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

[Wally.B]

Kinda looks like the cover of Reef Keeper magazine, circa '94

:lol:

In this months issue:
- T5HO will never stand up to Halide, VHO is here to stay -- here are the facts.
- No more monthly rock bleaches? Check out Wally.B's dirty rocks!
- Nano tanks on the horizon? Can a tank under 120 gallons really thrive?? Experts say, no.

Funny.
Who was the Centerfold in the Playboy Mag that year?
Were Bell Bottom Pants in?

Yup the Stained Wood is Crap. OLD fashioned.

Everything about my setup is SLICK.

Front of Tank (With Stained Wood) Lost it's Slick.
Terrible. Totally against my taste.

I kind of knew it, but didn't want to paint the Oak till I tried. (THAT Is why right away, I didn't seal it. It's just stained, so still can be worked on without Mega Sanding)
Problem with any other wood is it's too Soft, so Oak work really well at that thickness (Solid, and does not bend, warp).

No worries I can MOD IT SOME WAY.
Cut it thinner.
Paint.
See the comparison

OR Use the Trim to FRAME OUR Upstairs PowderRoom Bathroom Mirror

But I do have another idea. What about Black Acrylic Sheeting. Cut to make Top Trim, LIke Bottom Trim (and Cover Water Line)
Then fill in the rest with Drywall Mud and Paint Wall Color.

Go up to previous Page Post PHOTO where I compare Wood to Black.BLACK with Wall Color is WHAT I WANT.

 

[Rakie]

Don't worry about it Wally! That's how you check if you do/don't like something. Gotta give it a shot. I see what you were going for, and it could look great, it might need a different color wood stain, maybe a different colored wall paint even..

But I like the sound of acrylic trim. Black sounds good, white might stand out too much against your eggshell colored wall paint (i'm guessing it's eggshell, could be camera changing colors though).

The trick with paint is to match the hatch -- What color is your "white" wall? Does it have a teeny bit of other paint in it?

My room is half green, and half brown. I wanted my room to be kind of a dull forest green, and I wanted the other half to be kind of a light brown. My buddy used to work at homedepot paint for like 6 years while going through college, he taught me something obvious that I'd have never thought of.

Make sure your paints have common hue's in it. To make my brown match my green we decided to find a brown with just a slight hint of 'green', and a green with just a slight hint of 'brown'. The colors match so well I couldn't believe it... In my head it sounded fine until I tried to apply it.

So that wood could look really sleek too, but it'll be beyond a pain to find the right 'tone' to make it match both your wooden desk, and your wall paint. As of now, it doesn't match either, and stands out like a 3rd color which grates against the desk, the wall, and the blue hue of the tank.

Hopefully that makes sense.. I'm not much of a color guru but that's something that stuck with me.

 

[Wally.B]

Don't worry about it Wally! ....

But I like the sound of acrylic trim. Black sounds good, white might stand out too much against your eggshell colored wall paint (i'm guessing it's eggshell, could be camera changing colors though).

The trick with paint is to match the hatch -- What color is your "white" wall? Does it have a teeny bit of other paint in it?

....

Hopefully that makes sense.. I'm not much of a color guru but that's something that stuck with me.

Yeah I know matching Colors is Tricky.

For my Basement Office, Hallyway and Rec Room and Ceiling it took 3 tries, but I didn't waste paint.

I always buy the Lighter color, and it's always possible to Darken (in the same color scheme).

My office ENED UP "Off White" (Bejamin More: Dove Wing). I first tired (DOVE White) but it was too white (but perfect for home theatre rec room, since it has a even whiter Projection Wall).

So THe whole reno basement area actually has 5 shades of white. And it looks super great. Everyone in family and folks that visit agree.

I'll solve this Tank Trim. Ripping it off tomorrow. It's just tiny drops of Hot Glue holding it up.
I WON'T REST till I figure it out and CAN STAND BACK and say. SLICK....Nice....Awesome.

Seems we all have same tastes and you guys will all agree when I'm done.

Gotta Go to the Movies to see "Terminator 2" it just came out. 1991
Now that was slick.

 

[Wally.B]

Hey, I got an Idea.....

I mentioned Terminator 2 The Movie.

Lots of Actors including Arnold Wearing Dark Shades

I think my Tank could use a pair of COOL DARK SHADES (For Trim)..

What I mean is.....Acrylic, but not BLACK SOLID (non Transparent).
Super Smoky Black (but a bit transparent).
The black Trim would stay black, but Water Line Gap would barely be visble, but still seen, very Dark.
The Light Gap, I could fill or let it barely shine thru.

That might work.

I'll BE BACK

 

[Wally.B]

Double Post Mistake

 

[Wally.B]

some trials with (solid black / translucent black)

so a quick black trial (is some black gorrila duct tape)

better then wood oaky trim color (not perfect, but might work)

i couldn't find anything around the house with translucent black acrylic.
But this black foam gives me the idea.

might work. If darker acrylic

gotta get some translucent black.


what do you guys think?

 

[Rakie]

Funny, I was thinking a smoked black acrylic too but I thought you'd prefer not seeing the water line. It could look cool if it was on the darker side for sure -- At least I think so.

Otherwise I might still vote paint it white.

 

[Wally.B]

Funny, I was thinking a smoked black acrylic too but I thought you'd prefer not seeing the water line. It could look cool if it was on the darker side for sure -- At least I think so.

Otherwise I might still vote paint it white.

I'll Try The Off white Paint on the TRIM (Wife doesn't want bathroom Mirror Framed)

But here is what Black would look like. (LOOKS MEAN and SLICK in person...But a bit Intense Black [UP CLOSE] From Far Away it's Fine)
I can live with this for now (Short Term). Couldn't look at the Wood Look.

It's just Gorrilla Tape but nobody could tell.

Since wood is a Waste...I'll try Black Stain.
It's already cut to Perfect size.

(MidNight BLACK STAIN......would be Black Look (95% black), but Wood Grain Showing Thru....(Grain Matches Desk, Black is for Tank) Might actually be IDEAL)

 

[Rakie]

A black stain could definitely look good! Either way, these are the fun problems! Aren't you glad you're debating trim colors vs fixing plumbing issues haha.

 

[Wally.B]

A black stain could definitely look good! Either way, these are the fun problems! Aren't you glad you're debating trim colors vs fixing plumbing issues haha.

Yup. For sure.

However on the Topic of Plumbing. Overflow Drain is running really quiet at most setting (even Max),
.....but it does go thru a short Gurgle, if I change DC Return Pump Speed (UP) till it stabilizes.

When dust settles, I have to make the Bean Animal Plumb pieces that you showed me a while back.

 

[Wally.B]

Packing it in (Two Key Water Tests N & P)

Tomorrow is Family Easter Stuff, so no Fish Tank.

N=5 ppm
P=0.16 ppm

That's fine for the new Tank.

Matrix and PhoGuard/GFO have some catching up to do.

Will be watching for a slow drop and eventually Stability.

 

[Rakie]

Holidays are for you to be with your loved ones.. the gull of your family to take you away from your tank

 

[tenurepro]

some trials with (solid black / translucent black)



so a quick black trial (is some black gorrila duct tape)

better then wood oaky trim color (not perfect, but might work)



i couldn't find anything around the house with translucent black acrylic.

But this black foam gives me the idea.

might work. If darker acrylic



gotta get some translucent black.





what do you guys think?

I think white-ish or whatever the color of the wall is now would look the best... it would only enhance the tank-in-wall effect by making the visual transition between wall to tank seamless


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[reefmutt]

I think white-ish or whatever the color of the wall is now would look the best... it would only enhance the tank-in-wall effect by making the visual transition between wall to tank seamless


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

+1
Also agree with Rakie about giving more space between scape and the front side window.
I see nothing wrong with pushing the whole scape back against the rear walls. The flow reduction is minimal and aesthetically, it'll look much better imo.
Happy Easter Wally..

 

[Wally.B]

+1
Also agree with Rakie about giving more space between scape and the front side window.
I see nothing wrong with pushing the whole scape back against the rear walls. The flow reduction is minimal and aesthetically, it’ll look much better imo.
Happy Easter Wally..

Happy Easter to you too Matt (and Everyone Celebrating Today)

FINAL Rock work is going to take some time.
I've never had 2 sides to plan.
3 if you count the back. And with Side view, I can see possibility of having some SPS at the back too.

It's fun and creative, so no problem doing adjustments till I get it right.
More to learn once I bring my Large Tubinaria Coral back, and a few others.

No harm in re-doing rocks when new fish go in for some Territory Mix up.

EVENTUALLY I'll Glue ROCK into Firm Formations.

A MUST. Since I turned up the MaxSpect Gyre past 20% to 40% and a few rocks tumbled.
This Tank has a Strong Flow Capabilities. (Gyre, CP-24, SeaSwirl on DC10000, and the two Hydor Koralia).....Haven't played with pump layout at all.

That's why for NOW I put Rocks in Middle, to not Scratch new Glass.

GOOD NEWS on QT and new Fish (Fish Eating)

Both the Tri-Color Wrasse and Black Cap Basslet are eating. Way more important to me then the Anthias trial.

Also the New Copper Band Butterfly in Kitchen Tank appears to be busy. Hoping to see some missing Aptasia.

Stores closed today, but tomorrow going to get some Black Stain.
Yes, TeurePro, I'll try White Trim with some other Scrap Wood too.

Also got to get a PAR meter to test light.

SO MUCH TO DO. Wonderful fun work.
I feel like a kid again.....Can't wait to wake up in the Mornings.

 

[Wally.B]

LIGHTING (T5 Dimmables [54W - 2 Pairs/39W Single) Amazing for Color Blending

Going to Family Dinner soon, but I played with the Lighting a bit.

Starting Low on Lighting since I want the Rocks that sat in Darkness for almost 4 months to wake up slowly.
(Will also get more snails, hermits...The two Emerald Crab I have will pick off any fresh Algae as it comes.. [For now feeding Nori] )

I burned in the new T5's at 100% (for about 30 hours) so now they can safely be dimmed.

The 2 Dimmable 54W Pairs, along with the Single Dimmable 39W is Amazing.
Not just for Sun Rise and Sunsets, but Color Blending.

The 7th Extra T5 39W is a (Old Korallen-Zucht Fiji Purple that I kept, it's better than ATI Purple Plus since it bring in Purple/Reds, but more Crisp)
So with Dimming I can blend it in for some Real Pop.

The Blue LED strip is Also Dimmable, and that's 100% for Sunrise/SunSet.

I may eventually replace the Non-Dimmable T5 Pair (Center Pair) with a Dimmable since this Flexibility (Color Blending and Bulb mixing) is pretty amazing.

 

[Wally.B]

WHITE TRIM (Won't Work)


Tenurepro.....Just for you.

Instead of wasting time painting white trim. I covered trim with White Paper.

I had same problem for the Rec-Room Flooring Trim (was gong to use white).

WHITE Floor TRIM on Darker Walls looks amazing.

The wall's are too close to White white, so very little contrast.
One reason I darkened walls from Dove White to Dove wing.

I went with No Trim on Flooring even with the Darker white.

I won't paint rooms to make Tank Trim work......So must find something else.


Black or Smoky Stain....Dark Translucent Acrylic....We'll see.

 

[Wally.B]

+1

I see nothing wrong with pushing the whole scape back against the rear walls.

Do you mean, push back and lean against back Glass TOUCHING (no space).

I'm not for that at all. To not be able to have at least enough space to have magnet cleaner clean back glass wall.

It might be ok for some folks, but not for me.
I've done it before for Kitchen Tank. It's great for getting more viewing, layout space. But I switched to Island in close to middle, to allow fish to swim around in circles too.

 

[Wally.B]

PHOTOSHOP (Tank In-Wall Framing) ** I THINK I FOUND IT (No Trim, Leave Bottom Black)**[/SIZE]

What do you think?

I did this with Photo Shop.

Top is matched to wall. It's no Trim, just Bring Upper Wall Color down to hide Water Line.

Same for Sides.

Leave Normal Tank Black Trim For Bottom.

KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A RIMLESS TANK built into Wall.

I Thinks I like it.

Simple/But Tricky. Just some thin material and Left Over Wall "Paint"
Extend Drywall with Mud on sides.

 

[reefmutt]

I like that pic. The black base do any stand out so much.. could you paint the black part with an oil base paint to match walls?
As for rocks, you don’t have to pile up against back wall but pile them up closer to the back to give more space in front..