Yeah, thanks for the help! Question - before putting the poly on should I scuff with extra fine steel wool? also, what are your thoughts on water based poly versus the oil based?
120 build started!
- Thread starter pascal32
- Start date
Yeah, thanks for the help! Question - before putting the poly on should I scuff with extra fine steel wool? also, what are your thoughts on water based poly versus the oil based?
Once a coat of poly goes on and dries if you feel it with your hand it'll feel rough.Thats all you want to remove is that roughness.You can use steel wool or a small palm sander (orbital)with 320 grit.
Im not real sure on you second question if your comparing polys or your wanting to use an oil sealer as an alternative.
Water based poly is choice for woods prone to yellowing with clear or light colored stains.Oak,pine ,maple and others can look yellowish to orange.With a darker stain red mahogany I dont think it would matter.I could never tell anyway.Thats the only real difference that Im aware of.
Oil is a penetrating sealer soaks into the woods pores ,poly is a film finish and more durable in protecting against corrosive saltwater.Poly wood be my first choice for a reeftank stand.If its the glossy look of the film finish you find to distracting go with a satin it doesn't take away from the wood grain like the gloss and semi gloss tends to.
Use 3 coats minimum with 5 prefered (satin).
Fwiw- Im still learning as you on finishing and I too,find it to be the most challenging of wood working. Beautiful work you've done so far.
Hope this helps.
Im not real sure on you second question if your comparing polys or your wanting to use an oil sealer as an alternative.
Water based poly is choice for woods prone to yellowing with clear or light colored stains.Oak,pine ,maple and others can look yellowish to orange.With a darker stain red mahogany I dont think it would matter.I could never tell anyway.Thats the only real difference that Im aware of.
Oil is a penetrating sealer soaks into the woods pores ,poly is a film finish and more durable in protecting against corrosive saltwater.Poly wood be my first choice for a reeftank stand.If its the glossy look of the film finish you find to distracting go with a satin it doesn't take away from the wood grain like the gloss and semi gloss tends to.
Use 3 coats minimum with 5 prefered (satin).
Fwiw- Im still learning as you on finishing and I too,find it to be the most challenging of wood working. Beautiful work you've done so far.
Hope this helps.
Quick update:
The poly is drying on the stand - looking like I will have a stand this weekend!
The RKE is in for service
if you have one / get one - don't run the wire down the provided groove - it puts too much stress on the connector in the unit which can cause a complete failure. They are very good about replacing - just takes time and the thousands of miles between us doesn't help.
The electric is on and on a dedicated GFI breaker. New water resistant electrical box is in.
For the moonlights I've been struggling to place them. Ideally they would go inside the nova extreme 6xT5 fixture I will be running - it is really tight in there. Adding to the indecisiveness is the future addition of a double T5 to put 8 lights over the 120. Just not sure where to put the lights.
for now i mounted them to acrylic rods with zip ties so that I can move them around to find a good spot. I'm hoping the rods will hold up to the heat from the T5s. The rods are from wall-mart in the blinds section - replacement rods. If the results are good I might have some glass cut so it's a bit cleaner and stronger.
There are (2) white (2) blue and (2) red. I'm not planning on running all of them, just couldn't decide on color so i got all of them. nice thing is that the RKE can dial down the intensity and still run the lunar cycle
I found this little gem at wall mart in case anyone is looking for a cheap bracket for a float switch, I'm using the DA ones, just thought someone might be interested in something a bit cheaper and DIY!
The poly is drying on the stand - looking like I will have a stand this weekend!
The RKE is in for service
if you have one / get one - don't run the wire down the provided groove - it puts too much stress on the connector in the unit which can cause a complete failure. They are very good about replacing - just takes time and the thousands of miles between us doesn't help.The electric is on and on a dedicated GFI breaker. New water resistant electrical box is in.
For the moonlights I've been struggling to place them. Ideally they would go inside the nova extreme 6xT5 fixture I will be running - it is really tight in there. Adding to the indecisiveness is the future addition of a double T5 to put 8 lights over the 120. Just not sure where to put the lights.
for now i mounted them to acrylic rods with zip ties so that I can move them around to find a good spot. I'm hoping the rods will hold up to the heat from the T5s. The rods are from wall-mart in the blinds section - replacement rods. If the results are good I might have some glass cut so it's a bit cleaner and stronger.
There are (2) white (2) blue and (2) red. I'm not planning on running all of them, just couldn't decide on color so i got all of them. nice thing is that the RKE can dial down the intensity and still run the lunar cycle
I found this little gem at wall mart in case anyone is looking for a cheap bracket for a float switch, I'm using the DA ones, just thought someone might be interested in something a bit cheaper and DIY!
thanks! Borrow the parts that worked out right
. The wife and I rode a little bit this weekend so you might have seen us. I believe this is the only aprilia with that paint scheme in Syracuse.Made some progress
supports are in. there are two 4x4s that line up with the front and rear of the tank. each of the 4x4's is supported by 2 pillars.
(pardon the ceiling. it got damaged a long time ago before I cought the house by a leaky toilet)
The stand has been moved and is almost ready!
(again, excuse the mess, we seem to be having a hard time cleaning up after ourselves lately)
In the AM I need to run out for some fittings so that I can run two returns instead of the one that I got with the tank. I picked up new lockline since the old stuff was pretty grungy.
supports are in. there are two 4x4s that line up with the front and rear of the tank. each of the 4x4's is supported by 2 pillars.
(pardon the ceiling. it got damaged a long time ago before I cought the house by a leaky toilet)
The stand has been moved and is almost ready!
