In Wall - going for it! - seeking your ideas/feedback/advice

[trido]

Here are a couple builtin threads with stealth access panel designs. http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=70766 Louey's 300G http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=77868 Rich's 150G. I helped build the second one in Cali right before I moved back and have to say that I really dont care for stealth access panels. I found it better to just go for the gusto and make it ornate. With your crown moulding throughout the house I think that you and your wife would enjoy something like this one here http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=446 this isnt an access but we could come up with something nice. Im sure.

AS far as budget. Start with the acceptable number, cut the whole as Don said, get half the materials and then there really is no turning back regardless of cost overruns. Works like a charm! You simply forget to put the cost of PVC, mouldings, and some plywood in the budget. It just takes some time for the wounds to heal. Or maybe a wet bar. Marriage is all about compromise. Isnt it?

 

[trido]

Also, Maybe I want to space it out more so that I double the number of outputs I have? I.e, instead of 8, I would have 16.

thoughts on that?

That is how I have my barracuda set up. I have near infinate control of my directional flow. I forget whether I am using drum version two or three on my OM super squirt right now. I killed three acros when I tried version one recently.

 

[class clown]

I helped build the second one in Cali right before I moved back and have to say that I really dont care for stealth access panels. I found it better to just go for the gusto and make it ornate. With your crown moulding throughout the house I think that you and your wife would enjoy something like this one here http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=446 this isnt an access but we could come up with something nice. Im sure.

Now that's what I've been looking for - beautiful! big thick oversized trim, ornate & eye catching. wow.. yes... that's the look.. now how to make that an access panel? hmmm

AS far as budget. Start with the acceptable number, cut the whole as Don said, get half the materials and then there really is no turning back regardless of cost overruns. Works like a charm! You simply forget to put the cost of PVC, mouldings, and some plywood in the budget. It just takes some time for the wounds to heal. Or maybe a wet bar. Marriage is all about compromise. Isnt it?

Welcome to the enabeler's list Duane - Don, and Jan are right there with ya. too funny.

 

[class clown]

That is how I have my barracuda set up. I have near infinate control of my directional flow. I forget whether I am using drum version two or three on my OM super squirt right now. I killed three acros when I tried version one recently.

thank you Jesse and Duane for pushing my plumbing estimate near close to $600 (chuckle)

Hmm.. maybe I shoudl just buy DisturbedReefer's cube for parts... It's almost economically feasable.

 

[servo]

Jumpin in a little late, but not too late

I have a 400 gallon in wall. If you would like to read about what I did, I can supply you a link to that "other" inferior web site .

Anyway, a couple of quick points.

Budget. Really, get your wife on board. The bottom line is that it costs a TON of cash. I probably spent about 20K . Now, I didn't do any of the construction. But here are some things that I think are essential.

1) Spend the extra money on a custom tank! Don't let a manufacture dictate the size. IMHO, go DEEP!!!! I would do a cube tank with plenty of space for swim valleys!

2) You NEED front access. PERIOD! My buddy had the same idea that you have and is seriously depressed that he can't access the tank from the front. There are 1000 benefits to this!

You would never know that there is front access. It can look slick if done right. The picture frame look IMO, is limiting and not so esthetically pleasing. Use your wood work in the house to your benefit if possible.

3) Make sure that your sump is long enough so microbubbles will not be a problem. I used a sequence hammerhead, and plummed everything with it!

4) The Luminarcs are the way to GO!

5) When you aquascape, do it dry for stability, once the rock is laid out, use a 1/4 inch masonary drill bit to drill in multiple holes to use the pegging technique for placing your corals. If you are not familar with this, I'll chime in with more details, but it will really save headaches with placement and allow you to put tabling acros and motipora capricornis and even encrusing montis on the sides of the rock without problems!

6) With an inwall and no limits with space, I would absolutely have the manufacture install external overflows. It will really help with aquascaping.
I have a ton of other antecdotes, but thats off the top of my head. I'll be following along!

 

[servo]

The panel is a flip top that is hinged with two big piano hinges.

Any good carpenter will hook you up!

 

[spongebob lover]

nice house dood :lol:.
i like what your carpenter did .

 

[class clown]

Servo - Now that's what I want!!! That woodwork around the tank is unreal! I would like the link to that other "inferior" site you mentioned, and I would like you to post it on the forum here too (I'm sure plenty of others would love to read about it too).

Not too late at all - jsut in the planning stages:

• I'm on board with 75% of point #1 - (100% agree with the go deep part, only half on board w/ the $ part ). The good news is though, I've already got most of the supporting equipment for a larger tank, sump, chiller, calc reactor, lights, LR, etc..
• I'm totally on baord with points 2-5 - agree and this is exellent advice - I'll make sure I do them all - I'm totallly drilling the rocks together dry this time. I'm known for my numerious rock slides in my current tank and that is a reputation I'd like to loose :lol:
• I'm not totally sold on the external overflow part - not that I'm against them, but I'd have to hear some more about why this option makes sense. Over the back overflow's have their downsides with reliability too I beleive.

thank you for chiming in.. tank is gorgeous and absolutely something I'd want in my house as a feature. between your and duane's post today, I've got a whole new vision of what this could turn out like.

