why aren't you at work like the rest of us??? :p
- Ian.
im a baker so early starts and early finishes :D
still waiting for the tank :( but i did get some new toys today
the pumps and skimmer
anyone know why the overflow pipe goes several inches higher with a clear tube and is open at the top? :confused:
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/38.jpg
Matthew5664
24-03-06, 13:53
Did that letterbox surround come free with the pumps?
Did that letterbox surround come free with the pumps?
lol, its actually the top of the fireplace but im guessing you know that?!
Matthew5664
24-03-06, 14:18
:D :p :D
YorkshireMarine
24-03-06, 15:10
it goes higher to prevent air locks i think
i was thinking its more like for checking the height of the water coming out and by opening and closing the tap on the overflow you can fine tune it to where to set the level, must read the instructions!
petergillett
24-03-06, 16:41
I think - a hole to let air in to stop a straight syphon, higher so pressure doesn't push the water out of the hole!
Flicked through this thread a few times, but just read everything in detail.
Superb set up mate, very jealous, can't wait to see it wet.
just read the destructions, i was right! :D
well, its felt like a very long wait,this week, havent been able to do much apart from put a couple of shelves up in the sump section but new tank day is getting closer.
Thaks very much to Andy at http://www.acaquatics.co.uk/ for sending me photos of the tank build as requested and keeping me informed throughout.
So here are photos of the tank being constructed:
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/39.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/40.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/41.jpg
and some more
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/42.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/43.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/44.jpg
and more
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/45.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/46.jpg
petergillett
31-03-06, 11:52
Won't be long now mate......
instantsquid
31-03-06, 12:05
Cool!
- Ian.
JasandJules
31-03-06, 12:21
Wow, awesome to see it actually being built and drilled..
Looking forwards to seeing this one progress..
I want one too
can't wait to see it filled
very interesting to see the pic's of your tank being built
right, these should be the last photos before the tank is in place, just a couple of the sump area. i had to build a stand for the skimmer to stand on as i miscalculated the height of the output from the skimmer, it needs to be above the top of the sump and fell short by about 6 inches with the skimmer on the ground! doh!
and have had to put a shelf in for the kalk stirrer, phosphate reactor and carbon filter to stand on for teh same reason, the outputs from these fell short of the top of the sump so needed raising up. and a little shelf for all my test kits and food above the sump.
thats one problem with this kind of stand, no cupboards and hidey holes to put all that rubbish we collect!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/47.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/48.jpg
petergillett
31-03-06, 13:57
Rubbish we collect - I put hooks on the wall and stick it in plastic bags, much easier and tidier than shelfs, especially with small bits and bits of pipe and things. Just don't look as nice!
Looking nice, can't wait to see the tank in place.
i know how much you lot like your photos so heres a few more
added my moonlight led's and build a couple of eggcrate racks yesterday. the 40mm pipe under one of the racks is for my snowflake eel which i plan on getting in the future :)
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/49.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/50.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/51.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/52.jpg
well, after 3 weeks wait the plumbing and sand have arrived :)
all i am waiting on now is one more halide pendant and errm, umm.. oh yeah THE TANK!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/53.jpg
Looks like you got your work cut out.
My new tank arrived and I've yet to order anything for it. My tank will sit in the back yard for the time beng until I find time to do it. :o
Mines small compared to your standards though. It's currently the biggest tank I can fit in. 48x2x18.
looking good, can't wait till it gets wet...
just an idea, i love the snowflake tube and will be adding a clear tube along the front glass to my next reef for a pistol/goby combo. how about running a second tube diagonally front to back under the second rack, or have one running up inside the rock work?
cheers
trev
looking good, can't wait till it gets wet...
just an idea, i love the snowflake tube and will be adding a clear tube along the front glass to my next reef for a pistol/goby combo. how about running a second tube diagonally front to back under the second rack, or have one running up inside the rock work?
cheers
trev
like the idea of a clear tube, i actually have about a metre of clear tube that came with the skimmer, i could do something similar i guess, but then i bet it wouldnt take long for the clear tube to get covered in coraline and stuff.
dont think i want to run a pipe through the rockwork upwards, but i have already been thinking of adding a second under the other rack, my diadema dottyback loves hiding in the rocks and im sure he'd appreciate a long pipe to call home, thats if the regal tang doesnt beat him to it!
