DIY - Projects & Ideas • My Odyssey- Building a 100G Tank into my Living Room Wall

[CITADELGRAD87]

I ran out with the wife before work today to a local stone yard and grabbed 30 or so nice rocks, tried to match the consistency, shape, and random colors of the background.

I was thinking about taking a side trip to a local rocky area, but the stone yard had nice buckets with small, medium and large in a variety of sizes.

I snapped a couple pictures before I dunked them in bleach water buckets to get rid of any oil or unwanted hitchhikers





How long should these fellows soak before I can let them air dry?

[PfunMo]

None of those are very porous as rocks go and having been around the lanscape yard they will not have any surviving snails or eggs so it won't take a long time. Any surface oils will react with the chlorine almost immediately . I would think a couple hours would be plenty if in a hurry. If not, overnight is always nice. Odds are good that they are safe as they are but after all the work you've put into the tank and setup, who wants to gamble?

[CITADELGRAD87]

Thanks. I am in zero hurry to rush this. I have held off on cycling, and actualy didn't even treat the water in the tank, it's been up for about 4 days, pump is quiet, temp is 87 for cycling, but I didn't want to start before the rocks are all in place.

Then, when the cycle is finished, I will add plants and fish.

[inurocker]

Should look nice with your background.

[CITADELGRAD87]

Thanks, guys.

This AM, I dragged my butt out on the porch, dumped the bleach water, rinsed both buckets twice with tap water, then put the rocks out on the porch to dry. They are pretty dense rocks, I sniffed a couple that were still wet and could not smell the bleach, but of course I will let them dry today while I am at work and smell them again tonight. it's kind of chilly for CA, 60s, so no blasting direct sunlight to bake the bleach off today.

[Steve C]

it's kind of chilly for CA, 60s,

It got up to 45 today here in Michigan and I was about ready to go dig out some shorts


Those rocks look like they will match your BG perfectly.

[CITADELGRAD87]

it's kind of chilly for CA, 60s,

It got up to 45 today here in Michigan and I was about ready to go dig out some shorts


Those rocks look like they will match your BG perfectly.

My mom's family was from the UP, outside Grayling. I almost qualified to say it's not cold to me, just cooler than normal.

My wife always teases me because I maintain that it does not GET cold here, and refuse to wear a jacket unless it is pouring rain.

In the local mountains, I relent and wear a flannel shirt. You should see how natives bundle up here when it's 50 outside.

[Steve C]

outside Grayling.

Small world, I spend a ton of time in the Grayling area every spring/summer. I'm a HUGELY addicted fly fisherman and have a cabin on the Au Sable river and fish the Grayling/Mio area all the time. Beautiful part of the state

[CITADELGRAD87]

Ah, the Au Sable, man, that is beautiful country. I haven't been up there in 20 years, but I miss it a lot.

[CITADELGRAD87]

So enough of the previews, on to the main event. Although I still have a tiny bit of drywall left to finish, I need to extend the step the full length of the tank, and finish the outside of the door, the tank is done. I got rocks from a local yard and piled them in.

I decided it was time to cycle this baby. Last night, 12/17, I tested water parameters. Ph is between 7.8 and 8. Always. Tested it anyway. Ammonia was between 0 and. 25ppm. Its yellow (api kit, only about 2 months old) with a hint of green. I tested the water straight from the tap and got the same result, so I tested my 50s water that I had just done a 25% water change, that appears 0.0.

Since I was just running tap water for water plumbing testing, I dosed the tank with a heavy amount of dechlor.

I cleaned the 50 yesterday, so I removed about a golf ball sized amount of the eheim sintered glass and put it in a media bag, and was able to sit it right in the middle of the bio balls on top. While I was at it, I changed the filter floss over the drip tray, because I plan to let that sit for 45 days minimum.

I dosed with 3 teaspoons of pure ammonia from Ace Hardware. Twenty minutes later we were sitting on 4.0 ppm.

I am also going to put an emperor filter pad in the sump, I need to change one but didn't want to mess with the emp on the same day I broke down the eheim.

So I think I am on my way. Anyone have any insight into the tap water ammonia? Seems strange.

[PfunMo]

I'm thinking that is a false reading due to chloramine in the supply?? I think that is something I have read about here. I'm pretty sure there is not an actual ammonia in your supply. Something about getting a false reading.

[bluenosebully6]

I've been up for an hour and a half reading this thread!!!! Awesome build!!!! U got my mind going a mile a minute now...lol somehow I think my girlfriend is gna wanna strangle me in the next week or so lol......can't wait to see everything done...those moonlights are incredible BTW....great job

[CITADELGRAD87]

Thanks, guys, for the first time, I am REALLY seeing how nice this turned out. I thought it would, but in a long, dusty project, there's always the thought that you are making compromises, or that it won't look the way it did in your mind, but I am super happy with the part that's finished. Now to just get the rest done while it cycles.

Yesterdays numbers: Ammonia, 4.0. No change in first 24h.

[CITADELGRAD87]

No new photos. Sorry, the lights are out and I am in bed typing this on my phone.

First things first, ammonia is 4 ppm, no change from initial dose and second day testing.

Today I made some more progress, I extended what was a step down to the concrete floor to become a full width shelf so I can easily reach the bottom of the tank on the extreme left side.

I also drywalled the back of the hidden door to protect the fragile and wooley sound board from damage. I installed magnet catches top and bottom, and the door stays shut and the panelling is flush using magnets alone, superquiet and I overlapped the paneling so there's no light leakage even without weather sealing, which would have complicated the overall fit and function of the door.

Tomorrow I will snap some pictures, and I hope to put up some trim and at least prime the panels. I am still playing with the reveal at the hinge side of the door, I had to brainstorm a way to get a single strip wide piece of panel out of the way so the door can move, but without an unsightly gap. I hope it works.

I also have some small drywall bits to hang, I will try to use up the remaining insulation and soundboard by putting it up at the fireplace wall, I hate to throw stuff away. I also need to add a melamine shelf to the right of the door for food and chemicals.

More later. Guys, I really want to thank you for the kind words, the encouragement, and the advice. A handful of friends have seen it and the reactions are amazing. It really looks nice in our house, I can't wait for fish!

More to come.

[PfunMo]

With a little bit of prodding we can get you to work yourself to death! Even to after bed time!

I think you will be justified in being very proud. Sounds like it looking great.