The Puffer Forum

Re J-P's comments on humidity - I forgot to mention that I do use air-to-air heat exchanges to keep the tank room from molding. Normal drywall may not survive otherwise.

Wow! Glad to be getting some advice on this setup. Finally got enough blocks to support the house with and will be starting on the stand. Planning on doing a wet/dry filter, vegi filtration and a canister filter (possibly 2) along with some sponge filters that I am currently using. I am looking in to Back to Nature at getting one of their backgrounds for the aquarium to give the system a natural look. Also, does anyone have a good company to recommend purchasing a sump from? Looking for one that includes a section for the vegi filter (basically a refugium type like in marine setups, just bigger). Greatly appreciate everyone's input.

UPDATE!

Okay, so I have been making some progress on this monster tank. I have grinded down the stand, primed it and repainted it. I have also re-enforced the floor of my apartment so all is left is cleaning and re-sealing the 540 gallon. I have decided for my sump to build my own out of an old 125 gallon tank and put in sections for a wet/dry, vegi fillter, canister filter intake/outake, auto-top off and a auto water changing system. Below are the pictures of my progress!
This is what I used to remove the old paint from the metal stand. It is pretty loud and hurts when you hit yourself.
This is the type of paint I used to prime the stand. Good Rustoleum!
You can tell in this picture the left is the side that I used the grinder on and the right is how far I have gotten with the Rustoleum.
This is a picture of the stand. It actually weighs more than the aquarium does!
This is a picture of me under my apartment adding cement blocks to help keep the floor from collapsing. Very tight space but I think the floor will hold. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I made some calls today and have some Weld-On #42 to pick up to reseal the aquarium and I have contacted a company regarding a background for this tank. I think it will look nice once I am done. Will be posting some more pictures of the stand when I am done painting it and then some pictures of cleaning the tank and resealing it. Getting close to the final product soon!

LOL!! nice shot!

Expect the floor to bow a tad. The acrylic tank will be able to compensate but obviously you'll need to fill it first and re-measure to make sure it is level.

Once the tank is full (taking the measurements for the 2nd time), measure the width of the tank from the center and both ends. If the center starts bowing outwards you may need a center cross brace in there.

So far so good though!

Hahaha J-P. But one thing though. If it is an apartment you are putting this in, does your landlord know about this?...lol.

J-P wrote:LOL!! nice shot!

Expect the floor to bow a tad. The acrylic tank will be able to compensate but obviously you'll need to fill it first and re-measure to make sure it is level.

Once the tank is full (taking the measurements for the 2nd time), measure the width of the tank from the center and both ends. If the center starts bowing outwards you may need a center cross brace in there.

So far so good though!

A center brace for the tank? The way the acrylic is cut, it has one. I will take a picture from on top of the aquarium and show you what it has. I haven't actually finished the floor re-enforcing. I am basically making a cement box all underneath where the tank is sitting. Hopefully this will work.

FADE2BLACK_1973 wrote:Hahaha J-P. But one thing though. If it is an apartment you are putting this in, does your landlord know about this?...lol.

Actually my crazy landlord is helping me do this. I have told her many times this is going to be well over 4000 lbs and since I am not moving for awhile, this sucker is getting a nice sand bed.

MerrittA wrote:

FADE2BLACK_1973 wrote:Hahaha J-P. But one thing though. If it is an apartment you are putting this in, does your landlord know about this?...lol.

Actually my crazy landlord is helping me do this. I have told her many times this is going to be well over 4000 lbs and since I am not moving for awhile, this sucker is getting a nice sand bed.

Wow, One I had years ago did not even want me to have even 1 tank..lol.

PLEASE DELETE OR LOCK THREAD

awww .. what happened?