& so it begins.....

[james3370]

this is in no way my official "build thread" but just wanted to give a lil teaser :smokin:

here is 80lbs of ecorock from bulkreefsupply in the tub, ready to be "cooked" for the next 5-7 days:


here is another 30-40lbs of the caribsea "lace" rock added to it, along w/ 30 gallons of ro/di water, 6 gallons of vinegar (stinks) + the mag 9.5 circulating it around:


so while that is cooking, here is my to do list:

1) drill all the holes for the overflow box, dual sump returns, (2) closed-loop outputs, & (4) closed loop returns. this is 1st on the list, cause if i break the tank, there is no sense doing anything below till i rectify that

2) get all the cut pieces of wood for the stand assembled

3) i also have my black eggcrate, so then i'll get it cut-to-fit & cut the openings in it for the bulkheads

4) hard-fit all the plumbing.....i decided to go hard pvc instead of the flex pvc

5) ??? depends on how long the above takes......there is plenty more to do
:rollface:

 

[sandalscout]

oh no, you coworkers will be hating you by about Wednesday, I don't want to imagine the smell you'll be putting off without showers.

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13944571#post13944571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sandalscout
oh no, you coworkers will be hating you by about Wednesday, I don't want to imagine the smell you'll be putting off without showers.

rofl....this is in my SPARE bathroom. i love finally being able to get my build started, but not enough to not have somewhere to take a shower LOL

 

[TitansFan]

are you married?
if so count your self a lucky man

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13945104#post13945104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitansFan
are you married?
if so count your self a lucky man

yeah, i doubt if i was married, i'd be able to get away w/ all this stuff....& the IMMENSE mess i have from crap scattered all over the place LOL

anywhoo, i laid out the locations for the bulkheads....(1) 1.5" top center for the overflow box to sump, (2) 3/4" sump returns, (2) 1.5" center row for the closed-loop inflow & (4) 3/4" closed-loop returns at the bottom



think tomorrow, i'm gonna goto home depot & have a piece of 1/2 board cut the size of the back panel, & a wood holesaw for each bulkhead. that way i can drill the holes in it & clamp it to the back wall to act as a drill-guide for the glass drill bits

i'm VERY nervous about drilling these holes......if i can get this part done w/out breaking the tank, i can relax & REALLY get on to getting this thing done & wet

 

[NeveSSL]

Don't be nervous about the holes. Take your time and keep it cool and you'll be fine.

Brandon

 

[rcmike]

I'm a little confused. What is the vineger for? Won't it just dissolve some of the rock?

Edit: Just saw your other post. Isn't this dry base rock?

 

[Fanof49ASU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13945475#post13945475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370
think tomorrow, i'm gonna goto home depot & have a piece of 1/2 board cut the size of the back panel, & a wood holesaw for each bulkhead. that way i can drill the holes in it & clamp it to the back wall to act as a drill-guide for the glass drill bits

i'm VERY nervous about drilling these holes......if i can get this part done w/out breaking the tank, i can relax & REALLY get on to getting this thing done & wet

A wood hole saw? Are you sure about this?

 

[DMBillies]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13946106#post13946106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fanof49ASU
A wood hole saw? Are you sure about this?

I believe he is using the wood hole saw to cut a hole in the background material to guide the glass hole saw and keep it from skating around until he gets it started.

On that note, I saw a video with a guy doing it and he clamped a guide on the outside and a solid piece of wood on the inside. This kept the last little bit of glass from chipping out of the hole as he finished drilling and (although I've never done it) logically that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Fanof49ASU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13946318#post13946318 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DMBillies
I believe he is using the wood hole saw to cut a hole in the background material to guide the glass hole saw and keep it from skating around until he gets it started.

On that note, I saw a video with a guy doing it and he clamped a guide on the outside and a solid piece of wood on the inside. This kept the last little bit of glass from chipping out of the hole as he finished drilling and (although I've never done it) logically that makes a lot of sense.

My bad.
Yeah, it works like a charm. That's how I cut mine.
Just go slow and keep it wet.

 

[NeveSSL]

I think he's saying he'll be clamping a piece of wood as a perpendicular guide to the glass hole saw, Mark.

I believe he got a Glass-Holes.com kit, and that would indicate he got a diamond hole saw, too.

Brandon

 

[Fanof49ASU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13946343#post13946343 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
I think he's saying he'll be clamping a piece of wood as a perpendicular guide to the glass hole saw, Mark.

I believe he got a Glass-Holes.com kit, and that would indicate he got a diamond hole saw, too.

Brandon

Gotcha....I missed that part.

Also.....I'd use a portable drill. I've seen video of guys cutting holes with an electric drill (cord attached) and it makes me cringe.

 

[james3370]

yes....drilling appropriate sized holes in piece of 1/2 wood. this will act as a guide to get the glass bit started. i plan to start by pilot drilling all 9 of them enough to hold the bit in place, then remove the board & do the lil water dams w/ putty around each hole to hold water to keep the bit cool.

i had also considered the piece clamped to the inside, but can't figure out how to clamp it at the inside bottom.....

 

[Fanof49ASU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13947457#post13947457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370
yes....drilling appropriate sized holes in piece of 1/2 wood. this will act as a guide to get the glass bit started. i plan to start by pilot drilling all 9 of them enough to hold the bit in place, then remove the board & do the lil water dams w/ putty around each hole to hold water to keep the bit cool.

i had also considered the piece clamped to the inside, but can't figure out how to clamp it at the inside bottom.....

The plywood will work as a dam if it's flat....no need to stop and make a new one. Just use a bottle to slowly refill the water lost.
Just drill slow especially at the end of the process, to reduce the chipping around the hole. It really won't matter much....as the bulkhead will more than cover the 'chipped' edges.

If possible, just practice on a piece of glass. Once you get one drilled, you'll realize how much you've anguished over this for no reason. It's really easy.

 

[NeveSSL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13948024#post13948024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fanof49ASU
The plywood will work as a dam if it's flat....no need to stop and make a new one. Just use a bottle to slowly refill the water lost.
Just drill slow especially at the end of the process, to reduce the chipping around the hole. It really won't matter much....as the bulkhead will more than cover the 'chipped' edges.

If possible, just practice on a piece of glass. Once you get one drilled, you'll realize how much you've anguished over this for no reason. It's really easy.

Couldn't have put it better.

Brandon

 

[james3370]

i do have an extra piece of glass where glasscages.com cut my baffles for my sump for me & the edge wasn't straight (1/16" larger in the middle) so 1 wouldn't fit in the tank :mad2:

think i'm gonna practice on it

 

[james3370]

well, i layed out all the centerlines for all the holes on a piece of 1/2 mdf & then drilled them out w/ a hole saw. i then took that piece & clamped it to the back wall to act as a drill guide for the glass drill bits. kept it plenty wet, but i think the bit got a bit of chatter when finally breaking thru on 2 or 3 of the holes cause those had quite a bit of chipping out on the edges.....i might have to silicone the edges of those when i do the final install of the bulkheads as the chipping extends past the gasket for the bulkhead

 

[NeveSSL]

See. Wasn't too terribly bad, was it?

Brandon

 

[SRT80]

You say there is some chipping around the holes. When the tank is full of water, will it still be ok? With the pressure from the water add stress to it? I don't know, I'm just askin'...

Steve

 

[rcmike]

Some of those look like the chipping is a little exessive. You weren't pushing on it were you? You have to let the drill do the work. I would be a little scared some of those.