Back in the Saddle Again!! My new 480g In-Wall thread

loserkidz · #1 03/20/2006, 12:13 AM

Well if you haven't heard by now I basically lost everything including my tank in the Big Move to Texas, there are threads about it which I don't really want to talk about. Anyways I am going to be building a 480g in wall tank, it consists of a Acrylic 96"x48"x24" and is made of 1-1/4" completely to have a 4" euro brased top. Steve at SocalCreations will be handling this feat, and I will be welding the stand out of 4"x4"x1/4" mild steel. The reason for the industrial strength stand is it will be free standing including the 4-5" lip that will make the tank flush with the outside wall. I haven't seen one built like this so I will put my welding skills to the test. The front will be faced with a variety of high density urethane based crown molding,pilasters,friezes and other accents to create a pleasing look to the install. I have a crude pic of a ghetto drawing of the look I hope to obtain.

Here are some pics of the actual wall and adjoing "fish room" that will be housing the system. I will be using the same equipment but will be removing the Vho setup and adding on 3 more Lumenarcs to the mix, so a total of 6-400w lighting the tank.

I am debating on adding 4 of the wavy seas in each corner,or a pair of waveboxes w/ my 4 streams or 8- oceans motion. I will also be looking to upgrade my skimmer, I am looking at the Deltec 703 or comperable skimmer. Any suggestions or experience you have had in the past would be greatly appeciated.
Brent Higa

bassnman11 · #2 03/20/2006, 12:25 AM

Sorry about your accident, but it looks like its leading to bigger things! Looks like you got moved in in Texas , so on with the new project. Keep us posted.

818 · #3 03/20/2006, 12:30 AM

Nice recovery....with a 480g! Very Cool.

Questoin: You will be adding the wood paneling? I dont think I recall anything as nice as what you drew, in an inwall.

Good Luck!

Sam Nieves

JenDub · #4 03/20/2006, 01:14 AM

The stand under the giant 700g tank in the back wall of passion of the sea is steel. It sounds just like what you will be building, 4X4" steel tube. I think Robert from Fragfarmer/tides N tails built it in his auto metal shop, maybe he could give you some pointers

simon.007 · #5 03/20/2006, 01:18 AM

Sorry to hear about your tank. Are you coming back to pickup your So. Cal tank? If you are I like to donate some Orange and Green Monti Cap frags, Blue SPS stags, blue and red mushrooms too

Simon

loserkidz · #6 03/20/2006, 01:35 AM

Simon,
Actually they are having it delivered out here, bu thanks for the offer!!
Brent

jjb81speed · #7 03/20/2006, 10:18 AM

good luck, if you still lived in socal i'd hook you up with some steel. i am a steel distributor. welding 1/4" should be no problem. let me know if you need help with the settings on your machine.

john37 · #8 03/20/2006, 12:26 PM

nice Brent, i cant wait to see your Deltec. You've converted to the darkside.

loserkidz · #9 04/01/2006, 08:54 AM

Well I was able to make some time this week with my busy and akward work schedule and was able to finish riping out the wall and bracing up the perimeter. I ended up shooting the texture coat and knocking it down to match the rest o fthe wall. I should be riping up the carpet in the fish room tonight, and will start cutting up the 4x4 steel sunday. I will have to wled it in the room as there is no way to move it once it is built. I also picked up the rubberized truchk liner for the stand too.
Steve at t Socalcreations.com said the tank should be here the first of May. I hope to have everything done including laying the tile out in the room and have the full facia done on the oustde as well.

Brent Higa

yuhsuen · #10 04/01/2006, 10:57 AM

That's so nice looking it's scary

Where're the pictures of carnage with you ripping out the wall? I want to see how you reframed everything and how you got that pro finish.

loserkidz · #11 04/03/2006, 08:52 AM

Well I ended up welding up the stand yesterday and will finish grinding down the welds and applying the first coat of the sprayon liner. I had a hell of a time flipping the stand around to do the welding, remember it is 4"X4"X1/4" square tubing. Once I welded the top structure I had to weld on the legs and turn it 180 degrees to stand it up. I have it worked out to be over 800#s so it wasn't an easy task. That is the reason for me welding it inside the room, not that I wanted to but I couldn't see any other way for one person to do it. And yes, my kids had on welding goggles, I just couldn't find any small enough for my fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

loserkidz · #12 04/03/2006, 08:53 AM

I would have liked to have all of the corners mitered as I usually do, but with it being made out of such large tubing my chopsaw just wasn't up to the task, believe me I tried. If you notice in the following pictures the whole stand will be supporting all of the weight. Most inwalls rest on the front pony wall. I actually have a 1/4" gap between the stand and the wall, hence the reason for such a beefed up stand.

bboygraphix · #13 04/03/2006, 01:50 PM

looks great!

jjb81speed · #14 04/03/2006, 02:07 PM

looks nice. i was wondering if your stand is directly on a concrete foundation or if its on a raised foundation.......

Wilafur · #15 04/03/2006, 03:15 PM

dude, paint your house.

loserkidz · #16 04/03/2006, 03:38 PM

Wilbur,
you don't like the monotone white that they have on these new houses???????????
In due time my friend, I promised my iwfe no more than one project a year!!!!!!!!!!

Wilafur · #17 04/03/2006, 04:34 PM

brent, the project is looking hella sweet. plus i dig the vaulted ceiling!! sexy.

loserkidz · #18 04/05/2006, 05:16 PM

818 · #19 04/05/2006, 05:32 PM

If I worked as fast as you Brent I'd have a mature reef tank by now...

Your setup is gonna be sick, cant wait!!!!!!!

Sam

fish_fanatik · #20 04/05/2006, 10:32 PM

Wow,

Everything looks so good. That reef room is just perfect....did you have that added on when they built the house?

Thanks for keeping us updated!!

Julie

loserkidz · #21 04/13/2006, 03:53 PM

Well Steve over at www.socalcreations.com posted some pics of the tank being manufatured. I am thinking that we are getting pretty close to a bullet proof enclosure,whatcha think?

brent higa

john37 · #22 04/13/2006, 03:57 PM

hey are you getting an external overflow on that?

d0cdave · #23 04/13/2006, 05:46 PM

Good gawd man! That is some freaky big acrylic! Saweeeet!

jeffreylam1132 · #24 04/13/2006, 06:41 PM

Looking good!

jbrown11352 · #25 04/13/2006, 06:57 PM

Is that 1" acrylic?