Blog Comments

Robb - that's an offer I can't refuse. Of course, you'll need lots of money for the stuff I need to make it look pretty like mine.

Adam - Frame out? There are no more walls. Woodwork will hide everything from the kitchen and living room, making it look built-in. The back of the tank will have a cover at some point, but not right now while I'm working on it and observing everything.

Jessy -

Are you no longer going to frame out around the tank? I noticed you didn't paint the back glass. Looks awesome and huge.

reefocd - it could be my house shifted due to the climate change. But I had a feeling this was something that had to be addressed now, regardless.

dahenley - the drain hasn't been connected to anything yet, but it is going to be done soon. For now, if something happens, it's going out the garage floor and down the driveway. I agree some type of flapper is necessary, or the black sponge you suggested. Still trying to get that one figured out. As I was purchasing stuff to assemble that section a two weeks ago, I realized there was a hurdle that needed to be overcome. I called up Bobby and explained the situation and we'll put our heads together.

pepper'scove - there's a good chance the plastic trim on the top of the glass framework of my aquarium wasn't 100% true. One corner it is flush on the eurobracing while another corner it had an obvious gap. If the plastic isn't pressed down perfectly, the level sitting on top of it would be off a bit. I didn't own a 8' level, I had a 4' level. I used a straight 2x4 on the long sides with the level on top. This wasn't a situation with water swells due to flow, although that was an excellent theory. With the pump off, you could see it. Matter of fact, even after everything was level there was still a small gap between the water line and the plastic trim which I knew would allow light to leak out, so a piece of 3/8" acrylic was inserted in the overflow box to raise the water level in the tank another 1/4" higher. Everything is perfect now.

Nightshade - as you can imagine, I'll be watching this like a hawk. But the tank is sitting on the original foundation on 3 corners, and the fourth one is on the new concrete. The slab is over 40 years old, so I don't think settling is something about to start now even though there is a lot of weight in that area. My hope is that all the extra concrete we poured will help disperse (is that the word?) the weight over a larger area, even a little. I'm no engineer, and am working from my gut on what feels right. It doesn't mean I'm right, of course. REPTILES!? Another thing to think about!

Just awesome work Marc.

Want to come down and organize my lil ole 75? Got a bottle of Crown, Crown Black, and local vodka(Dripping Springs) if it helps.

Your tank is so sexy its hard to believe it belongs to you >:-}

If the very effect of filling the tank seemed to make one end settle by 1/8 inch you may want to keep an eye on it and start looking around at anything else that would show signs of settling. If you are sure that it was level beforehand then it came from someplace and probably needs to have an eye kept on it. If it stops then maybe chock it up to not being truly perfectly level if it continues to settle even just a bit more maybe think about putting the brakes on things and rethink your foundation.

As far as the french drain and any humidity coming back in. . . well it depends on where it drains to but I think infiltration will be pretty small and since you will have an A/C running during the summer anyway it will be minor I would worry more about insects or small reptiles crawling in or mold/fungus growing maybe causing some health problems.

As I've stated a number of times, I lost most of my SPS during the seven month construction period. Fishwise, the Yellow Coris jumped out of the vat in July, and my little Mandarin is nowhere to be found. Two Gudgeon gobies as well. Everyone else is accounted for.

Also curios to all the livestock you lost. Looks like your missing a few fish and corals

Marc,

I suppose it probably was important to you to level the water, but my theory is that your tank was level, but the water line was not (you said you had checked it... could be the floor too, but the would be worse so we won't go there ). Anyway, standing water "never" lies, for the most part. However, I could envision water moving due to a flow from two huge penductors attached to huge return pumps causing a slight standing swell. If the water on the overflow side seemed high I would suspect that's what the issue was. Not that the angle that would mean the tank is now at should be an issue in the short term. However, the long term stress and associated creep issues related to placing the tank at an angle to level the water could lead to another failed tank. I would check the tank itself for level as I would imagine that you have an enclosure system planned that would negate people's seeing a gap in the water level. Anyway, just my two cents worth. I'm studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at WVU and perhaps it's just my overactive book knowledge making me second guess the idea about trying to level everything. Besides, if it's level now then I'm probably wrong anyway. I just don't want your tank to burst at the seems again!

oh, and i know you used to run an aquacontroller, you can always hit the feed cycle (which depending on your setup) should cut the skimmer pumps or at least one and allow the water that drains to your sump to exit before the skimmer kicks on...
(like i mentioned, its just an observation..)

Mrac, i have an observation/suggestion..

I know you put this Bad ***** drain system in your floor, and i love it.
but because you live in Dallas, (i lived in Kilgore, so i know the humidity you deal with), your just setting yourself up for moisture.....
I think you should go invest in a dryer vent door, and place it on the end of your french drain. that way water and air can go out, but not back in. (it wont prevent humidity, but it will/should cut back on some)
this will help with the water on the ceiling. plus during the summer and winter, it should help the temp to be manageable.

its just an option.. (plus if you need to put those 200gal drums in your garage to help with temp and weather, you can just run the 1" hose out that drain hole and it will keep the door closed and as mentioned, the temp more managealbe.
(you can always just buy a foam filter block and make it round and stuff it in there. it will prevent a draft, and allow water to pass.....)

your choice.

Here is a scary scenario, tank stand was level, tank height one side to the other was off 1/8"? or tank trim was off 1/8"? Waterline to the top trim was off, drove you mad and tank is now really 1/8", NO please NO don't do this to yourself .... That's why it's called OCD, I .. I... I... I... can't help it ... Never mind, check please!

Great job. I love the clamped hose on your barrels. I can't tell you how many times I have had a hose flop out. It's very interesting that the carpet matches the grass.

gr8t1dini - Those are upgraded MP40w ES controllers. The new tank has the MP60w ES pumps which arrived on Monday.

DJ in WV - took me a second to decipher your message above. You're right.

btw when you are trying to get something perfectly level the no sub for two or four measuring cups connected with some tubing which in turn is what you did with a 400g tank. Gravity never lies

Really appreciate posts like this. Not everything goes right the first time. Looking good Marc. Like the Apollo 13 program, few changes were necessary or people die..

glad to see that im not the only one that does thing 2 and 3 times with $%!# scattered every where. Hope that is the last time you got to drain it Marc.

I see the controllers for the Vortec's. Are those the 60's or updated 40's? Any pics on how you went with the 60's in the tank? Which mode are you using?

Congrats on the move Marc,
Love the minimalist look.

Sweet Marc! Looks like a great start to a new reef. I love the cave on left side.