SaraB's 268 Gallon Build¦ Try #3!
- Thread starter SaraB
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SaraB
Coral Killer
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13678924#post13678924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
Awesome to see this build going up - CMAS is taking over the large tank forum
btw, you sound pretty set on the H&S, but my Reeflo 250 is up for a sale (swapping it out for an ATB b/c having an external in a high-rise condo was just a bad idea), and you could save a lot of cash going that route if you are interested.
Thanks!
Yep, I'm pretty hooked on the H&S Skimmers. Mine is rated for 700 Gallons and if I decide to bite the bullet and have the systems plumbed together, I can keep that same skimmer.
I too have a fear with External Skimmers ... I've been running mine in the sump. I did get pretty creative with the new system and it will be run externally now. Stay tuned for more details :rollface:
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SaraB
Coral Killer
Since mid August, my friend Brian has been spending a couple weekends a month working on my stand and canopy for the system. He finished up the final framing for the finished stand and canopy, so it was time for me to exercise one of those skills of mine ... staining and varnishing! I spent the last weeks evenings in the garage working on the finish work. I figured I had better get this done before the snow starts to fly and my car is stuck outside!
This is a photo of the components in finishing progress ... the canopy frame is in the front and the stand is in the back next to the car lift ... or snowmobile lift in the summer.
These are the panels that will be come the doors. The other 4 panels are against the garage door. He's still working on the framing for them and that means more finishing work later on.
Here's a close-up of the stand and below is the crown molding that will be placed on the canopy once it gets down to the basement since it will not fit down my staircase if it were attached first.
More tomorrow!
This is a photo of the components in finishing progress ... the canopy frame is in the front and the stand is in the back next to the car lift ... or snowmobile lift in the summer.
These are the panels that will be come the doors. The other 4 panels are against the garage door. He's still working on the framing for them and that means more finishing work later on.
Here's a close-up of the stand and below is the crown molding that will be placed on the canopy once it gets down to the basement since it will not fit down my staircase if it were attached first.
More tomorrow!
JOSE CASAS
New member
Great job and cant wait to see this beast filled up. Oh cant wait till tommorow lol!
SaraB
Coral Killer
The only thing I can imagine that may have cause the tank to have issues is that it was stored sitting vertical on that end of the tank for at least 3 years in a non-temperature controlled storage garage. Meaning that it could get nice and hot in the summer Chicago sun and really cold in the winter. I'm not an acrylic expert, but I could imagine that those conditions could possibly cause issues down the road.
It was a custom made tank and the person I got it from inherited it non-used from his roomate. He recalled their name once, but I did not recognize them at all.
RandalB
New member
As the Expert on Tank#2 (Thanks Sara!), it looked to be a thermal issue. There was crazing and some yellowing around the cracked area. The crack was in a non-structural area of the top between a main opening and a slot cut along the rear wall of the tank.
The top of the tank was 3/4" and it was NOT eurobraced.
Not to hijack, but the crack was repaired by sandwiching 2x layers of 1/2" Acrylic on the top and bottom of the brace and filling with Weldon 4 and 16 after lining the sections back up with clamps.
The Foam backdrop still looks good Sara, glad to hear the new tank is going in finally!
RandalB
The top of the tank was 3/4" and it was NOT eurobraced.
Not to hijack, but the crack was repaired by sandwiching 2x layers of 1/2" Acrylic on the top and bottom of the brace and filling with Weldon 4 and 16 after lining the sections back up with clamps.
The Foam backdrop still looks good Sara, glad to hear the new tank is going in finally!
RandalB
pookstreet
Registered Stick Killer
I need a garage like that :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:
SaraB
Coral Killer
LOL - Think of the possibilities of a 4-car with 12 foot ceilings! You could put a ton of tanks in there and stack them all the way up too!
That's not even the "nice garage" that stores the vintage snowmobile collection
It's slightly larger than our first house! I'd surely get in trouble for rusting something in the garages with saltwater!
