Flying Dutch 700 gallon in wall tank-living room/home office divider - Build Thread

As I said before Euler, the detailed way you are describing your progress is truly great. So many people should find something of use to them somewhere in your thread; I for sure did.

The picture you posted in my thread is realy amazing! I checked the link you gave on the shadowbox background project of Euromomtx out and it looks like something that isn't too tough to make but I'm not sure if I have the space to do that.... For sure something worthwhile looking at vs. just putting black foil. Thanks!!
 
are your holes in the stand the same size as the tank bottom?
i only ask, because you will need to be able to install the bulk heads (also, if there is a little more room just in case things to line up right.

also, with a double top, its going to be hard to reach your hands in there to tighten the nuts on the bulkheads...

Looks Good!!!
(like mentioned above, the documentation is amazing....)
 
As I said before Euler, the detailed way you are describing your progress is truly great. So many people should find something of use to them somewhere in your thread; I for sure did.

The picture you posted in my thread is realy amazing! I checked the link you gave on the shadowbox background project of Euromomtx out and it looks like something that isn't too tough to make but I'm not sure if I have the space to do that.... For sure something worthwhile looking at vs. just putting black foil. Thanks!!

Thank you VanvVelzen!! your words give me encouragement to continue! :reading:


I really like the look that he created - i wondering if I can make something like that! :L and you're are totally right about thinking twice before go to black foil :beer:


stay tunned I will update a ton of pics!
 
are your holes in the stand the same size as the tank bottom?
i only ask, because you will need to be able to install the bulk heads (also, if there is a little more room just in case things to line up right.

also, with a double top, its going to be hard to reach your hands in there to tighten the nuts on the bulkheads...

Looks Good!!!
(like mentioned above, the documentation is amazing....)

welcome back my friend - been so long since your last visit! As always you're vey vey meticulous! Are you work as an audit guy?!? :rollface:

no, the holes in the stand are 3/8 (9mm) bigger then holes in the tank bottom and you're right, it is hard to reach the nuts but it is ok, I can do that. :thumbsup:


tons of pic, stay tunned!
 
it is time for tons of pictures!!! So many pics that I decide to open an payable account on photobucket who offers an amazing image hosting service!


Here you can see the styrofoam sheet that will "œhold" the tank "“ 5/8" thickness:


StyroFoam_01.jpg
 
a friend in need is a friend indeed!!!

a friend in need is a friend indeed!!!

As all you guys know, I really like DIYing everything but the fact is that there are some things you can't do it all, alone, by yourself"¦
so, build a large tank is an example of these things and I decide to build it up on this easter holyday (here in BR) "“ I know, I know "œregular" people enjoy a three-day weekend with their relatives or in a beach with girlfriend, but exceptional friends help to build a LARGE TANK!!!


I have to thanks a lot Allan (my brother in law who help me a lot in this project), Márcio a big friend who came with this hobby and Zeca "“ a guy who knows nothing about "œreefing", but is my friend since I can remember!!!


All right, Ladies and Gentlemen, Guys and Gals, no further ado here we go:


06h33 "“ dawn patrol:


Zeca get into my home just for a breakfast and help me with the first stage of building, we move the tank's front (starphire glass) to the workbench and tape all the borders. He could help me by 09h30AM after that he's travelling with his wife.


Did you see how excited Zeca is! I really like this guy:

GlassBox_building_01.jpg





Overthere is can see Zeca holding the left tank corner:

GlassBox_building_02.jpg





Here is he again! We define roles for each one, his is in charge of tank building, I's in charge to take pictures!!!

GlassBox_building_03.jpg





Ok, here is the strategy: first I passed the silicone on all tank front borders "“ on the face not in the border (got it?), after that, I used an quick-grip clamp to hold the tank front on tank corners.

Remarks: the face of tank front was glued on the border of tank bottom and tank corners BUT the tank corners was glued on the face of tank bottom, in other words, the tank corners are ON the tank bottom whereas the tank front is NOT.

Right corner and clamp (Lowes / AceHardware):

GlassBox_building_04.jpg





Left Corner and clamp (Lowes / AceHardware) :

GlassBox_building_05.jpg





Detail:

GlassBox_building_06.jpg





Front view:

GlassBox_building_07.jpg





Another type of clamp "“ corner clamp (homedepot)

GlassBox_building_08.jpg
 
09h43 AM: brother in law is around.

Zeca leaves at 09h15AM, I just organized some stuff and wait my brother in law to continue with the second phase "“ "œtank back panel".My brother in law just delayed his trip with his girlfriend to provide me a little help.

