My Project ★ GENESIS ★ 110G (Miracle) SPS Dream Tank - (I) Pre-Build Thread

[Wally.B]

... I am dreaming of a man cave, where I have to snorkel to take pictures of sps looking good Wally!

Hmmm. You may have to upgrade your tank size a bit.
But it does sound like a nice man cave idea if you keep your tank on the warmer side.

 

[Wally.B]

The STAND and In-Wall Trimming (Tough DESIGN/choices) But learning by playing

I visualize and In-Wall Setup where Wall would be perfectly flush with tank glass.

I even asked Miracle to remove FRONT PLASTIC Trim of the two Wall Facing Sizes. (So tank glass is exposed at bottom, and Bottom matches top)

Kind of a RIMLESS TANK TOP AND BOTTOM

BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES. (STAND IS ONE)

But another is covering up the TANK BOTTOM 1" GLASS PLATE (IT cannot be exposed)


So I played with some WOOD and Learned something INTERESTING

What I learned (I need some kind of trim regardless) ** Since Plywood edge is layers. Solid wood option is too expensive for the large panel **

But the TRIM has to be a bit thick to not WARP over time (Sealer will help with warping).

And I LEARNED I can make the THICKER TRIM look Thinner (via an ILLUSION) if you set it over the plywood Bottom
[Hope I explained that right].....But it is visible in the TWO RIGHT PHOTO's. (That illusion will even become better once all the wood is painted/stained same color)


THE OTHER CHALLEGE is the Tiny GAP between TANK GLASS AND TRIM.

If the gap is too small you will see imperfections.
If too much (then GRAND CANYON "gap" look). Still ok (since gap will be very narrow in general)
But if just right (then it looks pretty good, and allow some tank cleaning drips to not affect trim)

** A Idea I just came up with is the WOOD TRIM is SILCONED, onto TANK GLASS ** Floating and Separate from plywood base **


** PLUS ANOTHER "BIG FACTOR" is how level is my WALL (since tank/stand will be fairly level/SQUARE) . (I need a few milimeters of wiggle space to line things up flush ) ***
**** THE FLOATING TRIM SOLVED THAT ***

I haven't even begun thinking how I will deal with CORNER TRIM (Edging cover up), but a Thought I have is a similar Trim piece just like the Tank Edge trim (Tricky cut to do that)

HOWEVER "the only conclusion" I have kind of come to (is STAND will be separate and independent, and then I'll cover it up with panelling).
THAT MAKES NEXT STEP EASY (BUILD a "floating" STAND)

 

[Rakie]

Your build is coming together at break-neck speed. If I attempted anything this quickly my tank would have been a mess. i took a week to paint inside the stand and the back/bottom of the tank black.

 

[Rakie]

At the very least, I insist this thread be mentioned in your first post of the new build as the pre-build stages. LOTS of good information and ideas here, trust me, this will be very useful to someone out there!

 

[Wally.B]

At the very least, I insist this thread be mentioned in your first post of the new build as the pre-build stages. LOTS of good information and ideas here, trust me, this will be very useful to someone out there!

Thanks. I'm not quite done with the prebuild.
I will post in my build thread this history.

Appears i scrapped the paper design idea. Well it did help early on.
I am a touch, feel, see, adjust kind of guy.
New ideas come at each step.
My whole original plan is quite different but i think things are coming out better than i expected.

One thing about painting tank black.
I learned when i visited tank that Maracles uses a film, not paint to make glass black. They spray on a adhesive and then the film. it won't flake and it is removable. Cool thing they do.
In the photo of my tank you see the black left side (i wanted clear) but since removeable I said leave it on and i can remove later if I don't like it

 

[Wally.B]

OLD TANK (ROCK UPDATE) Started some NORI (All Algae Polished off [Snails, Hermits, and Emerald Crab)

So the OLD ROCKS are doing extremely well.
Coraline Coverage spreading and all picked clean of any nuisance Algae.

I even cleaned out my ATS since it has gone a bit idle.

So with the Clean Up crew starving I added my INNOVATIE MARINE (Gourment Grazer) and some Nori (daily).

