My new tanks (image intense)

KwajRocks · #1 06/19/2005, 08:57 PM

Here are some pic of my new tanks. They are not plumbed yet, but at least they are here and on the stands.

Forklift bringing the tanks into the backyard (after weeks of non-stop rain) and towards the back picture window (which had been removed)

Bringing tanks into the back window.

Dixie Allied Moving and Storage putting tanks on stands. (these guys were real pros.......if you need a mover, they are the way to go!) We had to hire professionals because we ran out of friends after the last set of tanks.

Tanks finally on the stands - as you can see, I've already added one of my favorite fishies!

Sorry about the size of the images, I need to practice the size part of posting pics. (A newbie computer picture-poster, sorry.)

KwajRocks · #2 06/19/2005, 08:59 PM

Oh well, I guess the pics were the right size after all.

speakeraddict · #3 06/19/2005, 09:13 PM

Fantastic!

That blows my new project out of the water!

speakeraddict

MaryBebo · #4 06/19/2005, 09:16 PM

WOW !!!! Those are BIG !!!

Can't wait to see them in a few months after they are up and running

WOW again

speakeraddict · #5 06/19/2005, 09:18 PM

Not to nitpick, but, is one of those about 1/2" lower than the other or have the levelers just not been adjusted yet?

Just hoping to avoid an even bigger flood than I had.

speakeraddict

KwajRocks · #6 06/19/2005, 09:18 PM

I don't know Speaker, this may be the death of me. I am anxious to get everything started this week though. I've ordered a couple of parts I'm waiting on adn then..............well no excuses.

KwajRocks · #7 06/19/2005, 09:27 PM

Speaker, Yes...you are right. The tanks are not completely level yet. Almost, but the left-hand tank is still a bit low on the left side. AND Thank You!! for posting that....the left side of the left tank actually sits 3/8" off the stand from about mid-way all the way to the end. When I first saw that I thought, how in the world can something so heavy sit off the stand so far? Bizare.

Jason Williamson · #8 06/19/2005, 09:31 PM

nice tanks!! if you need any help with setting them up just let me know.

KwajRocks · #9 06/19/2005, 09:32 PM

Hey Jason,

You may be sorry you said that.

Tomoko Schum · #10 06/19/2005, 10:07 PM

Wow, so nice. Without your son in the tank, I would have had a hard time telling the size of these tanks.

I know that the hard work is about to start, but congratulations anyways!

Tomoko

Mariner · #11 06/19/2005, 10:16 PM

Kwaj,
I envision a future NARC meeting at your place with everyone in full SCUBA gear.

That's just really amazing. I'm in awe that I actually know someone who is taking on such a massive project. Don't forget, if you need some help, make sure to call Jason or Speaker

Mariner

speakeraddict · #12 06/19/2005, 10:40 PM

Yep! Working on that setup would be a priviledge!!!

speakeraddict

8BALL_99 · #13 06/19/2005, 10:59 PM

wow very nice.. LOL now I dont even want to post about my new tank

Who built them? What are the dimensions? Wow the equipment list for these things is going to be something else.. Are you planning one running a closed loop? Ok sorry I'll stop asking so many questions haha..

Will

Philip Root · #14 06/20/2005, 07:50 AM

What are you going to put in them?

H@rry · #15 06/20/2005, 08:41 AM

Way kewl! Add me to the list of helpers (or simply gawkers). Wow!!

8BALL_99 · #16 06/20/2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheLivingReef
What are you going to put in them?

ALOT

Whitten · #17 06/20/2005, 11:58 AM

I have a couple of structural questions.

First what kind of sub-floor do those two tanks sit on, is the floor over joists/ basement or crawl space, or is the flooring on top of concrete slab?

Second are you going to make some sort of partition wall to block off the tanks or so you can just see face of the tanks?

Third do you plan on doing water proof latex paint or opt for water proof wall board entirely?

Forth is that real wood flooring or just a vinyl? My only concern here is that if it is wood it will in time collect moisture and expand and contract, as well as it will compress over time and cause the tank to sink in areas.

I am sorry if the questions are alittle indepth I am just very interested in yoursetup. Can't help but to ask questions about building seeing as how that is my major.

