Tank dropping thru 1/2" Red oak

[wrightme43]

Hello all. Here is a good one for you. Ok I got a call on tuesday from a lady who had just bought a new house. She said it came with a huge saltwater aquarium, (just a 150) and it was making a funny noise. I said I would be out as soon as I could. I wish I had brought a camera.
Ok Huge house, Very Nice. Tank is in a built in Red Oak entertainment center. There is a gap at the top of about 5" on each side of about 3" and you can see the N.O. striplights hanging uneven from rusty chain. No background with lots of cords just hanging on a tank that has not been cleaned in months. On the plus side there is one live damsel fish in the tank. I opened the sump, and of course it was sucking air. So I added water just to see it run. It has the two U-tube siphons and a super cheap overflow. A sump smaller than 20 gallons, a protien skimmer made from a very small rio in a tube with a airline jamed in the intake. I notice huge huge amounts of salt all over everything. Including the powerstrips laying in the floor of the stand. And about 4 gallons of bioballs. One other upside it has approx. 120-150 lbs of tonga branch and marshall island rock. Well I get to looking more. I notice the return and the outflow have no clamps on them. So I start to wonder where in the heck is all of the salt coming from. I mean the whole back of the tank is covered, and the whole inside of the cabinet is covered in it. Then I notice that the the cornor where the overflow is, there is wet wood, then with the flash light I see the back cornor of the tank has pushed the wood down about 3/4-1" So the tank is twisted and basicly about to come thru the wood or catch on fire, which ever happens first.
I took out all the bio balls, since there was only one fish. I ordered a ASM G1X skimmer (the biggest that would fit in the sump) I know its not the best but it would fit. A CPR overflow. and gave one of my powerstrips. Oh Yeah it doesnt have a heater at all. I got a 4'x8' sheet of 3/4 exterior plywood, and a gallon of marine spar ureathane. It has 2 coats so far and I will have 4-5 coats by friday when I go back. I enlisted her son and two friends to help to remove rock, and tank. The plan is to cut out all of the bad oak and into the good. Cut a piece of 3/4 plywood to fit that hole, and brace under it. Then put down a piece of 3/4 plywood exact fit to the opening in the stand, and silocone around it it to seal it. Then drill new holes for the new return and overflow (Hard plumb with spaflex) Reinstall the tank and rock, plus a massive waterchange. Next major purchase is vho or pc retro kits and making trim strips to cover the open area around the tank. Plus we will be installing background of course and new power strips and a heater. I will try to sell her on the American dj powerpanel, but she says she is broke just bought new house, and a.c. unit plus all of this. Anybody with better or different ideas please post. I would like some input, as this is the first major tank woodwork repair I have attempted. I have ability to do it. But there are always good ideas to be had here. I also have the kreg pocket joint hole system and will be using it as well to increase support of the plywood. Thanks you all. Steve

 

[Electrokate]

Wow, where's the free part of that deal for her?
So are you putting additional support under the tank? I have a friend who is a builder, he put a 150 in his wall and said it had it's own concrete foundation. I am contemplating installing a 150 myself, not sure my floor can take it though. Long as the tank is down would be a good time to brace up the floor under all. Sure glad she called you and not someone who would just do a cleaning, water change and sell her some more fish!
Kate

 

[wrightme43]

LOL Well I am the guy who will sell her some more fish, cleaning, waterchange, and all that as well. I own Serene Aquatics, I have been doing setups, and maintence on fresh, salt, and reeftanks. It is definitely not free. LOL I get to have fun, and she gets to have a nice fishtank. I just try very hard to make the best tank and experince I can for people. I get alot of compliments, and I have only lost one client (I still think I did the right thing) and all the rest have given or at least have stated they would be glad to be a refereal. So its a good business and lots of fun for me, and I really dont have to work for a living, I just get to play with fish, and other peoples money. LOL Steve

 

[NaH2O]

Steve - that's quite an undertaking! Was the water coming from a leak in the tank? I don't know that I can offer much advice about the wood repair, but I would also look (if you can) at the floor supports from below. We reinforced the floor where my tank is. Let us know how the project goes!

 

[wrightme43]

The water was dripping from a rubber fitting on the overflow. As far as I can tell the tank is not leaking. My worry is that when I bring the tank back to level it will start leaking. All I can really do is cross my fingers and hope. It was a very slow leak, just enough to keep the wood damp, not enough to make it supersoft or it would of broken thru. I have just put the third thick coat of helmsman spar urathane on the piece of wood I am going to replace it with. I think I could set it on the bottom of the lake for a week and it would be dry when it came up. I am going to silicone around the edges as well. The floor is unbraced but the tank does run perpendicular to the floor joists. There is no bounce in the floor and it is a very well constructed home. 800,000$ homes in rural Kentucky tend to be huge and very well built. Its only at most 2000lbs. I think it will be ok from looking at it, and under it. Thanks alot for looking and thinking about it. I appreciate it. Steve