Inwall 260 build - Replaced with a 210

D

DeMarcusR

I've finally decided to get off my rear and figure out what I'm going to do with the 260 gallon that sitting in my friend's garage collecting dust.
Originally I was going to put it in the wall but found out the wall I wanted to use was a load bearing wall. I then contacted a few people to build a stand and canopy but the height I wanted would have cost between $700 & $1300, which I really wasn't inclined to spend.

Yesterday I just decided to do somewhat of a "built-in"...
I'm going to build a book shelf around the aquarium just so i could take up the full wall.

Here are two pictures just to show the concept..

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Please ignore the colors, they are just to show depth...

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Now to the hard stuff :)
Do I have this unit go all the way to the ceiling or do I just let the whole thing be about 70 inches tall (stand is 40 inches tall and the aquarium is 30 inches)

If I take it all the way to the ceiling, I want to install a heat vent so I can pull the hot air out the canopy and push it out the vent in my attic... I'm also considering running a small duct from the a/c to the canopy so I can cool air running across the water surface, this way I could possibly eliminate the need for a chiller in the summer and heaters in the winter.

Which ever route I decide to go (ceiling or not) would effect my lighting configuration. If I have the unit go all the way to the ceiling, I'd have to hang pendants in the canopy, or either only have the canopy itself go up so high then turn the remaining area above the canopy into bookshelfs also.

I need you guys assistance in deciding which route to take.


Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
 
I may be wrong here. But wouldn't the humidy of a fish tank be bad for your books on shelf right next to the tank. Just my 2 cents.
 
@gravedigger wrote:
I may be wrong here. But wouldn't the humidy of a fish tank be bad for your books on shelf right next to the tank. Just my 2 cents. said:
I actually thought of that also.
I kinda figured if I were to do the two vents, it should be too bad :?:
I personally dont know.. I've never done anything close
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@djr2001 wrote:
Yesterday I just decided to do somewhat of a "built-in"... I'm going to build a book shelf around the aquarium just so i could take up the full wall. said:
Hmmmmmm Sounds familiar. :wink:

When I was doing my rough designing for what your tank was going to be set up in my house I came up with the following:

I would place 2 or more silent computer to blow cool air into the canopy (The shelves on the side of the canopy would not have books but knick knacks that could be easily moved, and the back wall of that shelf could be lifted/removed to have access to the side of the tank). I was then going to place in the 'room' behind the tank an exhaust fan to suck air up and out of the house (above where the tank would go is the roof; no attic). This in turn would remove most is not all the humidity generated by the tank.
Click to expand...
 
I'm actually going to vent the air from the aquarium out the side vent on the house (there is a fan there to pull some of the hot air out of the attic).
I didn't know if just venting into the attic would be a good idea or not so I decided to just go ahead and remove it from the house all together...

Now, what about the a/c vent to the canopy? I've seen discussions in the past about moisture going into the a/c vent when the air is not running. My idea to avoid this was to add a 'flap' similar to what is used on a dryer line that only opens when air is blowing..
 
Okay time for an update...

I've got my stand 80% complete. The frame is done. now all I have to do is put the outside skin on.

I've decided against placing a duct from the a/c into the canopy because it really wouldn't make a difference in the water temperature, especially since I keep the a/c set at 80 and the tank is in the rear of the house. It'd never be as cool as the rest of the house. There are going to be 2 fairly large computer fans on each end of the canopy to suck in the cool air from the room. I figured this would be more efficient and cost effective than attempting to run an a/c duct. I'm still going to go ahead and place the exhaust vent in the canopy and run the line to the outside. I've found a fairly quiet one at Home Depot for about $13.


Now I'm trying to figure out the best approach for lighting.
I've decided I'm going to go with 2 10,000k 400watt halides on each end.
I was considering a 400w 14000k or 20000k in the center but the center brace is made of 3/4 inch glass and spans 18 inches across the top. now I'm considering just going with 4 6ft actinic vho suppliments. I'm completely undecided on how to configure the lighting.. (I'm open for feedback from the community as always :lol: )
Any recommendations?


