Rhodes19 180 Build
- Thread starter Rhodes19
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Rhodes19
New member
FINALLY!!!
I am finally finished with the wood work (except for doors and canopy). Now I can sand it, stain it, and then poly it. Its not professional grade quality but thats ok. I leaned a lot about wood working that I can apply to my next wood working project. Once I can get the stand and tank into the house that will free up some room/workbench space so I can do the doors and canopy. That should also give me time to get water and rock into it and get it cycling.
Trim on top right corner
Top left corner
Corner post trimmed out.
Side view
I am finally finished with the wood work (except for doors and canopy). Now I can sand it, stain it, and then poly it. Its not professional grade quality but thats ok. I leaned a lot about wood working that I can apply to my next wood working project. Once I can get the stand and tank into the house that will free up some room/workbench space so I can do the doors and canopy. That should also give me time to get water and rock into it and get it cycling.
Trim on top right corner
Top left corner
Corner post trimmed out.
Side view
Rhodes19
New member
Thanks Strout, I can't wait to stain it either. I'll do some sanding tonight when I get home if its not to late. I think I fixed the leak, again! I cut out the new silicone I had used earlier and put a new bead on. Of course after scrubbing and cleaning the heck out of it. I haven't filled it back up yet because I don't trust the strenght of the work bench its on. Once I get the stand stained and polyed, I'll take it out side and leak test it again. If it holds, I 'll move it into the house. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. :eek1:
Rhodes19
New member
Its in the house!!!!!!!
Well, my 180 is finally in the house and its final position. Its against the out side wall in the eating area off the kitchen. I put on 2 coats of red oak min wax oil stain and 6 coats of hand rub on satin poly. Not professional but it does look nice. Once we got it in the house I think my wife went into shock. Even though she saw it in the garage every day for the past 7 months, I don't think she thought it would be this big and take up this much room! Here are some pictures.
Front view.
Dixie wants to help too.
The tank on the stand.
The muscle.
The muscle and support team.
Now that its in, I need to support the floor with support beams in the crawl space, get a sump/fug, install the plumbing, and make the doors for the cabinet. Once the floor support is in and the plumbing done, I'll fill it and get my diy rock in and start cycling it. I was thinking about making a canopy but I'm now thinking of an open top and suspend the lighting (once I get them) from some kind of bracket over the tank. I'll have plenty of time to think and plan for that as it cycles. Oh, I also want to run 2 15 or 20 amp lines to the tank to make sure I have enough power to run what ever I may need.
Well, my 180 is finally in the house and its final position. Its against the out side wall in the eating area off the kitchen. I put on 2 coats of red oak min wax oil stain and 6 coats of hand rub on satin poly. Not professional but it does look nice. Once we got it in the house I think my wife went into shock. Even though she saw it in the garage every day for the past 7 months, I don't think she thought it would be this big and take up this much room! Here are some pictures.
Front view.
Dixie wants to help too.
The tank on the stand.
The muscle.
The muscle and support team.
Now that its in, I need to support the floor with support beams in the crawl space, get a sump/fug, install the plumbing, and make the doors for the cabinet. Once the floor support is in and the plumbing done, I'll fill it and get my diy rock in and start cycling it. I was thinking about making a canopy but I'm now thinking of an open top and suspend the lighting (once I get them) from some kind of bracket over the tank. I'll have plenty of time to think and plan for that as it cycles. Oh, I also want to run 2 15 or 20 amp lines to the tank to make sure I have enough power to run what ever I may need.
Rhodes19
New member
Well, over the weekend with Frankie's advice and recommendations and the labor of my friend who got me into reefing (vicariously) we reinforced the floor under the tank. It didn't need it put but it will give me peace of mind. We went into the crawl space (about 24" of height, fun 
) and added some support to the floor joists then crawled out . I haven't had to low crawl since I was in the Army! Also, over the weekend, I finished putting on the poly on the wooden medallions my wife picked out for the stand and put them on. Next project, the sump/fug. I have a 55 g tank that I will use and once that project is done, I can start on the plumbing!!! Then water!! :bounce1:
Medallions
) and added some support to the floor joists then crawled out . I haven't had to low crawl since I was in the Army! Also, over the weekend, I finished putting on the poly on the wooden medallions my wife picked out for the stand and put them on. Next project, the sump/fug. I have a 55 g tank that I will use and once that project is done, I can start on the plumbing!!! Then water!! :bounce1:Medallions
MarineGirl411
New member
Really pretty tank! We have to reinforce our floor for my new 180. We don't have a crawl space under that part of the house. We are renting a backhoe tomorrow to get started in digging it out! :hammer:
I really like your choice of stain and the medallions are beautiful.
