My new tank is in (the garage)

looking good.
Ben at coral oasis said i should be getting my tank in about 2-3weeks.
Steve at socal said my sump will be ready in about 3 weeks too.
I'm excited. Can you show me your progress in plumbing so i can maybe pick up a couple things before it's too late?
 
John, I've been studying plumbing for a few months now and figured out one thing, it all means nothing for "your" tank! I know that I am using 45Ã"šÃ‚° and 90Ã"šÃ‚° sweeps instead of hard 45Ã"šÃ‚° and 90Ã"šÃ‚° so that I don't loose as much to head pressure. Just plan on spending $$. I looked at every site I could to compare prices, and still had to use 4 vendors. I'll take some pictures of all the parts before installation and of the whole thing when its done.

Brent, it's not as inexpensive as powder coating, but I'm really glad I did it this way. I think it will really shine in five years when it still looks the way it does now.
 
Ted, where did you get all of your plumbing, or did Dave get it all?

I ended up getting my valves from Savko, bulkheads from Custom Aquatics, a hard to find bulkhead and check valve from Marine Depot, all my 45Ã"šÃ‚° and 90Ã"šÃ‚° fittings from McMaster Carr, flex hose from a friend (Putawaywet) and hard pipe from Lowes.
 
Nothing exciting today, just the first box of pipe fittings, all sweeps, no hard turns.

9086fittings.JPG
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6683675#post6683675 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Konadog
Ted, where did you get all of your plumbing, or did Dave get it all?

I ended up getting my valves from Savko, bulkheads from Custom Aquatics, a hard to find bulkhead and check valve from Marine Depot, all my 45Ã"šÃ‚° and 90Ã"šÃ‚° fittings from McMaster Carr, flex hose from a friend (Putawaywet) and hard pipe from Lowes.
Click to expand...

Home Depot for some things, some valves and flex PVC I got through Dave (Harrington Plastics I think) and some Spears valves through my Brother (who is in the plumbing supply business).

If I had to do it again, I'd get it all from Dave (Harrington) because returning stuff to the wholesaler was a headache.

See you Saturday day?

Ted
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6707697#post6707697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thetedinator
See you Saturday day?
Click to expand...
Late afternoon and evening. I have to pass on the trip because I need the time to get a few last things ready for the tank move that afternoon, wana come by :D ?
 
Pierce, my thoughts are that it will be free standing. Three sides will just slide into place as one unit.

Check out Gabriel's in this thread about half way down.
 
Good idea Chuck. There are plenty of ways it can be done, as long as removal for maintenance is easy. I really haven't given it a lot of thought as the rest of the project is overwhelming at the moment.
 
Ken, question about your tank. Does the eurobracing end at the overflow? I have the same leemar 225, only with a corner overflow, and they ended the bracing at the overflow, the rear pane has all kinds of issues because of it. 1/2" glass?

You can just see in the right rear corner how the bracing ends
21147Tank1.jpg


Good thing it is Starfire, my only true regret. Gotta love the 30" width.
TankSM.jpg



CAReefer
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6715748#post6715748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CAreefer
21147Tank1.jpg
Click to expand...

CAReefer, your stand does not have any supports down the middle... Can you go in to some details on your stand ??
 
CAReefer, yes the eurobracing stops at the overflow and it's all 1/2 glass. Mine is a center overflow. What kind of issues are you having?
 
The back pane of glass has deflected almost 3/16" in the 10" from the end of the brace to the corner of the tank. Plus the silicone has pulled loose in the center of the brace, causing it to bow in the center also. So it has a bow about 1/4" about 3' long and then a pretty noticable "crease" at the end of the brace. I put a block of wood between the back pane and the wall/stud to keep it from getting any worse. LeMar agreed to repair it, all I need to do is ship the tank to them, wait 6 to 8 weeks and pay to have it shipped back. You can only imagine the amount of rock, water and livestock I would have to find temporary homes for.

As a suggestion, get the tank level somewhere, preferably on its intended stand (outside), fill it with water and watch it for a few days and see if there is any deflection. As a used tank, if it doesn't move under the weight of the water now, it won't. Personally, I will never own another LeMar. They won't even make a 225 out of 1/2" glass anymore according to my LFS. I had them get a quote on a new replacement. All 3/4" and 3x what I paid for my 1/2" non starfire tank. Here is a pic, kinda hard to tell by the picture, but it'll give you an idea.
Tank_back2.jpg


CAReefer
 
asnatlas- I built the stand out of 2x4s and 2x4 channel iron. I basically built 2 stem/load bearing walls 12" on center, with notches for the steel to sit in. Then spanned the 2 pieces of channel iron with 2x4's on 12" centers. Epoxied and then screwed through the steel into the "joists". Pretty bad picture, but you should be able to get the idea.

21147PC230074.JPG


I did add a 2x3" piece of channel under the "joists" where the back edge of the tank sits just for piece of mind. The front edge sits on the steel, but the stand is 6" wider than the tank. The rear channel iron is lag bolted into the 2x6 studs in the wall behind.

HTH
CAReefer
 
The back pane of glass has deflected almost 3/16" in the 10" from the end of the brace to the corner of the tank. Plus the silicone has pulled loose in the center of the brace, causing it to bow in the center also. So it has a bow about 1/4" about 3' long and then a pretty noticable "crease" at the end of the brace
Click to expand...
CAreefer, very interesting. I don't think I have ever seen "glass" bow that much. When this tank was up, I looked it over pretty well and don't remember anything like that at all. Maybe because yours is a corner and not a center? Not sure what to say.
 
It's probably just my tank. I just wanted to make you aware. It sounds like yours will be fine. Your really going to like the dimensions. The 30" width is really nice (36 would be killer).

CAReefer
 
Well, things slowed down this week as I was sick all week and couldn't do anything but survive! This weekend won't be much help as I am trying to get ready to go on vacation next week and have some things ready for a buddy moving to Texas the week after. I guess we'll see what happens.

CAReefer, yes 36 would be killer!
 
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