reidcrandall
New member
I will actually be there tomorrow. I shall discuss the change. I wonder how long it will take them to get this new and wonderous piece of equipment in.
Reid's 120g Oceanic Tech Build
- Thread starter reidcrandall
- Start date
I will actually be there tomorrow. I shall discuss the change. I wonder how long it will take them to get this new and wonderous piece of equipment in.
reidcrandall
New member
Pics From Last Weekend
Pics From Last Weekend
Last weekend we got the little beast down to the basement thanks to my mom, dad, and my friend Joe.
Going down:
A little further:
Almost there:
Got it:
We took the tank down as well, and had it set up on saw horses while I finished the final coats of poly on the stand and the canopy.
Pics From Last Weekend
Last weekend we got the little beast down to the basement thanks to my mom, dad, and my friend Joe.
Going down:
A little further:
Almost there:
Got it:
We took the tank down as well, and had it set up on saw horses while I finished the final coats of poly on the stand and the canopy.
reidcrandall
New member
Pics From This Weekend
Pics From This Weekend
Got quite a bit done today. Started the plumbing with the stuff I got at Savko this week, and got the tank and stand shimmed and in place after the run to Premium Aquatics. I got my bulbs (2 x 250w 12k Reeflux, 2 x Giesemann Actinic Plus, 2 x Giesemann Aquablue Plus), and my sand (2 x 20lb Aragalive Fiji Pink, 2 x 30lb Tropic Eden Aragasnow, 1 x 40lb Carib Sea Special Grade, and 1 x 30lb Aragamax), as well as a few ins and outs for plumbing and electrical. I also got my AC3 order switchd to the new Apex model.
But on to the work...
The Canopy:
Blue housing foam to even out any inconsistencies in the stand and tank:
I painted the edge of the foam black so that you don't have the chance of seeing any of the blue around the edges of the tank and stand:
We got the valves in place and the pipe run through the wall to the fish room. The top true union is for the combined drain (we are combining the 2 1" drains from the overflow into 1 1.5" line to the sump) and the bottom two true unions are for the return lines:
After we shimmed the stand to make sure it was level, we got the tank onto the stand with the help of my wife, my dad, my mom, and my sister's boyfriend, Justin:
We put the canopy on to see how things would look, and get a little bit of gratification for all of the hard work so far. Unfortunately, we don't have the doors on the stand or canopy yet:
And finally, we got the drain ling installed from the oferflow to the true union valve:
We're going to get some of the electrical done tomorrow, and get the return lines plumbed into the tank via some flexible PVC.
Unfortunately, I think the sump build will have to wait til next weekend.
Pics From This Weekend
Got quite a bit done today. Started the plumbing with the stuff I got at Savko this week, and got the tank and stand shimmed and in place after the run to Premium Aquatics. I got my bulbs (2 x 250w 12k Reeflux, 2 x Giesemann Actinic Plus, 2 x Giesemann Aquablue Plus), and my sand (2 x 20lb Aragalive Fiji Pink, 2 x 30lb Tropic Eden Aragasnow, 1 x 40lb Carib Sea Special Grade, and 1 x 30lb Aragamax), as well as a few ins and outs for plumbing and electrical. I also got my AC3 order switchd to the new Apex model.
But on to the work...
The Canopy:
Blue housing foam to even out any inconsistencies in the stand and tank:
I painted the edge of the foam black so that you don't have the chance of seeing any of the blue around the edges of the tank and stand:
We got the valves in place and the pipe run through the wall to the fish room. The top true union is for the combined drain (we are combining the 2 1" drains from the overflow into 1 1.5" line to the sump) and the bottom two true unions are for the return lines:
After we shimmed the stand to make sure it was level, we got the tank onto the stand with the help of my wife, my dad, my mom, and my sister's boyfriend, Justin:
We put the canopy on to see how things would look, and get a little bit of gratification for all of the hard work so far. Unfortunately, we don't have the doors on the stand or canopy yet:
And finally, we got the drain ling installed from the oferflow to the true union valve:
We're going to get some of the electrical done tomorrow, and get the return lines plumbed into the tank via some flexible PVC.
Unfortunately, I think the sump build will have to wait til next weekend.
crvz
Team RC
That's the point of that trim. The glass sits up off the surface of the stand, and small inconsistencies are not an issue. A lot of the stands built by the manufacturers only have a perimeter to lay the tank on anyways, so there wouldnt be any use for that foam. If the tank is designed to sit in a trim (which these are), then placing it on the foam may compress the foam around the edges and eventually put pressure on the bottom pane of glass, potentially leading to uneven support a failed seam.
reidcrandall
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14808497#post14808497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
That looks really nice so far. I like the open look.
What did Premium Aquatics say about the AC3 / Apex?
They said that it wouldn't be a big deal to switch it out. It's pretty much just a return and I am buying something else.
reidcrandall
New member
Crap. I don't think it will be much of an issue because the trim to glass is a little over 5/8", so even if it compresses, I should be fine. I'd take it out, but I think all of the people who helped me move it might kill me.
veloboy
New member
Wow Reid, you gotta be proud of that stand/canopy turned out great. Looks like mine only...bigger (I have a tech 70)...and BETTER! Love that trim you added on the vertical corners, that sure adds to the overall look. Was that tough to add?
I thought you were going to go with black neoprene around the bottom of the tank rather than foam? Guess both serve the same purpose.
Man, can't wait to see how you stock this thing. Getting closer. Did you figure out how you are going to hang your halides?
I thought you were going to go with black neoprene around the bottom of the tank rather than foam? Guess both serve the same purpose.
Man, can't wait to see how you stock this thing. Getting closer. Did you figure out how you are going to hang your halides?
Padrino
New member
Reid,
i totally agree with crvz.. there are a few local reefers with 220s that have put foam under the trim of tank and it leans forward now. im always afraid to not get too close or knock it. its like on a 4 or 5 degree angle.. you should only use foam underneath if there is no trim like crvz mentioned. I am building a custom acrylic tank that has no trim so i will use foam but my 90 gal reef will not have foam since it is an AGA reef ready tank.
i totally agree with crvz.. there are a few local reefers with 220s that have put foam under the trim of tank and it leans forward now. im always afraid to not get too close or knock it. its like on a 4 or 5 degree angle.. you should only use foam underneath if there is no trim like crvz mentioned. I am building a custom acrylic tank that has no trim so i will use foam but my 90 gal reef will not have foam since it is an AGA reef ready tank.
reidcrandall
New member
Damn you all for making a good point! I bet we can get it out of there with a couple of people to lift straight up and one to pull that sucker out.
reidcrandall
New member
The corner stuffwas pretty easy. We basically cut 32 blocks out of 1 x 6 poplar and then ripped the edge at a 45 degree angle. We then glued and nailed them to create a 90 degree angle. We just nailed those to the frame and then ran fluted millwork between the top and bottom boxes butted up on each side at the corner.
We haven't figured out the halide situation ecaxtly yet. If we attach them to the top of the canopy, they will be about 16" from the water :rolleye1: . That's not ideal, but we haven't come up with a good idea for a contraption to raise and lower the fixtures once they are installed.
I was going to do the neoprene, but the foam was easier to get and cheaper, so I went that route. Which is fine since I am about to pull the foam back out.
Stocking... that plan is still in the works
melev
Well-known member
reidcrandall
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14814133#post14814133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
You guys never read the magazine, do you?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-04/diy/index.php
You always have to have all the answers, don't you Marc
I actually hadn't had a chance to read the newest issue yet!
melev
Well-known member
It's been up for over 24 hours, man! Next time you are 'too busy' to read it, think about the amount of hours I spend building each issue.
I hope that is enough guilt to get you motivated for future issues.
So, what did PA say about the AC3? I don't think you answered that one.
I hope that is enough guilt to get you motivated for future issues.
So, what did PA say about the AC3? I don't think you answered that one.
Taqpol
New member
Ok, I think I understand how the compression of the foam could press on the bottom pane of the glass. So if the floor of my tank stand is warped (Its just a sheet of plywood, it got wet)to the point that my sump is about half an inch off level front to back, how can I go about fixing that?
