MarineGirl411
New member
I really like the picture with the bubble caption. That was really funny. Wish I lived near by to get some of those frags. They look really nice. Also, your tank looks great. Sirreal, that is an awesome fish!
180 display/445 system build
- Thread starter DrBDC
- Start date
DrBDC
Active member
Did some kilz on the inside of the canopy and got the fan holes cut. I need to go get some hinges and oak filler for nail heads and joints then possibly stain it later today and def. 2nd coat the kilz. It's hot outside!! I know it's not really hot yet but it sure seems like it after a winter.
drummereef
Team RC
Very cool, I like the full access top. 
DrBDC
Active member
Thanks. The 2 main halide sets will attach to the top to lift them completely out of the way when I need more room but most of the time for feeding I'll just open the doors. I may have to rethink the crossbrace if I want to attach the vho's to it and/or have 3 halides. Then I'll do a lower center brace although this thing is so heavy that I probably don't need one at all.
DrBDC
Active member
Well I bought a 3rd mh ballast and am just going to go ahead and incorporate that into the hood from the get-go. I think I'll run and XM20,000K to go with the 2 10,000k's.
I haven't progressed on the hood much though. Some wood filler to nail holes, trimmed out the openings where the doors go, etc. Which that leads me to an issue with the doors not wanting to fit right. I routered them all even with the backs of the trim to lessen the size of the part that insets. I want the trim around the openings to make it nicer when the door is open but if the fit doesn't go, it will just have a slightly ugly hole showing when the door is open.
I'm still constantly moving, moving back, etc. corals. I've added a hippo and a purple tang. Moved some more corals from the frag tank forward. I added a cotton candy blue looking encrusting monti and cream w/blue tips acro from the local frag swap. Still haven't seen that yasha haze goby but I've seen the pistols a time or two. Occationally one will be up in the rocks. For wanting a lookout in a goby, they sure see well anyway because as soon as I see them, they take off.
Ange took some pics this afternoon too.
I haven't progressed on the hood much though. Some wood filler to nail holes, trimmed out the openings where the doors go, etc. Which that leads me to an issue with the doors not wanting to fit right. I routered them all even with the backs of the trim to lessen the size of the part that insets. I want the trim around the openings to make it nicer when the door is open but if the fit doesn't go, it will just have a slightly ugly hole showing when the door is open.
I'm still constantly moving, moving back, etc. corals. I've added a hippo and a purple tang. Moved some more corals from the frag tank forward. I added a cotton candy blue looking encrusting monti and cream w/blue tips acro from the local frag swap. Still haven't seen that yasha haze goby but I've seen the pistols a time or two. Occationally one will be up in the rocks. For wanting a lookout in a goby, they sure see well anyway because as soon as I see them, they take off.
Ange took some pics this afternoon too.
DrBDC
Active member
Well I've been slacking but I have the canopy partially finished. I can't find my encap standoff's so I can mount the vho's. I'll look tomorrow and/or buy/order some. I'll order a couple more bulbs while I'm at it and some more endcap's too so I can run 4 bulbs.
I'm also not happy with the doors. I couldn't find a hing that will have a long enough throw(not sure if that's the correct terminology). So I have them as "set in's" for right now.
I also need to make/buy some grills for the fan's.
The light spread is so much better than that 48" canopy perched on top!
I'm also not happy with the doors. I couldn't find a hing that will have a long enough throw(not sure if that's the correct terminology). So I have them as "set in's" for right now.
I also need to make/buy some grills for the fan's.
The light spread is so much better than that 48" canopy perched on top!
chris wright
In Memoriam
The tank and hood is looking real good. Nice colour choice in the stain to.
How far are you looking to open the doors? I don't know if you have thought about recessed hinges, like whats used in kitchens. They allow for doors to open a fair way, considering the trims.
Cheers
Chris
How far are you looking to open the doors? I don't know if you have thought about recessed hinges, like whats used in kitchens. They allow for doors to open a fair way, considering the trims.