(again, excuse the mess, we seem to be having a hard time cleaning up after ourselves lately)
In the AM I need to run out for some fittings so that I can run two returns instead of the one that I got with the tank. I picked up new lockline since the old stuff was pretty grungy.
mr86mister
Saltaholic
Looks Fantastic!!
nice floor support, that tank isnt going no where!
stand is looking awesome
the floor stands are overkill. good thing is that I will sleep soundly at night!
we have water! tank has been moved into location and water test was started last night it's been running for 15 hours with not a drop a leakage!
Reef keeper is on-line and shows that the temperature has been steadily climbing from a start of 55 to 72 currently (2x250 watt Jager heaters)
Currently the 20 frag tanks are up and running along with the main tank. reeflo is driving tanks with "blow-off" completely closed. The flow rate into the display tank looks great.
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CTebWS_Dw6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CTebWS_Dw6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
I kept it simple and ran the flex pipe right into the bulkheads:
For the returns i opted to use a 3/4 loc-line splitter and ran two "heads" with the flat returns. I have the round returns on the 72 and they are very focused, this is a bit softer. Not sure on the length yet, might take a few links out.
For the drain I'm running a Durso stack. The return is very quiet other than some gurgle. playing with it i think it needs bit more air, time to a play a bit!
I made a signature which reads teh RKE Net module, apparently RC is blocking rowelabs.com
it's been running for 15 hours with not a drop a leakage!Reef keeper is on-line and shows that the temperature has been steadily climbing from a start of 55 to 72 currently (2x250 watt Jager heaters)
Currently the 20 frag tanks are up and running along with the main tank. reeflo is driving tanks with "blow-off" completely closed. The flow rate into the display tank looks great.
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CTebWS_Dw6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CTebWS_Dw6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
I kept it simple and ran the flex pipe right into the bulkheads:
For the returns i opted to use a 3/4 loc-line splitter and ran two "heads" with the flat returns. I have the round returns on the 72 and they are very focused, this is a bit softer. Not sure on the length yet, might take a few links out.
For the drain I'm running a Durso stack. The return is very quiet other than some gurgle. playing with it i think it needs bit more air, time to a play a bit!
I made a signature which reads teh RKE Net module, apparently RC is blocking rowelabs.com
kewl video, glad to see water in tank
thanks! working on mixing salt water. 75GPD of RO/DI feels like an eternity!
Willistein
Active member
Those are some interesting floor joists, don't think I've ever seen those before. So, the 4x4s support the OSB and not the joists? Looks like there is one joist that is centered beneath the tank? You could probably get away with two columns and have them support the joist itself.
Looking good so far!
Looking good so far!
120 build started!
Yeah, this is the only house I have seen with these joists. They seem to do a good job
Yes, the 4x4s are directly under the front and rear of the tank with the 5/8" ply inbetween. You are likely correct that 2 posts should be enough, though this makes me feel good. Floor is solid as a rock with the tank full!
Yeah, this is the only house I have seen with these joists. They seem to do a good job
Yes, the 4x4s are directly under the front and rear of the tank with the 5/8" ply inbetween. You are likely correct that 2 posts should be enough, though this makes me feel good. Floor is solid as a rock with the tank full!
Willistein
Active member
There is value in over building if it means sleeping better I need to figure out extra support for my 120 as well. At some point, I'll start a build thread...
I need to figure out extra support for my 120 as well. At some point, I'll start a build thread...I've been waiting for the tank to cycle. The lfirst batch of live rock is 1/2 new and 1/2 old - this batch cycled for 10 days before going into the tank where it has been cycling for another 10 days. I just moved over whole lot of fully established rock from the 72.
tested for the first time yesterday and ammonia, nitrate and nitrite read 0. I'm thinking of doing a 50 gallon water change tomorrow and stabilizing the ca and kh.
I'm thinking of waiting till next weekend to put the corals in.
anyone think this isn't long enough?
So I have this gorgeous piece of branching liverock that I would like to have torches coming off. I couldn't wait to get it in the tank so I put it in last week. Turns out the piece looks exactly like jesus being crucified. I thought it was just me, about 5 seconds after my wife walked in the room she says it looks like Jesus being crucified. for now I switched it up as it has become a distraction for the rest of the tank. I might put it back later, not sure yet.
I took a wag at the full stack tonight. I'm looking for a large beach area in the front and an arch along the back with room all the way around for the fish. I read up on all the pvc structures that folks have made and just could make the commitment to it. I went all natural
The stack as it stands is not stable. Tomorrow I'll look it over and if it still looks good I'm going to drill some holes and put PVC pipe in to stabilize the rock.
ALL INPUTS ARE WELCOME!
tested for the first time yesterday and ammonia, nitrate and nitrite read 0. I'm thinking of doing a 50 gallon water change tomorrow and stabilizing the ca and kh.
I'm thinking of waiting till next weekend to put the corals in.
anyone think this isn't long enough?
So I have this gorgeous piece of branching liverock that I would like to have torches coming off. I couldn't wait to get it in the tank so I put it in last week. Turns out the piece looks exactly like jesus being crucified. I thought it was just me, about 5 seconds after my wife walked in the room she says it looks like Jesus being crucified. for now I switched it up as it has become a distraction for the rest of the tank. I might put it back later, not sure yet.
I took a wag at the full stack tonight. I'm looking for a large beach area in the front and an arch along the back with room all the way around for the fish. I read up on all the pvc structures that folks have made and just could make the commitment to it. I went all natural
The stack as it stands is not stable. Tomorrow I'll look it over and if it still looks good I'm going to drill some holes and put PVC pipe in to stabilize the rock.
ALL INPUTS ARE WELCOME!
dreaminmel
New member
Oh that looks sweet! I like it :thumbsup:
