Reefs.org Forums

[andy37]

Kay, I'm renovating a house, and I have thrown a dedicated 3m (10 foot) slab for my tank (2mX900m (h) X 800m wide) to sit on.... now, however I have been shown the option of building a 2.4m glass pane in to the window, bricking it up ~(Loads of reinforced concrete) with a (to be built) tank room (separate to this space- not being built unless the 'new tank' is installed) built behind it- 3m X 1.5m- and a far wider tank (1.3m compared to 800mm) AND I can use my existing tank right next to it and use the increased sump capacity, larger skimmer and other toys as well.....

Its costly, but if I lose the reinforced concrete and build a standard glass box behind a false 'window' and recess it behind the enclosure, it works out a bit more cost effective......

Any thoughts?

[Len]

Dude, this is way too advanced for the NRF Moving to the GRD.

[Lawdawg]

Any thoughts?

If the costs are even close to equitable, I'd go for the addition. It would rock to have a dedicated fish room and now is the time to put it in.

[Sea Turtle]

well worth it. That would be awesome. Keep us updated with pics as you go. would love to see it built.

[Ben]

Yep lots of pictures will be in order. Sounds like a dream tank to me!

[Louey]

Any thoughts?

If the costs are even close to equitable, I'd go for the addition. It would rock to have a dedicated fish room and now is the time to put it in.

+1.

Dedicated fish rooms are great, especially when you have a large tank.

I'd say if you got the money, go for it.

Louey

[andy37]

OK, its decision time now. The contractor wants to know how to proceed.

The options are to go with my existing pretty large system and just move it to the recess, or to put that tank in the new entrance hall, plumb it into the tank room so it shares the same system and sump, and build in the following system:

(Sorry- its metric, I will try and convert)

Tank: 2900 (w) by 1400 (depth back from front to back) by 1150 (height, with water height of 1050 and a viewing panel of 1000x2900)
In Inches: 114 (w) by 55 (depth back from front to back) by 45 (height, with water height of 41 and a viewing panel of 39x114)

One side wall is part of the entrance hall so a viewing window of 1200x1000 (47x39) will be built in there.

The new system will have 3x400w MHs and 8 T5s and will be a coral tank (softs). The glass is 24mm (just under one inch) starfire. The old tank will go FOWLR. both systems will be plumbed to share a common 2000x900x900 (79x35x35) sump in a dedicated room with a massive skimmer (reef octopus 250) supplimented by my deltec AP851. Kalk by kalkstirrer, circulation by Speck pool pump for both systems. No powerheads if I can get away with it.

The way this has evolved is from a built in tank with a single pane of glass to building a complete tank in a room and opening up two windows to it. Also, I dont need to build another room, I will get away with fitting a 2000x 700 ( 78x27) access panel above the tank in the exterior wall, and having unrestricted access through the sump room on one side. There should be ample room to access the entire tank.

Should it become necessary to cool the system, I will fit a small 9000BTU aircon unit in the sump/tank room.

Cost wise, I should be able to get away with about what my existing tank cost me, bearing in mind that it has a very expensive custom cabinet. This wasnt in my building budget, but then that has been shredded by some serious engineering needs anyway.

I am concerned bout operating costs, electricity is becoming very expensive here. However, I figure that running the MHs for only 3 hours a day (like I currently do) and reducing my existing lighting on the to-be FOWLER to one 250W MH (for the glimmer lines)(with the existing 4x T5s at 6 hours per day), along with reducing my number of powerheads to zero and running one big pump for all the circulation needs, I should get away with a nominal increase in power consumption.

I will post some pics of the site later, although I dont think they will be terribly helpful.

Any comments on the viability of the project, and the proposed system would be greatly appreciated, its decision making time this weekend and I think I will go with it, but your valued input would be greatly appreciated.....

[andy37]

Here are two photos of the recess where the new tank will be built. The opening is going to be squared off. the new wall on the LHS will come out and the 'tank room' will be accommodated there. the right hand wall backs on to the new entrance hall and that is where the smaller viewing panel will go. access panel will be located high on the back wall (which is an exterior wall)

The aluminium windows were just being stored in the recess and have no significance.

[Bucolic Buffalo]

Ok. Is it easily repairable? What if the foundation settles or you have an earthquake. I know that the contractor will do all he can to prevent any problems, but, it happens. Is the small one any easier to repair? If not, go for the big one.

[Louey]

I'd go with the new tank option, if it's still within your budget.

As for the electricity costs, I'd say my former 300G tank cost me the better part of $200 per month. I got know idea what your rates are there, but I'm pretty sure you'll be spend at least what I did considering how large a volume you have all together.

When you need a pool pump to drive your system, you know you've gone off the deep end.

Louey

[Bingo]

I'd say go for the addition.

BUT: are you ever going to sell the house, or is it your dream home? Make the fish-room able to do double duty if you're going to move out. Frame/build it so it can be closed off, and become a walk in closet, wine cellar, laundry room, etc. When a friend sold his house buyers would balk at the 2'x8' (61x244cm) hole in the wall. As soon as he closed it up, he got a few bids.

HTH

B

[andy37]

Ok. Is it easily repairable? What if the foundation settles or you have an earthquake. I know that the contractor will do all he can to prevent any problems, but, it happens. Is the small one any easier to repair? If not, go for the big one.

Thanks BB, we dont have earthquakes here, and I have just finished putting in 34 (!!!) concrete and steel piles in the front of the house. The foundations are going nowhere!

The proposed option would be to keep the existing, and build the new.....

[andy37]

I'd go with the new tank option, if it's still within your budget.

As for the electricity costs, I'd say my former 300G tank cost me the better part of $200 per month. I got know idea what your rates are there, but I'm pretty sure you'll be spend at least what I did considering how large a volume you have all together.

When you need a pool pump to drive your system, you know you've gone off the deep end.

Louey

Aint the the truth!!

I think I will be going with the new larger tank. Will just sleep on the idea a bit longer and let them know on Monday!

[andy37]

I'd say go for the addition.

BUT: are you ever going to sell the house, or is it your dream home? Make the fish-room able to do double duty if you're going to move out. Frame/build it so it can be closed off, and become a walk in closet, wine cellar, laundry room, etc. When a friend sold his house buyers would balk at the 2'x8' (61x244cm) hole in the wall. As soon as he closed it up, he got a few bids.

HTH

B

Thanks Bingo, it converts easily into a storeroom/ wine cellar with minimal brickwork.

[Thales]

You should absolutely do it.

[andy37]

Some pics of the tank room. The intention is to brick that narrow corridor shut about 2/3rds back, leaving 1/3 as a store room. Then to come through with a door from outside for access. The low grey wall that is visible here and in the earlier pics will be removed to allow access to the tank from the room. This access will be from the one side panel, the extended access will be via a 700mm X 2000mm panel on the back wall above the tank.

[iseeweed]

sweet..

[andy37]

Ok, its a go! I am ordering the glass, pool pump, skimmer and lights this weekend. The recess has been squared off and the lintels fitted. I will continue the project in this thread, but will PM the Mods to change the thread title.

[andy37]

Some pics from this weekend. Final measurements for the glass order were taken yesterday. I am fighting a bit with the sump and its design, the sheer volume of siphon and overflow water that needs to be accommodated in the event of a power out is spooky.....

[Subcomandante Marcos]

Dude, this is way too advanced for the NRF Moving to the GRD.

Move it to the nano section.