I am posting this in the newbie corner as my first thread for several reasons.
1. I know a little about a lot, but still would not come close to knowing everything this hobby (and yes if you call it a hobby you are still green, soon it becomes a way of life, and for a few a religion) has to offer.
2. I have always been into tanks, freshwater far too long. However it is only of late my saltwater has gone beyond FOWLR. (Fish only with live rock, you will see it a lot.) (speaking of which, we need a glossary for acryn, is there one?)
3. As this is going to be from scratch we will be able to walk through everything step by step, so a newbie can jump to where they find themselves.
Ok so some primer. I am now in a 90 gal tall show tank. I was fowlr for quite some time, only recently changing my mind and picking up some minor frags. I have a sump, and just put in a fuge Above my tank on a shelf. (That is a whole other discussion, I’m me.)
However I literally just bought a 300 Gallon glass tank, stand, and canopy. In fact so recent, I have not moved it here yet. So I can take pictures step by step.
Now in my case, a tank of any size has no value, function, purpose being setup in a basement, unless finished, and the primary hang out location of the family. So I have already contacted several Structural engineers to calculate, design, and certify the house won't turn into a black hole. And yes folks, with that kind of weight, don't chance it. However 100 gallons, you should be fine on an outside wall near the wall. If you’re going for the middle of a room, with no joists, be safe and have it looked at.
So my new tank. Its 8 feet long, 2 feet wide and 31 inches tall. It has a stand. It has a canopy. It has some pvc pipes and plumbing, but I suspect most will be useless. I have no bulkheads in the 2 built in overflows. No lights, no sump, no fudge, no pumps, no nothing.
So you see literally from scratch. I hope you’re excited, I am.
So the Tank and stand and canopy are due to move Sunday. I could always use another guy, as the tank itself weighs over 700 lbs. We will set it on the floor because we are not yet ready to setup. I know, drag. I will work on staining and sanding and some sort of clear coat or protective layer now. Keep in mind, 2 of us could not lift this later, and who wants to tear down a tank again?
So time for a recommendation from those more experienced. We need some recommendations on stains or water proofing coats?
While this takes place, the structural engineer will have to figure out if the floor can take it. In my case it will go on an outer wall and thus be load bearing. It will touch 5 or 6 (depends on placement) joists. These joists go from one side of the foundation to the other and span just over 15’. They are 19” off center 2x12’s. If I get close enough to the wall the rear will be over the cement foundation to a degree, but negligible. This does not matter as the cement does not go all the way to the joists, since the ribbon joist(?) sits in between. So this engineer will have to say if the floor can take it, and if not, what must be done to make it so? One thing I have learned; do not just add support column(s) to the cement floor. That floor (least mine) is designed to float up and down. If it cannot in your area it could crack the cement or worse push your floor above up and create undesirable and potentially destructive stress points on your tank.
So for those doing the math to figure high saltwater is 8.4 (rounded) lbs per gallon. =2520 lbs. The tank 800 lbs. The stand and canopy roughly 200 lbs or less. Add a sump, fuge or both later and perhaps another 100 gallons =840. So now we exceed 2 tons by 360 lbs (4360lbs) and I have not added live rock, substrate, lights, pumps, people nearby, let alone the critters. Don’t forget, all this in the small footprint of a 8’x 2’ section. Ouch.
So this is the first week. Let’s pause here, hear questions, comments or suggestions on finishing stains, engineering, or anything related to the first portion of this project. I don’t mind hearing any jealousy either; lord knows I have dished out quite a bit in the past. Guess it’s my coming up dues. Hey, if you want to see the tank from the jump, we could always use a few more people to help load and off load. It would mean a lot.
Also, my existing tank is right smack where this puppy needs to go. And since I suggested the wife could get a cow fish we may keep it, though somewhere else. Possibly an outer wall on the opposite side of the house so as to keep it from tipping over. (joke, I just can’t help but think of the congressman who said he was worried about sending aid to Guam because so many people could make the island capsize. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNZczIgVXjg)
Pics coming soon.
