180 upgrade

[jonnyu]

Well after finding a good deal on a 180 and wanting to do a custom cabinet design for my tank I decided it's time to change things around. So I picked up a tank from jurg. It's a acrylic tank that has been used and scratched up but all in all in good condition

So u wanted to learn how to polish acrylic. After talking to few people with experience doing so. I took a crack at it.

This was sanding with 1000 then 1500 then mothers plastic polish .


Then found out Boat owners warehouse sells novas. It's a much better product.

It's super clear. And it's not that hard to do.

Now that I know I can polish acrylic. I jumped to building another stand.
I'm starting off with frame work and the. Wrapping it with finished wood.
I researched a little online and found a few good build for 72" stand without front center brace. so was going to buy untreated wood but decided not to as I have 30 pcs of PT 2x6 laying around my house. So after 7 hours I think I have a pretty strong stand. I have 2 more cross braces I will install on the top to support the plywood.

 

[jonnyu]

So here are a few more pics




Today I decided to polish and paint

After a few hours of polishing the tank

The lines in the acrylic is where the old overflows where. I'm going to reinstall in the same spot.

 

[tdhnry]

Looking good john

 

[Biggar]

Someone ran into too much free time. lol
Looks awesome!

 

[nitroreef]

looking real good

 

[mrx66699]

Looks good .....told you that its wanst hard once you get the hang if it .....nice job

 

[geoplane2]

Looks good .....told you that its wanst hard once you get the hang if it .....nice job

Matt if it wasent for you giving out info on how to with
Acrylic a lot of us would not taken on the task !!
Thanks Matt for your help
This person tank looks great !!

 

[jonnyu]

True Matt has a lot of info. Only thing is it takes a lot of work to really get it perfect. So if anyone plans on polishing up a tank expect to spend a 4-6 hours for every 24"x24" area. It is nice knowing you can fix scratches but I will let you know what I think after using the tank for awhile. As I'm scared cleaning I might scratch it but I guess I will find out soon.

 

[geoplane2]

True Matt has a lot of info. Only thing is it takes a lot of work to really get it perfect. So if anyone plans on polishing up a tank expect to spend a 4-6 hours for every 24"x24" area. It is nice knowing you can fix scratches but I will let you know what I think after using the tank for awhile. As I'm scared cleaning I might scratch it but I guess I will find out soon.

+1 agree a lot of work to get it polish . Looks great tho

 

[mrx66699]

No prob anytime.....only thing you have to do is be disciplined and not lazy when you are cleaning it, if the magnet comes apart and falls to the sand there is no just using the magnet and trying to get them back together, you need to take the one inside out and rinse it off or sand will be between and scratch......although this can be fixed too with just wrapping the inside magnet in a very high sand paper and just wet sanding the inside as you clean the glass ...wont bother the fish or corals and it will be back to new in no time im getting ready to do this with a few scratches on mine from a rock I knocked off and some sand that got between a trap and the front glass ....should be back to new shortly ....we are talking 5000+ .......

 

[thedragon]

U sand ur tank while full? Isn't most sand paper made of aluminum oxide? Couldn't that be potentially bad?

 

[rps3]

Sand paper = sand + paper? LOL

 

[jonnyu]

Well I would say I might need to take tank back out to sand the front some more. As I can see a little marks from the sander. Or maybe I can hit it again with novas 3. Anyone have this experience?

 

[mrx66699]

if its little scrolled cursive EEEEEE's then its from the sander ...dont use a random orbital ....if you use the novus it should take it out or you may need to hit it with a high paper then the novus

 

[jonnyu]

Yes novas took it out.

 

[ktg113]

How much clearance do you have I have a great skimmer that came off my 180 but you need 31-32 in clearance

 

[jonnyu]

Well I have 40" clearance

 

[jonnyu]

Well worked on the tank this weekend. Got most of it done.

My helper drying it out after a leak check

Putting in sand. Went with the crush coral substrate

Then installed the lights





Kept the rocks off the back wall. Want to keep flow all the way around.

 

[AquamanE]

looking good jonny. that a lot of progress since saturday.

 

[Biggar]

Pimp! You got him off the skateboard i see. ( ;