mmoore0803
Premium Member
man this is inspiring....I'm setting up a 180g and am using your foam idea....tank is gorgeous
Mike
Mike
Our 375 Gallon project
- Thread starter sidewinder770
- Start date
sonofgaladriel
Shiny!
Beautiful wood working! That is a very nice cabinet surround you've built there! Can you post a pic showing the full tank and cabinet?
Again, very very nice!
Again, very very nice!
cerreta
Premium Member
Thanks for having me over yesterday Scott. The tank is truly beautiful, the Linear actuator works like a charm, and the best part is that it is dead silent!
The foam wall looks great but still lacked some corraline growth which will come with more time. But, I was totally shocked at how good the foam looked that was used in the middle of the tank. It was applied to joining rocks and covered the PVC pipe support.
Thanks Scott and Erin!
The foam wall looks great but still lacked some corraline growth which will come with more time. But, I was totally shocked at how good the foam looked that was used in the middle of the tank. It was applied to joining rocks and covered the PVC pipe support.
Thanks Scott and Erin!
sidewinder770
New member
Biggie- Wow! 3x3 is huge! That should support any tank you put on it. And I thought I went overboard with the 1.5x1.5! I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the top of the canopy showing the actuator and such but I will try to in the next few days.
"You must have counter sunk the hardware or made reliefs for the removable section hardware to recess when the canopy face is down? Thats what I kinda want to clarify" - Not sure exactly what you mean here. I didn't have to recess any hardware that I remember but I'm not exactly sure what you are referring to- could you clarify?
From the top of the tank to the bottom of the canopy I think it's 21". So far it has proven to be plenty of room but then again more is always better. I didn't go any bigger just because I thought it would look strange compared to the stand. My lights also move up and back when the canopy opens so that gives me a little more room to play around with and the 250w pendants are usually smaller than the 400's.
I hear ya on the attic- it's WAY to hot to be up there this time of year over here too! I don't do attic work this time of year so I was sure to get most of it done prior to summer.
Good luck- sounds like an awesome project! Be sure to post pics as I'd like to see how it all turns out.
mmoore0803 & phileas- Thanks for the compliments- Now if I could only get it finished!
sonofgaladriel- Thank for the praise- that's definately a compliment coming from you. I loved the way your cube stand turned out as well as the several other stands you've built for people. You work definately gave me some ideas and was a great help in deciding on a lot of the trim work. I guess you could see now why I didn't want to hassle you with building it huh? It's been hard enough for me building it let alone someone building it long distance- of course- it'd be finished a few months ago if you built it
. Can't wait to see the new project you got going and I look forward to more of your master carpentry!
melev- by laquer you mean clear coat right? That was Minwax spar varnish in semi-gloss. You can get it at any Home Depot. If you mean the stain color I'd have to get the colors for ya since I mixed several different colors to get the final look I wanted. I used "Old masters" brand stain and Minwax pre-conditioner. I sanded to 180 grit, applied conditioner, applied 2 coats of stain and 3-4 coats of clear with a light sanding between each coat.
"You must have counter sunk the hardware or made reliefs for the removable section hardware to recess when the canopy face is down? Thats what I kinda want to clarify" - Not sure exactly what you mean here. I didn't have to recess any hardware that I remember but I'm not exactly sure what you are referring to- could you clarify?
From the top of the tank to the bottom of the canopy I think it's 21". So far it has proven to be plenty of room but then again more is always better. I didn't go any bigger just because I thought it would look strange compared to the stand. My lights also move up and back when the canopy opens so that gives me a little more room to play around with and the 250w pendants are usually smaller than the 400's.
I hear ya on the attic- it's WAY to hot to be up there this time of year over here too! I don't do attic work this time of year so I was sure to get most of it done prior to summer.
