- Please consider Joining our community to get access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
- If you are new and want to check out the podcasts you can find a full list of FAQ's to get you started. The most recent shows are on the homepage of Talkingreef
Many of you know we moved to FL to do some coral aquaculture. Long story short - we ordered a building over a year ago, hired an excavator and concrete contractor, had that work completed by January of this year. Payed in full for the building and began waiting with high expectations of getting it erected and setting up the necessary aquariums and equipment to get fragging and growing. After five months and no building, and nothing but excuses from the sales company, I contacted an attorney. It seems the guy spent the money and lived too high on the hog. I found out he had sixteen orders at the factory in the same situation. This guy liked to sell buildings but not pay the factory for them. We threatened to take the case to the DA. The guy realized he was facing 3 to 5 years in the big house on just my case. If I proceeded it would have brought the rest of his sales to light and he would have been put away for a lengthier time. It took him three weeks but we got our money back. The factory sold us the building direct. It was delivered 12/3/07, the day before my 70th BD.
Here's what a 25' x 44' building looks like without air inside.
I found it difficult to believe that my building was just the three pallets in the center of this flatbed.
My son, Keith, came to FL from Montana for my BD and to help put the building together. We got a small start before he was scheduled to return home.
That's a bucket of 1500 1/2" nuts and bolts I'm sitting on, there are three of them. You can quickly do the math and come up with 4500 to install before the building is done. I guess there are a few extra. In any event, that's a lot of nuts and bolts.
Stay tuned, I'll keep this thread updated as progress warrants.
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
Absolutely, come on down. Today's temperature was 78 tomorrow their predicting 80.
Man I love FL.
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
YIPPEE! I think that 4500 nuts & bolts sounds kind of intimidating. If you put about a dozen bolts a day on a nut you ought to be ready to host a TR frag sawp next Christmas.
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
That's a bucket of 1500 1/2" nuts and bolts I'm sitting on, there are three of them. You can quickly do the math and come up with 4500 to install before the building is done. I guess there are a few extra. In any event, that's a lot of nuts and bolts.
Woah. I almost complained last night when it took me over 30 minutes to put together one of my kids Hanukkah presents. I'll keep your task in mind next time I feel challenged...
Woah. I almost complained last night when it took me over 30 minutes to put together one of my kids Hanukkah presents. I'll keep your task in mind next time I feel challenged...
LOL, I remember those nights. At 19 mine just wants money and gift cards.
So, I want to know if buildings are like toys, there is always a missing thingamajig or some holes that don't line up.
Thank you! I really don't feel old most of the time. A little slow on the "Giddie-up-go" from time to time. Considering what my body has been through, I feel blessed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarmieJo
So, I want to know if buildings are like toys, there is always a missing thingamajig or some holes that don't line up.
I hope nothing is missing, Carmie. As far as lining up the holes, that has been a little challenging. I bought three drift pins for that purpose. Once Keith and I got the hang of things it went pretty well. Unfortunately, he had a job to go back to in MT. So things have slowed down until I can get a crew out here to help lift the three arches we have bolted together vertical and get them anchored. I'll keep a running thread on progress.
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
So things have slowed down until I can get a crew out here to help lift the three arches we have bolted together vertical and get them anchored. I'll keep a running thread on progress.
This building is like a Quanza Hut, correct? Does it come with insulation/ventilation/HVAC or do you have to retrofit all of that? I'm also interested in seeing how you plan to layout your tanks/equipment in this space...
Yes, sort of except with vertical sides. Here is a picture from the factory web site. This building is smaller than the one I bought but, you will get the idea.
You buy just the shell. Any accessories, such as insulation, heating, cooling and electrical are purchased locally.
As far as the aquaculture is concerned, I have scaled back considerably from my original plans. I have aquariums and tubs totaling about 1200 gallons. These will be housed at one end of the building. I also installed 525' of 3" thin wall PVC 60" under the concrete floor for geothermal cooling of the system water.
The excavator rough graded first and then leveled by hand the area for the geothermal loop. There are 25 loops, 20' lengths PVC and then the return run of about 25', so about 525' of cooling circuit.
Finishing the loop.
Bringing in the fill dirt to raise the building foundation 3' above the nearest blacktop road. A little insurance against flooding. Notice the height of the stand pipes.
Filling and spreading went on for days until...
It was nearly as tall as my wife.
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
I'm not even involved in this project, and I'm excited. Pretty cool idea on the geothermal cooling. Any estimates on how much heat the system will be able to pull out?
Are you going to be using natural sunlight, or MH?
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
Oh, and happy 70th birthday Amph!
