430gal., L-shaped display

["Umm fish?"]

Getting close on the framing around the tank. The metal guys came by today to take measurements for the skin.

 

[EnglishRebel]

I like the fact that you (or your builder) put foam pipe insulation to protect the top edges of the tank (the weakest part of any piece of glass).

 

["Umm fish?"]

Believe me, he's absolutely paranoid that one of his crew is going to drop a hammer into it or something and they'll have to replace it. Did you see a page or so back that he had also made a plywood top to sit over the pipe insulation protectors? He has the plywood off now because the tank builder is supposed to come in this weekend to finish off the top braces.

The system installer (as opposed to the tank builder) came in today and got a good bit of the plumbing glued. I'm surprised he could drive home after as it reeked pretty badly down in the fishroom.

 

[new2sw776784]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13614442#post13614442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by "Umm, fish?"
Believe me, he's absolutely paranoid that one of his crew is going to drop a hammer into it or something and they'll have to replace it. Did you see a page or so back that he had also made a plywood top to sit over the pipe insulation protectors? He has the plywood off now because the tank builder is supposed to come in this weekend to finish off the top braces.

The system installer (as opposed to the tank builder) came in today and got a good bit of the plumbing glued. I'm surprised he could drive home after as it reeked pretty badly down in the fishroom.

After a few dozen times that you use the glue it does not effect you. Trust me i know. lol

looks good by the way.

 

[TellyFish]

Really great thread so far!

Glad to read that you are a designer too! I am just finishing college with a degree in the stuff. Tagging along...

 

["Umm fish?"]

Thanks, new2 and Telly. I don't think I'll ever get used to PVC cement. I wound up pretty sick today. (I love the public schools for the petri dishes that they are.) I just can't quite get past it.

I actually came to publishing from academia. I was in grad school and my roommate worked at an academic press in town. He came home with a typeset manuscript one weekend from a "professional" typesetter and spent all weekend talking about how bad a job they were doing. From there we just sort of started a business. So, I envy you your chance to study design since I've had to just pick it up along the way. Good luck!

--------------------

The tank builder came by today and siliconed on, well, 3/4 of the first row of top braces. Sigh. I don't think he'll ever finish.

 

[rob1991]

its coming along i cant wait to see it filled

 

["Umm fish?"]

Well, don't hold your breath. It'll _still_ be around a month after he finishes, if he ever finishes, before water can go in. (He promised he'd be done by the end of the weekend. We'll see. He also promised that _last_ weekend.)

Thanks, though!

 

[JCTewks]

Well, waiting a little longer on this guy is better than your first tank builder who completely bailed on you

 

["Umm fish?"]

AND stole several thousand dollars. :eek1: Yes, much better.

Fortunately, the credit card company gave the installer a credit back on their card from the deposit.

But, in good news, the BBQ is hooked up now! :bum: Time for a party! :beer: I think we're going to try to have one for the crew this Friday.

 

[mil hse]

so after sitting on my computer for about 4hrs reading every post (enjoying ever minute) i have to say WOW and what a great build. I m tagging alone for the rest of this. can't wait for WATER.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Wow! Um ... sorry about killing your whole Sunday? Thanks for the compliment!

Sigh. No sign of the builder today.... I think I need a quick course in how to silicone glass together.

 

[new2sw776784]

if i just rran across this thread i would not be disapointed in spending 4 hrs reading full of great pics and info.

to bad builder was a no show.

 

["Umm fish?"]

I have to eat my words: He did show up today--I smelled fresh silicone and he cleaned up the silicone from yesterday--but he didn't add any new braces. Sigh....

 

[klondike4001]

Just got done reading, looks bada$$, I hope I can build something similar to this one day, is the total system volume ~1210gals? That's an impressive volume by any means. Good luck getting the tank finished!

 

["Umm fish?"]

You're going to make me add it up?

Display: 480 gals.
Display overflow: ~37.4 (I'm guessing)
Refugs: 6 x 90 gal. = 540 gals.
2 x 120 gal. = 240 gals.
Sump: 180 gal. tank, probably half-full = 90 gals.
Skimmers: 2 x 10 gals. = 20 gals.
Plumbing volume: ???
----------------------------
So, roughly in the neighborhood of 1,400 gals. (1,407.4), minus displacement

Just got done reading, looks bada$$, I hope I can build something similar to this one day

Thanks! I'm available for consultations....

Where is Conroe, TX? I was born and raised in a little town outside of Dallas and my lovely bride is from San Antonio (though we met in Boulder).

 

[klondike4001]

Conroe's about 30 miles NW of Houston on I45. When I finally get into a house I plan to close on it a few months before we actually move so I can get something built into it. You going to go w/ a Deltec skimmer?

 

[klondike4001]

Conroe's about 30 miles NW of Houston on I45. When I finally get into a house I plan to close on it a few months before we actually move so I can get something built into it. You going to go w/ a Deltec skimmer?

 

["Umm fish?"]

You going to go w/ a Deltec skimmer?

Yeah, two of them in fact. I found a great deal on a second Deltec used a few months ago and snapped it up. I was never happy with any skimmer until I got the Deltec.

At least, I'll have them to start. I have leanings towards skimmerless systems, but I think it's important to have the equipment there for emergencies. Hence the reason for the big UV sterilizer. I doubt I'll use it much if at all but bacterial problems happen so quickly that I'm happy knowing that all I have to do is plug it in and turn a couple of ball valves. I can always move a skimmer over to fish growout tanks, if I ever manage to breed anything other than the cardinals. I do think having the cardinal juveniles in a skimmerless system with a decent amount of water flow was what let me raise them without my adding any live food for them.

Okay, now I'm just rambling. Sorry. I think I have strep and it was too painful to get more than a couple of restless hours of sleep. I'm hoping the doctor's office opens in about ten minutes.

 

[TandN]

im so happy you found someone to build your tank after what happened. I was in the mix of people screwed by them and just received my new tank yesterday from a local guy who did it for me as a favor he felt bad for me and my husband.