Looks good, Andy and Aiden are top blokes, they made my cube for me. Did you get you pipe work from FF&F? i've been waiting an age for my stuff :(
pipework from coral culture, they had delays getting their plumbing in lately they said, but it still beat the tank
just stumbled across this build,got to the end no tank yet!this is an awesome build i really am jealous,might consider one mself(got to ask neighbours if thy mind the back of the tank and all the workings in their living room!).cant wait to see it all completed
lol, my new neighbours, well actually im their new neighbour...but anyway i joked to them about putting it between us and them in the cavity, and his reply was "you can if you dont mind seeing me walk around the house naked!" i dont think he was joking, this was the first time id met him as well! too much detail
well the plan for the clear pipe, well its not actually a pipe but a bent piece of arcylic, made into a curved L sorta shape. it will be buried in the sand with a liberal drilling of holes to keep the shrimp busy, clearing the falling sand. im sure over the years coralline will grow in it, i'll just have to develop some sorta scraper.
hth
guess what arrived today?
no not the tank :( but my other halide!
but just had an email from ac aquatics and the tank has now left them and will be here monday/tuesday... watch this space...
well, guess what arrived today then? :D :) :D :)
ive been having nightmares the last week that the tank wouldnt fit the hole! but it was made to measure perfectly, many thanks again to andy and co at ac aquatics.
Bloody hell this thing weighed a ton! There were 5 of us, we had to take it off teh side of an artic lorry as it wouldnt go on the tail lift, so had to lift it from almost head height off the lorry and carry it about 30 feet, it was the longest 30 feet of my life, a coupel of the guys hands were slipping off and one man had to run round and help while grips were adjusted. Then we had to lift it up onto the stand again which is pretty high off the floor, all in one go without putting it down, i tell you we were all exhausted afterwards!
Anyway, its in now and i dont plan on moving it again anytime soon!
Enjoy the pics, plumbing starts today!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/54.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/55.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/56.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/57.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/58.jpg
instantsquid
10-04-06, 13:15
Excellent stuff! Looks superb there mate. Can't wait to see this one progress.
- Ian.
Looks great, i saw this tank when it was just a base plate! ;)
Good luck with the piping :)
Looks great, i saw this tank when it was just a base plate! ;)
Good luck with the piping :)
did you, what in the flesh or the photos i put up on here?
Matthew5664
10-04-06, 14:00
Just a cople of quick questions......
I looks as if there are 2 big holes in the bottom of the tank?
Was this to cut down on the weight?
And
How big is the sump compaired to the tank?
in the glass ;)
cool! what were you doing there then?
Just a cople of quick questions......
I looks as if there are 2 big holes in the bottom of the tank?
Was this to cut down on the weight?
And
How big is the sump compaired to the tank?
umm, 2 big holes? you mean the spaces between the brace bars at the bottom?
Just a cople of quick questions......
How big is the sump compaired to the tank?
sump is 76cm x 46cm x 50cm (L, H, W)
170 ish litres if it was full, so about 20% of the volume of the main tank, it wont be run full though, about an inch or two above the partitions, i havent calculated if it will hold a back syphon if the return pump fails but i am fitting a non return valve anyway to the return pipework and the outlet for the return pipe will be just under the surface of the main tank so not much should be able to syphon back anyway
:D hooray! at last the famous tank,talk about tight measuring,just like a glove.come on then what your waiting for get busy:D
[quote=muzzy]Then we had to lift it up onto the stand again which is pretty high off the floor, all in one go without putting it down, i tell you we were all exhausted afterwards!
quote]
That'll teach you for having such a big tank. :rolleyes: Seriously though, it's looking great.
I bet you can't wait now till it's stocked?
but i am fitting a non return valve anyway to the return pipework
i thought the same thing and yet .... it all floods back :(
WOW!
Looking very well planned? Has it all gone to plan so far?
I know this is a bit cheeky, but waht was your budget for this beauty?
