Jacob's 360 Gallon Build

[Jacob D]

Here's a shot of the canopy framework

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30740619@N08/3178650106/" title="Canopy Framework by Dinardi Family, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3178650106_2625ac9ac3_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Canopy Framework" style="border:0px;" /></a>

It's made from select pine 1x. The canopy has a lip so it sits on the top of the tank and also covers the top 1 1/2" (half of which is the top piece of acrylic). If you look closely you can make out the water line just below the framework. With the pump running the water line is higher and not visible. The overall height is 16"; this will put my lights 6" off the water.

As far as framework goes it's almost complete. I need to add the "boxes" for the vents which are on the back side. This will be easier to show than to explain so I'll just save that until the next post

The entire canopy will be raised and lowered for access (there will be 1 door panel for quick access). I have a pulley system but I have another design in mind that will be cleaner and more tricked out. Keeping that a secret for now...

 

[Whacked]

I like raise/lower of the entire canopy idea. I've seen it somewhere before, cant remember where.

 

[bbl_nk]

A couple of camo winches from Harbor Freight and a remote control?

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14107451#post14107451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whacked
I like raise/lower of the entire canopy idea. I've seen it somewhere before, cant remember where.

It's been done before, on page 3 of this thread you can see the ropes to and from the pulleys that the previous owner used. I just don't like the look of all the ropes.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14112958#post14112958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bbl_nk
A couple of camo winches from Harbor Freight and a remote control?

Nope. I'm not telling yet. I need finish the design and come up with a cost. I wouldn't put anything from Harbor Freight in or on my tank, or at least I wouldn't brag about it



On a separate note I picked up my sand (Caribsea 40lbs Fiji Pink live, and 80lbs Bermuda Pink dry) from Kalypso today and also about 240 lbs of dry rock Fiji that Josh (jthao) dropped off for me. On the way home I stopped at the car wash and hit all of the rock with the high pressure rinse. $5 and 15 mins later and the rock was looking pretty clean... and the car wash was a mess. I think the attendant was unhappy with me, ah well, got my $5 worth anyway

I'm going to take Josh's advice and soak the rock in boiling water for a few minutes... Time to get the turkey fryer out.

 

[bbl_nk]

To funny...I remember doing that with my dry rock, but it wasn't as nasty and went to one with no attendant

I have a Harbor Freight pump running my carbon/phosban reactor. Couldn't beat the price of it plus a 20% off coupon

 

[bbl_nk]

Oooh, I have an idea. How about the action and lever from a recliner? You could just pull the handle and have it scissor lift it up

 

[Whacked]

actually, I think I saw the lifting canopy on a fancy stand thread.
Only thing is, couldnt really see how it operated, just the u/down position. I did see one member who made a sweet light fixture that at first is slid on a track to move to the side, then used a motorized pulley system. lost track of that thread so dont know what he ended up with.
But with a tank that big, you really need something to move the canopy. thats a lot of wood to be lifting

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14115370#post14115370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bbl_nk
Oooh, I have an idea. How about the action and lever from a recliner? You could just pull the handle and have it scissor lift it up

There are some issues with a scissor lift, one of which being access to the tank around the scissors, another being the limitation on lifting height due to the inside dim. of the canopy. I considered the idea

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14115539#post14115539 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whacked
actually, I think I saw the lifting canopy on a fancy stand thread.
Only thing is, couldnt really see how it operated, just the u/down position. I did see one member who made a sweet light fixture that at first is slid on a track to move to the side, then used a motorized pulley system. lost track of that thread so dont know what he ended up with.
But with a tank that big, you really need something to move the canopy. that's a lot of wood to be lifting

Yeah, I've seen a handful of tanks that used some sort of lifting system, mostly pulleys. If you use a 4 pulley system then you only lift 1/4 of the weight of the canopy (but have to reel in 4x the length in rope). I'm estimating the finished weight of my canopy at ~ 80-100 lbs. The framework is about 30 lbs right now.

As for the moving lighting, that's called a light mover They are widely used in horticulture, I have seen one or two aquariums with them. Great way to save energy but I don't care for only part of the tank being fully lit at any given time from an aesthetic standpoint.

edit - just reread your post, sounds like it moves to the side for maintenance? That's a good idea too. I think I might have read that thread recently, or something similar anyway.

 

[Whacked]

yea, it moved sideways for maintenance.
It was a really sweet build. I forget who it was tho. might be able to dig something up later

 

[bbl_nk]

You could put the pulleys, motor in the attic, Have some nice looking guides in the ceiling. This way you could wire everything below, hide all the gadgetry in the attic and be able to raise and lower as needed. I'm thinking of different things like divider curtains in gyms that roll up, window shades, etc. I'm sure it could be done affordably since you are not looking for sexy, just that it works. Should cut the cost down and keep it simple.

 

[RiOnRoxXx]

Gas dampers on a hinged setup? Sexy!!!!

 

[bbl_nk]

Definitely take some cues from the custom car market....You could get som 22's, air bags and hydrolics and roll on three wheels

 

[RiOnRoxXx]

EM2=2004 Honda Civic It's in my sig hehe

Thats is where I got the idea essentially, from my buddies gas dampered carbon fiber hood

 

[Jacob D]

Everything suggested so far had crossed my mind, but none of those ideas would give me a working solution that would look clean, provide enough access, and allow me to work around the tank virtually unobstructed... hence my top secret plan

 

[Jacob D]

A few pics from today/tonight

Dumped in 2 1/2 buckets of salt, salinity = 1.026. Pretty close guesstimate.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30740619@N08/3183317755/" title="Got Salt? by Dinardi Family, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3183317755_07002192b0_o.jpg" width="800" height="526" alt="Got Salt?" style="border:0px;"/></a>


Strange salt phenomenon. This distortion ripple spanned the entire inside of the tank about 12" off the bottom. It started about 15 minutes after I dumped all the salt in and looked like heat coming off the freeway. My guess is that it's the interface between the very salty water at the bottom and the less-salty water at the top. The two mixing phases have different refractive index, hence the ripple. I dunno, just a theory.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30740619@N08/3184153978/" title="Salt Phenomenon by Dinardi Family, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3480/3184153978_33d36b774d_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Salt Phenomenon"style="border:0px;" /></a>


Making rock soup with the turkey fryer! Yea yea!!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30740619@N08/3183316041/" title="Makin' rock soup like a crazy man! by Dinardi Family, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3508/3183316041_7058674a55_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Makin' rock soup like a crazy man!" style="border:0px;"/></a>

 

[lanxang]

crazy.

Jake, how long did it take you to make that much water?

Looks like you are doing some witchcraft on the rocks. LOL

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14121368#post14121368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lanxang
crazy.

Jake, how long did it take you to make that much water?

I don't remember exactly how long it took. I guess it was about 7-8 days.

Looks like you are doing some witchcraft on the rocks. LOL

Yes! A little black magic to make sure I don't get any pests this time around.

 

[ctripi]

Nice build thus far.... What's your plan for hanging the lights from the canopy?

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14122529#post14122529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctripi
Nice build thus far....

Thanks Chris.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14122529#post14122529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctripi
What's your plan for hanging the lights from the canopy?

I'm going to mount the LAIII's directly to the top panel of the canopy when in place. I might mount the center light on a drawer slide so I can push it back for more access.

 

[RiOnRoxXx]

Pretty trippy pics! I like the fryer one. Looks like you're summoning Triton the water god with a goulash of rock. Love the distortion...