Relocating equipment to a new fish room

[seldin]

I thought maybe this thread would go in Tank threads, but it seems like the moderator message wanted a picture of a full tank, and since I have none, I figure I would post some observations.

A few months ago, I had posted that I wanted to convert part of a Laundry closet to be split in half, so the other side could hold reef equipment, such as chiller, RO/DI, etc.

I even mentioned I was willing to pay some $$$ ( not lot's ) $$$. I was surprised with the limited amount of people responding.

Some guys were great, but one of the vendors that seemed interested, lost interest when I said "I'm serious". He decided he would rather tell me "how much in demand he was", rather than actually come over and get started. I think he needed to understand that I was much more interested in what he could do for me, then tell me how busy he was and how great he was with other people. I want someone to do my job in a timely fashion. When I started to see that his response to my questions were delayed, even though I told him, I wanted to move forward, I thought to myself, that if he is so slow to respond before the work started, imagine if there were problems!!!

On the other hand, I did receive a couple of contacts from some great guys.

I guess the thing that really surprised me, was that I was ready months ago to move forward ( had the cash), so I figured I could get this done pretty quick.

Well, it did not work that way. I did have 2 guys come down and one guy actually said he was interested in doing the project from soup to nuts. Again, I naively thought ( I am willing to pay), so I figured that should be a reason I could get this done quickly.

So the story, so far, is that I chose a guy, who was going to build me steel ( or iron shelves), because I wanted to put a UPC in the closet and wanted very heavy shelves.

After a while, he had the shelves. My thought was since I am not there to supervise, that to install shelving and plumbing in closet, I could give him "unsupervised access" and then when it got time to disconnecting the display tank equipment, that's where I would be needed.

On one weekend, he came over at 10am. What surprised me was that he looked exhausted and I was his first customer. Really nice guy, but I realized that because he looked exhausted, he would need be watched so he would not wreck the house.

Some highlights ( still a work in progress ) is that the shelves mentioned had to be shortened. He did not look at the back of the wall, seems there were plumbing pipes behind a wash machine ( wow, what a surprise...).

Then, there was the pipe burst when a hole was drilled (even though I showed him it was next to an outlet). At that point, I had to shut off the main intake, because of course ( the pipe burst had bypassed the shutoff valves).

Now, to his credit, he was able to sweat pipes in the evening, so water could be turned on.

At this point, we are in the middle of this, so I will get back when I have more news.

I did come to the realization, that I will be doing a tank upgrade with new equipment. Figure, that with the modular equipment tank closet, might as well replace the 23 year old tank.

This does let my kids help with the caring for the reef.

One of the things I did wish, was I was trying to have some one, come over with fresh ideas.

So definitely, not proceeding in a quiet manner. However, I am hoping for a smoother finish to the slower start.

I can hope... can't I, ha,ha.

 

[albano]

My thought was since I am not there to supervise, I could give him "unsupervised access". Really nice guy, but I realized that because he looked exhausted, he would need be watched so he would not wreck the house.

WRONG THOUGHT, I don't care how good or how highly recommended ANYONE is, you NEED to be there (or have someone there, as your EYES) for every job. If theres any problem, you want to make the decision, on the spot, for correction, not find out about it at 6PM, when you get home. Even the BEST contractor, can have a 'inept' employee. I've seen mistakes made, from hot/cold water hooked up opposites, to a steel beam in a commercial building, being welded across an elevator shaft (while the architect was watching!) Better off (and cheaper) to have it done right the first time, especially at your home!

 

[seldin]

Albino,

I agree, my common sense must have been on vacation.

 

[marrone]

Very important, if you're going to hire someone to do major work, involving water, pipes, walls and such you want to make sure that the person doing the work has insurance. It's one thing to hook up an RO unit it's another to do major work to your home.

 

[gcfishreef]

U GET WHAT U PAY FOR (imo) IN MY BIS THEY ALL KNOW IT ALL,,TILL ITS TIME TO DO IT.....

u need help< > ill try to steer u in the right direction the best i can
call if u need

GOOD LUCK

 

[seldin]

U GET WHAT U PAY FOR (imo) IN MY BIS THEY ALL KNOW IT ALL,,TILL ITS TIME TO DO IT.....

u need help< > ill try to steer u in the right direction the best i can
call if u need

GOOD LUCK

My assessment, so far, is the shelves that were built are very plain, and I my focus was on able to hold very heavy equipment. A UPC weighs a ton. Since the shelves are in the laundry closet, I will live with the less than modern look. However, I think I will be able to get it look decent once it is painted.

What I am presently focusing on, was that I had 2 holes about 3-4 inches drilled from the back of the tank wall to the equipment closet. Now, I can myself run pipes from the display tank to the equipment room easily and also the same for electric.

Obviously, still not there yet, as this week I am hoping he vents the chiller and we attach the sump to the chiller and the back again to the display tank.

Thanks guys for your input.