550G Display + Fish Room Frag Tanks = 900G of Fun

[LisaMarie]

Looking forward to following this build!

 

[Tristren]

Thoughts and opinions needed! I was planning on having a 1" or 3/4" bulkhead on the side, and toward the top of the return section (placement doesn't really matter) -- for overflow protection, in case my display back-siphons a few extra gallons. I would plumb this directly into a floor drain, with a flow sensor that would send an alert if water ever started going through that pipe.

In terms of sizing -- what is the smallest bulkhead size I could get away with? We aren't talking about pressurized backflow, just a slow steady rise, spread across the entire sump area (not just the return). If the water level rose too high, would a 1/2" bulkhead cut it? 3/4"? 1"?

By my calculations, a 1/2" or 3/4" bulkhead would actually do it, but I wanted to ask the brain trust here. Thanks!

Depends how fast the water is coming down from the display I suppose.
What would the advantage of 1/2 be over 3/4 though?

All looks great BTW.

Tony

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

You're right, bigger is probably better for an emergency overflow drain out of the sump -- I was just trying to keep the size to the smallest possible for visual reasons. It will be on the side so I won't really even see it, aside from the plumbing that goes to a floor drain. I plan to attach a flow meter to the emergency tubing to talk to my Apex if water ever goes down that tubing!

Advanced Acrylics, based out of Anaheim, CA - has been amazing to work with so far. The shell is all PVC, which I love, with supporting internals made from acrylic. This is my final drawing -- lots and lots of holes in the top PVC for dosing and supporting equipment!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Great layout ! Wish I had this room for my big Boy. eats my living room but enjoyable to watch

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

Behold -- drywall has started!! Everything is moisture-resistant purple (sometimes green) board. I'm very excited now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

These are the builds I love to see especially when it involves big tanks ! Just got done with my build several weeks ago. Hope it goes as smooth as mine did. I had the Best help !!

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

Does anyone have experience building a light rack/tray on rollers?

I was thinking of doing two separate 4-5ft trays (so I can keep light in the tank while rolling back one tray into the fish room) and I thought that getting four of these 72" pocket door hardware kits would do the trick.

Any thoughts or good examples of how to build one?

 

[AiKkz]

Love the size!!! Following along!

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

More drywall shots -- this helps explain how the fish room connects to the rest of the house

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

You can walk right up to the tank from the "house" side, which has a basement beneath, but on the tank and fish room side, it's a slab. 16x16' room for filtration fun.

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

Polyurea floor just got laid. This stuff stinks pretty badly, but it's a lot better than epoxy for wet environments

 

[TLO45]

I haven’t checked your whole thread but I noticed you are looking into a rollback lighting rack. I’ll check some old files and see if I can find what I did a number of systems ago. I went to a farm supply store (Fleet Farm in my area) and purchased barn door rails and rollers. Set all ballasts or power supplies on a plywood top and hung lights below. Worked well as long as you have room to move out of the way for maintenance on the tank. I’ll post pictures once I find them. Love these build threads like yours!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Prime example of planning rather than Planting a tank. Looks fantastic. Love the drawings.

 

[TLO45]

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

Wow, I was literally just thinking of hanging my tracks tonight. I picked up four 72" tracks from Home Depot so I can have two separate sliding tracks. Seems like an easy fix!!

 

[TLO45]

It worked well for me. Hopefully it will go smooth and turn out well.

 

[Smarkow]

More drywall shots -- this helps explain how the fish room connects to the rest of the house

Awesome build. Yeah these pictures were a huge help for me understanding what you went for

Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you!!

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

No good construction project is complete without some messed up measurements! When I framed the opening for the tank and stand, I forgot to include the fact there there would be 1/2" drywall. That means from side to side, I'm a full inch too small!

So...I moved my three electrical boxes in, and got some FRP board from Home Depot. It's rigid but flimsy, and it's good for a wet environment and only 1/16 thick. I'm pretty sure I have an extra 1/8" to play with.

When the stand is moved into place, it will all flatten out and look a little more legit. I fully acknowledge this looks terrible right now!

I protected the new polyurea floor from my painters who spray paint everywhere... Next weekend everything should be painted and I can start hanging the light rails.