It's TIME! Sethjamto's 300g!

[Sethjamto]

I've been waiting for this day to come! I just scored a deal locally on a 8ft 300g acrylic! I pick it up on Saturday and will spend a week or so buffing it out to look like new again. After that, the build will be slow as I collect everything I need. I'm hoping to see water in it come early/mid Spring. So....that being said, I won't really be updating here until things start moving along. When I get the tank home I'll do pics of the buffing process and painting of the stand (its a steel stand and canopy wrapped in wood).

I need to thank reefcentral user "GJK" for setting me up with this tank! Funny thing is that he found me knowing that I was posting to people in the classifieds who were selling tanks! He told me about his 300g he was breaking down and he only lives 30 minutes away, so it worked perfect for both of us!

Thanks Greg!

Here is a quick pick I took today while at Greg's house looking at the tank. My daughter stood in front of it to give the idea on it's size.

96x24x30, dual corner overflows, drilled for closed loop. I'm also picking up an MRC R4 recirculating skimmer driven off of a Pan World 150 to go along with it. I'll be doing a custom sump and probably LED lighting, but undecided on that part for now.

 

[Sethjamto]

Looking for opinions on closed loop pumps. AC or DC? I want to either minimize the number of powerheads in the tank, or preferable, go with NO powerheads in the tank. I think the inlet is 2" and there are 4 outputs. I know the exact sizes some Saturday when I pick up the tank and get some measurements on the bulkheads in the bottom.

Also return pumps.....Reeflo Dart?? Will that be enough to supply a manifold for future use down the line for reactors and return flow to the tank? It will be plumbed over the back and top of the tank with a return through the euro brace on either end.

I'll also be doing a DIY sump. What size tank do ya'll think I should find? Or should I go with a Brute style tub?

 

[Sethjamto]

We'll today I got the tank and stand to my house. I gotta make some room in the garage in a little bit....move the golf cart and Harley around, so I can start in on buffing the tank out. I'll post up before, during, and after pics of the polishing process.

 

[Scythanith]

Look into Abyzz pumps. They have built in controllers and can be daisy chained and programmed together for waves, random flow, etc. Very energy efficient and uber reliable. They are $$$ but you already mentioned golf cart and Harley so you're good

Assuming you have good plumbing exits for the closed look and return, you may be able to get away from powerheads.

 

[Sethjamto]

Yeah, but the Harley and golf cart zapped my play money fund!! LOL

I'm starting the wet sanding now.....I might need more beer for this!!

 

[Sethjamto]

Here's a few of the worst spots.

 

[Sethjamto]

The steel stand. It's 40" tall to put the tank right at viewing level.

Return plumbing. I'll be using a Reeflo Dart also plumbed to a manifold for reactors.

Closed loop holes. A 2" suction and (4) 1" returns. Reeflo Dart also for this one.

 

[jarrett shark]

Cant see pics in post 6 & 7
great size tankl

 

[Sethjamto]

Strange....I see them just fine!

Here it is off the trailer and on the stand in the garage. Time to buff it ( after the Alabama game, of course!).

 

[Sethjamto]

Question...how the heck do I clean out in the overflow? I'm not talking about the main part as my whole arm fits down there. It has slots at the bottom to suck water in from down low and it's less than a inch wide and all kind of junk down there. Hopefully you can see in the pics what I'm talking about.

The part at the top of the pic:

In this pic it's the small left hand side in the overflow. The euro brace is in the way on the top so I can't really get anything down there to clean it out.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Here's a few of the worst spots.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

The steel stand. It's 40" tall to put the tank right at viewing level.

Return plumbing. I'll be using a Reeflo Dart also plumbed to a manifold for reactors.

Closed loop holes. A 2" suction and (4) 1" returns. Reeflo Dart also for this one.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Strange....I see them just fine!

Here it is off the trailer and on the stand in the garage. Time to buff it ( after the Alabama game, of course!).

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Question...how the heck do I clean out in the overflow? I'm not talking about the main part as my whole arm fits down there. It has slots at the bottom to suck water in from down low and it's less than a inch wide and all kind of junk down there. Hopefully you can see in the pics what I'm talking about.

The part at the top of the pic:

In this pic it's the small left hand side in the overflow. The euro brace is in the way on the top so I can't really get anything down there to clean it out.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

You could temporarily block the hole and fill with water and white vinegar to break it down to clean easier.

 

[Sethjamto]

You could temporarily block the hole and fill with water and white vinegar to break it down to clean easier.

That's what I was thinking. That'll be for another day. I'm wet sanding today....just taking a break to have a smoke and drink of water right now then climbing back into the tank!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

That's what I was thinking. That'll be for another day. I'm wet sanding today....just taking a break to have a smoke and drink of water right now then climbing back into the tank!

Smoke cool. Water yea right. lolol

 

[Sethjamto]

Got one end done with buffing. That was my practice piece to test my procedures. I'm wet sanding with a palm sander starting with 1000 grit going to 1200g, 1500g, 2000g, followed by 3000g. This removed all scratches and leaves a fine haze on the tank. I then wipe it down again and fire up the 7" buffer with Meguiars PlastX.

Here is the progress.

Finished inside and out up to 3000 grit. Below is after the buffer in and out.

 

[Sethjamto]

Now it's a beer break and another smoke, then I'm diving into the front panel.

 

[Sethjamto]

Wow....thats a workout!! LOL. I just finished up through 3000 grit on half the inside front panel. Time to relax with a beer and then dive into he other half!