The Wall (With the light switch closest to the TV) before i started

The wall from the stair side

Gyprock removed

Centre supports removed, flooring braced, electricals removed from the cavities and ready to be rerun under the floor to another light switch

Starting to build the main base for the tank, my plan is to use the underneath as a storage area for alcohol and dvd's, the sump\filtration will be underneath the house to reduce any noise

After a bit of a mix up at the local fish shop, I found out right before I was going to order the tank that the cost was going to be $2000 more than what I budgeted for, so, ended up rebuilding the base, very frustrating, but taking the opportunity to make the tank wider and longer....why not


The main frame starting to take shape now, I've also cut out the window on the stair side



Installed some of the external gyprock

Lining the frame with Villaboard and also punched a hole in the wall which is where the main tank will drain to the sump under the house

Tank finally arrives and just wanted to make sure all is on the right track. The tank has three sides made out of sapphire glass and the weir end made from normal float glass. The window cut in the gyprock overlaps the tank by about 2 inches all round so you don't see any of the edges of the tank. I've lined the inside of the storage draw and the inside of the main tank frame with villaboard as it will handle any moisture better than standard gyprock would.

My home made light pulley system, I wanted to be able to lift up the lights and have them out of the way when cleaning the tank, just something simple and easy to use, this actually works very well.

Installed my homemade extracton system. Picked up a small bathroom extractor from bunnings and made a box to house it in. I've since removed it from the frame as I really need the frame plastered first then I will re-install it, same goes with the lights. The extractor is suppose to be hush quiet and my plan is to have it on a timer so it comes on and off automatically.

Installed some metal bracing to minimise any movement in the frame.


Windows now down to the correct sizes and edged.

Frame almost complete, waiting on a few more pieces of wood to be cut down to size, spending a little more time looking at the underneath draw system. Wines at the back, followed by spirits and then the DVD's\CD's. I've put on more gyprock edging and gyprock panels. On the tv side of the frame, this is where I am planning to have an access panel to get to the top of the tank.
