a lot of folks have asked about my setups. rather than try to piece together something from those that i've already got going, i'm putting together a build thread from the beginning of my newest project - my 265g build!
i'll be sure to post up photos and updates as things move along.
fish list:
- cirrhilabrus scottorum / scott's fairy wrasse pair
- halichoeres ornatissimus
- macropharyngodon bipartitus / blue spot leopard trio (one male, two females)
at the moment, the tank will be located in my basement next to my existing small fish/maintenance room that is really my heating room.
i will be taking down the wall from the existing fish room to allow for access behind what will be the in-wall 265 setup.
things are just beginning with sizing, getting material, framing, and overall design.
this is where the 265 will go:
i've already run electrical with 3 20A circuits to the panel. i also trenched a drain to the area which is the standpipe you see in the photo.
this give you a better idea of the wall we are knocking down to provide access behind the 265:
all the existing filtration will be moved behind the 265. i have not figured out what i want to do for my water reservoirs. i currently have ~35g brute trash cans and i want to make room, somewhere, for at least a 60g RODI for top off, and mixing, and a larger salt water bin. i can likely leave the reservoirs in the heating room once i figure out what shape and size will work.
i am contemplating moving to a tank-less water heater to free up a good bit of real estate in the existing fish room for a larger water reservoir. anybody have one of these care to comment on efficiency, ease of install, etc?
started removing baseboard, and to framing the new wall:
working on the design of the stand and was anticipating going with a steel built stand to offer maximum space available under the stand without the need for too many vertical supports but didn't like the idea after getting fair estimates knowing that i should be able to come up with a proper solution on my own. decided to go wood and would use some properly sized microlams/LVLs to structurally build a stand like the titanic that would span the 7 feet without vertical supports in the front to allow for maximum ease of use while conducting maintenance or looking to place things. but more on the stand later.
picked up my 265 today which was exciting.
thankfully the guys already had it loaded on a truck and all i had to do was slide it into the bed of my taco when i got there - easy peezy.
getting it down from the truck and into my basement will be a completely different story!
i started thinking about how i was going to get this monster into my basement. good time to consider things like that right after you come with it ;)
i figure the easiest will be to enter from the main floor, and get it down my stairs. thankfully my stairwell has a large opening on one side as you make your way to the bottom which will allow for the tank to rotate and enter the basement ... easily?
in doing some prep work for tomorrow's move, i started taking down my railing.
like this, i should be able to enter with the tank, place it on the floor, have two or three guys on the stairs supporting the tank, have a drop cloth down with a sheet of plywood and another drop cloth and be able to slowly slide the whole thing downwards until we get to the opening and carry it the 20 or so feet to it's resting spot until the stand is done.
this is what i mean but how it's open on one side of the staircase that will hopefully allow for room for the tank to pivot and rotate nicely without too much back breaking vs having to try and stand it on it's end at the bottom.
well, that's all for now. i'll be sure to update with photos and videos as progress is made.
thanks for following along!
i'll be sure to post up photos and updates as things move along.
fish list:
- cirrhilabrus scottorum / scott's fairy wrasse pair
- halichoeres ornatissimus
- macropharyngodon bipartitus / blue spot leopard trio (one male, two females)
at the moment, the tank will be located in my basement next to my existing small fish/maintenance room that is really my heating room.
i will be taking down the wall from the existing fish room to allow for access behind what will be the in-wall 265 setup.
things are just beginning with sizing, getting material, framing, and overall design.
this is where the 265 will go:
i've already run electrical with 3 20A circuits to the panel. i also trenched a drain to the area which is the standpipe you see in the photo.
this give you a better idea of the wall we are knocking down to provide access behind the 265:
all the existing filtration will be moved behind the 265. i have not figured out what i want to do for my water reservoirs. i currently have ~35g brute trash cans and i want to make room, somewhere, for at least a 60g RODI for top off, and mixing, and a larger salt water bin. i can likely leave the reservoirs in the heating room once i figure out what shape and size will work.
i am contemplating moving to a tank-less water heater to free up a good bit of real estate in the existing fish room for a larger water reservoir. anybody have one of these care to comment on efficiency, ease of install, etc?
started removing baseboard, and to framing the new wall:
working on the design of the stand and was anticipating going with a steel built stand to offer maximum space available under the stand without the need for too many vertical supports but didn't like the idea after getting fair estimates knowing that i should be able to come up with a proper solution on my own. decided to go wood and would use some properly sized microlams/LVLs to structurally build a stand like the titanic that would span the 7 feet without vertical supports in the front to allow for maximum ease of use while conducting maintenance or looking to place things. but more on the stand later.
picked up my 265 today which was exciting.
thankfully the guys already had it loaded on a truck and all i had to do was slide it into the bed of my taco when i got there - easy peezy.
getting it down from the truck and into my basement will be a completely different story!
i started thinking about how i was going to get this monster into my basement. good time to consider things like that right after you come with it ;)
i figure the easiest will be to enter from the main floor, and get it down my stairs. thankfully my stairwell has a large opening on one side as you make your way to the bottom which will allow for the tank to rotate and enter the basement ... easily?
in doing some prep work for tomorrow's move, i started taking down my railing.
like this, i should be able to enter with the tank, place it on the floor, have two or three guys on the stairs supporting the tank, have a drop cloth down with a sheet of plywood and another drop cloth and be able to slowly slide the whole thing downwards until we get to the opening and carry it the 20 or so feet to it's resting spot until the stand is done.
this is what i mean but how it's open on one side of the staircase that will hopefully allow for room for the tank to pivot and rotate nicely without too much back breaking vs having to try and stand it on it's end at the bottom.
well, that's all for now. i'll be sure to update with photos and videos as progress is made.
thanks for following along!
Last edited:
