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January 21st, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Thanks for all the support, we're gonna need it! Today I've been battling the wind and rain to get the roof on and waterproof and tomorrow it's the turn of the walls. Then it just leaves the end frame and door to seal the fh from the elements.
With the weather kept out, I can get to work on the electrics and plumbing, insulation and internal lining. As soon as that is completed, the racks will go in and the tanks will follow. We have just 3 1/2 weeks to complete the work before we have to move from here, so no holding back now!
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January 22nd, 2008
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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 The Battle Of Winds! Well fought Tim!  |
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January 30th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Tim and Karen, when set to go and sell, i'll would like 2 female Betta babies please!!!!!! I'm only on the Wirral so an easy journey!!
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January 30th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Hi Tazmiche! We actually have several Betta plaket females just about ready to go. They are blue/red. I'll grab a pic when I get chance and post it for you.
As for the move, we now have less than three weeks to finish everything and get it all working, and things are going pretty well according to plan, with the fish house almost completed as far as the main structure goes, the insulation is just about finished and the wiring is in to first-fix stage. The utility room linking to the house now has a roof and walls, and the floor is being laid at the moment. The whole structure is now water-tight... it has been tested over the last few days!
The concrete floor will be finished off tomorrow, as will the roof lining in the fish house, which is just about all the building left on that section of build. Once that is in, the racking, heating, plumbing and wiring can go in, very quickly followed by the tanks and of course, the fish!
We have changed the plans a little with regard to lining of the walls, since the first fish house suffers very badly from mould on the walls. This time we have lined the walls with heavy-guage plastic sheeting, so any moisture that hits will just run down onto the floor, where it will drain away.
Heating will be supplied by a small electric heater, in the same way as the fish house here is working. We have opted for heating with thermostatic control for cost effectiveness and reliability. The tumble driers will also be vented into the fish house to recycle the heat they generate. this will be ducted through the length of the fish house at ground level, under the racking. In order to get the temperature up initially we will be using a portable gas heater for a day or so.
Pictures are scarce at the moment, since we are working flat out and it's usually dark by the time we stop. We are estimating that the fish will be moving around the end of this week/ early next week. Then we have to dismantle this fish house to continue the build that end!
The second car is to be sold to raise the extra money we need to build the conservatory onto the utility/house, which will hopefully happen as soon as the move is completed, so there is still plenty to be getting on with!
Last edited by timg; January 30th, 2008 at 07:18 PM.
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January 30th, 2008
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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January 31st, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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It's wild, wet, cold and windy in Britain tonight, and the weather has slowed us down today. The temporary sheeting that we had been using to keep the weather out of the utility room/ conservatory partition blew down last night and the winds did a little damage to the structure that needed to be put right this afternoon, so only the concreting got finished today, but it's still progress and we can soon make up the lost time.
Tonight the structure is much more stable and will have no problems, despite the wind picking up again. The temperature has dropped as well, hovering close to freezing, which may affect the setting of the concrete, but it shouldn't be a major problem. Tomorrow we can get more done, I'm sure.
Every day it gets a little closer to finishing, and as long as we can get some work done each day, we'll make it on time.
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January 31st, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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isn't the weather here poop!! I hate it, my horse in Parkgate is so sad with it!!! I'm so sick of wind and rain, turning the horses out and bringing in is a nightmare as they hate the weather too. your job building is a tough call.
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February 1st, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Well, today was a maintenance day on the fish house. It was time for a water change on both sumps and a serious tank cleaning exercise, so no building today. Now that's done, the next change should be when they move!
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February 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Back to the job in hand today, with an improvement in the weather and the wind dropping, we were able to get on with the build again.
We replaced the temporary sheeting wall, (re-inforcing it with timber this time), put the ceiling lining up and fixed the lighting in place.
The concrete had not been adversely affected by the weather, which was great, since I didn't relish the idea of having to re-do that, and the drain works well from the yard to the sewer.
Just one wall left to line and the racking can go in! Tomorrow should see the main part of the build completed, just one day behind the schedule we have set. The racking on the one side will only take a day to erect and that will be sufficient to hold all the tanks that I now have in our present fish house.
The plumbing will be much simpler this time, using gutters rather than piping, and the sumps will also be more accessible than before. It's great to have a second chance to get things right, most people don't get that oportunity!
It won't be long before the fish start to move over to the new fh, and once they are all there, we can strip out the present one and reclaim the materials.
The project is moving much more smoothly this time, but experience plays a part in that, having done it once, it's not so hard the second time! Also, direct funding plays a major part, not having to wait for decisions on what we can get on grants, which was the single most painful cause of delays before.
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February 2nd, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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 I so admire that you two have embraced your love, and have so wholeheartedly set out to make it happen...HOPE,,,,the thing that gives us a reason for living....
I saw a little on the news yesterday about all the weather you are having....and loosing a ship from it....I do hope the weather cooperates in the next couple of weeks, you can't afford too many delays..  |
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February 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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two ships now..... another run aground last night.
We will succeed, whatever the challenges
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February 3rd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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true UK spirit!!!!!!!
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February 4th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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The good old "British Bulldog" determination is still alive and kicking! hehe
Mind you, the weather is still trying to defeat us, but it will not win! We wasted a lot of yesterday really, replacing the sheeting yet again, but did manage to fit a door and a window as well as some of the insulation on the last wall of the fish house, so each time the sheeting comes down, less goes back because we fill some of the hole with solid stuff!
The builders merchants are open again today, so there will be a couple of sheets of plywood filling the rest of the opening by the end of today. That will end the war of the winds once and for all!
Today, weather permitting, I'll get some photos to show the progress!
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February 4th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Dude you got this
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February 4th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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I've got it....Grace Ice and Water Shield! Commonly named here- Bituthane- ....Describing it I would have to say it is thick, black, sticky, sheeting that goes on under shingles, or any application where you don't want water to penetrate....like basement walls, or flat roofs. Sounds like it would be good on the outside of your fish house, under what ever you use for siding....It would keep that weather out!
 We miss you....
Last edited by Chief_waterchanger; February 5th, 2008 at 05:11 AM.
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February 4th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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It just so happens..... lol! The roof is covered with felt and bitumen and it does a really great job of keeping the weather out! The utility and conservatory are both having flat roofs, and the fish house roof only has a small run on it, so we have already stocked up with the necessary waterproofing materials.
Didn't get the pics again, too busy fitting doors and things! Racking timbers arrive tomorrow, so I guess my day is planned again. I am collecting a trailer at the weekend to move all the tanks, so it will need to be ready by then.
Keep watching, it can only get better!
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February 5th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Hope you don't mind me asking this but when you get the chance can you explain the Betta/Gourami breeding tank design a bit more as I couldn't figure out why the water didn't come gushing out the bottom nor how you had access to it's occupants.  
No rush on this as I know you're busy getting FH-2 set up, plus you've got to dismantle FH-1. Whenever it's convenient for you.  |
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February 5th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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The tank works by having the top area air tight so no air can get into the top area. If this is the case then the water can not flow down because it would be creating a vacuum in the top area and a lot more force then the weight of the water is needed to create a vacuum. It's just like if you take a jar and fill it with water and lift it upside down in a tub of water, the water will stay in the jar until the air can get into the jar.
I can only imagine how hard it is to get the fish out though since you can't sweep the top area with out bending the net handle.
It's an great idea. Hope that helps.
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The layout looks great! We're really excited for you, going after your dream like this and know you'll make it successful. 