J.R.L.'s 120 Build Thread

[J.R.L.]

Up until now I've successfully kept a nice mixed reef in my 75g with very sub-par equipment. Nows the time for a nice upgrade. If you want some pics of my current setup, check out my latest FTS and random shots in the following link:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1537124

The goal of my new 120 is a mainly SPS dominated tank while still keeping some nice zoas and my large LPS colonies. I also like the look of a "two mountain" aquascape which is what i will be shooting for. Im also in the process of building my own stand and canopy from start to finish. Now on with the pics!

Brand New Oceanview RR 120

Reef Octopus Extreme 200 (next to my most sub-par piece of equipment)

Tunze 6060s for circulation (another nice upgrade from my Seio 820s)

Return pump is still to be determined (anyone have any good ideas or have one for sale?)

Like I said I have been building the stand and canopy for the past week or so and am almost finished with the stand (still need to stain) but haven't even started the canopy yet.

Here is where I am now with the stand. (Thanks a ton Will16 and marino420td for answering my question about the stand and for documenting your builds for people like myself to use as a guide.)

I still have a little bit left to finish such as a couple more pieces of moulding here and there but other than that it is almost done.

I have to go but will post pics of the entire build process up until now when i get back. Thanks for looking!

 

[J.R.L.]

Heres the build up until now

wood all cut up

bottom framed up

mock up

this is where i wanted to make a floor and lay some pretty laminate down

 

[J.R.L.]

i used these precut squares from HD only $.69 each!

 

[J.R.L.]

didnt want any rogue nails from the nail gun shattering my tank so i took a few precautions lol

 

[J.R.L.]

 

[Squidward5]

WOW :eek1: That stand is sweet! Excellent work, I did the same on the bottom of mine also with the flooring, I will be following this one, BTW nice skimmer

 

[J.R.L.]

Thanks squidward5...im still waiting on my skimmer to break in but so far its very nice!

 

[Squidward5]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14029895#post14029895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J.R.L.
Thanks squidward5...im still waiting on my skimmer to break in but so far its very nice!

How long have you had it?

 

[J.R.L.]

since Christmas

 

[will16]

Awesome! Great job! How long before you start filling?

Keep us posted with your progress. Looking forward to seeing this completed.

- Will

 

[J.R.L.]

im aiming to have the tank up and running in about 2 weeks...oh and will16 what is that white paint you used one the inside of your stand? im assuming its a type of waterproof paint?

heres todays progress

 

[will16]

Very nice. I just used regular primer and latex paint. I rely on the 4 coats of poly to protect.

 

[J.R.L.]

ok gotcha

 

[nesto719]

that setup is sweet how tall is the stand?

 

[J.R.L.]

the stand is 36" tall

heres some shots of what ive done so far tonight and some stuff i got at HD (they had a sale on the buckets...only $3 each! so i HAD to grab some!)

painted the inside of the stand and canopy with the first coat of white paint...its a special formula for Kitchen and Bath and is suppsoed to be very moisture resistant (hey coff, it was cheaper to buy a smaller can for $13 than to buy the paint and poly seperately and thanks again for the help!)

testing out the stain...i went with the Cherry 235 i think...i tried it with and without the wood conditioner which is made for very soft wood like pine and man its night and day! I also let the stain soak for 5,10&15 minutes before wiping to see if there were any differences and there wasnt much...i tested the diff time intervals with letting the wood cond. set for 8 minutes

this is with wood cond. (on right) and without cond. (on left)...you can clearly see the blotchyness and uneveness that happens without the wood cond.

and heres the scrap with the diff time intervals at 5 10 and 15 minutes of soak time from left to right along with the previous picture on the far right

as you can see there really is very little difference in letting the stain soak for diff time periods and i think its because im using a pre stain wood conditioner which essentially makes the board less porous

im still not 100% sure if this is the stain i want...i think i want something darker..anyone have any suggestions?

 

[marino420td]

The stand is looking nice! Great job.

 

[J.R.L.]

Here she is all stained with one coat! It came out better than i thought and i still have a couple more coats to do.

 

[J.R.L.]

by the way marino, thanks for sharing your build thread as i know its been a guide for a lot of people...i tried not to make mine to similar to yours as everyone likes to have a little bit different but this moulding happened to be the only nice thing my local lowes carried...i like how it came out though, i still need to add a couple more coats of stain

 

[spleify]

Lookin good!!

Keep the updates coming.

 

[marino420td]

No problem. That's the whole reason I documented the process with pictures.

Now hurry up and get some water in this tank