Starting my 300g build

Cobraden · #1 01/14/2007, 09:12 PM

Hi all,

I'm kind of new to posting on this board but I've been lurking here for quite a while.

After reading about may of you starting new tanks, I finally get the chance to post a build page of my own.

I just moved into a new home (or at least new to me) and while looking at houses, I was always looking to see where I could put a big tank. So much so, that my realtor started making suggestions when we would walk into a house.

Well, I ordered an aprox 310 gal tank from Glass Cages a few weeks ago. It's scheduled to be delivered this Sunday.
The tank will be built into a wall. The dimensions of the tank are 96x30x25 and the front is made with low iron glass. I didn't ask my friends to help move furniture but a few of them have been put on notice to move the aquarium this Sunday.

Once the tank gets here and I get it all plumbed, I'll combine everything out of my 110g and 210g aquariums.

Anyway, the person building my cabinet has finally started and if I can figure out how to do it, I'll include pictures of the progress.

Cobraden · #2 01/14/2007, 09:48 PM

This is where I decided to put my new tank

Here is what is looked like when the built ins were removed

Now the framing starts.

Cobraden · #3 01/14/2007, 09:54 PM

Here's a look at the finished framing

And the electrical was done today. Ran 3 dedicated 20 amp circuits to the tank area.

couple of outlets above the tank for the lights

LaDonaDorada · #4 01/15/2007, 05:43 AM

can't wait to see more

Chad-Man · #5 01/15/2007, 09:15 PM

I'll be keeping an eye on your progress, I'm planning a 300 in wall when I get back........Looks like you're off to a good start.

stlouisguy · #6 01/15/2007, 09:31 PM

How are you going to vent that? You are going to get quite a bit of water above that tank

Cobraden · #7 01/16/2007, 08:30 AM

after the sheet rock is finished, there will be 3 (maybe 4) air conditioner type vents in the cabinet. I will use a fan to "pull" air through the cabinet. This should help with heat and humidity.

nyvp · #8 01/16/2007, 10:51 AM

is there any way to vent out of the house or into your hvac system? Nice start though

Cobraden · #9 01/18/2007, 11:51 PM

Well thought I would add a few more pics.

Getting close to completing the stand. I plan to get the venting work done when I have time this weekend. ( I better since my tank gets here Sunday) There will be and intake vent and and exaust vent that has a fan that draws air from the cabinet area and pushes it into the attic.

Got the sheet rock almost completed in this pic.

Starting to trim out the stand. The front will have frames on it to match the rest of the room.

Cobraden · #10 01/22/2007, 12:56 AM

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!

Met the Glass Cages delivery truck this morning and picked up my tank. They happend to be delivering less than 10 minutes away from my house.

After looking over the tank I can say that I'm pretty satisfied. After hearing the stories of poor quality and sloppy work, I'd say this was not the case as far as my tank. Looks pretty clean and the work seems pretty nice.

Here are a couple pictures of the pick up and then it finally being on the stand.

Here are a few pictures of some of the equipment that I have aquired for the project.

A dolphin 1/3 HP

A Tradewind 1/2 HP Chiller

earlnewt · #11 01/22/2007, 01:06 AM

That is going to look great. As company comes in from the foyer and, what looks to be a nice looking house, they will be astonished and in awe of what a king has done with his castle. Congrats on your new house. Enjoy and keep on posting. Thanks

niloc16 · #12 01/22/2007, 01:13 AM

looking really cool so far. definitely keep the pictures coming.

mattsilvester · #13 01/23/2007, 05:34 PM

Looking forward to see this one progress.

invincible569 · #14 01/24/2007, 06:32 AM

Great start! You live close to me.

I live off of 290/6.

Cobraden · #15 01/24/2007, 11:17 PM

Hi Invincible569,

You aren't too far away. I live near FM1960 and Kuykendahl.

The Cabinet is pretty much finished. I need to paint and start plumbing the system.

Hope to get to that this weekend.

The cabinet doors have frames on them to match the rest of the walls in the room.

The doors open in sections to give me full access

pennyguy23 · #16 01/24/2007, 11:20 PM

Looking good

drummereef · #17 01/25/2007, 01:33 AM

Now that's what I call a built in! Nice job, Cobraden.

Capt_Cully · #18 01/25/2007, 10:29 PM

Git some water in that bad boy!!!

Looks great so far!

little x · #19 01/25/2007, 10:48 PM

Cant wait to see everything is done

Martin's Reef · #20 01/25/2007, 11:00 PM

Great job! Can't wait to see more.

Cobraden · #21 01/30/2007, 07:08 AM

Well here is the latest pic. I will start the pumbing tomorrow or Wednesday. I may end up being a little ahead of schedule and might be able to run it with freshwater by the end of the week.

hawaiianwargod · #22 01/30/2007, 12:53 PM

Wow!!! awesome work!

Cobraden · #23 01/31/2007, 07:46 AM

Painting is all done and now I'm about to turn my attention to the plumbing.

The plan all along was to go with grey sched. 80 pvc just because I like the way it looks. Then I started thinking about the wall thickness and wondering if it would be better to go with schedule 40 because for the same size OD pipe the ID is bigger? Would love some opinions on this seeing as I was going to start plumbing tonight. May ponder this a little though.

Anyone using flex pvc? I'm thinking that might me an interesting way to go now that I've opened that can of worms in my mind.

Cobraden · #24 02/10/2007, 03:02 AM

Well it's been a while since I've updated this thing but things have been so busy that time to work on tank has been scarce.

Anyway, did a little work on the tank this week.

since the tank is in the living room, I wanted to make sure it was quiet. The drains and vibration were of particular concern.

I used a thick rubber mat (about 1/2" thick) to line the the floor of my cabinet. That should take care of any vibration and is pretty water resistant.

For the drains, I was about to make a couple durso type drains but decided to do a little reasearch and I came across something called the gurgle buster (http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson...HGB/index.html) so I decided to give them a try. Here is a pic of how they turned out. The outside sleeve is adjustable up and down so you can "fine tune" it for you flow rate.

After doing a little more work I finished the plumbing and decided it was time to water test. So....SHE'S ALL WET NOW!!!!

The water test is going well. so far only one pin hole leak. Can't seem to get it to stop so it looks like I'm going to have to cut that section out of the plumbing and do it again.

The gurgle busters work great. I fired the pump up and let her rip wide open and the drains were very quiet. Now to fix that leak and fill it with salt water.

mattsilvester · #25 02/10/2007, 03:34 AM

It would drive me nuts having a tank almost ready to go, and nothing in it! I am getting a new tank delivered in about 2 weeks time - 8x2x2. I am going to make sure that everything is ready and in place, and it will all be set up the day I get the tank! I would go insance lookinging at it empty..... even if its just LR and snails, at least its something!

Anyway, it looks great - looking forward to the finished product.

Matt