SaraB
Coral Killer
Since I've had 10 months to plan ... it hopefully will be soon
My plumber friend has some time now to help and he's suppose to swing by tonight to look at the progress of some of the changes he suggested. I'll get more photo's up tonight when I'm not suppose to be working! I'm guessing/hoping/praying in a couple of weeks I'll be making RO/DI water!
SaraB
Coral Killer
More photo's & updates as promised!
The stand and canopy were ready to be moved down to the basement and see if Brian did his measurements correctly! Since the components surround the tank and heavy duty stand , I was a bit worried that they would not make it down as the tank just fit. Since the components would slide around the wood stand, I had open backs to work with that could be cured around the corner and make it down.
This is the canopy making the tight fit down the basement stairs.
This is the finished stand skin on the main stand:
Here's the canopy going on the top of the tank:
Here's both components on the tank:
Work is still being done on the door panels.
The stand and canopy were ready to be moved down to the basement and see if Brian did his measurements correctly! Since the components surround the tank and heavy duty stand , I was a bit worried that they would not make it down as the tank just fit. Since the components would slide around the wood stand, I had open backs to work with that could be cured around the corner and make it down.
This is the canopy making the tight fit down the basement stairs.
This is the finished stand skin on the main stand:
Here's the canopy going on the top of the tank:
Here's both components on the tank:
Work is still being done on the door panels.
SaraB
Coral Killer
This is the system that was running tank #2 right after it was set-up. The system for tank #3 will be in the same area, but most of the components have been changed out other than the skimmer.
After tank #2 broke, 3-40 gallon breeders were added on my work bench to hold the majority of the live rock and some fish. A couple months ago the actual sump was moved and the refugium was taken off-line so that I could start to prepare the new area.
This is the temporary system still running today on the opposite side of the fishroom. The prop tank on the right is run off another system in the room. :
This is the area where the new system is going back in ... on the right and against the back wall. This is also the new 75 gallon fuge ... which has already been relocated further to the left to make room for the skimmer on the stand. All the equipment on the left side runs my 92 Gallon corner tank on the 1st floor:
With the area cleared of equipment, I was able to 2-Part Epoxy the floor, seal the area where the wall meets the floor and then add vinyl floor base to keep the water contained to the room and not bleeding out into the carpet:
After tank #2 broke, 3-40 gallon breeders were added on my work bench to hold the majority of the live rock and some fish. A couple months ago the actual sump was moved and the refugium was taken off-line so that I could start to prepare the new area.
This is the temporary system still running today on the opposite side of the fishroom. The prop tank on the right is run off another system in the room. :
This is the area where the new system is going back in ... on the right and against the back wall. This is also the new 75 gallon fuge ... which has already been relocated further to the left to make room for the skimmer on the stand. All the equipment on the left side runs my 92 Gallon corner tank on the 1st floor:
With the area cleared of equipment, I was able to 2-Part Epoxy the floor, seal the area where the wall meets the floor and then add vinyl floor base to keep the water contained to the room and not bleeding out into the carpet:
Great photos! It must be exciting to see it starting to come together.
Two questions:
1. Why did you make the decision to maintain 2 separate systems versus combining them into one larger one?
2. What are your plans for the sump? Is it going to be compartmentalized or just left as a big tub for the skimmer?
Two questions:
1. Why did you make the decision to maintain 2 separate systems versus combining them into one larger one?
2. What are your plans for the sump? Is it going to be compartmentalized or just left as a big tub for the skimmer?
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
SICK!
Everything is looking fantastic Sara, congrats!
I just went back through and noticed your hubby (I believe) in the pics with the Yamaha jacket on.... I just got a Yamaha RX1 last year
I used to race street bikes and motocross for years, and I must say I've never been scared of anything wth an engine... except these monsters, the R1 and RX1.
Everything is looking fantastic Sara, congrats!
I just went back through and noticed your hubby (I believe) in the pics with the Yamaha jacket on.... I just got a Yamaha RX1 last year
I used to race street bikes and motocross for years, and I must say I've never been scared of anything wth an engine... except these monsters, the R1 and RX1.Similar threads