Mode
didnt take much planning, just sat and did a few drawings one evening!
all coming together now though
budget was about £3k, think ive gone over though already!
plumbing is done, just need to fix down the egg crate racks and cut the corner off of one of them to make it fit better.
then test fill with tap water to see how many leaks i have! :eek:
the guy tha tbuilt it said i should fill the tank in 3 parts, a third each day to allow the base to settle, is this normal procedure as ive never heard that one before, does anyone else do this?
i wanted to get the RO water and salt in by the weekend then collect the live rock, im away for a week end of next week and i wanted to let it start cycling while im away, but if i have to fill over 3 days i think im going to run out of time before im away.
advice appreciated
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/59.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/60.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/61.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/62.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/63.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/64.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/65.jpg
instantsquid
12-04-06, 13:26
Wow, you don't hang about do you??? It took me weeks to get my plumbing done!
Looking really good, matey.
Sorry - can't comment on the tank settling - doesn't sound unreasonable though...
- Ian.
just a quick question, you have yout weir the complete hight of the tank but you overflow pipes are near the top. could you have made the overflow box smaller at the top of the box and had more space in the tank etc... if any of that made any sense at all lol
yeah i was asked this by andy when he was making the weir, but theres 2 reasons for opting for a full height weir.
1: i cant paint the back of the tank as i need to be able to see in for maintenance as i cant do this from the front, i didnt want the pipe work visible from the front of the tank so its nicely hidden behind the weir
2: im running 2 closed loop pipes down inside the weir and a short weir would maybe not have been deep enough for this without causing flow problems
filled the tank with tap water yesterday and run everything, had a few leaks, all 3 pumps were leaking and the skimmer!
fixed them all yesterday and retested, everything working fine after playing around with the weir taps.
drained tank and sump and calculated the system held around 700 litres give or take, slightly less than i thought.
refilled with 525 litres of RO water id been collecting in containers over the last couple of weeks and now the ro unit along with high pressure pump is working hard as i type to fill the remaining couple of hundred litres.
salt going in tomorrow and heaters being turned on, ill also add my 2 tunze streams as well to get the salt mixing well.
then its off to collect live rock hopefully sunday.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/66.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/67.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/68.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/69.jpg
That's coming on nicely.
I just picked up a 100 gpd ro unit with double membranes to increase output and reduce waste to fill mine when I finally get around to doing the new tank.
Do you have a photo of the moonlights switched on over the tank as I'm interested in getting a set of them.
nice
What did you use to plug up those pipes?
nice
What did you use to plug up those pipes?
They look like endcaps or stopends.
yeah end caps with holes drilled in the ends, slappy - ill try and post a photo tonight of the moonlights on when its dark so you can see the effect.
well, the salt has been in since saturday, got 60kg of great live rock on sunday from STM, everything been running fine for the last 3 days, sand cloud has now dispersed and tank is looking and running great.
There is no noise from the overflows, the only noise is from the skimmer and pumps, but when you are in the lounge you can only just hear a slight hum if the TV is off, its so so quiet and im well pleased.
Until i get the stud wall up behind the tank ive fixed some acrylic sheet to the back of the tank which i melted the top edges under a heat gun and it hangs nicely on the top lip of the tank.
Im now going on holiday for a week, hope everything stays good while im away, my bro in law is staying at the house and will keep an eye on the two tanks for me so fingers crossed everything will be fine on my return.
I still have 40kg of live rock to transfer over from my other tank, this will be done when i get back and once there's no trace of ammonia or nitrite then the all the corals will be moved over followed by the fish.
more pics for you:
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/70.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/71.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/72.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/73.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/74.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/75.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/76.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/77.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/78.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/79.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/80.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/81.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/82.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/83.jpg
petergillett
19-04-06, 13:26
There's finally water in there. Hoorah!!!
There's finally water in there. Hoorah!!!
:D
Looks Great well done!!! ;)
I don't really know what to say, that looks amazing, the wooden trim around the edge sets if off like an piece of art! Only thing i would change would be the visible returns at the front from the closed look, and the visible egg crate, but you have to make a compromise between healthy flow and aesthetics.
Great job, a credit to you and all involved
I don't really know what to say, that looks amazing, the wooden trim around the edge sets if off like an piece of art! Only thing i would change would be the visible returns at the front from the closed look, and the visible egg crate, but you have to make a compromise between healthy flow and aesthetics.