Good luck- sounds like an awesome project! Be sure to post pics as I'd like to see how it all turns out.
mmoore0803 & phileas- Thanks for the compliments- Now if I could only get it finished!
sonofgaladriel- Thank for the praise- that's definately a compliment coming from you. I loved the way your cube stand turned out as well as the several other stands you've built for people. You work definately gave me some ideas and was a great help in deciding on a lot of the trim work. I guess you could see now why I didn't want to hassle you with building it huh? It's been hard enough for me building it let alone someone building it long distance- of course- it'd be finished a few months ago if you built it
. Can't wait to see the new project you got going and I look forward to more of your master carpentry!melev- by laquer you mean clear coat right? That was Minwax spar varnish in semi-gloss. You can get it at any Home Depot. If you mean the stain color I'd have to get the colors for ya since I mixed several different colors to get the final look I wanted. I used "Old masters" brand stain and Minwax pre-conditioner. I sanded to 180 grit, applied conditioner, applied 2 coats of stain and 3-4 coats of clear with a light sanding between each coat.
sidewinder770
New member
I thought about spraying it but due to how I had to assemble it, I would have had to spray it in 4 or 5 groups at different times and I didn't want to deal with cleaning the sprayer out that many times. The stain was applied with a rag and the clear with a brush (high quality white china bristle). I actually went through about 6 or 7 brushes and still have some left to do and at $10-$12 a pop for brushes it wasn't cheap. Sanding and using a tack rag between coats is a biggie! I also let them dry for quite a while before sanding and doing another coat (usually overnite - 24 hours). As you can see it's just a very time consuming process- staining 1 door for example took about 10 days becuse of the drying time between coats!!! (thats also if I actually worked on it everyday which I didn't)
Thanks for the inspiration. I just foamed my wifes 65 gallon tank last night and it looks great. It only took 3 cans since I have a full length overflow box glued into the tank. I can see a few places where I left a few large pin holes in the foam so I think I will just color in the glass on the back with a black marker so the light doesn't show through as much.
Les
Les
SCOTT, I HAVE READ THIS THREAD FROM FIRST TO LAST 2 TIMES ALREADY AND ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW! I HAVE A 120AG REEF AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A 375 REEF. BTW STOLE A BUNCH OF IDEAS HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ( I THINK MY WIFE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF CATCHING ON TO THIS HOBBY, SHE PURCHASED A BETTA :lol: )
jeffreylam1132
New member
What a beautiful tank. I really like all the amazing pictures. Great job and thanks for sharing.
sidewinder770
New member
Sorry for the long delay in responding!
carloskoi- You're welcome to come by anytime you are in the area. As far as the closed loop plumbing- I have posted a few pictures of the plumbing under the tank if that's what you are referring to. As for the plumbing inside the tank and the rock supporting structures I'm afraid I forgot to get pics of that before it was covered with foam and installed. I think I have some pics of the rock supporting structures foamed and in the tank before any water was added if that helps. let me know and I'll see what I can dig up.
sparky1- Sounds like a great upgrade. Be sure to post some pics or start a thread about it as I always enjoy seeing other peoples tanks being built. Feel free to steal any of my ideas and improve upon them- Just be sure to post some pics of it!
thor32766 & jeffreylam1132- thanks for the compliments. I still have a lot to finish but it's getting there.
druluv- foam is working out great and looks better and better every day. It's almost completely covered in coraline now except a few spots that get too much light but it looks great! Lots of life groing in and on the foam just like LR.
I haven't done much with the tank in the last month- just been lazy I guess. That and when it's 110 degrees outside there really isn't much desire to get the cabinets finished or be out in the garage. I have been in the process of adding a second DIY 1 ton chiller just like the first one for redundancy and if my HVAC guy would ever show up that would be finished. Probably going to change out all my bulbs this week as it's been about 10 or 11 months since they were installed- going to be using the same 14k phoenix bulb since I really like the color they give the tank.
