Caspian's Reef

[Caspian]

 

[Caspian]

So as you can see from the pictures it turned out that after placing the 25mm Marine ply on top of the RSJ it would be level with the wall, so it meant that 1/3 of the tank would seat on the wall and 2/3 would seat on the newly made stand!! I did not like this incase there would be any movements either from the wall or the RSJ's.... this is me being super cautious... So i thought about placing another 12mm Marine ply on top of the wall and the stand..

 

[Caspian]

After this was done i had to paint the RSJ with a bit of

Picture shows black but paint was silver :laugh:

 

[Caspian]

After the stand was done and RSJ's painted had to start on painting the garage the last thing i needed was a rising damp in the house or on the external wall of the house, so i researched and researched... initially i was going to use the PVC hygiene sheets that we used at work also Achilles has used them! but then they do not stop damp or salt salt creep!! so i managed to come across this paint which is used by a company who specialise in damp proofing apartments specially basement flats in central London as well as ponds/swimming pools

I thought it will be easy like other paints but proved otherwise!!

Well when you apply this paint the finish becomes like rubber so in order to do on concrete and bricks you have to use brush and do 3 or 4 coats....

In a small garage i used 5 x 5lt's but the finish result is amazing

 

[Caspian]

 

[Caspian]

This was being done after work and as the delivery date of the tank approaching i was more stressed in finishing it so i had to get some help!

While my helper was painting i set the task of cutting the marine ply into right size so it seats on top of each other perfectly and then had to varnish them x 3 coats!!!

 

[Caspian]

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[Caspian]

Then it was time to put the stand together and had to level the stand by a few millimetres but wasn't sure what to use as concrete would just crumble after a while, plastic or wood will not be a good idea in the long run was thinking of metal but wasn't sure what or which... after speaking to friend in the hobby he advised that i need to use small galvanised metal sheets under the RSJ and he was a gentleman to bring them around for me.

Unfortunately i did not take a picture of this...

When i placed the galvanised sheets under the RSJ i used the grip fill around the metal and the concrete in order to stop it moving while placing the tank on the stand

 

[Sonicboom]

fantastic progress, can't wait to see that tank delivered. So you painted the entire garage with pond paint? isn't that like super sticky molasses or is it like normal paint?

 

[chri]

looking good

 

[Caspian]

While all this was happening in the little spare time i had around midnight's, i was doing more research on the hobby and reading most of the big built threads in order to avoid any silly mistakes and socially to make the setup as simple as possible i started thinking of having a bare bottom thank which is easier to maintain and less build up of detritus...

However just i did not like the idea of just plain glass for 2 reasons one for not looking great second safety , in the event of a rock falling on the bottom glass...

So i came up with an idea that i never seen before so maybe i could put my name on it lol:laugh::laugh::laugh:

I asked to have an ivory acrylic to be stuck on top of the double base... i think it will work specially having a ivory as colour which is near enough sand!!

 

[Caspian]

and now here is the tank, i don't know if i should say stress or excitement or the not sleeping the night before which resulted in not having many pictures!!!

The picture doesn't do much justice to the ivory acrylic but i must say very very cool idea and I'm looking forward to having a BB tank which does look nice

 

[Caspian]

fantastic progress, can't wait to see that tank delivered. So you painted the entire garage with pond paint? isn't that like super sticky molasses or is it like normal paint?

Well i have never been so stressed and excited at the same time in my life!!

Yes i did paint the whole garage with a single brush but worth it.. was going to do the floor but i only did the corners for damp purposes and the floor will be tiled later... the paint is a two part paint which you add B to A and ad water. its water based i think as it does wash of your hand with cold water but when is dry it gives the wall rubbery texture!!

 

[Caspian]

looking good

cheers mate

 

[FishM8]

Looks nice!

 

[Caspian]

Looks nice!

Thank you

 

[Achilles2008]

Looks as nice as the setup on Ultimate Reef.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Man the transformation from the beginning to now is crazy. Looks really good and you should put a patent on your ivory acrylic. First time I have seen it used under the tank.

 

[Caspian]

Looks as nice as the setup on Ultimate Reef.

:lmao: cheers mate

 

[Caspian]

Man the transformation from the beginning to now is crazy. Looks really good and you should put a patent on your ivory acrylic. First time I have seen it used under the tank.

Thank you mate,

Just about to confirm the sump designs today will upload the design.