I love this product and have 3, since it doesn't waste nori, and Uneatten/Loose Nori doesn't polute tank. (Fish and CUC find it quickly since they smell the food).

It's been visited by all. Cool to see Emerald Crab on there.

 

[Wally.B]

One Regret that keeps bothering me.

It may not matter with the Trim I am planning.

But I chose one corner of tank (the Exposed Right corner) to have CLEAR SILICONE. Kind of a rimless look.

The rest of the tank is Black Silicone.

I somehow got the impression that using the Starphire Glass on those two panes would look better with Clear Silicone. But when I visited tank I was a bit taken back at the cloudy color. It may be still curing and may clear up.

It looks ok (not sure when fully lit up), but my plan is to cover up the corner anyway with Trim since I don't really like black either (like my kitchen tank).

Still it bugs me that I didn't go black all around. Since I am reading that clear can get algae build up and go green.

TOO LATE now. Too late long ago.

Oh well. Maybe I will like it.

 

[Rakie]

Perfect opportunity to get a bigger tank in my opinion

 

[Wally.B]

Perfect opportunity to get a bigger tank in my opinion

Funny Rakie......VERY Funny.
But I do appreciate the humour and you NOT SAYING Something like "What a terrible decision choosing Clear Silicone for one Edge".

But I did google some tanks and clear Silicone does look nice (With Starphire Glass).

I think I arrived for the Tank visit a bit too soon, and the Silicone wasn't cured (Thus still cloudy and not clear yet)...Plus they didn't yet do the Silicone Trimming work.

But I already have a solution to make the edge Black (if necessary).
I can rotate the tank for the install. (Small problem is the tank glass has black film, and the Overflow would be on the viewing side )

Funny eh?

 

[reefmutt]

Clear silicone always looks a bit cloudy but it’s better than a solid black line, no?
I guess this a personal preference thing..

 

[Wally.B]

Clear silicone always looks a bit cloudy but it’s better than a solid black line, no?
I guess this a personal preference thing..

No idea, never owned a clear Silicone tank. At least it will be different.
Who knows I may love the look. (That was the plan)

But speaking of Silicone. I've been inspecting edges of my tanks.

My 15 Year OLD+ 65 Gallon is showing it's age.

Good that this is only at top, but 1/2 the silicone is open.
I did read up that typical Silicone lifetime is 15 years max.

So upgrading this oldest tank was good timing.

 

[tenurepro]

My Project ★ GENESIS ★ 110G (Miracle) SPS Dream Tank - (I) Pre-Build Thread

My Project ★ GENESIS ★ 110G (Miracle) SPS Dream Tank - (I) Pre-Build Thread

You can probably just cut s long strip of black acrylic and glue it to the silicon (from above, it would look like a triangle with two sides being glass, the third being the black acrylic and the silicone in the middle). If the silicone is translucent, then it would look black with the acrylic behind it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wally.B]

A ton of solutions.

Thanks everyone.

Let's see what tank look like when it arrives.

Things can change when the Silicone Cures....
....and ALSO when tank is full of water (and Glowing with Light)

I may love it, and maybe it really won't matter since I like Wood Overlapping EDGE TRIM look.

Moving on to STAND BUILD. (( After looking at my other tanks, .....I have decided on 32" hieght, but on top of that will be plywood, the foam, and the Glass Bottom. Tank Viewing area (bottom) may start at 33" approx)
I already drafted it out on paper (wood cuttting is next)

 

[Wally.B]

THE Aquarium STAND (Mini Mock up MODEL)

I need the stand Super SOLID (no-wiggle) since OUTSIDE Panels will join (Drywall Edges).

Any movement will cause cracks is plaster (over time).

This is overkill but worth it for the LONG Run.

Yes, I decided against the 4x4 Fence Posts. Notch Cutting is tough, and screwing together has challenges.
This multi-piece method pretty well makes all CUTS (STRAIGHT)

Using multiple boards (SCREW AND GLUE) will be best (Strong, but will settle/adjust/flex/Stabilize/Level as TANK WEIGHT GOES ON)

FOR Lateral Strength (I may add middle Crossbars at Drywall sides,....)
.......since I want to glue Plywood onto STAND, not screw for possible Staining and not introduce screws into Wood Grain Beuaty)

Also I am going to go 1/2" Lower on BASE STAND.

