Complete DIY Custom 144x15x15

[calvin415]

LOL! Tell me about it, I called right when they opened this morning, ordered 2 went right down to pick them up (so nice that they are local for me) and when I saw how few that were left, I told her to ring up 2 more.

In all this excitement, I forgot to mention the tank is done. Well 99%, I have 1 corner to polish (all the others will be hidden along with the top and bottom) and flame the inner edges in the top bracing. I'll post pics when I have some help to get it back onto the stand.

 

[runningstix]

Pauline better have shipped mine before you raided the closet! I got my call in at 8:59 (open at 9) and should probably get it tomorrow since Im in Denver. What A score. That should rock my 58g closed loop.

 

[leoslizards]

What's TBD? Why don't you use one as your return and have an all Dart system? Can you please post some vids of you flame polishing the edges? I tried this once and they started bubbling.

 

[MarineGirl411]

=( Poo. That's ok. I was wondering where you were. I hadn't seen you post anything for a while. Not since the tank you had on the wall with those shrimp. Someday I will get a dart. I would like a good deal like you got though! =) I'm a reefer with a strict budget. Where was I when this was going on??? How did you find out about it? I love my Snapper. Was going to upgrade to a 100 gallon Acrylic and wanted a dart for the closed loop. Maybe someday. I love this new build you are doing though. Are you still doing nano customs? Yes everyone, C built me the best internal overflow. =) He is the best!!! Still going strong and looks very very nice. Can't wait to see this new tank of yours up. Looks beautiful so far.

 

[MarineGirl411]

PS. I didn't have to buy the 100 acrylic! Just so you know that I am indeed on a budget. LOL. That makes it sound like I have money to burn. I will be getting it free for giving someone some frags. ;-)

 

[Azazael13]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137300#post13137300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leoslizards
What's TBD?

To Be Determined.


Coming along nicely, can't wait to see it on the wall with water in it! (and not a bottle of water like someone else pulled recently!!)

 

[tigerarmy40]

if mark doesnt go for that pump I surely will!!!

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137007#post13137007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by runningstix
Pauline better have shipped mine before you raided the closet! I got my call in at 8:59 (open at 9) and should probably get it tomorrow since Im in Denver. What A score. That should rock my 58g closed loop.

I'm sure you got your pumps. It was amazing to see all those different pumps and Reeflo skimmers just piled up waiting on purchase orders. Very impressive.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137300#post13137300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leoslizards
What's TBD? Why don't you use one as your return and have an all Dart system? Can you please post some vids of you flame polishing the edges? I tried this once and they started bubbling.

TBD was already answered but 3600 GPH is way way way more than I need for my return... Plus it will work out better for me, trading it to Marc for a new RO/DI unit. I'll see what I can do with documenting my flame polishing.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137317#post13137317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
=( Poo. That's ok. I was wondering where you were. I hadn't seen you post anything for a while. Not since the tank you had on the wall with those shrimp. Someday I will get a dart. I would like a good deal like you got though! =) I'm a reefer with a strict budget. Where was I when this was going on??? How did you find out about it? I love my Snapper. Was going to upgrade to a 100 gallon Acrylic and wanted a dart for the closed loop. Maybe someday. I love this new build you are doing though. Are you still doing nano customs? Yes everyone, C built me the best internal overflow. =) He is the best!!! Still going strong and looks very very nice. Can't wait to see this new tank of yours up. Looks beautiful so far.

LOL! Thanks!!! The sale lasted about a day, I found out about it Friday through a post in the Used Equipment section, called first thing on Monday, and by 3:00 MST they were sold out. I've stopped doing custom tanks for now (just no time) but I hope to start getting back into equipment (Overflows, Ca and Kalk Reactors along with Skimmers) once my basement and tank are up and done.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137325#post13137325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
PS. I didn't have to buy the 100 acrylic! Just so you know that I am indeed on a budget. LOL. That makes it sound like I have money to burn. I will be getting it free for giving someone some frags. ;-)

LOL! I know what you mean. I'm very broke right now, and skating on thin ice with my wife.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137872#post13137872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Azazael13
To Be Determined.


Coming along nicely, can't wait to see it on the wall with water in it! (and not a bottle of water like someone else pulled recently!!)

Thanks!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13138977#post13138977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tigerarmy40
if mark doesnt go for that pump I surely will!!!

