Back on track

After a LONG layoff, we are back to building the tank. Jason is currently working on the trim, so we should have the stand completed very soon. I am excited! He has taken the parts home for staining and the polyurethane. Each of the access panels will be held in place by gravity and magnets. Very cool!

Here is a link how the aquarium itself will basically be built. I am hoping to begin construction next week. I will most likely build that at home in my garage, but I will chronicle the progress.

The stand comes together!

Jason assembled the basic outline of the frame of the stand today. Due to the 5,000 pounds of water, sand, and rock in the tank, the stand has been over-engineered. The 4x4 beams and posts are all notched and interlocking at the corners. Two vertical supports were added to the each stand, four in the back, and three for the front. We wanted to add another in the front, but we need to access the sump, pumps, and other filtration devices, so we decided against the extra brace.

The next step will be to add a central beam down the center of the stand (length-wise), across the bottom and top as another support for the weight of the tank. This construction will begin next week, as well as the addition of the support beams and the support platform.

Priming supports

I primed the seven support beams yesterday and today. I will be caulking any gaps between the sub floor and 2x6 pieces to ensure no possible water damage. The stand and aquarium are being built with the possibility of being relocated to a new facility down the road, so I want to make sure that all precautions are being taken now to ensure the longevity of the units.

Next step

Due to rain, Jason took the 4x4 beams home yesterday to cut them to length and to notch them for the stand framework. The main support beams were built 10/1 -- they were made with sub floor sandwiched and glued between two 2x6 pieces. Due to splashing water from sump and/or humidity, these beams will be painted with Kilz primer to prevent any damage. The 4x4 beams are pressure treated, so this will not be required. Any part of the undercarriage not pressure treated will be primed.

The tank was originally going to be slightly under 500g (4' x 8' x 2' tall). Basically, it is just double the 240g aquarium I built at my house. However, after considering the fact that this new stand is over-engineered, we have decided to take it to 30" tall. This might not sound like much, but it brings the capacity to 598 gallons, and adds an extra 1,000 lbs. of water weight! The sharks are fine with a depth of 2', but the added water volume will allow for more swimming area. More importantly, the increased capacity will add to the overall stability of the ecosystem.

First cuts!

After months of talking about it, construction has begun!

It begins!

Construction of the stand begins tomorrow. We have purchased the lumber, and my friend Jason Buchanan will be assembling the beast. He has extensive carpentry experience, as well as having built large stands for local fish stores. The stand will be larger than 32 sq.ft. (4'x8') and 36" tall. I had to make a decision -- run the bike shop or tackle the construction myself. Using Jason's expertise was the right choice.