Mark's 180 Starfire upgrade

Status
Not open for further replies.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14100608#post14100608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bored4long
wow, Mark, that is a great urchin. What is it called and where did you get it? Is it usually out in the open?

It is usually working the rocks, Id say I can locate it 75% of the time. I still do not have a positive ID. I got it from John @ YourReef, He got two of them in and Jay got the other one. I am not an urchin fan, but when I saw this guy, I changed my mind. Unfortunately, John has been unable to find any more.
 
Here is another shot of it just perching for a side shot :p

ghomesick0220018.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14095604#post14095604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Wow, you are crazy to go through a few thousand posts :)

I have hardwood floors and the slight echo from return pump resounds through the house as there is too much empty space. I wish I would of used some more 2x4s or even some hilti expandable foam to help defend the sound.

I used to do a lot of metal stud and wood framing in my previous life and I can tell you, after looking over hundreds of TI blueprints, I've realized sometimes engineers have the tendency to over build :lol2: j/k, that's what you guys do for a living. I though a lot about a center brace but once I started screwing the ply 6 inches on center, I felt it was enough. I have not noticed any rocking or any other faults to this point. Let me know if this helps at all.

I'll never claim to be sane :bum: I'm a materials engineer, so the mechanical stuff goes over my head some times.

It looks like you used a 2 X 6 for the top frame and 2x4's for the bottom?

Sound deadening can be tricky. You accidentally made a giant speaker box :eek2: .Its actually why all of my equipment will be going in the basement this time as opposed to under the stand (old design from apartment living).

To deaden some of the sound you can mount pumps on rubber pads or stoppers. The automotive guys use a material called dynomat (might be spelled wrong) that might help to adsorb some of the sound.

I just figured that if you had the attention to keep your tank looking like it does, go to the Nth degree to battle AEFWs, and take awesome photos, there has to be some really good info. I just had to find it :)


Love the urchin. The colors are wild on that one! The only thing I've seen that is that colorful is a sea apple.
 
Thanks for the tip. I've never even though bout attaching the pump :lol:


build007.jpg


stand005.jpg


In these two photos you might be able to see that I used 2x6's around the top and triple 2x4's on the corners. One as a nail backer and then the other two as a structural corner.

Thanks for the positive feedback
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14103280#post14103280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Thanks for the tip. I've never even though bout attaching the pump :lol:


In these two photos you might be able to see that I used 2x6's around the top and triple 2x4's on the corners. One as a nail backer and then the other two as a structural corner.

Thanks for the positive feedback

Sometimes we all miss the obvious!

Thanks for the extra pictures. That is going to give me a few good ideas.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110101#post14110101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeferpnoy
1 picture for today! Im not diggin it! more pics to satisfy our sps hunger :D

My goal is to post at least 1 new picture a day for 2009. Its kind of like my Reef Central Resolution :p
 
Mark, what milli is that. It is my favorite milli.

Since we are bringing up some of the old build stuff, I have a question for you: Did you consider going with a steel frame? Would you go would if you had to do it all over again?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110160#post14110160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bored4long
Mark, what milli is that. It is my favorite milli.

Since we are bringing up some of the old build stuff, I have a question for you: Did you consider going with a steel frame? Would you go would if you had to do it all over again?

I thought about a steel stand, but I wasn't going to weld it myself, Those days are way behind me :) There are thousands of wood stands out there. I am very happy with my tank and stand. If I went larger I might. If John, tim and others used wood on their 300's, my 180 should be fine. There is a big difference between building and overbuilding ;)

That milli is one I picked up from John in April of '07 when Jogn got an awesome shipment of choice corals. We labeled it the YR raspeberry milli, but I might be the only one with a frag.
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110239#post14110239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeferpnoy
This picture of the ICefire on the background is screaming my name "PNOY TAKE ME" :lol:

ghomesick0220018.jpg

Thanks, but that is actually the aquascene echinata :p
 
I like the idea of a steel stand just for the increased space inside. I used a similar design to yours (3 2x4s per corner) and it just takes up so much valuable real estate...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110527#post14110527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bored4long
I like the idea of a steel stand just for the increased space inside. I used a similar design to yours (3 2x4s per corner) and it just takes up so much valuable real estate...

You could also get a bigger tank for more real estate :lol2:
 
If we're bring up old build stuff, cna I ask how are the wavy sea working? I know others had issue but it seems your are working fine. Do you have alot of flow going though them?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14111177#post14111177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
If we're bring up old build stuff, cna I ask how are the wavy sea working? I know others had issue but it seems your are working fine. Do you have alot of flow going though them?

This is an open thread. Just because its split a few times does not mean that we can not discuss a few older things :p

The wavy seas are still working fine. They are not really neccasary and I will remove them one day, but they work just fine. I do not have too much flow going through them as my return pump is valved back to have pretty slow turnover through the sump and to feed the skimmer.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top