Mark's 40 Breeder build
- Thread starter Aframomum
- Start date
Swope2bc
New member
Got to work staining my stand today and have to say it wasn't all that bad, turned out pretty good.
I do plan to put a door in there but have been tossing a few ideas around in my head and haven't decided on one just yet, hence the reason for no door yet.
I do plan to put a door in there but have been tossing a few ideas around in my head and haven't decided on one just yet, hence the reason for no door yet.
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SuperSaltwater
New member
did you sand and pre-stain? that's the best results.
SuperSaltwater,
This was my first time staining anything so I did sand with 180 grit but didn't do any pre-staining, just applied the stain with a brush, let it sit for a few minutes, and wiped off. This has been more of an experiment for me to learn the in's and out's of woodworking so when I get permission (from the misses) to do a larger tank I'll have some experience to build larger (and hopefully nicer finished) stands.
I still have the door to finish so have the chance to experiment with a better sanding job and try pre-staining. Thanks for the suggestions!
Brett,
I do like the color too! Have to admit that when I was applying the stain I left some areas on longer then others and so have a mismatch of coloration, esp on large sections that I tried to do all at once. Learned that next time to do in smaller areas that way I can wipe off at the same time point.
Also - learn from me and don't, don't, don't do this in the house. My wife was less than amused when she came home today to such a wonderful smell. Opened a few windows to help air things out. I think she may talk to me by the weekend. :hmm2:
This was my first time staining anything so I did sand with 180 grit but didn't do any pre-staining, just applied the stain with a brush, let it sit for a few minutes, and wiped off. This has been more of an experiment for me to learn the in's and out's of woodworking so when I get permission (from the misses) to do a larger tank I'll have some experience to build larger (and hopefully nicer finished) stands.
I still have the door to finish so have the chance to experiment with a better sanding job and try pre-staining. Thanks for the suggestions!
Brett,
I do like the color too! Have to admit that when I was applying the stain I left some areas on longer then others and so have a mismatch of coloration, esp on large sections that I tried to do all at once. Learned that next time to do in smaller areas that way I can wipe off at the same time point.
Also - learn from me and don't, don't, don't do this in the house. My wife was less than amused when she came home today to such a wonderful smell. Opened a few windows to help air things out. I think she may talk to me by the weekend. :hmm2:
Swope2bc
New member
I like to just wipe it on, allows for immediate removal too. Then I wait for it to dry a bit and add another coat until I reach the desired color. I made a kitchen island recently for the wife.
That looks really nice and uniform. Did you just apply stain to the entire area then wipe it clean or do it in sections? I may try the wipe on method instead of the brush when I do the door.
In other news, found out that I won't be able to make my trip to Tampa to dive and pick up my rock from Rich as I had planned the end of the month. Looks like I'll have to resort to having it shipped to me and at a little later date then I was hoping for - moved to mid October now. Just some of those curves life throws at you from time to time.
In other news, found out that I won't be able to make my trip to Tampa to dive and pick up my rock from Rich as I had planned the end of the month. Looks like I'll have to resort to having it shipped to me and at a little later date then I was hoping for - moved to mid October now. Just some of those curves life throws at you from time to time.
Swope2bc
New member
Mark's 40 Breeder build
That's a bummer!!! Basically I used a cotton rag and wiped the entire surface and then did a full surface "removal wipe". The initial wipe was always liberal. Then I waited about 15min and repeated it. I wanted a real rich color so did about 15 coats, it may have been overkill but that is just pine! After the stain dried I did a light sand with fine grit paper and applied a seal coat, I let the seal dry and then applied the clear coat. I believe I have 6 coats of clear coat with a light sanding between each one.
It still looks that good almost a year later too.
That looks really nice and uniform. Did you just apply stain to the entire area then wipe it clean or do it in sections? I may try the wipe on method instead of the brush when I do the door.
In other news, found out that I won't be able to make my trip to Tampa to dive and pick up my rock from Rich as I had planned the end of the month. Looks like I'll have to resort to having it shipped to me and at a little later date then I was hoping for - moved to mid October now. Just some of those curves life throws at you from time to time.
That's a bummer!!! Basically I used a cotton rag and wiped the entire surface and then did a full surface "removal wipe". The initial wipe was always liberal. Then I waited about 15min and repeated it. I wanted a real rich color so did about 15 coats, it may have been overkill but that is just pine! After the stain dried I did a light sand with fine grit paper and applied a seal coat, I let the seal dry and then applied the clear coat. I believe I have 6 coats of clear coat with a light sanding between each one.