When he comes, here is what he saw:

GlassBox_building_09.jpg





For all panels I used the bubble wrap to "œprotect" panel against undesirable silicone spots. Here you can see the tank back panel resting on "œworkbench":

GlassBox_building_10.jpg





Details on border's tape, used to limit the silicon:

GlassBox_building_11.jpg





Another one:

GlassBox_building_12.jpg





After glued the back panel "œwe" just remove the bubble wrap:

GlassBox_building_13.jpg





Another:

GlassBox_building_14.jpg





Ok, everything is going well diagonal conferred and this is time to glue the eurobraces.

These "œyellowish" pieces of wood and clamps just hold the brace on the right place:

GlassBox_building_15.jpg





Detail:

GlassBox_building_16.jpg





Another one:

GlassBox_building_17.jpg





Another view:

GlassBox_building_18.jpg
 
11h25 AM: Reinforcements arrives!

My buddy Márcio just arrives in time to help me with the braces, at this point mu knees were killing me!!! As you guys know I was hit three times when I was young and nowadays I'm paying the price"¦

Before passa the baton, silicon so to speak, I decide to finish this bracece:

GlassBox_building_19.jpg





Can you see how silicone penetrates in the gap between the face of the front panel and the border of brace???

GlassBox_building_20.jpg





so I used my finger to push the silicone in the gap:

GlassBox_building_21.jpg





That's me giving up"¦ :sad1:

GlassBox_building_22.jpg





So Marcio can do his job "“ his is a very very meticulous guy "“ the final result is perfect:

GlassBox_building_23.jpg





Another view:

GlassBox_building_24.jpg





Details:

GlassBox_building_25.jpg





This is the brace used on the back panel:

GlassBox_building_26.jpg





I really owe this guys "“ what do you guys think:

GlassBox_building_27.jpg
 
Last edited:
I almost forgot to tell you guys, to create a gap between the face of back panel and the border of the brace, I used a "œsandwich" of laminate plastic "“ this sandwich work like a spacer creating a 2.4mm gap "“ can you see the white spacer in this pic:

GlassBox_building_28.jpg





This is a good pic, you can see the silicone penetrating on gap created by the spacer:

GlassBox_building_29.jpg





Another view:

GlassBox_building_30.jpg





All right, after braces phase we finished the tank building "“ it takes approximately 5 hours to build it up, after that we lunch and the guys could go to enjoy the holiday with their families.


Allan (brother in law), Márcio e Zeca, I am in eternal debt to you guys!!! Thanks a lot my friends!



:bounce1: :bounce3: :bounce2:
 
Five hour later, I decide to glue the second layer of baces – yeah, in this project I decide to double the eurobraces:

In this pic you can see the clamps (HomeDepot) holding the second brace on the right place:

GlassBox_building_31.jpg





Another view:

GlassBox_building_32.jpg





All braces glued:

GlassBox_building_33.jpg





Another one:

GlassBox_building_35.jpg





Front side - LEFT view:

GlassBox_building_36.jpg





Front Side: RIGHT view:

GlassBox_building_37.jpg





This is de back view, can you see the cutouts through which the water goes to the overflow box (not here yet) – this is how I planned my coast-to-coast overflow:

GlassBox_building_38.jpg



:thumbsup:
 
Well done i will enjoy watching you plumb your close loop:) Also you have done a quality build all the way!
 
thank you my friend, i'm trying to do my best overhere! the plumbing will be a big nightmare, uh? :rollface:

btw, I saw a picture of your closed-loop, are you using two reeflo hammerhead gold pumps? it is almost a rocket booster , uh???? :lol2:
 
Just went thru 16 pages of your thread, very informative build. You're really a DIY guy, have fun building your tank and thanks for sharing.
 
close loop

close loop

thank you my friend, i'm trying to do my best overhere! the plumbing will be a big nightmare, uh? :rollface:

btw, I saw a picture of your closed-loop, are you using two reeflo hammerhead gold pumps? it is almost a rocket booster , uh???? :lol2:

Hello,

Those Hammerheads are at a wholesaler i know was just showing how to plumb two pumps to get double the flow with only 1 x friction lose. My close loop pumps are Water Blaster 16000 and my sump/refugium pump is a Dart.
My WBs are on back order should have in the next two to three weeks then its water time:)

Keep up the great work!:wavehand:
 
Brilliant update again of your thread Euler.
You must be fortunate with two right hands and the qualitative help you're getting from friends and family!
 
i-beam too :)

i-beam too :)

Hi Euler, i'm following your project, it's a nice build... i'm a diy guy too and i discover some same solutions for the stand of my new project (still designing..). It's nice too see that someone like to break bones with heavy weight i-beam :lolspin:
Like others, i'm waiting new updates. :cool:
 

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