600 gal display/900+ gal build thread in the Chicago 'burbs.
- Thread starter wmilas
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13017905#post13017905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldtimer
Wow - almost as nice as a BK.
Well it came down to ATB, BK, and the Volcano. In the end the Volcano was just too big. So of ATB and the BK I picked the best skimmer. J/K
At this level its a crap shoot. I have no idea which one is better.
Itaysworld
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13016997#post13016997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wmilas
Skimmer came! Skimmer came! I've spent the last hour unpacking and examining it. Its an ATB XL cone with Airstar and meshwheel. UPS dropped it off this afternoon but I was downstairs all day working on the paneling so I didn't have time to unpack it till tonight.
My first impression is holy #$@!$$%. It built like tank, and the packaging is built like a tank. The pump itself is as heavy as a lead brick. With packaging the pump and skimmer are 85 pounds.
Pictures!
UPS man dropped it at my garage. He didn't want to carry it up the paver steps to the front door:
Great pictures, great skimmer and great car.
(I also have an Audi Q7 and love it
)Amazing how well they packed it. If only everything was shipped in those conditions...
That skimmer is huge! My 180 gallon has only had water for 6 weeks, and only has 2 frags and 5 hermits, but I already need to start convincing my wife that I need to go bigger and set up a fish room
wmilas,
You've made a very good choice with the ATB super cone skimmer! I have one for about a year now (older version, different color and with a RD pump i.s.o. an airstar) and I am very satisfied with it. Here is a picture of the skimmer during setup of my 3000 liter (about 800g) system.
This skimmer is a beast, the image shows what it produced the first 36 hours I've had it running.
Very nice project BTW, I''ll keep following it.
Kind regards,
Marc, The Netherlands
You've made a very good choice with the ATB super cone skimmer! I have one for about a year now (older version, different color and with a RD pump i.s.o. an airstar) and I am very satisfied with it. Here is a picture of the skimmer during setup of my 3000 liter (about 800g) system.
This skimmer is a beast, the image shows what it produced the first 36 hours I've had it running.
Very nice project BTW, I''ll keep following it.
Kind regards,
Marc, The Netherlands
JRaquatics
New member
That is one sweet skimmer. I love the way they used a red O-ring on the cup. Now that is class. Can't wait to see this huge bad boy in action.
So I thought I'd show some of the work on the paneling. Its 3/4" cherry ply and 5/8" cherry hardwood stock. The rails are 4", the base is a good 7".
I did not take any shots yesterday when I put up the ply or when I started the pockets for the lattice joinery. Today I got the lattice up at lunchtime:
Tonight I started in on the fine miter joints and bead work:
I did not take any shots yesterday when I put up the ply or when I started the pockets for the lattice joinery. Today I got the lattice up at lunchtime:
Tonight I started in on the fine miter joints and bead work:
Also what you aren't seeing is that the whole lattice was built upside down on the ground via pocket hole joints then tacked up to the wall via finishing nails driven diagonally on the rails under where the beadwork sits. The net effect is that lattice looks like it floats on the wall. There are 0 nail, screw, or finish nail marks visable.
runningnreefing
New member
More pics please. This is one awesome tank build.
I was out of town for a week. The panels are stained and have the first coat of poly. I thought I wanted a semi-gloss but put a Satin on to start.. I think I like it. I'll put another coat of satin on.
I'm kind of side tracked because I've got 3 other projects going. One is I ripped out the ceiling in my family room and to put in a bunch of MR 16 cans and hang a plasma in front of my fireplace. the fireplace is built out of massive limestone blocks so I didn't really want to drill into the mortar or limestone itself for the plasma hanger. Plus where do the cables go. So I elected to hang it from the ceiling right in front of the fireplace with a single hollow pole (thin) so it looks like it floats on the fireplace. I can then run all the wires through the ceiling and down the pole so nothing is visable. Well everything is up but I need to make round trim pieces for the pole (ugh!) and get the TV up. My wife is a Olympics junkie ans she'll strangle me if I don't get it up before Friday.
After that's up I can get back to work on the tank.
I'm kind of side tracked because I've got 3 other projects going. One is I ripped out the ceiling in my family room and to put in a bunch of MR 16 cans and hang a plasma in front of my fireplace. the fireplace is built out of massive limestone blocks so I didn't really want to drill into the mortar or limestone itself for the plasma hanger. Plus where do the cables go. So I elected to hang it from the ceiling right in front of the fireplace with a single hollow pole (thin) so it looks like it floats on the fireplace. I can then run all the wires through the ceiling and down the pole so nothing is visable. Well everything is up but I need to make round trim pieces for the pole (ugh!) and get the TV up. My wife is a Olympics junkie ans she'll strangle me if I don't get it up before Friday.
After that's up I can get back to work on the tank.
I'll run around and take some shots tonight. The family room is approaching completion (tv is up) and I put the Marvel Keg Unit in, leveled it, and insulated the void thats going between the granite and the draft tower ontop of the granite. I had to reverse the swing of the door, which although sounds easy, was a complete pain.
I have to drop the drip tray off at the Granite guys so they can cut the hole and polish the edge of it. I want to have the thing counter-sunk into the granite. Hopefully the granite can go in this week if I can get the drip tray to them.
I have to drop the drip tray off at the Granite guys so they can cut the hole and polish the edge of it. I want to have the thing counter-sunk into the granite. Hopefully the granite can go in this week if I can get the drip tray to them.
Ok first with the upstairs so you can see why I haven't been slaving away downstairs. I tore open the ceiling to add MR-16 accent cans everywhere. I also wanted a plasma above the fireplace, but I didn't want to see a single wire, plus I wanted a center channel under it. I did not want to tap the limestone blocks or mortar, so I elected to pipe the power, hdmi, and audio for the center up through the wall, over through the ceiling (since I had it ripped up anyways), and down through a ceiling hung pole. In these picture please disregard the duct tape, I haven't cable tied some of the wires behind the set yet, plus the walls have a sexy combination of builders white and primer on them. Oh, and the trims aren't in yet But the TV is on! All the audio is in the left wall cabinet behind the mesh btw.
Wide angle shot:
TV shot. Mmmmm Womens Volleyball:
Left Unit and right Units
But the TV is on! All the audio is in the left wall cabinet behind the mesh btw.Wide angle shot:
TV shot. Mmmmm Womens Volleyball:
Left Unit and right Units
Ok so now the downstairs work.
The new shot of the updated walkways down after it was ripped up and redone. the oak is starting to look good:
Kegulator with protective film and the insulation to mate the draft tower:
Black Melamine for the rear of the bar:
Panel Stain and Poly'd:
2 Detailed shots of a panel with different exposures so you can see some grain:
The new shot of the updated walkways down after it was ripped up and redone. the oak is starting to look good:
Kegulator with protective film and the insulation to mate the draft tower:
Black Melamine for the rear of the bar:
Panel Stain and Poly'd:
2 Detailed shots of a panel with different exposures so you can see some grain:
Btw its hard to tell in the above shots because I don't have the basement fully lighted, but the grain pops. Its a deep dark brown with shades of amber and honey. The swirls of grain look like they are swimming in the wood and shimmer. Its hard to describe, but those you you that are woodworkers will know the shimmer you get from birdseye maple. This is cherry but I was trying to get that same shimmer and I think I came pretty close.
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