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Author Topic: Arcade Aquarium  (Read 21892 times)

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Mike A

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Arcade Aquarium
« on: June 08, 2018, 08:23:22 am »
I knew this day had to come, but it is a massive job so I put it off...until now.



I moved my arcade into a room that used to be a garage. It is an easy in and out of the house. The problem is that is also the room that my aquarium is in.

I know what you are all thinking. Obviously I should incorporate the aquarium into an arcade cabinet. The problem is that it is too small for most of the widescreen builds here. It is only six feet wide.

I am going to move the tank into my basement. The thought of a tank failure is in the back of my head. 150 gallons of water on the floor would not be good for my games.

There is also the fact that I have had these fish since they were the size of guppies. They are 7 years old now, and I am a little nervous about shocking them with a transfer like this. I have to drain the tank completely and remove the gravel. I have a hundred gallon tank to house them until the move is complete so I am fairly confident the move won't kill them. It would be a shame to lose any of them. I have 4 koi in the tank.

Titchgamer

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2018, 09:09:14 am »
I knew this day had to come, but it is a massive job so I put it off...until now.



I moved my arcade into a room that used to be a garage. It is an easy in and out of the house. The problem is that is also the room that my aquarium is in.

I know what you are all thinking. Obviously I should incorporate the aquarium into an arcade cabinet. The problem is that it is too small for most of the widescreen builds here. It is only six feet wide.

I am going to move the tank into my basement. The thought of a tank failure is in the back of my head. 150 gallons of water on the floor would not be good for my games.

There is also the fact that I have had these fish since they were the size of guppies. They are 7 years old now, and I am a little nervous about shocking them with a transfer like this. I have to drain the tank completely and remove the gravel. I have a hundred gallon tank to house them until the move is complete so I am fairly confident the move won't kill them. It would be a shame to lose any of them. I have 4 koi in the tank.

Mate I have a cool idea idea for you!

This may seem a little crazy though at first but bare with me....

Why dont you build a arcade machine around the fish tank!?

Then you save space, get 2 of your fave things in one place and nobody will of ever done it before!!

Cool eh!?

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2018, 09:43:35 am »
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bare with me....

I need to know you a little better before I get naked with you.

05SRT4

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2018, 09:45:25 am »
Quote
bare with me....

I need to know you a little better before I get naked with you.

You've changed Mike.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2018, 10:56:01 am »
 :cheers: I love maintaining aquariums. Just wish I had the time. It seems like within a year, every tank I stock ends looking like it is filled with swamp water from the legion of doom's headquarters.

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2018, 11:09:13 am »
Koi are easy. They are very dirty in that they poop a lot compared to other fish. They are very hearty though. You don't heat the water so bacteria and algae don't flourish like they do in tropical tanks. My filter turns the tank volume over about 4 times an hour. I have a canister filter that I need to clean out once every three months. It was every six months until the fish got really big. It takes 15 minutes to clean the filter.

I change about 10 percent of the water out every other week. That takes about 20 minutes. I siphon the water into a drain pipe behind the tank. I have a spigot and hose right next to the tank for filling. No buckets. I never use chemicals of any kind. I never replace the filter elements. I just clean them so they don't restrict flow.

My water stays really clear. The glass can accumulate algae if I get lazy.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2018, 11:12:47 am »
Why not leave the aquarium in your garage and a few games in your house?  I've got arcade cabins in 3 rooms of my house.  And I'm.. normal....ish.


Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2018, 11:26:14 am »
The problem is that this room makes a really nice arcade room. The in progress cab and the two monitors are in my shop now instead of the middle of the floor.



I can add several more games in here until they spill over into the living room. The aquarium takes up the place of three cabs.

I also want to add an overflow to my aquarium. I have plans for a 100 gallon sump filter. That will take up a lot of space.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2018, 11:36:55 am »
Daaaamn Mike... Nice setup! Needs more pinball though... >:D
%Bartop

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2018, 11:47:07 am »
Thanks Neph.

Multiple pins are forthcoming. I have to get through my kitchen remodel before I can lay out the cabbage for some pins.

Titchgamer

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2018, 11:49:46 am »
Mike all you need to know is I love you long time if I can live in that thar room :p

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2018, 11:57:45 am »
Hey Titch. If you ever make the trip to the US and you find yourself near Chicago just let me know. We can tilt back a few pints.