Great job, a credit to you and all involved
cheers for the comments
regarding the eggcrate, once my other 40kg of live rock and all my corals from my other tank go in most of that will be hidden, the pipework ends will always be visible as no matter how much sand i place around them it doesnt stay there, but in time im sure they will get covered in coraline and ill try and spread some xenia or starpolyps along them
i have a single return at the front of my tank and i have grown some green xenia over it and it dont look to bad at all mate so should like fine in your tank
Hope you had a good holiday I am away tommorrow for 2 weeks in the Red Sea hoping to see some pretty big fish whilst there.Your tank is looking amazing can't wait to see your fish in it i am sooooooo jealous I want one.:cool:
:D looking good i bet your well chuffed with your self, i must say a job well done:) .and no hick ups on the way. a credit to you,now waiting to see it with livestock in .
oh man i love in wall tanks, yours is looking very nice indeed, you must be so pleased!
Nice one mate. Have a good holiday.
after all that work u need a rest
What a brilliant tank, u have inspired me!
Just need to buy a house first!
Don't suppose you have any plans of your weir, plumbing, closed loops and flow so I can start getting ideas for my new tank?
If anybody hs plans of their setups could you send them to me so that I can get ideas together?
I'm probably gonna need a lot of help from you guys as this will be my first real project, only had a simple jewel tank before.
what a fantastic set up well planned and thought out :)
john
What a fantastic read. What can i say but I want one aswell. Well done and I cant wait to see it stocked.
Cheers
Sanj.
got back today from hols to a tank covered in hair algae :(
return pump had gone off, so skimmer was just skimming the sump, on top of this the phosphate remover was only working on the sump, so with the lights on 10 hrs a day and only the streams providing circulation as i had turned the closed loops off this was an enivitable outcome with no clean up crew in the tank. so, off to get some snails now, a bit pissed off but not too much as its new and theres no stock in there to get concerned about, will now have to leave the lights out for 2 weeks to try and get the algae to disappear and have the phos remover working overtime
well most of the hair algae has now gone :)
after a lot of glass cleaning and adding 30 turbo snails and half a dozen blue leg hermits the algae quickly started to disappear, the 50x flow turnover and the skimmer and phosphate remover now working has obviously helped!
added my old live rock and corals followed by the fish at the weekend as there was no trace of ammonia or nitrite.
the tangs soon got to work on the rest of the algae on the rocks and now theres hardly any l;eft, im well pleased :)
anyway here are some more photos, ill be adding more fishin a couple of weeks time, probably a shoal of green chromis to start with.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/84.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/85.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/86.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/87.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/88.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/89.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/90.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/91.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/92.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/93.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/94.jpg
i hate you lol
wish i had a wall i could knock out :( dont think next door be to happy thou bless him
Beautiful! I like the way the rock is off the back glass, gives it nice depth. I have read the thread and may have missed it, but how do you remove/add the backing? Also can you hear the skimmer etc in the viewing room or is it nice and quiet?
cheers peeps, the backing is just a couple of acrylic sheets with teh top melted with a heat gun and bent over so that it hangs on the back of the tank, just lifts off nice and easy. eventually there will be a stud wall behind the tank in the garage but until then this is fine as it stops you from seeing all the crap in the garage from the lounge!
you can hardly hear anything at all from the lounge, except one of my tunze streams makes a bit of a noise, not sure why, i think it may need a new bush or something on the shaft, anyone got any ideas on this as id like to sort it out so the tank is totally silent
:) looks great mate,glad to see everything cleared up.keep us posted.;)
looking good there, can't wait for it to settle down and those corals to put on some growth....
(then we can come see it in the flesh...)
looking good there, can't wait for it to settle down and those corals to put on some growth....
(then we can come see it in the flesh...)
yeah no worries, about time we got a sw meet on the go, maybe in june some time for a bbq
Great tank!!! how much did you end up over budget. my mrs is complaining over a 24 cube, she would have a heart attack then take the debit cards of me if i started drawing plains for a tank like yours.
