Tank rack setup

[nathan u]

well I just finished building my own tank rack,, now I have the fun or wiring everything and putting the tank into it:wideeyed:
the rack is 84" tall x 98" long x 23" wide
its got 2" of clearance off of the floor for ventilation and WCs.
the 4 bulb flourescent fixture will be going over my 33g planted tank up the watts to 160W versus the current 80W:notworthy:
well here are the pics,, sorry I don't have any of the actaul process.
4 bulb system.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k26/crimson_dark/4bulbsystem.jpg
thats whats in each shelf.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k26/crimson_dark/bottomofrack-1.jpg
a test assembly while outside.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k26/crimson_dark/fullrackoutside.jpg
a height comparison, and shameless self portrait.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k26/crimson_dark/size.jpg
and the final in the basement
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k26/crimson_dark/rackinbasment.jpg

I will get more pics of the wiring setup and the final system.
if you got questions shoot away
also this was all inspired by madattiver and his tank racks

[Melody]

Nice looking wrack and young man :smile: . My Son wants the longer hair style SO bad, but he has curls so it just looks... not so good...lol....he cuts it as soon as it curls.

Thanks for posting it - nice job!

[CACAdmin]

Looking good... you've been busy. Keep us posted on your progress.

[grumpystiltskin]

Looks like a great project Nathan. im wondering how many tanks you will have on each shelf? water weighs about 8lb per gallon, you may need vertical center supports on each shelf if you have more than one tank on each level, it would be terrible if it all collapsed.Hope to see it when its all done :smile:

mick

[blainep]

Looks good so far !

Are you planning to add any center supports ?
98 inches seems like a long span without support. ( then again, I tend to way overbuild stuff :rolleyes:)

Definitely keep us updated, I like seeing other peoples ideas, and your rack is looking great !

[nathan u]

thanks guys,, I still have to cut and put in the verticals for between each shelf, which will be done yet today.and finish the one light being mounted to the roof,, we already have all the wiring done,
so hopefully that means during the week I will be moving tanks down there slowly

blainep,, where doing 2 supports, in each shelf,, I just need to measure where my main diplay tanks will be to place them around that,
I think it will make sense once I get it in place


melody I actaully thought the long hair look was stupid and I spiked mine for 5 years,, until last year I gave up spiking cause of it being to time consuming:rolleyes:.
although I need a hair cut,, not being able to see through hair is a bit of a problem:(

[Melody]

That's another one of his complaints - he can't spike curls either....lol. I tell him that the girls love curls, but he just says "So far it hasn't worked" :laugh: . I really don't care what he does with his hair - he can get a mohawk and die it green if he wants. There are worse ways that he can demonstrate his individuality and its his head.

Sorry, wandering around the topic again:Embarassing: . Its a good thing we have you builder-types around here - I wouldn't have even thought of supports :rolleyes: .

[blainep]

blainep,, where doing 2 supports, in each shelf,, I just need to measure where my main diplay tanks will be to place them around that,
I think it will make sense once I get it in place


I think I know what you mean.
I had to create supports in one of my racks after it was built because I didn't think of it before.
A little bit of careful measuring and cutting and I was able to slide in a couple of supports between the tanks.
If you are already planning to install supports before the tanks are permanently put in, it'll be a breeze.

[jordonsmum]

VERY nicely done!!! Make sure you drop in to my place with a hammer and nails if you ever come to Victoria. We'll have to put your craftsman skills up for hire for others with mutiple tank syndrome. Master that craft and you may have an "on the side" job for yourself building tank racks!!! :notworthy:

[nathan u]

I am going to be adding them before the tanks are put in.. It just means I actaully have to measure 3x and cut probably twice:err: .
now where doing the fun stuff,, wiring in power boxes,, so hopefully I don't do anything stupid with live wires:rolleyes:
more pics coming soon

[Melody]

My Son would tell you not to do anything that will leave you with curly hair....lol....be careful!

[nathan u]

lol well so far so good,, only 1 more shelf to wire up.
I am going to cut supports tommorow,, also finished lag bolting the whole unit to the studs in the wall, so once I got 2x4 supports wedge in,, I think that thing will be bomb proof or at least me proof:nah: .
it seems around here that curly hair and long seem to be equally popular with the ladies,, but sadly it hasn't started working for me yet.
Oh well I need my money for fish and car first,, then maybe a girl,, oh shoot that 5 years of university kind if put a kink in those plans:eek: .
I figure theres no need to rush and commit myself to a girl,, let alone the trouble and problems that follow them:;):

[Melody]

And he's as smart as he is good looking....lol. Women are nothing but trouble. Fish are quieter and chances are, they're cheaper. :laugh:

Of course, just when you think you have it all figured out, one will come along who will set you and your plans firmly on your behind. Happens to the best of 'em. :swoon:

Show them baby fish. The kid had baby fish at the district science fair and there was pretty young ladies everywhere, oooooing & aaaawwwing. :rolleyes:

[nathan u]

well I got it finished almost all the wiring is done to just have to put up a junction box and connect the live wires..
I already moved the 33g planted,, sand is the heaviest thing ever to lift,, and it sucks when you stir it up refilling:mad: .
pics to come sometime tonight once i get more tanks up

[CACAdmin]

Wow...you've been busy... looking forward to the pics.

[nathan u]

WOOOOOH finished finally,, at least till tommorow:eek: .
okay the plan is another 20g on the top shelf,, 2 more 10s on the second,, I have to repair the 40g on the bottom,, and who knows about what will be in the sides
okay kind of crappy pic but you get the idea
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k26/crimson_dark/tanks.jpg

[blainep]

Looks great to me ! :thumbup:

[CACAdmin]

Good job! Looks great!:yes: I'm sure the sides won't be empty for long. :;):

[madattiver]

Nathan,

the tank rack looks great

[Melody]

Nice job! :Applaud:

[nathan u]

thanks everyone.
Now I ust need to find some wild ype livebearers,, or whatever i buy this sunday at the auction::D:

[madattiver]

if you are going to the auction.. make sure you scout out what Bill Bishop brings to the auction.. he might have a couple bags of wild livebearers as he brings them from time to time

[Katalyst]

Great job! Can't wait to see what you get from the auction! I wish there were auctions around here!

[nathan u]

thanks for the heads up I will do some scouting,, still hoping for killies,, last month there where some but I didn't bid for some stupid reason:realmad: .
thanks katalyst,, I am counting down the days and doing extra work so that I can afford to load up.

[madattiver]

if you are needing to fill some tanks.. I have about 6 or 7 fry from my Labidochromis sp. "Mbamba" that are ready to go.. prob between an 1-1.5" in length

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_mbamba.php

[nathan u]

would those be fine in a 30g?,, if so I am very interested:rolleyes: , love the colours,, do you know how many months old they are?

[madattiver]

they would be perfect in a 30g tank as that is the size I keep the parents in.. and they are about 3 months old or so.. not exactly sure though but they are starting to color up nicely already