Mgers21's in-wall see-through build thread

[Mgers21]

Hey guys heres my tank build. It has been up for just over a year now but I hadn't got upstairs done till this spring. I also have something that I'll tag on here a little later. It isn't quite done yet :silly:

The start, bringing the beast home. Got it from a fellow reefer in Monroe. Starphire on 3 sides.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0315.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0316.jpg
We had to cut apart the deck to get it in the house. :)
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0317.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0318.jpg

My help getting it into the house. Thanks guys!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0319.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0373.jpg

Here is the basement before the fishroom work began. It was all open and I decided I needed a dedicated room to do it right and have room for future endeavors in the hobby.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0371.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0369.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0372.jpg

The wall that the tank is going to go in
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0366.jpg

Beginning to tear it apart. It was a load bearing wall so I had to build and install a header.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0374.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0376.jpg

Inside the bedroom looking into the living room
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0375.jpg

Building the header
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0382.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0386.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0389.jpg

Building the wall directly below the tank
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0380-1.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0379-1.jpg

Here is what I gave my electrician buddy
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0406.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0401.jpg

Building the stand
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0395.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0461.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0454.jpg

Tank in place
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0466.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0464.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0468.jpg

Sand
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0467.jpg

The rock all came from marco rock and I seeded it with liverock in my garage for 3 months while I was building the setup
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0458.jpg

Metal halides, also did t5 actinics
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0462.jpg

Return pump was a backfin 3600, I was beta testing for reeflo but ended up going with a hammerhead instead.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0402.jpg

Geo Ca Rx
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0397.jpg

some flow
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0381-1.jpg

digging the sump for the sink in the fishroom, by far the worst step of it all!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0452.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0451.jpg

Getting all the fishroom drywall/ electrical finished up
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0450.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0441.jpg

all primed and getting the floors prepped for epoxy coating
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0512.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0510.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0509.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0515.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0514.jpg

light rack and vent fan for the hood
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0517.jpg

Sump tank and frag tank rack
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0516.jpg

Drilling the tanks, brandon was not happy that night! I made him do all the drilling;)
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0503.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0500.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0496.jpg

FW testing the display
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0489.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0530.jpg

Nice night for a dip in the pool
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0526.jpg

The foodgrade star board for under the sand to protect the bottom glass
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0528.jpg

plumbing everything together
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0544.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0543.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0538.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0537.jpg
The fuge/ cryptic zone
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0539.jpg

Frag tank
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0542-1.jpg

QT tank
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0541-1.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0558.jpg

Future site for the water mixing station
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0540-1.jpg

300GPD rodi
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0559.jpg

Washed the sand in display
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0545.jpg

early stages of the motorized privacy screen
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0546.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0547.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0548.jpg

The big day! Saltwater!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0553.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0560.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0562.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0557.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0554.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/DSCN0556.jpg

So about 4 months went by and I finaly got the ambition to finish the display's stand here we go

The samples
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2261.jpg

Framing it up
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2347.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2348.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2252.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2257.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2255.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2251.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2249.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2242.jpg

Bedroom side all done
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2621.jpg
Screen closed, it is operated by remote control
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2621.jpg

building the living room side doors, I never want to build any doors again!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2285.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2286.jpg

sealant I used for the living room side. Bedroom side was Kilz'd then painted the wall/trim color
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2630.jpg

Had to build a vent, didn't want some metal crap next to the oak
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2616.jpg
Living room side all done. Skinned in solid red oak besides the doors which were laminate
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2612.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2619.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2638.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2631.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2633.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2628.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/black929rr/IMG_2629.jpg

I still need to get some updated fishroom and come coral pics.. these pics are about 6 months old and tons has changed. I'll post more soon! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[MyNemesis]

Beautiful job for a dream tank and build. A great deal of thought went into your set up and you will be rewarded by your efforts, I'm sure. Fascinating read as well. Thanks for taking all the photos for those of us who dream of a set up like this some day. I'd hate to see the credit card bill.

[Sir Patrick]

Awsome build!! Excelent job!

[creefer]

Beautiful job, man. As stated before, thanks for all the pics for those of us who dream about this set up. Btw....nice obligatory bud lights in the background on lots of the pics!

[ReeferRob]

Booyah baby, just made my day looking at this build. One day I hope to have something as nice.

Only thing you forgot was to build a secret passageway through the cabinet to the basement via fire man pole or elevator!

[Gyyro]

That tank really is SWEET Mike just need to put some updated pic on here...

[Mgers21]

Thanks for all the positive comments guys! The display is a 3 sided starphire 300G built by Great Lakes. Its not the standard 300g dims its 30 wide rather than 30 inches tall, its only 25" tall so it gives very good depth. Frag tank is around 25g also built by great lakes then the sump is a 135g that I picked up from another reefer many years ago and resealed.

I just cleaned the tank so I'll try to get some pics up tonight!