280 Gallon Acrylic Tank

Every day is a school day for me so I pass it on when I can :)

Normally, flame polishing is done with a oxygen/hydrogen torch and you just glaze over the surface of the material, lightly melting the surface. Some shops use MAPP gas or oxy/propane but neither is very clean compared to hydrogen. The heat itself will dull the edge so no need for scraping but many do it, doesn't hurt and does help for some things.

Both provide an invaluable service to many, no need for names, please just a smile and a happy thought if you would be so kind :)

James
 
Last night, about 800pm, I finally attatched one brace. I'm hoping I got enough solvent in between the two pieces. We'll see tonight, at about 800pm!

izzy
 
I have glued the other side, and I'm going to upload the pictures of where we are so far in the next day or so!

Gotta get that OM apart, and see why it's not working!

izzy
 
More Pics

More Pics

Here is a pic of my patent pending straightening device(s)!

87000mini-Device_to_straighten_vat.jpg


So if you use it, send me $10!

The tank was designed correctly, however, the buyer didn't want to pay for the extra acrylic cut, so there was no bracing. Ergo, both 8ft sides had begun to bow after just 10 months of use. In order for me to feel safe, and with the help of Acrylics, I went with just under 8ft, 3in. wide, half inch thick acrylic, and installed them on either side, as seen here:

87000mini-second_brace_II.jpg


And to keep this system up in the air, we designed a platform, sort of like a deck, to actually set the tank on, and then use cinder blocks coated with a sealer as the legs under strategic parts of the platform:

87000mini-Completed_Support.jpg


Of course this is my favorite view of the vat so far, and it's not even finished:

87000mini-Sexy_Vat_Pic.jpg


I purchased this bad boy from a closing LFS. With the buy I picked up a 4 way Oceans Motions. I also have a 80 gallon sump, that will be here monday, and a MRC3R, that I'm picking up off of a friend of mine, after I pay it off. It's on Lay-Away! :~)

I'm going to push the OM with a Sequence Barracuda that I traded for with a complete 70 watt HQI.

Lighting for the vat is my existing 2 250 watt HQI's, and 2 250 watt moguls. In this order: HQI, Mogul, HQI, Mogul. I've found that the moguls push 20K bulbs better than my HQIs, so I'll have 14K HQI's, and 20K moguls.

If I ever get caught up, I'll ad T5 actinic bulbs for additional supplementation. Key words: IF I ever get caught up.

I couldn't have even begun this project if Jason, the dude in the pic below, hadn't helped me, by doing all the lifting, and showing me the RIGHT way to build that platform. I'll post more, as I do more, but as of right now, you're caught up.

87000mini-Vat_Pic_with_Jason.jpg
 
I picked up a gallon of Dry Lock to coat the cinder blocks that I intend on using for support, that way if mildew or mold forms, it will be easier to clean off the dry locked areas, as opposed to the porous cinder block areas.

I also ended up trading my 75 gallon and 72 corner bow front, plus 1 dual 96 watt coralife PC fixture, for an MRC 3R skimmer that is rated for 600 gallons, PLUS a blue line 50/50 and mag 9.5 to drive it!

It's getting better all the time. I love this hobby!

izzy
 
Looking good izzy. So, how many rows of cinderblocks are you going to raise it off the floor? That "straightening device" looks like just enough material to make a patented "holding things up device" also.

My guess is 3 rows @8" per row + the 6" frame, so 30"?
 
Michael,

I should have thanked you as well in the previous post! If weren't for you passing the threads along with me, I wouldn't be as far as I am now. So I'll do it now: Thank you so much for taking the time to look those threads up for me!

LOL I'm wanting to patent the "holding things up device" as well, but I'm going to wait and see how the "straightening device" goes before I sink all the time involved! :)

I'm think about 30". I forget how tall the skimmer is, but I'll find out tomm. If the skimmer is 30", then I'll have to rethink the location for that device.

Is that your cephalopod you're holding there? That's bad ***!

izzy
 
A reef display!! I have two tanks now (a 75, and a 72 bowfront), and too much bio load! I hooked both systems together and run two skimmers, but it's still not enough. I'm doing water changes twice a week to keep the water quality in check.

So I'm trading both tanks and a 96 watt dual power compact for an MRC skimmer that's rated for about 600 gallons.

Im so excited about getting this thing up and going.

That's cool that you are a flight paramedic! I bet that's exciting!

izzy
 
Re: More Pics

Re: More Pics

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10249951#post10249951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by izzy_real
Here is a pic of my patent pending straightening device(s)!
87000mini-Sexy_Vat_Pic.jpg


Lighting for the vat is my existing 2 250 watt HQI's, and 2 250 watt moguls. In this order: HQI, Mogul, HQI, Mogul. I've found that the moguls push 20K bulbs better than my HQIs, so I'll have 14K HQI's, and 20K moguls.

If I ever get caught up, I'll ad T5 actinic bulbs for additional supplementation. Key words: IF I ever get caught up.
Click to expand...


notice my adjusted picture/ comment placement ?

:rollface:

and i had to repost the lighting scheme you mentioned earlier:)
 
I just showed her that pic/and post you left! She told me I had to taker her pic down!

But that was funny though!

izzy
 
I've read alot of threads on RC, but by far, the nicest people, and the ones with the most personality, are in the DIY forum. You peeps are crazy....and I love it....

I have to build a canopy that's 8ft long and 4ft. wide. It has to hold four metal halides, two of which are HQI, and two are mogul. Later, I would love to add some T5's. Which a canopy so wide and long should accomidate such a load.

With the help of a table saw, miter saw, router, and a circular saw, I can build ALMOST anything. But a naked square made of pine (because it's affordable, and paints and stains well) isn't what I'm really looking for. I'll end up using pine, but I need an idea of how to dress it up. I'm gonna paint it black because it'll match the room. Also, I've been forbidden from hanging it from the ceiling, so attatching it to the skirt to go around the stand is a strong possibility.

Has anyone caught a view of something attractive, or have any idea on how to dress it up?

izzy
 
I've read alot of threads on RC, but by far, the nicest people, and the ones with the most personality, are in the DIY forum. You peeps are crazy....and I love it....

I have to build a canopy that's 8ft long and 4ft. wide. It has to hold four metal halides, two of which are HQI, and two are mogul. Later, I would love to add some T5's. Which a canopy so wide and long should accomidate such a load.

With the help of a table saw, miter saw, router, and a circular saw, I can build ALMOST anything. But a naked square made of pine (because it's affordable, and paints and stains well) isn't what I'm really looking for. I'll end up using pine, but I need an idea of how to dress it up. I'm gonna paint it black because it'll match the room. Also, I've been forbidden from hanging it from the ceiling, so attatching it to the skirt to go around the stand is a strong possibility.

Has anyone caught a view of something attractive, or have any idea on how to dress it up?

Hey Horkn, what model mustangs do you like: fox body, mach III, which one?

Just curious, I'm rolling a fox body convertiable. Five OH, ofcourse...

izzy
 
Good grief I can not imagine what would happen if I posted a photo of the resident hottie's seat cushion pointed towards the stars for all the DIYers to see. I suppose it would be one of the LAST things I did.
 
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