lastlight's 225 reef build

Thanks guys. Definitely feeling pretty good now that I'm wrapping up the build.

So my rock arrived today. It's KILLING me having to finish some work work before I can get down to business with these filthy yet SEXY pieces of rock.

Big shelf piece:

rock1.jpg


Pop can is on my base rock for my tower. Beside it is my other shelf piece which I think WAS even bigger than the other but two 6" pieces were broken off in my box. Does anyone think it is worth trying to superglue the pieces back onto the rim of the parent piece?

rock2.jpg


Bucket of various boulders:

rock3.jpg


Measurements. Both shelf pieces are in this box so my kid doesn't jump on them (I hope!)

rock4.jpg


Measurent of my base rock which the shelves will mount to:

rock5.jpg


I wasn't the only one that BRS made happy today!

rock6.jpg
 
Sweet! Instead of trying to glue them what about zip ties? That is how I did much aquascape and it worked pretty good.
 
To achieve the big overhang or two I have in mind I can't trust in ties alone but I think I will be using them where I can.

You certainly can't see and ties in your tank Greg. Of course you can't really see any ROCK either!
 
My back is ON FIRE.

Built everything in about 8 hours. The tower on the left is held together with 1/2" pvc and the middle one is a lot of zip-ties. You'll notice I tossed reef epoxy over zip-ties since I hate how they look. Also the lower shelf on the right tower is actually 2 pieces that broke off the top shelf piece in the left tower during shipping. I zipped it back together...almost as good as new! Tomorrow I get the ro/di up and running.

aquascape1.jpg


aquascape2.jpg


aquascape3.jpg


aquascape4.jpg


aquascape5.jpg


aquascape6.jpg
 
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This looks awesome! I can imagine that you are beat after working with that for so long. It will look even better covered in corals!
 
First off I absolutly love the stand. I will Admit I am in the middle of planing a whole tank layout and have been stuck on a stand Idea. Not any more. I hope to borrow some of your ideas. I have a couple questions if you will about your build. First off speaking of the stand what would you do diffrent given the chance? I was looking at diffrent tiles this week and most of them were 12X12 but I feel the smaller tile will simply take away from the Modern Elegant look what are your thoughts? Next do you think there would be a negative affect on the tank to simply tile the entire top and place the foam mat with the tank on top? Sorry for the long winded post.

Rodney
 
Thanks =)

First off I absolutly love the stand. I will Admit I am in the middle of planing a whole tank layout and have been stuck on a stand Idea. Not any more. I hope to borrow some of your ideas. I have a couple questions if you will about your build. First off speaking of the stand what would you do diffrent given the chance? I was looking at diffrent tiles this week and most of them were 12X12 but I feel the smaller tile will simply take away from the Modern Elegant look what are your thoughts? Next do you think there would be a negative affect on the tank to simply tile the entire top and place the foam mat with the tank on top? Sorry for the long winded post.

Rodney

I wish I had done a cement and steel I-beam design to eliminate the centre posts but other than that I'm really happy with the stand. I think if you want doors that open then having them meet the tank like mine do is best. If you have no equipment under the tank then yes I would tile everything in a seamless box.

When I had planned for a basement sump etc...I was going to build the cinder block/steel design a few others have done. Then built a wooden box around it with the entire middle all open. Then tiled all surfaces...outside and inside. If you can picture this you would be able to crawl 100% under the tank...tile all around you. Either that or use a center brace and have two square portholes in the stand all tiled.

Maybe that's all confusing! I might have used linear motion systems to mount my doors for ZERO sag and a smooth as silk motion if I had more money.

Example:

http://www.vxb.com/Merchant2/mercha...earings&Product_Code=Kit7429&Category_Code=LM

My doors have sagged so that when shut there is MAYBE a 1mm gap at the bottom of where the doors meet. Nobody would notice but me but still...
 
And finally. SALT.

Be a while till it settles/dissolves and I can measure my sainity.

salt1.jpg


I bought this over a year ago. It's a relief to say that so far this thing appears to foam like a BEAST.

salt2.jpg
 
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