Great tank!!! how much did you end up over budget. my mrs is complaining over a 24 cube, she would have a heart attack then take the debit cards of me if i started drawing plains for a tank like yours.
i have added it up approximately and comes to around £4k for everything including the building works and building regs application.
i havent bought any fish or corals as it was all transfered from the other tank and i already had 40kg of live rock as well, plus already had a lot of the equipment like kalk stirrer, phos reactor, auto top up, heaters etc so it would have cost another grand+ if i didnt have that lot
thats still peanuts to a lot of peples tanks, some people spend nearly that on a deltec tank set up.
bloody hell thats nice, i would hate your electric bill though, is the front frame removable so you can scrape behind it if coraline starts creeping up from there, are you lossing much from evaporation and if so what have you got in place to stop the garage area becoming damp
i would love that hole in the wall effect, especially as it means using the dividing wall, though i can see the young blonde next door compaining :) of course i would not
bloody hell thats nice, i would hate your electric bill though, is the front frame removable so you can scrape behind it if coraline starts creeping up from there, are you lossing much from evaporation and if so what have you got in place to stop the garage area becoming damp
i would love that hole in the wall effect, especially as it means using the dividing wall, though i can see the young blonde next door compaining :) of course i would not
cheers
elec bill is about £70 per/month, the most enegy consuming items are the halides but they are only 250watts not 400's as many people seem to be using.
evap is about 50litres a week controlled via a system 2000 auto top up.
the garage side door to the hallway is left open all day until the halides go off, the garage main door isnt airtight so theres no condensation problems so far.
the front wooden frame is fixed to the wall so no its not removable, but i can clean the glass from the back on a step ladder so coraline not a problem (yet) the tank has been siliconed all the way around the front so no salt creep can enter onto the lounge wall.
GOTAREEFTOKEEP
06-05-06, 23:19
Love it ! what a really great looking tank.
You must love getting home from work to lay and watch that on a summer's evening with a nice cold beer.
some chance of that, got a whole house to redecorate and currently re-doing the whole garden!
What a superb setup muzzy! Like the aquascaping and as said previously, the wooden frame really sets it off.
John
heres a few shots taken today of my sunrise effect.
i have the actinics come on first followed by the left side halide, folowed by the centre halide and then the right side halide all at 30 min intervals, they all stay on for 10 hours then the halides start going off in the same order creating a sunset effect across the the tank with the actinics finally going off last, just before the actinics go off my moonlight leds come on and stay on all night until around 8am
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/95.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/96.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/97.jpg
:) tanks looking well mature,you would not think it's that young:)
a credit to you.well done.
the final bit of work has been started, the 30 minute fire resistant stud wall in the garage behind the tank is now in place, just needs the plasterer to come in next week and plaster it and the chippy to put the fire door on, then ill paint it up blue and remove the acrylic sheets hanging on the back of the tank.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/98.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/99.jpg
took a load of photos last night, this is my first attempt at close-ups so please dont be too critical ;)
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/100.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/101.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/102.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/103.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/104.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/105.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/106.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/107.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/108.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/109.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/110.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/111.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/112.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/113.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/114.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/115.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/116.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/117.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/118.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/119.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/120.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/121.jpg
Some very nice shots there. Im still very much a novice when it comes to photography, particularly of lit reefs etc.
However, the whole setup you have there looks grand, something so far to be proud of.
Well done.
Matt
cheers matt, not sure if my camera is up to it or if i just dont have the hang of it yet, a couple of the pics im pleased with but i just find it soo hard to get the right colour balance etc when taking pictures of the tank.
any ponters anyone? the camera is a Nikon coolpix E3200
now my new snowflake eel i got last weekend is getting more confident and actually comes out of his tube occasionally, ive taken a couple of pictures of him, sorry not very good quality though.
hes about a foot long and i feed him a mussel or prawn every day which he snatches from the feeding stick like a man possessed!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/122.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/123.jpg
julesandsand
20-05-06, 21:44
Just caught this thread tonight - fantastic Muzzy, you should be really proud :)
lovely tank mate
the tang is it a powder blue or is the light playing tricks,looks like a hybrid:cool:
like the mix of corals and nice aquascaping:D
cheers, powder brown (gold rimmed tang) Acanthurus japonicus, looks very similar though except the colours
he is nice ,he looks a bit blue in a few pics :D
do you still have the blue backing on the tank
nope, i removed the backing today as the stud wall was put up this week and been plastered and ive painted the new tank room in the same colour blue tonight, ill post some pics tomorrow,
its great being able to see the tank from all 4 sides now and looking from the front looks a lot better, looks like it has more depth to it.
as for my photos, still getting the hang of the camera, not very good im afraid, need to mount it on a tripod i think
sump room now practically finished, stud wall is plastered and painted and fire door.
just got to put a row of tiles along the base of the wall to stop the inevitable water spills damaging the plasterwork!
and going to put some ducting through the stud wall connected to a bathroom extractor fan to vent the humid air outside, cant do this till the building regs guy has signed it off though as the wall is suppoosed to be fire proof and putting ducting through may disqualify this?:confused:
sorry left the door open when i took the photos!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/124.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/125.jpg
really looks the part, stunning to say the least,best luck with the building regs guy, then again hes prob gonna be too interested in your setup to look at anything else
its been 3 weeks since i lasted posted.