Well, it may not be my picture or a really recent one but this is a pic that 'zoereef' snapped while he was over about a month ago. He adjusted the white balance on the camera to adjust for the blue lights but I think it looks pretty good- I'll see if I can get some updated shots later this week.
carloskoi- You're welcome to come by anytime you are in the area. As far as the closed loop plumbing- I have posted a few pictures of the plumbing under the tank if that's what you are referring to. As for the plumbing inside the tank and the rock supporting structures I'm afraid I forgot to get pics of that before it was covered with foam and installed. I think I have some pics of the rock supporting structures foamed and in the tank before any water was added if that helps. let me know and I'll see what I can dig up.
sparky1- Sounds like a great upgrade. Be sure to post some pics or start a thread about it as I always enjoy seeing other peoples tanks being built. Feel free to steal any of my ideas and improve upon them- Just be sure to post some pics of it!
thor32766 & jeffreylam1132- thanks for the compliments. I still have a lot to finish but it's getting there.
druluv- foam is working out great and looks better and better every day. It's almost completely covered in coraline now except a few spots that get too much light but it looks great! Lots of life groing in and on the foam just like LR.
I haven't done much with the tank in the last month- just been lazy I guess. That and when it's 110 degrees outside there really isn't much desire to get the cabinets finished or be out in the garage. I have been in the process of adding a second DIY 1 ton chiller just like the first one for redundancy and if my HVAC guy would ever show up that would be finished. Probably going to change out all my bulbs this week as it's been about 10 or 11 months since they were installed- going to be using the same 14k phoenix bulb since I really like the color they give the tank.
Well, it may not be my picture or a really recent one but this is a pic that 'zoereef' snapped while he was over about a month ago. He adjusted the white balance on the camera to adjust for the blue lights but I think it looks pretty good- I'll see if I can get some updated shots later this week.
sidewinder770
New member
Yup- that's a yellow long nose butterfly. He was one of the first fish in the tank and is a very nice looking and interesting fish. Kind of a bad pic but here he is-
I don't think I forgot anything on this list, I may have since I'm just going from memory but here is a livestock list as of today-
Naso tang
Achillies tang
Purple tang
Chevron tang
Hippo tang
Choati wrasse
Ornate leopard wrasse
Lubbocks wrasse
Solar wrasse
Cleaner wrasse
Labouti wrasse
Scotts fairy wrasse
Possum wrasse
Yellow long nose butterfly
Dragonface pipe fish
Midas blenny
Arabian dottyback
Purple firefish
Green chromies (4)
Mandarin Goby
Royal gramma
Male squareback anthias
Female squareback anthias (3)
Tiger goby
Red stripe goby (2)
false percula clown fish (pair)
Cleaner shrimp (4)
Fire shrimp (2)
Serpant stars (4)
Blue Linkia starfish
I don't think I forgot anything on this list, I may have since I'm just going from memory but here is a livestock list as of today-
Naso tang
Achillies tang
Purple tang
Chevron tang
Hippo tang
Choati wrasse
Ornate leopard wrasse
Lubbocks wrasse
Solar wrasse
Cleaner wrasse
Labouti wrasse
Scotts fairy wrasse
Possum wrasse
Yellow long nose butterfly
Dragonface pipe fish
Midas blenny
Arabian dottyback
Purple firefish
Green chromies (4)
Mandarin Goby
Royal gramma
Male squareback anthias
Female squareback anthias (3)
Tiger goby
Red stripe goby (2)
false percula clown fish (pair)
Cleaner shrimp (4)
Fire shrimp (2)
Serpant stars (4)
Blue Linkia starfish
Amazing tank, and some awesome ideas! Thanks for sharing... I hope one day I can put together a system like that...
One question.. What did you use for substrate? I think I noticed in an earlier picture it was sand, and not cc.. Was it just a regular play sand, or an aragonite sand?
Plus, I can't beleive you don't have a Copperband Butterfly in that tank. It's one of my favorite fish, and would be a nice addition I think...
One question.. What did you use for substrate? I think I noticed in an earlier picture it was sand, and not cc.. Was it just a regular play sand, or an aragonite sand?
Plus, I can't beleive you don't have a Copperband Butterfly in that tank. It's one of my favorite fish, and would be a nice addition I think...
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