Waking up from the nightmare build: the reboot

[Gregg @ ADP]

These walls...whew. Done.

Here’s the middle panel and one side panel. The bigger shelves are not cemented on...too heavy. I’ll have to do that after they’re mounted in the tank. The mortar isn’t totally cured, which is why it’s still dark:

Here’s the other side panel:

Not terrible for the first time doing it. I definitely learned some things. I found out (too late, of course) that prep is key when working with Quikrete. You have almost no time at all to lay the mortar and then get rocks into it. I had this notion that I would be able to put some mortar on and then pick and chose which rocks and then then take my time pushing them on.

Nope. Doesn’t work that way.

Anyway, I’m going to use epoxy to cement the panels onto the overflow, and once they’re in place, I’m going to mortar them together and assume they’ll never move again.

 

[sstanley223]

These walls...whew. Done.

Here’s the middle panel and one side panel. The bigger shelves are not cemented on...too heavy. I’ll have to do that after they’re mounted in the tank. The mortar isn’t totally cured, which is why it’s still dark:

Here’s the other side panel:

Not terrible for the first time doing it. I definitely learned some things. I found out (too late, of course) that prep is key when working with Quikrete. You have almost no time at all to lay the mortar and then get rocks into it. I had this notion that I would be able to put some mortar on and then pick and chose which rocks and then then take my time pushing them on.

Nope. Doesn’t work that way.

Anyway, I’m going to use epoxy to cement the panels onto the overflow, and once they’re in place, I’m going to mortar them together and assume they’ll never move again.

Really creative! Ive been following this project since you started!

 

[jtl]

Following to see it through to completion.

 

[norfolkgarden]

"Could you make that rock a little smaller?"

Amazing salvage job on that tank. Looks fantastic so far!

Looking forward to seeing the results.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

 

[Bronc]

That looks terrific!

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

That looks terrific!

Thanks! The pics don’t do it justice, though.

The last step on this side is to make a couple of features that come up to about 10” up from the bottom...hard to describe, but you’ll see.

I’ll tell you...I had major concerns about pulling this wall off. My main concern was it falling/falling apart. But now that everything is cemented in, I feel pretty certain in saying the house will collapse before this wall does. It is, well...rock solid.

 

[Sallstrom]

Looks great! Awesome work.

 

[SallyWho]

Man, that looks so much better than it did before!

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Great way to cover that up.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I was really worried about those panels staying up, especially once there is coral growing on them. But, by overdoing it, they’re a permanent fixture in the tank and they aren’t going anywhere

 

[jsker]

great way to hide the column

 

[biecacka]

Great progress so far!


Corey

 

[Hella_Reef]

Looks great!

 

[sde1500]

That looks fantastic!

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I love the way this is turning out! Now if you can fix the dry wall problem. Have you considered green board and then FRP wall cladding for the canopy area? Or just replacing the wall board with PVC or HDPE panels?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Well, I've seen enough. Following ;Wideyed;Woot

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I love the way this is turning out! Now if you can fix the dry wall problem. Have you considered green board and then FRP wall cladding for the canopy area? Or just replacing the wall board with PVC or HDPE panels?

At this point, I don’t know if I’m going to to much about what’s left. I got all the rotted dry wall and metal framing out, and ripped the dry wall ceiling out, which was my main goal.

It’s such a weird space up there, and it’s not all that functional. I was able to open up a little more room, but as far as the cosmetics...TBD. The existing drywall that’s left isn’t a problem. If it becomes one, then I can always put a sheet of plywood over the aquarium and rip the remaining drywall out and put in new panels. But...it’s low on the priority list.

 

[Tft12]

Your rock structure turned out great!

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

Looks great! Awesome work.

Man, that looks so much better than it did before!

great way to hide the column

Great way to cover that up.

Great progress so far!


Corey

Looks great!

That looks fantastic!

I love the way this is turning out! Now if you can fix the dry wall problem. Have you considered green board and then FRP wall cladding for the canopy area? Or just replacing the wall board with PVC or HDPE panels?

Well, I've seen enough. Following ;Wideyed;Woot

Your rock structure turned out great!

Thanks, everybody, for the compliments on this particular shot in the dark, and thanks for following along!

I’m finishing the rest of the rock structure today, and then get it back up and running. I hope that once the corals get going, it ends up looking like it does in my head.