1. I know a little about a lot, but still would not come close to knowing everything this hobby (and yes if you call it a hobby you are still green, soon it becomes a way of life, and for a few a religion) has to offer.
2. I have always been into tanks, freshwater far too long. However it is only of late my saltwater has gone beyond FOWLR. (Fish only with live rock, you will see it a lot.) (speaking of which, we need a glossary for acryn, is there one?)
3. As this is going to be from scratch we will be able to walk through everything step by step, so a newbie can jump to where they find themselves.
Ok so some primer. I am now in a 90 gal tall show tank. I was fowlr for quite some time, only recently changing my mind and picking up some minor frags. I have a sump, and just put in a fuge Above my tank on a shelf. (That is a whole other discussion, I’m me.)
However I literally just bought a 300 Gallon glass tank, stand, and canopy. In fact so recent, I have not moved it here yet. So I can take pictures step by step.
Now in my case, a tank of any size has no value, function, purpose being setup in a basement, unless finished, and the primary hang out location of the family. So I have already contacted several Structural engineers to calculate, design, and certify the house won't turn into a black hole. And yes folks, with that kind of weight, don't chance it. However 100 gallons, you should be fine on an outside wall near the wall. If you’re going for the middle of a room, with no joists, be safe and have it looked at.
So my new tank. Its 8 feet long, 2 feet wide and 31 inches tall. It has a stand. It has a canopy. It has some pvc pipes and plumbing, but I suspect most will be useless. I have no bulkheads in the 2 built in overflows. No lights, no sump, no fudge, no pumps, no nothing.
So you see literally from scratch. I hope you’re excited, I am.
So the Tank and stand and canopy are due to move Sunday. I could always use another guy, as the tank itself weighs over 700 lbs. We will set it on the floor because we are not yet ready to setup. I know, drag. I will work on staining and sanding and some sort of clear coat or protective layer now. Keep in mind, 2 of us could not lift this later, and who wants to tear down a tank again?
So time for a recommendation from those more experienced. We need some recommendations on stains or water proofing coats?
While this takes place, the structural engineer will have to figure out if the floor can take it. In my case it will go on an outer wall and thus be load bearing. It will touch 5 or 6 (depends on placement) joists. These joists go from one side of the foundation to the other and span just over 15’. They are 19” off center 2x12’s. If I get close enough to the wall the rear will be over the cement foundation to a degree, but negligible. This does not matter as the cement does not go all the way to the joists, since the ribbon joist(?) sits in between. So this engineer will have to say if the floor can take it, and if not, what must be done to make it so? One thing I have learned; do not just add support column(s) to the cement floor. That floor (least mine) is designed to float up and down. If it cannot in your area it could crack the cement or worse push your floor above up and create undesirable and potentially destructive stress points on your tank.
So for those doing the math to figure high saltwater is 8.4 (rounded) lbs per gallon. =2520 lbs. The tank 800 lbs. The stand and canopy roughly 200 lbs or less. Add a sump, fuge or both later and perhaps another 100 gallons =840. So now we exceed 2 tons by 360 lbs (4360lbs) and I have not added live rock, substrate, lights, pumps, people nearby, let alone the critters. Don’t forget, all this in the small footprint of a 8’x 2’ section. Ouch.
So this is the first week. Let’s pause here, hear questions, comments or suggestions on finishing stains, engineering, or anything related to the first portion of this project. I don’t mind hearing any jealousy either; lord knows I have dished out quite a bit in the past. Guess it’s my coming up dues. Hey, if you want to see the tank from the jump, we could always use a few more people to help load and off load. It would mean a lot.
Also, my existing tank is right smack where this puppy needs to go. And since I suggested the wife could get a cow fish we may keep it, though somewhere else. Possibly an outer wall on the opposite side of the house so as to keep it from tipping over. (joke, I just can’t help but think of the congressman who said he was worried about sending aid to Guam because so many people could make the island capsize. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNZczIgVXjg)
Pics coming soon.
