Other 311g Predator Tank Build

[Tgkirn]

So we are swapping out our current 110g and making way for this 250g 8' long tank beast of a tank. This tank was in bad shape when we got it but we are planning on revamping it and turning it into a gem.

So far I took off the poorly painted back glass paint and now it's holding 40g of vinegar water for a dual purpose of a leak test and to clean it.

I plan on posting my progression here to help (more like get help) other members starting out. Thanks to @intense37716 for our lengthy messages back and forth regarding plumbing. Looking forward to this adventure as I know it will look good in the end. Just got to get past the man hours and hard work.

We ( @HNSmith88 and myself) are open to suggestions from those who are willing to give it. Especially those with large tanks already.

(Don't mind the poor organization of the fish room. I just built it and haven't done the workbench part yet)

 

[Tgkirn]

Here is the paint coming off.

 

[Humblefish]

It looks pretty good to me!

Does it have a lot of scratches or something?

 

[Tgkirn]

It looks pretty good to me!

Does it have a lot of scratches or something?

Yeah going to buff out the scratches. Just got all the stuff to do it. Sadly enough they are in the area where you would see it the most based off placement of the house.

It's not so much just work on the tank but...

I'm going to reinforce the floor (even though the house is only a year old) due to placement on the joists.

I'm going to make a removable front and sides on the 2x4 stand so it looks better in the main part of the house.

Lastly I'm going to design the plumbing and ease of use. @intense37716 suggested putting in a manifold line for water changes to be able to pump out the sump easier. I think this is ingenious!!

 

[Alcatraz]

Mothers Powerball worked wonders on mine in helping get out scratches

 

[intense37716]

Don’t blame me lol I’m living my tank needs and ideas through you 😉 man awesome project. I’ve been lurking online for used tanks to reseal/restore

I reinforced our floors for approx 150-175 gallons, position of floor joist worked out but it did run some boards and two jack stands 4ft apart. Tank that size I might even consider sistering joist and adding 2 more stands, little bit over kill but for $200 a little piece of mind for 3000lbs

 

[Tgkirn]

Don’t blame me lol I’m living my tank needs and ideas through you 😉 man awesome project. I’ve been lurking online for used tanks to reseal/restore

I reinforced our floors for approx 150-175 gallons, position of floor joist worked out but it did run some boards and two jack stands 4ft apart. Tank that size I might even consider sistering joist and adding 2 more stands, little bit over kill but for $200 a little piece of mind for 3000lbs

Planning on sistering the joists on both sides as well as laddering in between and using 4 floor jacks. Did you put anything under your jacks?

And if this fails I'm totally blaming you. Nah you've been a huge help and reassured I'm thinking correctly on a tank of this size. Thank you.

 

[intense37716]

Because it’s a crawl space I actually dug a hole and made footers with blocks and cement. Living in higher elevation we have plenty of rock more like boulders and red dirt.

 

[Tgkirn]

Because it’s a crawl space I actually dug a hole and made footers with blocks and cement. Living in higher elevation we have plenty of rock more like boulders and red dirt.

I was thinking of putting a 2ft x 2ft plywood sheet to help disperse the weight as I can't do footings on an ready poured basement slab. The jacks are really a backup as what I plan on doing to the joists the builder said should be enough.

 

[intense37716]

We like placing wood under stand, makes it really easy to level.
Your basement slab is golden! Heck you can even put the sump down below, electric can easily be run on new breaker, maintenance super easy and no mess in your living space, you’re thinking about that now 🤔

Make life easy on you if you floor joist are high and give you plenty of clearance run a 2x6 and put 2 or 3 jack stands under it

 

[Tgkirn]

Time to get the scratches out. Going to attempt this method. I truly think the previous owners kept a mountain lion in this tank and not fish...

 

[Tgkirn]

We like placing wood under stand, makes it really easy to level.
Your basement slab is golden! Heck you can even put the sump down below, electric can easily be run on new breaker, maintenance super easy and no mess in your living space, you’re thinking about that now 🤔

Make life easy on you if you floor joist are high and give you plenty of clearance run a 2x6 and put 2 or 3 jack stands under it

Dang you. @HNSmith88 and I just agreed to put the sump in the basement. Now that being said im not going to need to have a pretty sump. What are y'all thought on using a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank for the sump?? Thinking I can go a little cheaper on the sump container and make baffles in it and use the extra money for the larger pump and skimmer...

 

[AngryMike2016]

I've seen several people using big Rubbermaids like that for their sumps, when they have basement sumps. I can't think of any reason not to; especially considering how expensive an appropriately sized sump would be for that tank.

 

[intense37716]

Dang you. @HNSmith88 and I just agreed to put the sump in the basement. Now that being said im not going to need to have a pretty sump. What are y'all thought on using a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank for the sump?? Thinking I can go a little cheaper on the sump container and make baffles in it and use the extra money for the larger pump and skimmer...

I see lots of fish stores use them with multiple tanks. They have a skimmer with socks and a big pile of rocks and or biomedia.
Now you’re going to need to find a pump/s to get the head pressure up there 😱

I say no baffles, unless someone else sees a problem with no baffles, clean up could be easy, just drain it then use a shop vac to clean up debris.

 

[Tgkirn]

And it starts...

Phase 1 of reinforcing the floor. Just have to ladder it and the place my 4x4s under to support it more (probably overkill but oh well) will enclose the area of the sump sometime.

Also bought the sump and some RO water barrels. Getting excited!! (And not that 150g tub won't be staying on top of the saw houses. Just looking at placement options)

 

[Tgkirn]

And it starts...

Phase 1 of reinforcing the floor. Just have to ladder it and the place my 4x4s under to support it more (probably overkill but oh well) will enclose the area of the sump sometime.

Also bought the sump and some RO water barrels. Getting excited!! (And not that 150g tub won't be staying on top of the saw houses. Just looking at placement options)

Got one side of the floor supports in. Decided since the jacks were "overkill" I would hammer in very tight 4x4s and secure them. This will dual purpose them when I go to frame out the "sump room" (like a little structural support wall).

 

[intense37716]

Framing will work just fine indoors and youre almost there to an enclosed room ...haha more work!
Lots of weight for a 250g overkill is a lot better than any deflection in your floor

 

[Tgkirn]

Getting there!

 

[intense37716]

Getting there!

I like it, hey where did you get the white barrels from or rather what were they used as before? Maybe they were new, but I always seen food grade storage but nervous that something was used in it that can’t fully clean or leach

 

[Tgkirn]

I like it, hey where did you get the white barrels from or rather what were they used as before? Maybe they were new, but I always seen food grade storage but nervous that something was used in it that can’t fully clean or leach

I got them from a farm and home supply store and they told me they are new and never used. They are really clean and no signs of use to me. I'll probably have to cut a hole in the top to drop in a pump as the 2 holes aren't that big.