It still looks that good almost a year later too.
An update for the beginning of October -
Got the distribution manifold for the return finished and finally decided on a layout for my sump baffles.
Went with the isolated fuge and am going to see how an under-over-under baffle layout does with microbubble control verses the traditional over-under-over.
I have been trying to come up with a better idea for hanging my pendant and have been looking at the 80/20 aluminum framing as a possible solution. This way I can secure it directly to the stand and not have to rely on attaching anything to the wall.
Got the distribution manifold for the return finished and finally decided on a layout for my sump baffles.
Went with the isolated fuge and am going to see how an under-over-under baffle layout does with microbubble control verses the traditional over-under-over.
I have been trying to come up with a better idea for hanging my pendant and have been looking at the 80/20 aluminum framing as a possible solution. This way I can secure it directly to the stand and not have to rely on attaching anything to the wall.
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Swope2bc
New member
Ready or not - just placed my order with Rich!
Figured with the weather cooling down I better get my order in while the rock is still nice and growing rather than going into winter hibernation!
Awesome!! What did you order? Can't wait for the picks!!!
Had the chance to talk with Rich through email today and got a bit more clarification on a few items had questions on. Found the shipping would be much less than I had expected and a drive out to Tampa would be slightly less cost-wise so decided to just have it shipped and skip the driving this time around.
My order consists of 10 lbs live Pukani rock that went in the Gulf around May of this year - interested in how it looks after being in the Gulf for a while as I see many pics of the dry, white stuff. I also got 30 lbs. of the Walt Smith 2.1 rock that also went in around May this year. Finished it with 5 lbs. live sand to seed my 60lbs 'bag' live sand that's been sitting in my closet for 2 weeks and 5 lbs. Pukani rubble which will probably go in the fuge. I can always place another order if I feel this is not enough (perk of living 1.5 hrs away from TBS!)
Did more work on the return plumbing, just need to cut off the loose ziptie ends and installed a nice little shelf in the stand for my testing kits. I'm very happy with the way it turned out!
I see salt water mixing in my very near future...oh yeah!
My order consists of 10 lbs live Pukani rock that went in the Gulf around May of this year - interested in how it looks after being in the Gulf for a while as I see many pics of the dry, white stuff. I also got 30 lbs. of the Walt Smith 2.1 rock that also went in around May this year. Finished it with 5 lbs. live sand to seed my 60lbs 'bag' live sand that's been sitting in my closet for 2 weeks and 5 lbs. Pukani rubble which will probably go in the fuge. I can always place another order if I feel this is not enough (perk of living 1.5 hrs away from TBS!)
Did more work on the return plumbing, just need to cut off the loose ziptie ends and installed a nice little shelf in the stand for my testing kits. I'm very happy with the way it turned out!
I see salt water mixing in my very near future...oh yeah!
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Thanks Brett!
The shelf was a last minute decision as I had some scrap wood laying around a light bulb went off as what I could do with it. Not too shabby.
I haven't done the measurements on the return chamber but I did on the fuge part - 9.3 gallons. I'll have to check the return when I get home in the morning.
Definitely an ATO in the future. Have been looking at the ATO unit by JBJ for some time now, even have the luft pump ready to go (top shelf that the manifold is ziptied to). Did the manual water additions in the past and what a pita that was, plus constantly changing salinity levels. Done with that!
I saw some posts on Rich's forum that back in 2007 some people were reporting getting octopus as hitchhikers in their rock. Now that would be an amazing hitchhiker! :bigeyes:
The shelf was a last minute decision as I had some scrap wood laying around a light bulb went off as what I could do with it. Not too shabby.
I haven't done the measurements on the return chamber but I did on the fuge part - 9.3 gallons. I'll have to check the return when I get home in the morning.
Definitely an ATO in the future. Have been looking at the ATO unit by JBJ for some time now, even have the luft pump ready to go (top shelf that the manifold is ziptied to). Did the manual water additions in the past and what a pita that was, plus constantly changing salinity levels. Done with that!
I saw some posts on Rich's forum that back in 2007 some people were reporting getting octopus as hitchhikers in their rock. Now that would be an amazing hitchhiker! :bigeyes:
Swope2bc
New member
An octopus would be sweet!! I'm happy with my urchins, anemone, 2 decorator crabs, a serpent star, a mantis shrimp and who knows what else!! Lol. I DIYed my ATO... I found it to be quite entertaining. I think I have about $30 into it with quadruple redundancy. [emoji3]
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