I still don't get the hinge thing on your's and how it works. I'd love to see what it looks like opened up - maybe those pics would be on the "other forum", but in case they're not, could you post some here please. thanks,
Ben

 

[spongebob lover]

other forum...come on is it reef central??
i agree with Ben dood, let's see more please

 

[class clown]

hinge on top (where plack part dotted line is)? flips out and upwards I assume? how do you get it to stay upwards while you have your hands in the tank? and how thick (tall) is the molding above the tank

showed my wife this look and she's gung ho now!

 

[Jan]

All right!!!


I wonder if he has some kind of prop on that flip-top, like when you open the hood of your car and it rests on that metal prop thingy...or maybe some of those folding hinge thingys, like on an old-fashioned flip-top desks.

Beautiful tank and house, Mr. Dallas-Fort Worth!

 

[class clown]

so still waiting to hear from a few folks on tanks, so started searching at Lowes for some trimwork and found a couple headboards:

EverTrue Hartford Mantel Shelf 5' Paint Grade Unfinished --$159


EverTrue Bentley Mantel Shelf 5' Paint Grade Unfinished -- $209



I could use these Pillars too to build the surround.

EverTrue Fluted Pilaster Kit - $66

Or, the lazyman's approach - buy a big old mantle kit and trim it to size ...

EverTrue Hartford Mantel Surround 6' Paint Grade Unfinished- $399
Interior dimensions of 52" wide by 42" high

 

[trido]

I still don't get the hinge thing on your's and how it works. I'd love to see what it looks like opened up - maybe those pics would be on the "other forum", but in case they're not, could you post some here please. thanks,
Ben

I already have that stuff all figured out with servos tank. A canopy, or small car hood shock can hold it open for you if you like.

We could build your trim with all of those fancy prefab pieces if you like. Or I could build you something custom as well. I dont care either way.

 

[spongebob lover]

showed my wife this look and she's gung ho now!

does that mean you can spend a little bit more ?? :lol:.
if I was you ...heck i'd buy my own molding machine and do it myself + i'm sure you could use it for other things too .
otherwise i think the first one looks better dood

 

[class clown]

I already have that stuff all figured out with servos tank. A canopy, or small car hood shock can hold it open for you if you like.

We could build your trim with all of those fancy prefab pieces if you like. Or I could build you something custom as well. I dont care either way.

SAAAWEEEET!!!!!!

 

[class clown]

does that mean you can spend a little bit more ?? :lol:.
if I was you ...heck i'd buy my own molding machine and do it myself + i'm sure you could use it for other things too .
otherwise i think the first one looks better dood

still no more, but I'm hoping once she sees the total package master plan we're putting together, she'll be all over it.

 

[NC2WA]

Ben,

Not to rain on your parade, but have you considered a generator or some type of backup device for those times when the power goes out (esp. in Nov/Dec).

This was not figured into my initial budget and I wish I had. For my size tank, a generator is a must. So I am looking at a 7000 watt Automatic Standby generators right now while Jason builds my tank.

This will be able to power up the fish tank and several rooms in our house. (selling point to the wife).

Kirk

 

[class clown]

Plan G - is this it?
What would you say if I had Jason build me one of his awesome custom tanks

• 4 x 4 x 2 clear acrylic
• continuous overflow across the black
• rock rack
• removable black out panels for the sides that velcro on
• ton's of room to aquascape

I know I'd said I'd never go acrylic again, but having the rock racks would solve half my problem, and this thing would be sweeet! It ain't cheap, but it's also a pretty good price all things considered. I don't know..I've got to sleep on it, but just got off the phone w/ Jason and I am amped about the idea of going that big.

Plan G could be the one!

 

[class clown]

Ben,

Not to rain on your parade, but have you considered a generator or some type of backup device for those times when the power goes out (esp. in Nov/Dec).

This was not figured into my initial budget and I wish I had. For my size tank, a generator is a must. So I am looking at a 7000 watt Automatic Standby generators right now while Jason builds my tank.

This will be able to power up the fish tank and several rooms in our house. (selling point to the wife).

Kirk

Got it covered. Picked a 5500w up just before the last round of storms. Wouldn't ya know it, we only lost power for a few hours. I ended up lending it to Scott and Colleen to use for their tanks too b/c they were without for days and then as soon as i brought it over to their house, their power was back on within a matter of a few hours. I swear, those things are like good luck charms. If you have one, you don't loose power. If you don't have one, you're up the creek without a paddle.

 

[LakeEd]

4X4X4... NICE SIZE!!!

I'm guessing you've decided on a Fish-Only tank, with it being that deep??? That depth is also going to be another challenge cleaning, and an access inside the house isn't going to help bunches with that for you...but does elimanate trying to figure out how to hide a hinge I guess.