Just had a couple of days off work so had time to do some more work.
Ive been having to leave the sump room doors to the garage and hallway open the last couple of weeks with this hot weather as it gets too hot in there, tank temp hits 27c by the evening, i usually run it at 26 to 26.5, dont want to have to buy a chiller as I cant afford one at the moment! So ive fitted a 12volt bathroom extractor fan into the sump room wall and ill be running ducting through the garage to a vent outside, this will bring in fresh air from outside and aid with keeping the PH elevated.
My plan is also to fit another fan at the other end of the sump room and extract the humid air out.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/128.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/129.jpg
more to follow....
im suffering, or rather my regal tang is suffering with a bad bout of whitespot at the moment. He usually shakes it off after a few days but its gone on for over a week now despite constant feeding with garlic soaked food.
So ive decided to add a UV filter, at the same time ive connected up a cannister filter running activated carbon as the tank water is starting to yellow now. I probably wont run both of these all the time, maybe 1 week out of 4.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/130.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/131.jpg
a couple of the sump showing the mess of pipes and cables!
ive just had delivered some more eggcrate and im going to build a 4inch sand bed in the centre section of the sump.
The water will actually have pass down through it rather than across the surface of it to get to the return pump outlet in the next sump section, the sand will be raised up like this:
eggcrate rack supported on 3 inch legs covered with a fine mesh similar to mosquito netting though a lot thicker. 2 inch layer of crushed coral sand, followed by another layer of mesh followed by 2 inch layer or aragonite sand.
This should ensure the sand doesnt become mixed together and should in theory never have toxic sulphur in it as all the sand will be constantly filtering the water thus reducing any nitrates, thats the theory anyway, recently done some reading up on sand beds and this seems the best way to go.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/132.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/133.jpg
a couple of the back of the tank as i havent posted many of that
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/134.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/135.jpg
and a latest shot of the front of the tank.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/136.jpg
regards
muzzy
i want that one
no seriously it looks great
always look forward to the post's and pic's
I've just caught this thread ,have been reading it all....what an awsome tank you have many congratulations you should be proud of what youv'e achieved.:D
looking good, starting to fill in some of those gaps. won't be any room for any frags soon....
well, ive finally finished my tank build.
ok, the tanks been running for a while as you know, but ive just finished the air ducting and fans installation for bringing in fresh air and sending out the humid air.
I managed to blow up the first 2 fans i had, not sure why, but they were 12volt fans with transformers, i thought id be clever and wire the 2 fans into the same transformer but after a couple of days it stopped working, so i fitted the spare transformer and this blew in about 1 hour?! :confused:
so ive now got 2 x 240v fans without transformers, these are connected together and one sucks air in from outside the other takes air out of the tank room. These are connected to my habistat coolcontol which controls 2 the 2 clip on fans above the tank, so when the tank temp gets to 26.5c all 4 fans now kick in.
The ducting and fans all came from screwfix in case anyone is thinking of doing something similar.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/145.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/146.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/147.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/148.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/149.jpg
ive also recently done a bit of moving about in the tank, ive moved 2 rocks from the far left of the tank to the sump to create more open space in that area and placed my favourite coral tracypyhillia (sp?) and lobophyllia there as they were starting to brush against the front glass and rocks in their previous location at the front middle of the tank. Also moved my large turbinaria peltata round a bit which i got from Simon G last year, this is a great coral, always seems happy and i get a better view of it now.
thats about it, i think my wife is finally glad ive stopped tinkiering with the tank and can concentrate more on getting the rest of the house in order ready for the new baby in october. :)
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/140.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/141.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/142.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/143.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/144.jpg
fantastic looking tank mate :D
couple of photos of my snowflake eel taken last night, he's such a character.
