Custom Colors 125 Build

[customcolor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10405992#post10405992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister

Awwww.... man. If someone did that to my car I might have to kill 'em...lol. The tank looks cool though.

well sofar this year this car has won a 1st and 2 3rd place trophies

 

[vareefer4life]

First off... love the car, awsome work!

Now... as far as a reef related question... what kind of foam did you use/method with it. I love the idea you have there. I am soon to start on my 125 and i am thinking of going that same route.

 

[wee_heavy]

the stand and canopy look fantastic :smokin:

 

[cwilson]

im jumping on to this thread!!

and alhtough that car isnt really my thing, BEAUTIFUL paint job! i can without a doubt tip my hat to that! ...now, to find a hat tipping smiley face... oh well

oh, and nice tank setup too!

 

[steve14]

The rock looks good.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10407897#post10407897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vareefer4life
First off... love the car, awsome work!

Now... as far as a reef related question... what kind of foam did you use/method with it. I love the idea you have there. I am soon to start on my 125 and i am thinking of going that same route.

Sorry to go a bit off topic, but did you ship the skimmer yet? You haven't responed to my PM.

 

[vareefer4life]

steve... sent you a pm

 

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Yeah, that car is sick. Good job!

And nice looking stand, too.

 

[Paradox009]

Did you make those corner wood details? If not, where did you get them?

Looks great!

 

[reefrubble]

Let us see a FTS , with the tank on that awesome satin black stand . Ted

 

[customcolor]

Paradox009
all the trim was from menards. the only thing i dint get from there was the extra plywood to make the side tables.<BR>
reefrubble
do to the location of the tank, i should say is what direction it is faceing i am unable to do a good full tank shot. i have the front of the tank now facing a wall and not enough room in between the 2 to get a good shot. all my plumming is well ofcourse in the back and im doing test fits so i need the room to work even though its in the garage still.<BR>
now i will be showing all u how i did the foam on the calflo but in small scale and not on glass.<BR>
first the can of stuff i used i got from home depot in the pond area out side.<BR>

<BR>
well make your wall in your tank or where ever your doing it but dont take your time this stuff gets a harder shell on it in about 5 min or so. next put some crystal water softner salt on it. you can push some of it down but dont push it all the way in so its coverd by the foam. is should look like this. like i said this is a sample peice for me to show u so its not going in my tank.<BR>

<BR>after it expands it will look kinda like this<BR>

<BR>after the foam has dried wipe off the loose salt. yet another pic<BR>

<BR>
now here in the next step is where you will see what u got. rinse off the salt so it desolves off the foam. you will be shocked at what u get. this is what i got on the sample.<BR>

<BR>
now the close up<BR>

<BR> now what do u all think about the foam idea.

 

[reefrubble]

I love the satin black on your stand . I would have to use a spray can , or brush , so I wouldn't be able to get a finish like that . Ted

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10306673#post10306673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor
whell i got all the painting don and it looks just the perfect finish to match our coffee table. i used a high temp bar-b-q black even though i dont need it to be high temp it was the finish i was looking for. the paint was rust o leum oil base paint and was thin enough to spray though my sata spray gun. that is how i got it to lay flat. plus all the filler primer (the filler primer is called slick sand, its the same stuff i use on the cars i paint) plus alittle light weight body fillerhelped alot too. whell here is some more pics for your computer to download so u can see (sorry i do have lots of pics)<BR>the stand its self<BR>

<BR>
the canopy(i took the pic upside down so u can see it right side up)<BR>

<BR>
inside the canopy the holes are cut for two computer fans pushing air out wile i have 2 computer fans pushing air up into the canopy from the cooler basement behind the stand pumped up to the canopy. i figured this would help cool the tank off easyer. the holes are over where the 175 halides will be so i shouldnt have any light escape neather.<BR>

Where'd you get the filler primer? Did you have to sand between coats? I don't see a grain showing. Looks great.

 

[reefrubble]

Thanks Pito , I will have to see if I can find the filler primer ( slick sand ) . Ted

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Crap that stuff is expensive. I think I'll use a wood filler.
http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/p-1...yester-primer-surfacer-1-gallon-gray-709.aspx

 

[reefrubble]

ouch , That is out for sure . I'll find another way to go . Thanks pito . Ted

 

[customcolor]

i put on 2 heavy coats (about 1/2gal) then sanded the sh@@ out of it. where needed i put some good body filler on and sanded away. the canopy was the worst. have you ever seen b grade ply. its not smooth like glass , may be like a rock bed, but not like glass.
i got my slick sand for $50 (no discount and in stock) at the auto paint store where i go to for my paints i use on the cars. i was thinking about wood filler but i had lots of area that needed atention because i wanted it to be smooth, that i s y i did the spray.by the way if anyone uses slick sand u will need a spray gun with a 2.0 mm needle or bigger, its some thick stuff.
befor i put the paint on i needed to put another layer of primer over the body filler. the primer used is an auto body sealer primer($22qt). it seals anything and gives you a solid color to spray over so nothing will hurt your final color.
you think this stuff is expensive? try checking out some prices on some top of the line custom auto paint at Alsa Corp.

 

[customcolor]

i like to add this too. we pay $50 for a nice coral, fish, clam or clean up crew to make the tank look nice on the inside of it. well i spent that on the outside first.

 

[erics3000]

I give you props for drilling your tank. I have been going back and forth on drilling my 75 for my sump. I kinda wana build an acrylic one, but I already have the 75. Decisions....I like your arch with the foam. Look froward to your progress..

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10422942#post10422942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor
i like to add this too. we pay $50 for a nice coral, fish, clam or clean up crew to make the tank look nice on the inside of it. well i spent that on the outside first.

Yes, but I think I can get the same results with less $$$ by useing wood putty, smooth birch instead of ply, a good high gloss paint, clear laquer, and good 'ol elbow grease. Not to mention I won't need a need a spray gun.

Great idea useing the salt on the foam background. It really sets it off compared too others I've seen. Do you know if it'll provide the benifits of rock or is it just for asthetics?

 

[customcolor]

i dont think it would have the benifits of rock since the crystal salt is only on the top of the foam. if you put the salt in the foam i dont think the water will get to it and it will sit there for ever. so i would have to say just for asthetics and something differant. i put what i learnd from making diy live rock and the foam background ideas together and came up with what i got.