jayne
Member
Some of you may have read my previous threads about my new large tank.
I thought I'd do a diary,so you can follow me step by step into the unknown
Everything started last autumn,when we decided we would definitely go ahead,the radiator was taken off the wall,the floorbaords taken up and the floor strengthened.The radiator was replaced by a slimline vertical one on a different wall,and we contacted Phil,who is a cabinetmaker and a friend and he started to look around for suitable wood and the design started to take place.
Christmas 2007 came and went and finally Phil and a load of wood plus three tubular steel strengthening bars arrived.The cabinet was made and installed on site as it was too wide to get through the door.
As you can see there is no middle strengthening support in the cabinet,hence the three steel bars across the top.This was designed like this for two reasons.One to make installing the sump easier and two because we want the door to open completely concertina style for ease of maintenance.The doors will be added after the sump is in place.
I should just say here that Phil has used this design on other fish tank cabinets he has made and it has worked before.
Two days later the fish tank base was put in position this was a double 12mm siliconed together and after 48 hours to allow the base to dry,and the main tank body was installed,by my hubby and one of his workmates.I love to watch men working so I stood around taking photos and making tea
Again i should point out that my husband Billy makes and installs fish tanks and filtration systems as part of his job so allowing him loose on such a large project wasn't as stupid as it may appear!
First the back panel:-
Then the 2 sides:-
and the front:-
then hubby had to climb in to silicone it from inside and fix the sucker supports to hold it in place until it's properly cured:-
Then the whole thing was left in place for one week to dry and then today we have installed the plumbing for the towers and also the inner glass frames.Both towers will be covered with black acrylic.
So that's it for now,the sump and the upper bracing bars are next for the tank,but we may have to place the wood in situ first before the bars,as you can see below
I thought I'd do a diary,so you can follow me step by step into the unknown
Everything started last autumn,when we decided we would definitely go ahead,the radiator was taken off the wall,the floorbaords taken up and the floor strengthened.The radiator was replaced by a slimline vertical one on a different wall,and we contacted Phil,who is a cabinetmaker and a friend and he started to look around for suitable wood and the design started to take place.
Christmas 2007 came and went and finally Phil and a load of wood plus three tubular steel strengthening bars arrived.The cabinet was made and installed on site as it was too wide to get through the door.
As you can see there is no middle strengthening support in the cabinet,hence the three steel bars across the top.This was designed like this for two reasons.One to make installing the sump easier and two because we want the door to open completely concertina style for ease of maintenance.The doors will be added after the sump is in place.
I should just say here that Phil has used this design on other fish tank cabinets he has made and it has worked before.
Two days later the fish tank base was put in position this was a double 12mm siliconed together and after 48 hours to allow the base to dry,and the main tank body was installed,by my hubby and one of his workmates.I love to watch men working so I stood around taking photos and making tea
Again i should point out that my husband Billy makes and installs fish tanks and filtration systems as part of his job so allowing him loose on such a large project wasn't as stupid as it may appear!
First the back panel:-
Then the 2 sides:-
and the front:-
then hubby had to climb in to silicone it from inside and fix the sucker supports to hold it in place until it's properly cured:-
Then the whole thing was left in place for one week to dry and then today we have installed the plumbing for the towers and also the inner glass frames.Both towers will be covered with black acrylic.
So that's it for now,the sump and the upper bracing bars are next for the tank,but we may have to place the wood in situ first before the bars,as you can see below