Spnds all day in his tube under the rocks and comes out about 8 oclock looking for his daily feed of prawn or mussel which he takes from the feeding stick, the powder brown tang always trys to steal it off him but theres no contest really, the eel has such powerful jaws and is lightning fast
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/150.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/151.jpg
Wow. Just read this thread from the beginning. Stunning job.
The tanks looking great now. Sit back and enjoy it !
Tony
I never considered putting a s f eel in a reef before! is there anything you have to look out for?
errm, not really, i did a bit of reading up on them before i got it, its not safe to keep clams with it apparently, i would like to get a maxima clam but im worried he will eat it and you should be careful not to add any very small fish that it might eat, other than that its pretty much plain sailing.
I have to feed him every day with a few frozen prawns or a couple of mussels, this is the fun part, trying to feed him without one of the tangs nicking it off the stick first, my powder brown does his best to steal it from him but usually the eel snaps at him and the PB will dart away and come back when its too late!
Great addition to a reef tank as long as you have the room and plenty of places for him to hide and feed it religiously.
Im not sure what will happen when if i go away for a few days, i cant really expect a neighbour or family to attempt feeding him as it is a bit tricky climbing up on a step ladder and getting the stick down to his tube where he lives!
I think i will give it a miss! Ive got too many small fish and a clam!
Your tank looks fantastic though, its a credit to you!
thankyou :)
it wouldnt have been possible though without the knowledge ive gained on here in the last year, so thankyou everyone else as well! :)
superb tank muzzy,its really taking shape,im trying to imagine it once the acros really grow,:cool: great job,if only i could cut a big hole out the wall (:rolleyes: thinking) :D
very well done
Mark
great thread.
Could I ask 2 questions?
1. How did you move stock over?
2. I see the Tunze positions have changed, what layout have you settled on for the 2 Tunze?
cheers,
Greg
hi
all live rock and corals were moved over after 1 week straight out of the other tank into the new one, this took a whole day to get right (although ive still moved several corals about since)
The fish were moved over several days later once i was sure there was no ammonia and nitrite present.
Tunze streams have moved again, when i post the next photo up, probably next week you will see they now point at the front glass as a couple of my SPS were being battered a bit and werent extending polyps as they should.
all fine now and ive been happily watching things grow. The pod populations have taken off in a big way, thousands of the buggers and i bought a mandarin a couple of weeks ago.
I have the dreaded "click" in the tank though, i thought it was a stream originally but theres a definite "click" usually in the evenings, tried looking at night loadsa times with a torch but i still cant find it
muzzy
cheers Muzzy,
Did you fill the new tank with new water, and then move rock over, or try and re-use some tank water, and top up old tank with new water?
Trying to get my head around the move!!
Regards,
Greg
used fresh water as the other tank was still running for a few weeks and i had had phosphate issues in the old tank, i think the sandbed had absorbed a lot before i was using RO water when first set up.
So new tank had new sand and new water.
ive been through 2 or 3 algae blooms, i think im over them now and things are looking good
hi
........I have the dreaded "click" in the tank though, i thought it was a stream originally but theres a definite "click" usually in the evenings, tried looking at night loadsa times with a torch but i still cant find it
muzzy
I started to hear a click in my tank a couple of weeks ago, turned out to be the hermits tapping against the glass.
David
bunglehaze
21-07-06, 06:23
Looks like a cracking project done extremely well m8, you should be proud!
cheers
leigh :D
Another great project yes! well done mate
thanks for the comments.
ive just uploaded a web site dedicated to my reef, im quite pleased with it considering i only started it yesterday evening!
can be found at http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk
ps, might not be viewable yet as it needs to propogate around the servers
i can view it mate, like the progression pics nice way to see how much its grown.
jamie
ok, i think its working at http://muzzys-reef.co.uk
and here is a latest photo, i think ive finally got the hang of taking pics with this camera now!
key ids to close all the curtains and turn all the lights out, use no flash, take 10 photos and keep your fingers crossed!
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/155.jpg
Looking good buddy. I like the mixture of corals and especially the plating monti's high up. :)
Nice website too ;)
hi guys n gals
ive just changed my halide bulbs to BLV 10K 250watts instead of the Coralvue 14ks.
see pics below, 1st one is the coralvues, 2nd is the new BLV's.