I'll post pictures as soon as possible....
 
I can not wait for the pics. I have been contemplating doing the same thing for a litle while now. I have been slowly buying some of the materials as I can.
 
Yea, let's see some pics. I've thought about doing something like this if I ever sell my house and move into a new one.
 
@djr2001 wrote:
I've found a fairly quiet one at Home Depot for about $13. Now I'm trying to figure out the best approach for lighting. I've decided I'm going to go with 2 10 said:
What fan did you find for $13?

The section in the center will appear to be darker unfortunately, whether you have a light over it or not. Can you live with that is the big question.

My tank is 30" tall, and I have 250w - 400w - 250w over it (10,000K - 20,000K - 10,000K), plus two 6' actinic VHOs.
Click to expand...
 
Marc,
I dont remember which fan it was. I remember there were some that were way more expensive and one which was cheaper but the noise level was higher. The $13 was fairly quiet even when compared to the more expensive ones.

As far as lighting, I kinda figured the center would be darker.
I'm debating whether I want to purchase 3 400w setups from hellolights @ 89.99 each or purchase two of them and just use the VHOs that are on my 75.

What would be the best lighting option in you guys opinions? i'm hoping to keep a few sps (eventually). This is going to be a mixed reef; I'm not going towards a single type of corals. I like a mixture of everything...
 
I've started brewing RO and salt water earlier this morning.
After 12 hours, I've got the aquarium a little less that 1/3 full. (I should probably go ahead and finish the front of the cabinet.... :) )
I'm only going to fill it about 75% since I dont have the sump and plumbing in yet. (just trying to get water in and mixed up). When I do a water change from my 75g, I'm going to dump the water in the 260.
Anybody with a large tank care to drop off their old water at my house? :lol:





On another note, I figured out why this beast is sooo heavy.
On top of being 3/4 glass, when looking at the bottom of the tank the other night I noticed there were two additional layers of glass. One of these layers of glass is 1 inch tempered glass then there is another layer of about 1/4 in. :shock:
 
Okay.. 50% full. No leaks. Stand hasn't caved in yet :D

I'm going to hold off on putting anymore water in it until I get the sump in place, purchase a return pump, and something to house the pump and chiller outside the house..

Can someone recommend a return pump? I'm going to house the pump outside my home, at max 15 feet.


I'm thinking I'd like something in the ballpark area of 2000gph.. :?:
I'm hoping to keep a variety of creatures in the tank so, I'll need enough flow to accomidate everyone (sps, lps, and everything inbetween). I do have a tunze to go with whatever return pump I choose. The mag7 thats currently on my 75 will be used for the UV and Closed loop..
 
Here are the pictures as promissed.
They really aren't the best and I wasn't able to take as many as originally planned because I lost the camera during the construction phase.


Base
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I had to build inside the house due to the size and because I'm doing this project by myself. I knew I wouldn't be able to move the stand from the garage to the back of the house.
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I decided against the three pieces of wood acoss the top, didn't appear very sturdy. (remember, this is the first thing I've ever built...)
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This one shows the floor of the stand
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DeMarcus,

Hey! I was having trouble posting pics earlier, but they finally went through. Check out the pics I posted in your "chiller" thread. Let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

Matt
 
I've decided to hold off on putting the front on the cabinet until I get the sump in place, so there are no problems as far as getting it to fit....
I anticipate purchasing the sump in two weeks when I get paid again. This friday I'm going to purchase a couple of lights and some rock. (and pay the dreaded mortgage)
 
As always, I'm concerned when I see lumber lying flat instead of on end. A 2x4 on end will stay straight and true (provided it doesn't get wet or have knots), compared to one that will bow downward due to pressure.

Adding more lumber on edge and secured tightly against the flat boards will support them better.

For a pump, the Seqence Dart uses 160w of power, runs externally, and provides 3600gph at 0 head. Pushing 25 feet :?: you'll probably get something more like 1000gph or less. Which is fine. You don't need a ton of flow coming from the return pump.
 
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