I really like your choice of stain and the medallions are beautiful.
Rhodes19
New member
Thanks MarineGirl411,
I asked my wife to pick the stain and she told me she liked the medallions she picked out. Happy wife, happy life
. I figure if I can get her involved, I will have less resistance to my addiction!!! :love2:How did your digging project go? Any pictures?
Rhodes19
New member
I worked on the sump over the weekend. I received my glass hole cutter and 1 1/2" bulkhead from glass-holes.com and cut a hole in the end of my 55g I'm using for a sump.
I made a dam with plumber's puddy and duct taped the inside to hold the glass and water.
Here is the hole partially cut.
Hole is cut!!!
Bulkhead installed
Next, order 1/4" glass baffles and install them to make 3 chambers.
I made a dam with plumber's puddy and duct taped the inside to hold the glass and water.
Here is the hole partially cut.
Hole is cut!!!
Bulkhead installed
Next, order 1/4" glass baffles and install them to make 3 chambers.
MarineGirl411
New member
Hi. We ended up not getting the backhoe this past weekend. =( Delay in progress. Hopefully soon.
I wanted to suggest you possibly look up drilling a glass tank hole that low in a sump. I don't want to sound like a know it all. I just want you to not end up with a similar problem. I have seen a similar set up and the members sump cracked due to pump vibration. I would hate to see that happen to your new tank. That would suck big time. Please don't think I am trying to sound like a know it all. Sometimes people come off that way online. Again, I love your tank. Happy Wife Happy Life sounds like a Christian comedian I saw. =)
I wanted to suggest you possibly look up drilling a glass tank hole that low in a sump. I don't want to sound like a know it all. I just want you to not end up with a similar problem. I have seen a similar set up and the members sump cracked due to pump vibration.
I would hate to see that happen to your new tank. That would suck big time. Please don't think I am trying to sound like a know it all. Sometimes people come off that way online. Again, I love your tank. Happy Wife Happy Life sounds like a Christian comedian I saw. =)
Rhodes19
New member
Hi. We ended up not getting the backhoe this past weekend. =( Delay in progress. Hopefully soon.
I wanted to suggest you possibly look up drilling a glass tank hole that low in a sump. I don't want to sound like a know it all. I just want you to not end up with a similar problem. I have seen a similar set up and the members sump cracked due to pump vibration.
No, thank you for the comment. I appreciate it. I'm still new at this and any and all reccomendations and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I Actually thought about vibrations and I am planning on use some flex pvc to connect the pump to the sump and the pump to the return lines. That should take care of any vibration issues. I got that idea from another tread or tank build.
What exactly are you doing with the backhoe? You are not going to try to did under your house are you? Are you on a slab? I'm trying to remember how homes were made out there. I used to be stationed at Ft. Lewis many years ago and we used to Spokane and Yakama on a regular basis. Amazing area.
MarineGirl411
New member
That's good! That should work. :rollface: Can't wait to see more progress.
We needed to dig around our crawl space and add vents etc. That's my boyfriends area, so I don't know too much about it.
We are not sure which way our joists run under the house. =( We don't want to take a chance and have the tank crush the floor. :sad1:
That's really neat you used to be stationed at Fort Lewis. You really liked Spokane? I like Yakima a lot.
We needed to dig around our crawl space and add vents etc. That's my boyfriends area, so I don't know too much about it.
We are not sure which way our joists run under the house. =( We don't want to take a chance and have the tank crush the floor. :sad1:
That's really neat you used to be stationed at Fort Lewis. You really liked Spokane? I like Yakima a lot.
Rhodes19
New member
Thanks shecky, I appreciate your complements. I don't know if I had more fun researching the design or building it. Both were fun. I know were all my goofes are but I think it is still a lot better than what I can find commercially without contracting a pro.
Rhodes19
New member
Digging should be fun
Heavy equipment, Oh yeah!!! That's a good idea to check the joists. I mis remembered how ours went and had to change my plans but not by much. With the 180 being about 2000 lbs with rock, water etc., best to be on the safe side. Short term the foors can handle it but I think long term stress would take its toll.I liked Spokane. It was a lot better than Yakima Firing Center!!!! It had beds, showers, air conditioning!!! Walla Walla was ok, Richland? The Army believes in training to be miserable, we would go to the mountains during the Winter and the desert during the Summer.
I must be a sick puppy, but I liked the areas we went to train at. Used to find lots of petrified wood. Looked good in my FW tanks.Similar threads
