Do it yourself

Quote: Face

How so? My other aquarium was there and I had no problems. I did worry about temp and temp related issues like algae, but it only ever grew in one little corner that got the sunlight. It was a bit warm, but not to the point it damaged the fish. If you meant problems of a different kind, please advise.

High heat was my main concern. I'm surprised the fish in the other tank didn't have any trouble with the water absorbing so much heat. Were there any problems with wood in the former stand drying out and splitting?

One consideration is that you will not be able to reach anything behind the tank once it is filled. if the heater needs service, it's not like you can just roll it away from the wall...

I am only hoping for the best for you Face! Looking forward to watching the live cam at feeding time.

Quote: Ayecarumba

High heat was my main concern. I'm surprised the fish in the other tank didn't have any trouble with the water absorbing so much heat. Were there any problems with wood in the former stand drying out and splitting?

One consideration is that you will not be able to reach anything behind the tank once it is filled. if the heater needs service, it's not like you can just roll it away from the wall...

It got what I would consider "too warm" over summer, but not so warm they got sick or had a crazy outbreak of anything. In winter it's cooler than in summer. No problems with the wood; it's just typical junk particle board.

I just dumped $2,100 into a new boiler. Damn well better not have heater problems ;)

But I plan to make this stand similar to the one I had. That is, doors on the front, walls on the side, and the back completely open. Saves on material, weight, and allows access for pump cords, stuff I drop, and the base board, if need be. I much preferred that to a wall with ports cut into it. So much easier and you'd never know it's open.

Quote: Aye

I am only hoping for the best for you Face! Looking forward to watching the live cam at feeding time.

Thanks! Gives me a little oomph to get get going knowing there's interest. Also makes me a bit nervous as I can't now cry off lol. I'm pretty confident in the strength of the tank, but I haven't given much thought to the stand. I gotta build a wood box that can support 5,000lbs minimum, and can resist at least some lateral movement. It's a bit intimidating =/

But I am looking forward to filling it. It really opens the door on size. Kept reasonable, I could have just about one of every species native to here, and have them comfortably. But I still gotta assemble the entire thing. And do the fibreglass. And epoxy. And build an entire filtration system. Find the acrylic, buy it, install it. Decorate. And hell if I know how I'm gonna get all these fish without a boat now...

But I'll give 'er a shot =)

Quote: Face

just dumped $2,100 into a new boiler.

You have hot water heat? I just bought a big
gas furnace last year $600.

Quote: Evenbob

You have hot water heat? I just bought a big
gas furnace last year $600.

Yeah, been a pain in the ass forever, too. Constant relights, constant thermocoupler replacement. Wouldn't keep up when the temp went sub-zero.

Guy had one he just pulled out of a house after an upgrade. Got it for a third of a new one. Labor killed me, though, as it is wont to do.

Ever notice you pay oh so much in labor, but when you are a laborer, you'd don't get paid f#$% all? Funny thing, that.

Quote: Face

Yeah, been a pain in the ass forever, too.

With the new insulated flexible wire
air ducts, it's a breeze to convert to
gas. Unless you don't have a basement,
then it's not.

Quote: Face

I've not the time nor the size to get into fish and plant farming, though it is sort of a dream (in the far off future). I would like to get real plants someday. I suppose my small time goal is to have an actual ecosystem that's as hands off as can be. Certainly I'd have to interfere when it comes to feeding, but the stuff with the water I'd like to be self sustaining. Some sort of harmony between fish waste and plant growth would be very cool indeed. I'm a ways away from that, yet.

The tobacco companies as part of a settlement have posted on the web a good deal of information on raising trout and strawberries and other combinations of possibly profitable "crops"...the aquaponics settlement was designed to compensate small tobacco growers who were forced to get out of the business, but the info is available to anyone.

/sigh. The stand got to me, so to the Googles I went. Found several stand plans, and then Lo!, I even found a stand calculator, similar to the one I found for the tank. Plopped in my numbers, hit calculate... "Your tank is too big".

No s#$%? XD

Ah well. I got beer. Time to get to work.

Quote: Face

/sigh. The stand got to me, so to the Googles I went. Found several stand plans, and then Lo!, I even found a stand calculator, similar to the one I found for the tank. Plopped in my numbers, hit calculate... "Your tank is too big".
No s#$%? XD Ah well. I got beer. Time to get to work.

You need a hobby.. Oh, wait.

Never mind..

Quote: Face

/sigh. The stand got to me, so to the Googles I went. Found several stand plans, and then Lo!, I even found a stand calculator, similar to the one I found for the tank. Plopped in my numbers, hit calculate... "Your tank is too big".

No s#$%? XD

Ah well. I got beer. Time to get to work.

Just cut a hole right though the floor, to the ground, and build a solid brick foundation straight up through the hole.

(I can see now, one future surprised home buyer, trying to figure that out. What the H... was this for?)

Quote: rxwine

Just cut a hole right though the floor, to the ground, and build a solid brick foundation straight up through the hole.

Just wait 'til I fill it. Might not have to cut anything... ;)

Not much done today. Had to make a couple of runs to the motor shop and that ate up most of my time. I hunched out a rough height I wanted it to be, and after some heavy handed math, settled on a height. As it so happened, the height I chose left me with maybe 5/8th" of waste per 8' stud that I cut. It's a little thing, but I will take that bit o'luck all day long =)



I just made some corners to stiffen up the frame. Moving it as a square was wobbly indeed, and I didn't want to crack or rip any of the lag holes by lifting it at the end. There's still some flex as the middle's open, but it's now stiff enough to move around easily. I suppose next I'll either start the "floor" of the thing, or connect the rest to make it an actual box instead of just a square. I dunno. Haven't cracked open that day's inspiration yet.

To be con't.