Remodeling a room with a live tank. Possible?

[Reef_puck]

Going to do the remodel the living room where my 90g reef tank is in. This will consist of tearing down wood paneling and possibly the Sheetrock underneath. Ceiling will have new lights out in so a significant amount if dust/dort will be made. Moving some electric outlets to hang a tv. May try to keep the laminate wood flooring. But I know there is probably water damage around the tank now. Will have to move the tank to get to the walls near it. Will need painting and lots of dust from the work.

I don’t have room for the tank anywhere else.

My thoughts are I have to tear it all down. I can get some Rubbermaid tubs for the rock coral and fish or just give them away to the LFS. If I give it away then it s easy to just get a is if the livestock and the tank and equipment just put out in the curb and get out of the hobby. I don’t see how I could keep the tank going with redoing the room.

Don’t think the livestock would last in tubs for a month or 2 with no light, skimmer anyways with just a heater and power head. Then put the tank outside while the work is taking place and reconstructing after. If any livestock is still alive try to rebuild?

Anyone else been through this?

 

[KrisReef]

I moved our ~100 gallon fish tank when our floor was replaced. It was very stressful for the fish (12 hours, I had hoped it would be much quicker). It was a mistake to not have a better plan to protect the fish.

It was easy to move in my situation. What you describe, I would either quit the hobby or donate the livestock and store the live rock wet, and clean and store the tank in the garage if I was going to restart the tank after the remodel.

Get the tank out of the house so that you can focus and do the remodel right without having the anchor-tank standing in the way of progress. /$0.02.

Out -N- In!

 

[Reef_puck]

So doing this is starting over regardless. Will call some LFS to see who will take it.

 

[SkylineView]

So this is an interesting question and one I’ve been struggling to sort out as well. I have a 100 gallon system on my ground floor. We desperately need to redo the floors on the 2nd and 3rd floors but they are all wide open to each other (goofy townhouse with cut throughs and voids). Fumes and dust will make it down big time.

So here’s my best idea… I could fully tent and seal the tank (tank, stand, sump, lights, ato reservoir). It would be in a big plastic bag; multiple layers of plastic sheeting taped together. The bottom would be connected to the floor (concrete). Obviously this needs airflow, so I could get some cheap duct work and run an “in” line to the sump and an “out” line from the top of the tank. Both would go to a nearby window and also be sealed. I’d put a fan on the end of one of them to create some air movement.

Had anyone tried this?

 

[Ef4life]

If you can work around the aquarium and put up a plastic barrier to protect it and get the majority of the work done, then move the tank to a new finished area, mask it off again, and finish remodeling the old area where the tank was. Then move it back.

 

[Ef4life]

So this is an interesting question and one I’ve been struggling to sort out as well. I have a 100 gallon system on my ground floor. We desperately need to redo the floors on the 2nd and 3rd floors but they are all wide open to each other (goofy townhouse with cut throughs and voids). Fumes and dust will make it down big time.

So here’s my best idea… I could fully tent and seal the tank (tank, stand, sump, lights, ato reservoir). It would be in a big plastic bag; multiple layers of plastic sheeting taped together. The bottom would be connected to the floor (concrete). Obviously this needs airflow, so I could get some cheap duct work and run an “in” line to the sump and an “out” line from the top of the tank. Both would go to a nearby window and also be sealed. I’d put a fan on the end of one of them to create some air movement.

Had anyone tried this?

That would work well. Definitely needs the ventilation. Flexible dryer duct and a cheap inline duct fan would be all you need. I would put a filter mesh on the exterior air intake side to minimize any dust that might be coming from outside. Use zipper walls to be able to open up the plastic and access your aquarium for cleaning and feeding etc

 

[Reef_puck]

not a bad idea. Still a tear down to move I guess. And when doing that nothing goes back the same. Have to consider it.

 

[mfinn]

Going to do the remodel the living room where my 90g reef tank is in. This will consist of tearing down wood paneling and possibly the Sheetrock underneath. Ceiling will have new lights out in so a significant amount if dust/dort will be made. Moving some electric outlets to hang a tv. May try to keep the laminate wood flooring. But I know there is probably water damage around the tank now. Will have to move the tank to get to the walls near it. Will need painting and lots of dust from the work.

I don’t have room for the tank anywhere else.

My thoughts are I have to tear it all down. I can get some Rubbermaid tubs for the rock coral and fish or just give them away to the LFS. If I give it away then it s easy to just get a is if the livestock and the tank and equipment just put out in the curb and get out of the hobby. I don’t see how I could keep the tank going with redoing the room.

Don’t think the livestock would last in tubs for a month or 2 with no light, skimmer anyways with just a heater and power head. Then put the tank outside while the work is taking place and reconstructing after. If any livestock is still alive try to rebuild?

Anyone else been through this?

I guess it depends on how much you have invested in the tank and the corals and fish. If they mean alot to you, it might be worth it to move the tank to another room and set it up until the remodel is done.
If you can provide a stable environment for the tank you won't feel pressured to cut corners on the remodel.
Sounds like the remodel is going to be pretty extensive, so if it were me, I move the tank completely out of the way and go for it.

 

[Reef_puck]

Tear down it is. Anyone local to Rockland county want anything?

 

[Fish Fan]

Could you move your livestock to a temporary 60B from PetCo in another room, drain and move the main tank for the renovation, then set the main tank back up afterwards? This way you can keep your livestock.

 

[KrisReef]

Bumping for live Reefers near Rocklyn, NY.

 

[mfinn]

Could you move your livestock to a temporary 60B from PetCo in another room, drain and move the main tank for the renovation, then set the main tank back up afterwards? This way you can keep your livestock.

That was my thought

 

[JumboShrimp]

Where there's a will, there's a way. Best wish whichever rout you finally settle on.

 

[fish_collector]

It sounds like the OP is looking for an excuse to just get out of the hobby.

A 90g takes up 8 sqft, one could surely give that up for a month or two while renovations are going on. There's no room in one of the bedrooms, hallway, kitchen? Breaking down a tank and moving it is a 2 hour job at the most if you have somewhere to put the water.

I can take 120lbs of rocks out of my fowlr to catch a fish and then put them all back in 1/2 hour tops. It's not that big of a deal, but like I said it sounds like the OP is looking for a reason to exit the hobby.

 

[Reef_puck]

Well coral attached to multiple rocks will get broken. And a 60g breeder on the floor? Just put in a Powerhead, heater and put the lights over it is enough for 2 months? No skimmer, no auto top off , And here is a pic. This will fit in a 60g. Purple tang, tomini tang, red cardinal, 2 clowns, filefish, royal gamma, Christmas wrasse and a fairy wrasse. Some sps, few LPs, green sinularia and devils hand, pincushion urchin, snails and crabs.

I am guessing not sand and that would have to be put back into the main when reassembled and cycled.

Old pic

 

[Salman123]

Hi, I sent you a pm.

 

[Fish Fan]

Well coral attached to multiple rocks will get broken. And a 60g breeder on the floor? Just put in a Powerhead, heater and put the lights over it is enough for 2 months? No skimmer, no auto top off , And here is a pic. This will fit in a 60g. Purple tang, tomini tang, red cardinal, 2 clowns, filefish, royal gamma, Christmas wrasse and a fairy wrasse. Some sps, few LPs, green sinularia and devils hand, pincushion urchin, snails and crabs.

I am guessing not sand and that would have to be put back into the main when reassembled and cycled.

Old pic

Just a couple more thoughts that I hope will help.

I did not know what you had for livestock, but I suggested a 60B because they are inexpensive from PetCo on sale, and because it shares the same footprint as your 90.

I know you're downstate, I am near Canandaigua, but if we were closer I could build you a 2x4 stand for about ten bucks in about an hour. If you or anyone you know is reasonably handy, I can post a link for plans for a 2x4 stand that's very easy to build and plenty strong. You could build it with a circular saw or even a jig saw and a drill gun. If you have access to a miter saw, even better.

There's really no cycle to worry about here. If you move your rocks over to the temporary tank, they are already cycled, and the tank will more or less be instantly cycled. Same when you rebuild your DT.

You could run that temporary tank with not much more than a heater and circulation pumps, for two months would be fine. You could top up manually, or certainly you could attach an ATO to this tank.

Recently, I took in all the fish and livestock from a local reefer who was breaking their tank down, and asked that I take everything or nothing. I was a little unprepared, but here is a temporary 60B on a simple 2x4 stand with a couple of heaters, a circ pump, and a HOB filter. Yes, that's a 36" freshwater light strip precariously resting on some scrap boards. Today, I added a very cheap ATO that I took off of one of my small freshwater tanks. I do not normally suggest using a cheap ATO, but I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow, and I needed something on this tank more than I needed the ATO on my freshwater tank.

Of course, if this is a time when you think it may be best to break down your tank, and either exist the hobby, take a short break, or hit it hard on the rebuild, that's certainly your call

Good luck!

 

[mfinn]

Well coral attached to multiple rocks will get broken. And a 60g breeder on the floor? Just put in a Powerhead, heater and put the lights over it is enough for 2 months? No skimmer, no auto top off , And here is a pic. This will fit in a 60g. Purple tang, tomini tang, red cardinal, 2 clowns, filefish, royal gamma, Christmas wrasse and a fairy wrasse. Some sps, few LPs, green sinularia and devils hand, pincushion urchin, snails and crabs.

I am guessing not sand and that would have to be put back into the main when reassembled and cycled.

Maybe a cinder block stand with 2" x 12", - 2 layers? Just to get it off the ground so it can be seen easier?
For a couple months you could get away with no skimmer ( heck maybe longer) .You would have to do manual top off.
Just set it up somewhere out of the way, but still in view so and thing happening to it can be corrected right away.
You will need to maintain it as if you have it set up in the main area you have it now.
I would not re-use the sand.
If you keep the rock submerged and maintained moving everything back to the final spot will not cause a major cycle.
Just plan out the setups and make a list.

 

[Reef_puck]

One random though is to do one side of the room then the other. Tape off the tank area as suggested above. I don’t know how bad that would be pulling walls and putting backup, sanding and painting. Once that side is done then move the tank (or get a larger tank if my equipment is enough as don’t want to buy everything over.). Issue is if I have to do the floor. Can the contractor do 1/2 the floor at a time

Moving the tank is a still a tear down and move. I guess 5 rubbermaids to put the rock and fish/corals in. Drain the tank, Pull the livestock rock. Disconnect all the plumbing and pumps. Get someone to move the tank and stand to the other side of the room. Reassemble and then put new sand and all livestock back in. Sound about right?

If I went larger is it the same. New sand and no cycle? I would need new lighting as more area but hopefully the sump is enough and skimmer.

 

[braaap]

I’ve done many remodels around my tanks. If they didn’t have to be moved they got wrapped in plastic for the day and uncovered in the evening. If they had to be moved we relocated them during the remodel. Never any issues.

The plastic method I always wrap the entire tank/stand. Then cover the top. That way I just uncover the top in the evening. Tank still got plenty of light and everyone was happy. Not a huge deal.