I have seen some really sweet arcade rooms online. I have been to Casa de Yotsuya. He has a nice room put together.

As of right now I just have a pile of games in a room. I need to put it all together for a real arcade experience.

It does give me that tingly feeling when all of the games are on and the room is full of people.

Titchgamer

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2018, 12:25:52 pm »
Hey Titch. If you ever make the trip to the US and you find yourself near Chicago just let me know. We can tilt back a few pints.

I have seen some really sweet arcade rooms online. I have been to Casa de Yotsuya. He has a nice room put together.

As of right now I just have a pile of games in a room. I need to put it all together for a real arcade experience.

It does give me that tingly feeling when all of the games are on and the room is full of people.

Will do mate,

Ide love a true arcade games room like that but a house big enough to do it over here would prob cost me both my kidneys lol

Thats why I only have the mame upright and the neo geo bartop.
But I do have a original cab being repairedat the moment which will be max capacity for me!

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2018, 12:31:52 pm »
Quote
But I do have a original cab being repairedat the moment which will be max capacity for me!

Nice. Which one?

Titchgamer

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2018, 12:41:02 pm »
Quote
But I do have a original cab being repairedat the moment which will be max capacity for me!

Nice. Which one?

Its Area 51 lol

Needs lots of work though so once the Monitor has been fixed ive got a nice little project to keep me going through the winter :)

jdbailey1206

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #15 on: June 08, 2018, 01:16:56 pm »
The problem is that this room makes a really nice arcade room. The in progress cab and the two monitors are in my shop now instead of the middle of the floor.



I can add several more games in here until they spill over into the living room. The aquarium takes up the place of three cabs.

I also want to add an overflow to my aquarium. I have plans for a 100 gallon sump filter. That will take up a lot of space.



I always knew you were a Bond villain Mike. 

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #16 on: June 08, 2018, 01:21:37 pm »
This is everyone's chance. What would my Bond villain name be?

jdbailey1206

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #17 on: June 08, 2018, 06:17:46 pm »
This is everyone's chance. What would my Bond villain name be?

...Goldfinger.  I thought that was apparent by your game room.  I know you hit a button and Fort Knox model comes out of the floor.
« Last Edit: June 08, 2018, 06:29:03 pm by jdbailey1206 »

Titchgamer

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #18 on: June 09, 2018, 01:58:41 am »
This is everyone's chance. What would my Bond villain name be?

...Goldfinger.  I thought that was apparent by your game room.  I know you hit a button and Fort Knox model comes out of the floor.

Maybe Fish Finger would be more apt? LOL

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #19 on: June 09, 2018, 10:15:23 am »
I am going to move the tank into my basement.

As someone who has dealt with three different leaks on two different tanks (including salt-water) I would never put a 50+ gallon tank on a main floor again. Basement only with proper drainage.

Ian

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #20 on: June 09, 2018, 11:40:27 am »
This is everyone's chance. What would my Bond villain name be?

Goldballs
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

Ian

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #21 on: June 09, 2018, 11:44:22 am »
Mike, when did you get a Tempest? Nice pick up! One of my Grails!
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #22 on: June 09, 2018, 12:56:08 pm »
Hey Ian.
I picked up the Tempest earlier this year.
That is the only game I paid an uncomfortable sum for. The guy I bought it from stands behind his work. He has a warehouse near me.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #23 on: June 11, 2018, 10:02:28 am »
This is everyone's chance. What would my Bond villain name be?

...Goldfinger.  I thought that was apparent by your game room.  I know you hit a button and Fort Knox model comes out of the floor.

Maybe Fish Finger would be more apt? LOL
Dont say that to his wife

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #24 on: June 11, 2018, 10:17:09 am »
My wife died January 3, 2015. I don't think she will be mad.

That is one area where I don't want to joke around.

Thomas_surles I don't expect you to know my personal history. I am not upset.

The only reason I am mentioning it is I request no more jokes along that line. Although she would have appreciated the humor when she was alive.

You guys can rip me as brutally as you want. I can take it.

I didn't want to bring people down, but she was my best friend and I lost her in the blink of an eye to a heart attack.

I hate the fact that a silly joke this innocuous brings up these feelings, but it does sometimes.

Sorry Thomas. I totally ruined your joke.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #25 on: June 11, 2018, 10:59:27 am »
My bad brother  :cheers:

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #26 on: June 11, 2018, 11:09:04 am »
Like I said. I hated to even bring it up, but I wanted to stop any follow ups.