The BLV's are quite a bit brighter to the naked eye but also make the tank look less colourful now i think. The bulbs were only in about 15mins before i took the picture so obviously they need time to burn in.
What do you think?
I may put a 20k in the middle to see if it balances things out a bit because at the moment im not 100% sure if i like it. but ill give it a week or two to see if the colouring changes.
coralvue 14k
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/156.jpg
BLV 10K
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/157.jpg
hmm, after now seeing these 2 photos side by side the BLV's actually make it look better i think! but not sure that a photo is as true as the naked eye sees it
personally prefer the first one, it looks bluer and i prefer blue.
2nd looks more yellow.
dan-the-man
03-08-06, 18:39
Yeah I prefer the coralvue 14ks, great bulbs IMO. :)
Still looks bloody great though even with the 10ks! :D
great build muzzy, loving reading all these big builds!!
ok
ive taken out the centre 10k blv and put in a coralvue 20k in its place.
so the shot below has 1 x blv10k at each end and a coralvue 20k in the middle.
does this look better?
BLV 10K's x 2 and 1 x Coralvue 20K
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/158.jpg
coralvue 14K's x 3
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/156.jpg
BLV 10K's x 3
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/157.jpg
Reef bloke
06-08-06, 16:06
That looks just about right to me.
dan-the-man
06-08-06, 16:31
Yep definitely an improvement :)
Still like my 14k coralvues though :D
I agree, the top one looks the best in photos
got a good photo tonight of quite a lot of my fish in one go - including my snowflake which is a real bugger to get a decent photo of as he rarely comes out of his tube unless he's really hungry, so i starved him for 2 days lol!
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/159.jpg
also took a photo of my nem as i dont think ive put a picture up of it before.
I got him from fellow UR member cdixon (chris) as he out grew the tank he was in (the nem not chris!)
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/new_tank_build/160.jpg
The 2 10k plus 20k look the best to me.
Lovely pics below.
The clear tank plus blue wall behind helps to give a good impression of depth. Lovely healthy looking tank there!!
no!
i wouldnt expect it to be for another year yet at least - too many stunning tanks out there already
ooo, type in "marine fish tank" to msn search UK, and im the 4th web site on page 1!
who wants to buy some advertising space then?!
have you settled on the Tunze positions now? Hopefully moving my stuff over to a new tank this weekend, so Tunze positioning will be very interesting!!
Also it appears your Tunze are supported *up* from the magnet, whereas mine appear to hang down, have you done this on purpose?
Looks a crackin' tank, hope my new one can look half as good.
Cheers,
Greg
GOTAREEFTOKEEP
25-08-06, 00:48
Just done it for me mate, i'll have 14k's over my tank in the next week or so looks as it looks so much better with a blue hint in the spectrum
Matt
Stuart Bertram
25-08-06, 16:51
In my experience once you move a tank into the garage with the lights and himidity it becomes a warm place.
Another advantage is that all of your tools go rusty.:(
Apparently there are no time restrictions once you have started the building work on completion. This means that the fireproof wall and insulation could take a long long time to be finished.
Stuart.
stuart - i believed you have a year to complete the work otherwise you have to re-apply for another certificate.
i could be completely wrong though.
yes its very humid in my tank room, even with 2 bathroom extractor fans running.
i have to leave the door to the tank room from under the stairs open all day when the lights are on and close it at night.
im planning on getting bigger wall fans or adding 2 more. the 2 i already have are ducted to outside.
gregh - i have moved my stream flow again!
i now have the right hand one bouncing of the centre of the front glass and the left hand one bounces off the back glass.
ive found this now works best, my sps at the top are getting enough flow but not so much that the polyps dont extend and the LPS in teh tank are very happy. i just have to be careful where i place corals as theres still 45x turnover going on even with the streams set at 30% fixed flow.
time for some photo updates i think.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/september06.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/162.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/163.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/164.jpg
regards
muzzy
Really really nice mate! everything looks so health and clean!
time for some photo updates i think.
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/september06.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/162.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/163.jpg
http://www.muzzys-reef.co.uk/164.jpg
regards
muzzy
Looking brill Muzzy, what colour have you painted the back I love that colour looks so bright.
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