I can add 1 or 2 (1/4" or 1/2") Plywood tops if needed to raise.

[ That's my Adjustable HEIGHT Flexibility, for Final Changes when Tank Arrives ]. Possible to Always Raise (but impossible to LOWER)

 

[Rakie]

@Reefmut & @Wally.B -- Silicone is a personal preference. There's clear silicone, and there's the invisible clear silicone. When you ask for clear, you'll get the cloudy white, when you ask for the invisible you'll get the crystal clear stuff (which supposedly turns cloudy white).

personally, I love the look of black silicone. To me it frames the tank, and is way less visually intrusive than cloudy silicone.

Cloudy silicone just looks cheap to my eyes for some reason. No matter how great the tank may be, it just reminds me of Petco tanks. I have no reason to really see it this way, just a quirk I guess.. But I prefer black to the crystal clear silicone actually.

Truthfully -- If I could have a custom tank made, I would have smoked glass trapezoids put into the corner for added strength and worry-free glass cleaning. it would also look exceptionally slick (to me).

But the only thing that matters is how YOU like it. And you'll probably be so happy for it you won't even notice after awhile Wally.

 

[Wally.B]

I hear you Rakie.

Not sure what Miracle uses (Clear on Invisible Silicone), but so far I see Above&Beyond quality in everything they have done. (more to see when they finish).

As far a BLACK FRAMING, that really doesn't apply to my tank.
TOP,BOTTOM and all EDGES will be behind trim/wall.

Only the one corner will be exposed (and that is why I chose clear).
A black single edge might not be as nice as an semi-invisible edge/corner.

Well see in two weeks time. Can't wait.

Just leaving to HOMEDEPOT to pick up wood for stand. Everything measured out down to 1/8".
In past I paid home depot to do the 2x4 cuts on their accurate saw so every piece is exact & matching. (it's a few pennies per cut. First cut per wood piece is free).

 

[Rakie]

Good deal. I like to have them do my cuts as well. My table saw is a little janky.. Doesn't make the best cuts, and it basically needs some repair that I'm incapable of. Get everything cut up by HomeDepot, Mark up the wood with a sharpie, and then it's like putting together a lego set instead of 'building' -- building is a very ominous word for someone that isn't you, apparently

 

[Wally.B]

The Aquarium Stand (110 Gallon 46x24x22)

We it's not the stand yet.

I just made the Kit.

Coming soon.....

 

[Wally.B]

Happy with 46" Width and Thinner 1/2" Starphire Glass (Good Trade off)

When I put the (Stand Top Frame 46" Wide), over the (Plywood 48"), I notice there isn't much of a difference.

ON PAPER I had this vision it would be.

I didn't mention this before, but the 46" Tank Width decision was driven by design considerations with Miracle Aquariums. I originally thought Standard 48".

If I went 48" in an Aggressive Flow (SPS Tank) with Gyre's, I'd have to go 5/8" glass. (Miracle has stringent Engineering Specs for Strong Tanks)

That raised the price out of my budget reach.
Trade off was drop (the Starphire Clear Glass), or lose some of the 24" depth.

I chose Starphire, and 1/2" Glass, for price and also weight.

With thinner 1/2" Glass I get back some inside tank Space over 5/8" as show in photo.

Now I see it's nothing much. Any 48" Lighting Fixture will be fine.
24" Depth was worth keeping (since everyone voted for that).

I'm happy I also get 2" back on my desk.

So things worked out.

( I also Happy with Clear Silicone since I checked Photos. If a flash goes off from Outside Tank the Clear Silcone shows up. But with no Flash it is clear. So when Tank lights up with Blue water (light from within tank) it will be fine)

 

[Wally.B]

Oops (4 Stand Pieces missing)

Real wood mock up (no screws or glue yet), just using Masking tape. (So things are not yet PERFECT SQUARE and lined up)

Funny. All good on paper......
....... but I forgot to cut the 4 (2x4) pieces for the bottom of the Stand

Well at least there were no calculation mistakes (Stand is correct size and height).