I don't take offense where I know none is intended. :cheers:


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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #27 on: June 11, 2018, 11:43:36 am »
Mike I'm sorry to hear that wife passed away.  It is always good to hear when anyone on here holds their family in high regard or speaks well of them.  I feel it makes, to me at least, everyone on here more human and not just words on a web page.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #28 on: June 11, 2018, 12:22:36 pm »
I'm just words on a webpage.


Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #29 on: June 11, 2018, 12:38:54 pm »
She loved those fish. That is the main reason I am nervous about moving them.

Just so you have a face to go with the story. This is my favorite picture of her, probably because she hated it.


Christina Marie Aberle
She was 37 years old when she died of a heart attack. The autopsy found nothing.

I apologize if I am oversharing. I want everyone I ever meet to know what the world is missing.
She was kind to everyone and always spoke her mind. She was independent, but also accepted help graciously.
I can't put together words into sentences that adequately describe the luminous human being that she was.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #30 on: June 11, 2018, 12:45:29 pm »
Sorry to read the Mike, She was taken far to soon.


Drnick

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #31 on: June 12, 2018, 08:19:57 pm »
Mike, So sorry to hear of your tragic loss, Sounds like your life was made so much better just for having your wife in it.
(I fully understand you not wanting any more jokes, my wife and her health is one of the few things I won't joke about)

Anyway back to the original query, Its been a long time since I kept any fish, But when I last had them and moved them I did pretty much what you are planning, I had a holder tank which I filled with gravel and water from the existing tank (Was about 25% volume of new tank) the fish were happy in there for the day it took to get everything sorted out.  I then washed all the gravel from the old tank, put into the new one, filled to about 60% full and then added water/fish from the holder tank. I then carefully and gently topped up the tank. I'll be honest the fish were a bit unappy for a day or two at most but no major traumas.  Hope that helps.

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #32 on: June 12, 2018, 10:22:14 pm »
Thanks.
I have a 100 gallon stock tank that I am going to use as a sump. I am going to transfer the monsters into that while I empty the tank. Most of the tank water will go in the sump. I can even run my cannister filter in the sump while I dink around with the tank setup. The new aquarium stand is almost completed. I should be done with this project this weekend.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #33 on: June 13, 2018, 11:52:02 am »
On a side note, Mike we have not met in person but you have to be one hell of a guy to land a cutie like her. I am sure you have a ton of great memories of her, cherish those you boss!
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #34 on: June 13, 2018, 12:14:51 pm »
Thanks Ian. I just watched a VHS of part of the first time I met her. She lived in a crap hole apartment with her mom just off South 27th street in Milwaukee. She was recently divorced with a 7 month old kid. Her husband cheated on her and disappeared. She was trying to put her life back together. My company owned a retail store on 27th Street. There was a dive bar (and that is being generous) less than a block away. I stopped in the bar with a couple employees after the store closed. She was bar tending. We talked for awhile as a group. When she mentioned she had a daughter the area around her cleared out.

She asked me if I liked karaoke, and I said F**k no. She said "Good we are next. Do you know Hungry Like the Wolf?"

I still have the VHS tape from the karaoke company. I transferred it to digital, but I still like watching the VHS tape on my CRT tv once a year.

After watching the tape I can see the way we looked at each other. It was obvious from the start.

My daughter is 20 years old now.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #35 on: June 13, 2018, 01:07:39 pm »

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #36 on: June 13, 2018, 01:10:03 pm »
Yeah sorry about that. Not to pile on but our anniversary was June 10th. That is probably why this is all spilling out now.

jdbailey1206

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #37 on: June 13, 2018, 01:22:26 pm »
Yeah sorry about that. Not to pile on but our anniversary was June 10th. That is probably why this is all spilling out now.

No its cool.  I haven't cried like a seven year old girl in about six months so its okay.

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #38 on: June 17, 2018, 11:05:32 am »
My company owned a retail store on 27th Street. There was a dive bar (and that is being generous) less than a block away.


Okay, I need info... lol... I have frequent those dives plenty. Which one?
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

Mike A

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Re: Arcade Aquarium
« Reply #39 on: June 17, 2018, 12:08:35 pm »
I can't remember the name. It was on South 27th. This was 20 years ago. There was a Cigarette Depot in the same building as an Indian restaurant nearby. There was a mall across 27th, but that was torn down.

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