KwajRocks · #18 06/20/2005, 02:57 PM

Ha, ha Mariner, I will need SCUBA gear to get to the bottom of the tank. And yes, I have Speaker, Jason and Harry in WRITING! saying they will volunteer, so maybe I'll take them up on that, I do have a hundred questions, mostly about the way I want to do my automatic water changes.

8ball - Where did you guys do Saturday? Everyone looked all over for y'all. But anyway, the dimensions are 84" x 48" x 34" tall. I have already purchased most of the equipment and lighting (remember the last tanks??) I got most of it from Vince at OceanEncounter.com - he is really up on all the latest. I highly recommend him! The people that fabricated the tanks are AquariumsForYou.com and I can truly say that if you are in the market for a custom glass tank, these guys are THE ONLY way to go. They are the pros and they were super to work with- I was very impressed with them all the way down the line. I have several closed loops, and a waveloop powered by an OceansMotions.com device. Hopefully everything is going to work as planned.

LivingReef - Philip, I plan to have left side lagoon/reef face/pinnacle (mostly coral) and then go to pinnacle/open water (big fish) on the other tank. Kinda cheesy I know, but I wanted to have it all. Really, I have so many lagoon corals and some Red Sea fish I have had for 4 years now, and I just couldn't part with them. So it will be "Halls Reef" not to be confused with the real thing.

OK Whitten, you're from Auburn, so you must be a building science guy....luckily we are in construction also, and the addition we put on the house was done so with the tanks in mind...actually, the addition was put on FOR the tanks. We do have an elaborate floor system in place (crawl space), and I hope it will do the job. The finish flooring is actually hardwood (not vinyl) and unless there is a flood (God forbid), the floor should hold up o.k. We'll see.

The tanks will be covered in front with a sort-of Nautical motif - a kind of like "pier-look". So, yes you will only see the tanks themselves. I plan to have a kind of port hole to see the refuguims so the kids can have fun with that.

There will be alot of equipment under the house including the chillers, the ballasts and two 100 gallon water change/heat exchange tanks. Hopefully this will help with the heat build up from the lights. Everything else will be behind the tanks or directly underneath them. The top off water resevoir will be in the laundry room.

Thank you all so much for the kind words, I really appreciate your input. And any extra PVC in the garage? I will gladly come and take it off your hands...LOL

H@rry · #19 06/20/2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge in the grave whither thou goest." -Proverbs (or Kings?)

Ecclesiastes 9:10

speakeraddict · #20 06/20/2005, 03:12 PM

you're killing me with the nautical motif! Mine will look like a little version of yours. That's all I have to say about that.

speakeraddict

KwajRocks · #21 06/20/2005, 03:22 PM

Oh and Thanks Harry................I thought Mariner would kick in for that one....I'll change it now.

Whitten · #22 06/20/2005, 04:32 PM

I have but one small sprig of PVC but you are welcome to it ahahah.

Thanks for the the reply, and you are right on the money I am a Building science guy. I laughed at the thought of asking you if I could get a picture of how the floor is supported...only a building science guy would want or care to know something as mundane as that.

Looks like your going to have one heck of a great setup...and those port holes aren't just for the kids I will more than likely want to sit a watch.

Can't wait to see it come together and if you are fairly close I would love to help with the construction.

KwajRocks · #23 06/20/2005, 09:12 PM

Well Whitten, You asked for it.

The floor has two rows of 8" concrete blocks supported by a 12" x 24" concrete footing. (Basically a solid pier system.) These rows of blocks run the entire length of both tanks. Between these runs are 2 X 10s on 8" centers perpendicular to the blocks. All the 2 x 10s are blocked. We left a passageway in the rows of blocks between the runs to access electricity, plumbing, etc. The front of the tanks will also be supported by additional floor jacks, because the tanks actually ended up to be a wee bit wider than originally planned. Hopefully this will be enough. If not, we'll jack her up and pour more concrete! The ideal floor would have been concrete, but I really didn't want a stepdown into the addition, and having the space under the tanks is really ideal.

kbmdale · #24 06/20/2005, 11:10 PM

Man those are some monsters...Can I snorkle in your reef..lol

8BALL_99 · #25 06/20/2005, 11:38 PM

Sorry to say we were in line for tickets for about 25 mins.. I had no idea that getting tickets would be a big deal.. Leason learned

lol I'll have to hide this thread from shannon.. She tried talking me into a sunroom for her plants and one Large reef tank.. I told her maybe next year... That it seemed a little much to build a room for that haha...