Cheers
Chris
Schplitter
New member
Just waht chris said up there. Looks awesome.
Those hinges he is talking about are about 8 bucks each and can be found where the kitchen cabinets are. I just looked at them yesterday at Lowes....
BK
Those hinges he is talking about are about 8 bucks each and can be found where the kitchen cabinets are. I just looked at them yesterday at Lowes....
BK
DrBDC
Active member
The problem on the hinges is that the main body of the door is the part I cut out of the front. Then the trim was placed on it. That gives about a 2" overlap which hides the cutout.. If I hinge the main part of the door, the trim hits and if I go with the typical looking hinge, that would show on the outside a little, it has to attach to the trim and I don't think long term that would be as sturdy. I need a hinge that will push out about 2-3" as it opens. I'm probably not making sense.
DrBDC
Active member
The stain is golden oak with LOTS of spar urethane. I used the Helmsman since it is for constant outdoor exposure. I used that variety on my other tank stand and it still looks as good as it started. The stand was stained/sealed by Rena (pewter_jean). She also used the same stain but there is a difference on the wood itself. I may end up putting a shell over the stand so it matches the top. I could put crown molding on it too so there is a beverage ledge.
chris wright
In Memoriam
Corner kitchen cupboards have a different recessed hinge, so that when the door opens it pushes out and away from the cupboards. It might work for what you want, but 2 inches maybe pushing it. I don't know if it will work or not.
Sorry mate, its the best I can think of at the moment. If I see a better way to do it I'll let you know.
Cheers
Chris
Sorry mate, its the best I can think of at the moment. If I see a better way to do it I'll let you know.
Cheers
Chris
DrBDC
Active member
Well some of the latest updates.
We're done with all freshwater tanks. The 75 rr is now over against the fish room wall around the corner from the main tank. I've collected some rock for it. I got some show rock from Planet reef and some base rock from saltyunderground. Thanks Lisa!
But here's the pics.
And some actinics of my display that came out so-so.
I'm putting 4 vho's, 2 actinic white and 2 actinic blue for now over the 75. 1 of the 2 lamp ballasts is coming from my display and I'm changing that to 3 5ft with 1 actinic white and 2 actinic blues. I have 2 of the bulbs on the 75 now but didn't get a pic.
We're done with all freshwater tanks. The 75 rr is now over against the fish room wall around the corner from the main tank. I've collected some rock for it. I got some show rock from Planet reef and some base rock from saltyunderground. Thanks Lisa!
But here's the pics.
And some actinics of my display that came out so-so.
I'm putting 4 vho's, 2 actinic white and 2 actinic blue for now over the 75. 1 of the 2 lamp ballasts is coming from my display and I'm changing that to 3 5ft with 1 actinic white and 2 actinic blues. I have 2 of the bulbs on the 75 now but didn't get a pic.
DrBDC
Active member
Well here's a few of the 75 settling in. We added a couple true percs and a sebae but the sebae didn't make it. It started to open a tiny bit and I squirted some mysis on it. It moved a bit then shriveled up and died. 
I moved some softies from the frag tank into it too.
And here is Jack's hammer which is for sale (hint hint)
A cool sponge we got at planet reef and a leather for Christmas from bigcasino
You can see a couple chalices' in the pics which we're not real hot on so if you like chalices' and want to trade a softy to her she'd be game.
I still haven't added the other 220w of vho but I should have that done by this weekend. I hope.
I moved some softies from the frag tank into it too.
And here is Jack's hammer which is for sale (hint hint)
A cool sponge we got at planet reef and a leather for Christmas from bigcasino
You can see a couple chalices' in the pics which we're not real hot on so if you like chalices' and want to trade a softy to her she'd be game.
I still haven't added the other 220w of vho but I should have that done by this weekend. I hope.
kdblove_99
New member
Holy Cow that was a lot of cheato
How many tanks do you have?
How many tanks do you have?
