JK47's 225 Gallon Show Tank!

[JK47]

So you're converting the original tank to your own fresh water tank right?
I just want to reccomend that a sump would be nice!

Hey If you want, I have a 55gallon diy sump for free if you want it come pick it up. All you need for it is bio balls and a pump.

Thanks for the offer bro, that is really cool of you! How is this for a sump? It's ready to install after I pick up another bulkhead and I dig the check valve piece on the returns, shuts instantly when the power goes off. It came with the tank. I think the pump is too small though, Rio 2500. I have a Rio 3100 I may hook up instead.

 

[swede]

This is a VERY stupid question but how to I tell what direction the floor joists go? Are there rules for building that dictate the direction?

i'm guessing this is a 1st floor room. just go down to the basement and look which way the joists go

 

[JK47]

i'm guessing this is a 1st floor room. just go down to the basement and look which way the joists go

There is no basement. Just a "crawlspace" per what the landlord told me. I have not actually been down there. This is a dining room that extends off of the house. There is no second floor above this room either. Does that help?

 

[swede]

then you need to look under the crawl space. just stick your head and a flashlight down there near the wall you have the tank on. you should be able to see which way the joists run without climbing deep into the crawlspace

 

[JK47]

UPDATE

I finally got moved in to the new house and got going on this tank. I was not able to put the tank in the dining room because the floor would not support it. The room is an add on and not the strongest at that. The crawl space is about 9" tall so I could not brace up the the floor either, tank got moved to the garage.

I decided for sure to plug the holes in the bottom of the tank but in a way I would be able to use them in the future should I ever decide to or sell the tank.

Along what Dan Fellers was saying, I attached caps to the bulkhead. I sealed both the top and bottom just to be sure.


Once everything was sealed, I added the PVC cement to the top of the cap and dipped it in a cup of sand.



The sand is STUCK to the cap and not going anywhere. This should help hide the PVC cap.


I have to pick up 100 lbs more sand tomorrow to add to the tank but this is what 75 lbs looks like with the cap. Almost burried. I have allot of wood to stack over these so they should never be seen.

 

[swede]

nice! get some full tank shots and updates on stocklist

 

[JK47]

nice! get some full tank shots and updates on stocklist

Full tank shots are pretty lame. I am in the middle/end of a fishless cycle. I have 1/3 sand in the tank, have to pick up another load tomorrow, plumbing done, scrubbies in, timers and temp/water alarms in. I have made some progress but it's killing me not seeing fish in there... Passing through the nitrite phase right now.

Full tank shot, sorry for the camera flash, best I could do:


The tank is still cloudy from the first round of sand.


The wet/dry sump. Yes, I am OCD, the blue scrubbies are for scrubbies under water and the yellow are for to dry part of the wet/dry....


The 135 gallon holding some of my stock sprung a leak and almost came apart. First tank I have ever had holding it together with a truck tie down strap...

 

[tcarswell]

Nice! What a cool setup cant wait to see the sump in action and the happy fishes!

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

The speaker is a water alarm system in case any water leaks.

That is smart

 

[mr.reef24]

tanks looking great

mr.reef24