Sometimes my big ideas overwhelm me

[Johnny C]

Hello my name is John im a born and raised Coloradan. i have always loved animals. I had a fresh Water 90g tank as a kid. In my twenties I built a terrarium. It was awesome except for sometimes the waterways didn’t quite work and would occasionally flood. This is when I met my wife. She always supported me in doing another one. Kids, wife, work, life got in the way. Well fast forward 18 years to a pandemic where my wife and I’s marriage comes to a friendly end after a year of courts telling us how things need to be. My daughter leaving in the middle of a shut down. I knew I had to get my mind busy doing something so I would not fall into some old ways. so I stopped in at a awesome store in Denver called the fish reef. I was a bit emotional and saw some very Pretty tanks, the glass was amazing. So thick I had no idea. built in wall tanks. Planted co2 tanks. beautiful fresh water and saltwater fish and a sidetracked mind. I told him my fears of a saltwater tank and well I ended up getting a 265 gallon tank. I start to build it. Moving this thing out of my truck into my house back and forth up and down by my self.no plans in mind just going for it. (this ends up screwing me). I start building it cutting out carpet because of my past experience with floods. Kind of get to a point on i don’t know how to move forward. And then I get called back to work. I work a lot. So now I work on this at night and on weekends. There is a lot to it but every time my mind starts slipping and going to places it shouldn’t it’s a great time to dive in and get my mind occupied. Anyway I think I have dragged on long enoug. This is the extent of my social media. I don’t do that stuff and I just joined this yesterday. So show me how this stuff works and tell me your thoughts. Criticism included. Thanks for reading my rant and take a look at my pics I decided to start taking after the tank was in the house

 

[DeniseAndy]

Welcome to the crazy side of life!
Looks like you have a good start. What lights are you using? Do you have a sump on that baby? What are you hoping to keep in there?

 

[Johnny C]

I hope to have a mixed reef. Kessil AP700 I will have 2 uv lights. My issue is my ceiling height made my sump area short. Without knowing products at all.i didn’t think this through. I need to find a short skimmer. I have found a model that will fit in the sump and big enough for the tank. I have not had much luck getting my hands on a AquaMaxx coneS q-3. I have plumbing left and I have to wait until all my products are in so I can do some cord management.. but this is where I am currently

 

[DeniseAndy]

Cool. Be careful with your tv right there as water/condensation/heat/salt is all going to get up in it. May want to make a protector of some sort (unless you already have that). Just a thought.

I am no expert at all the different skimmers out there. I have mine from over 16 years ago, and it is external. My others have been hob types mostly. I hope you find something that works.

 

[Johnny C]

Wull that video didn’t work out.

 

[Johnny C]

It seems my videos just don’t work

 

[DeniseAndy]

I saw the first one. Did not try the second.

 

[Johnny C]

That is also something I didn’t think through is the whole tv above water. It does sit over the shelf instead of the water but yeah I ordered the glass tops to the tank. And I will build a rubber type curtain for an added layer of protection

 

[DeniseAndy]

Just know, salt gets everywhere and damages anything in a 1000ft area. Pretty sure it has even gotten to my neighbors. heehee

 

[Kris 2020]

Very nice setup, welcome!

 

[WvAquatics]

Agree tv will get salt covered in time. Love the setup though

 

[slojim]

Ok, well let's see if there 's a solution that is worth pursuing to this whole tv salt creep short sump problem. We can start with the obvious.
that tv is on a nice articulating mount. Can you reasonably mount it left of the tank stand and still have good viewing? That's usually easy, but it might only be worth it if you are also willing to raise the tank in my view, you can never have too much room underneath
that said, I have made a tank or 2 with the sump effectively over the aquarium. Usually ugly, but people now have sumps that are prettier than my first few display tanks, and it can be cool to have the inner workings on display this could be easier and more unique than raising the tank

 

[slojim]

Oh, and well done to caulk and seal the stand. Fwiw, on this last one, I went another step and applied a can of flexseal, not the aerosol, but the brush on. Made a nice thick film and it seems like it will hold water up to the doors

 

[Johnny C]

That is my plan a possible little pool under my tank. The white sheeting is a fiberglass plastic sheet. Completely water proof. I have yet to cut it in but I will be installing a drain into the sewer line for water changes and such.
behind this wall I do have a hot water closet and I will be getting a tankless heater which will free up room for a larger sump area. And possibly a back room access to the top of the tank. Which will solve my tv issue because I will b able to put in some sort of wall For separation. But for now my plan is to put in a rubber mat with a magnetic seal like on a fridge door.
one night I was reading and learned of a issue called salt creep . I was up for a few more hours thinking oh

 

[Johnny C]

My tv is way to big for either side of the tank

my connections are pretty low on the back of the tv. All the vents are at the very top not on the back side or sides anywhere . I got lucky there. But my connections is my biggest concern.
I thought about just vac sealing the whole thing. Lol

 

[slojim]

Ok, sounds like a good plan. A closet behind the tank for a sump or maintenance is even better than space underneath. Just make sure that there is some ventilation so the salty humid air doesn't hurt your new tankless heater

 

[Johnny C]

Yeah good point move from one electronic to another. Thanks for your input

 

[Reefer1978]

Finally done. Good job, keep up with the updates @Johnny C

 

[Fishn’Chick]

Hi from Denver! Your talent is incredible, congratulations

 

[F i s h y]

Nice project. I love your direction. Looks great.