Already boxed up and ready for shipment to Marc... Sorry.

 

[calvin415]

We got the tank up on the stand today (3 buddies came over to help) and yep the stand will need some work (3/16"-1/4" gap in the middle). I got a package of self leveling cement tonight along with a 3 mil drape for under the concrete and some 1/4 round to mark off the edges. I plan to do the pour tomorrow night. Sorry no pics until the pour.

 

[scbauer]

Definately good that you noticed the gap now and are able to take care of it.

How did the tank look in it's new home? Can't wait to see more pictures!

-Scott

 

[robojet]

ugh... we've been denied photos of the gap!!! doesn't seem fair

 

[calvin415]

It looked so good! You should see the view from the end of the tank. :dance:

 

[calvin415]

Look back a few pages, it looks the same...

 

[calvin415]

BTW, the company I got the doors ordered through, got my order mixed up with another and my doors are in CA and I have some dude in CA's doors. They are supposed to rebuild them tomorrow and ship them Thursday so hopefully I will have doors next week now.

 

[kcress]

Careful with that self leveling cement - it doesn't. Be prepared to do what you need to. I just used some and was disappointed with the result. Expensive too.

 

[ReefEnabler]

I think the main problem is that the span is too long for the cement to perfectly level, its too viscous, and it will somewhat conform to the overall slope a bit.

what if you built a wooden frame to wall up the cement (make this frame perfectly level and planar), you could slightly overpour it, and then scrape across the top and level it out so that the cement is thicker in the center. or were you already planning on doing something like that?

 

[tundra1000]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13145088#post13145088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RyanBrucks
what if you built a wooden frame to wall up the cement (make this frame perfectly level and planar), you could slightly overpour it, and then scrape across the top and level it out so that the cement is thicker in the center. or were you already planning on doing something like that?

This would be the way to go. Then you also don't have to worry about it dripping down the sides. I am not sure what the self leveling cement is but I would recommend floor leveler (maybe the same thing). You'll find it in the tile section of depot, lowes. The floor levelers I have used do not self level but they have zero shrinkage which is important with your application.

 

[kcress]

I would remove the aquarium. Pour the cement. And then using something long and straight - drag it across the area. It could just be a 12 foot 2 by 4 or six.

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13144741#post13144741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kcress
Careful with that self leveling cement - it doesn't. Be prepared to do what you need to. I just used some and was disappointed with the result. Expensive too.

Not expensive and everyone I've talked to who's used it, thinks it will work great... ???

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13145088#post13145088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RyanBrucks
I think the main problem is that the span is too long for the cement to perfectly level, its too viscous, and it will somewhat conform to the overall slope a bit.

what if you built a wooden frame to wall up the cement (make this frame perfectly level and planar), you could slightly overpour it, and then scrape across the top and level it out so that the cement is thicker in the center. or were you already planning on doing something like that?

It doesn't have to be completely perfect, but 3/16" gap is too much for the styro to overcome. I already am planning on using a wooden frame (hence the 1/4 round) to keep the leveler where I need it, but scraping it will be pointless, as it will just increase my height keeping the gap intack. I need something thicker in the middle and thinner at the ends hence the self leveler...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13145136#post13145136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tundra1000
This would be the way to go. Then you also don't have to worry about it dripping down the sides. I am not sure what the self leveling cement is but I would recommend floor leveler (maybe the same thing). You'll find it in the tile section of depot, lowes. The floor levelers I have used do not self level but they have zero shrinkage which is important with your application.

It won't be dripping down the sides... See comment above. Floor leveler is the same thing. That is what I bought.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13145189#post13145189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kcress
I would remove the aquarium. Pour the cement. And then using something long and straight - drag it across the area. It could just be a 12 foot 2 by 4 or six.

Tank is already removed... Can do anything to the stand with a tank on it. The 2x4's that were used to build the stand where supposed to be long and straight too... I'm not going to rely on a scrap method to fix this. Gravity will have to work. I'm using the plastic so if it doesn't go as planned I can just remove it and try again.


The floor leveler/self leveling cement is almost water thin... It will fill in the low spots and just touch the high spots. Again this is just to give support to the styro, it's acting as a shim.

 

[kcress]

I wish you success. I used three 20lb bags. They were $30 a piece. I followed their instructions to the letter. Used a powered blender as required. The result was not even close to level. The sides are higher than the middle.

Mine was the cement type with plastic included.