Got a 210 Gallon drilled - Does it sound safe? Building a Stand, Sump, Bean Animal Overflow

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Here's a diagram of my floor joists and where I want the aquarium. I'm thinking at least 1 jack post and glulam where the right side of the aquarium will sit. Again, problem is one of my main trunks off my furnace runs right where I would need the support.
Aq Load-Model.jpg
 
Here is an update, I sistered up the single joist the tank will be along, added a 6x6 beam and a post to slab to carry the load. The tank basically now has 4 (two sistered up pairs) joists running with the tank with foundation on the left side and beam and post on the right side. I had a structural engineer ok this, I have measured almost my entire basement bottom of my joists to slab, after the tank was 3/4 full, the biggest drop was less than 1/16" so I feel good about the structure.

Here are some pictures, the fish are in and seem happy! I have a temporary makeshift filter going, I still need to do my basement sump and all the overflow plumbing.

Do these big aquariums make others nervous? I feel good about the house structure now but if a pane blows out it would do an incredible amount of damage! I had a 150 blow out before but luckily it was in the basement. I see no bubbles in the silicone (although the back I painted black so cannot check the seams against the wall).

IMG_20200428_182949_01.jpg

20200423_195728.jpg

20200423_195623.jpg
 
Wow, nice build! What did you paint your tank with, I'm considering painting my 125, but I don't want brush strokes or anything.
 
Page 2 has a better picture of the back glass painted if you have not seen it. I used a roller and Rust-Oleum Oil Based Flat Black. Getting the sand in now.
 
I did, its what made me ask. The build looks great so far, very thorough. Update us!
 
Got my sump running, I used high quality gate valves but I am having a hell of a time adjusting the two herbies to equal out. I read about this potantial problem with dual herbies. I will get them adjusted so my EM drain starts to have some flow - I close one or the other valves off as small as I possibly can adjust. The result is that overflow drops to below the strainer - sucking air and being loud. I turn it so small - probably 1/64 of a rotation, if that even. I did not want to drill more holes in the tank for a balance tube and wanted dual herbies for flow, argh, frustrating, I'm not sure what to do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom