Beginning of another 120 post.

HornetMech242

HornetMech242

Premium Member
Well it has been about three months since I got the tank its self and I have made a lot of progress (in my mind at least) to finishing it. I have done the stand, canopy and hung the reflectors. Soon I will be wiring in the ballast, starting the plumbing for the drains and closed loop. Here are the pics of progress so far.

DSCN0469.jpg


DSCN0470.jpg


DSCN0473.jpg


DSCN0474.jpg



As you can see from the photo's above the front swings up to gain access to the tank. Unfortunately I had to leave a gap in the front crown molding and cut a spot on the side molding so that it would open up correctly. The top only has to be stained to match the stand and then it is completed.

DSCN0472.jpg


I am thrilled to get this much done so please give me your honest thoughts and ideas about what I have done so far.

Thanks,

Chris
 
If I might make a sugestion, since you are still staining. Put some quarterround around the tank so it hides the black plastic, so it looks like only glass and wood.

Looks good so far.
 
I have a 50G tank sitting in the bottom for the sump. I might have to go a little bit smaller so i can fit the external skimmer down there with it. Right now i am planning on going with an octopus DDNW-250.

Good idea on the 1/4 round. I do have some oak strip that you attatch with an iron. I used it around the inside edge of the door opening on the stand. Today i am ordering bulbs, some plumbing parts and OM 4 way. So next weekend i will get started on the closed loop and drain.

Chris
 
good so far--you might consider--curing your live rock and sand bed in a smaller tank while you are building this---so they are ready to go when you are done.
 
I have not put too much thought into stocking plans. I guess i had better get that ball rolling. I have a watchman goby in my keep them alive until this system is ready tank. For rock i planned on getting some from people here that is taking there tank down so the curing of the rock should not take long.

Chris
 
From one 120g owner to another, nice startup. :thumbsup:

Keep the pics coming, and good luck with everything. Are you going to paint the back? Plan your flow well, the positioning of those twin towers causes dead spots in the corners and center back.


btw...hate you for being able to build a better canopy than me. I can't build anything much with the tools and abilities I have. :lol:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10837967#post10837967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shooter7


btw...hate you for being able to build a better canopy than me. I can't build anything much with the tools and abilities I have. :lol:
Click to expand...

LOL, the things you can hide with molding are amazing. That thing underneath its skin is so unperfect, it aint even funny. I am not liking the gaps i had to leave in the top crown molding. But what can you do about it.

Thanks for the kind words and good input from everyone.

Chris
 
My canopy came out exactly the same with the gaps on the molding the way I look at it its not what is on or holding the tank its what it is inside that should be the main focus :D
 
HornetMech242 by the way nice looking startup. What type of lights are those they look pretty sweet I am assuming MH
 
one quick question, and I hope it does not sound stupid, but does the canopy just sit on top of the tank frame itself? or does it mount to the ceiling in some way? I might build a canopy for my tank,but do not know if they are supposed to sit directly on the tank or not. thank you,
 
Mine is very much like the one in the pictures and yes, they sit on the tank itself. Another thing we share is that both of us have open tops on a tall canopy, although I have more open space above mine than he does. The tall canopy allows for some positive things. It allows for extra height to keep jumpers in (put eggcrate on the back if it's open back there), it allows for adjusting the height of the lights (mine are on decorative chains hanging from hooks in the ceiling making it even easier to adjust), and this also allows for being able to work in the tank while the lights are on so you can see things. So many canopys open and move the lights where they aren't shining in the tank anymore. The open top helps very much with cooling. I have dual MH lights and dual VHO actinics over my tank and never have any heat issues. I don't even have to run fans in the canopy. The back is open, the top is open, and I get plenty of air flow going through to keep things cooled off. You do get a glow on the ceiling, but it's never bothered me any.
HTH :cool:
 
the canopy on my 120 was closed--with the halides and attinics on a fixture underneath it I had to drill two 4 inch diameter holes on top of it and add two fans timed with the halides because of the heat. In hindsight I wish I had gone with your setup.
With this setup my halides are limited to 150watt 10,000k and I would have loved to run 250 watts
 
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