Sonicboom's 180 build in Tampa

[Sonicboom]

So after selling my first tanks, a 75 drilled AGA followed by a 180 drilled AGA and getting out of the hobby in 2004,. Things seem to be looking up and after buying a new house last year with room for a tank in 4 different locations, and the fact i watched Finding Nemo with each kid,my daughter is now 6 and my son is 2 at least 650 times, i caught the bug.

My first step was researching and getting caught up to date on what changed. Holy cow did everything change in the last 10 years, from what i can see most of the changes are in lighting going to LED and power heads with the introduction of wireless controllable, wave making, dinner cooking units. most everything else is that same, tanks still hold water, a sump is still a plus and the DSB vs bare bottom debate continues...LOL

So on to step two: Location of tank;
I have to empty rooms at the front of my house which I can use, one is next to the kitchen since it's a dining room, the other was used as a library and is the furthest from everything but the warmest and carpeted :headwalls:.
the other is the informal dining area, directly under an AC vent and breakfast and dinners would include sitting in front of the tank, and it's tiled, a big plus!

Step three: Build or buy / Save or spend and when do you draw the line. I blame RocketEngineer for this one after i was shopping around for stands and came upon his thread on DIY Stands template and calc, and Morrows design which incorporated everything i was looking for, http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1567110&page=54.
this is where it begins and where i will start posting as many pics as i have, I actually started this build in January with the research and the stand building in February.

Mind you I had no woodworking tools and even less skills what so ever,

Starting from the ground up, I searched for the best 2x4's and 2x6's i could find, of course I was in the wrong section as i was looking in the construction grade and not the furniture grade 3 isles over!

 

[Sonicboom]

After more reading and research, I learned i was going to need some tools, I would either have to make a choice to back out now or take the plunge and give stand building a shot. well seeing as i had an excuse to start buying a few tools I could use at some point in the future or at least just an excuse to have tools, after all i am a man and we collect tools dammit...lol

i was introduced to the best thing since sliced bread, the Kreg pocket hold maker, oh my.

it makes a perfect hole everytime!

 

[Sonicboom]

I know RE and a few other will probably blast me for my use of clamps or lack thereof.

The bungie cords were used while i ran and bought clamps. tool box addition #2

Lots and Lots of Titebond II was used, actually too much i think...

 

[Sonicboom]

So I can sit home and pocket hole drill wood all day, kinda like widdling wood to me.

at this point i acquired a square sander and level. Tools #3 and 4!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Looks like I will have to get that tool. Congrats also for getting the bug back. What style tank are you going for?

 

[Sonicboom]

ok so the frame is pretty much done with the exception of some sanding, I had some stain laying around and decided to see what it looked like. I did not like it, it was a Red Mahogany, wife and i were shooting for the Dark Mahogany Marrows used in his build.

by the way, i was able to borrow a miter saw from my neighbor but i had no table to use it on so all my cuts were done on the floor.

 

[Sonicboom]

Thanks Newbie Aquarist, not sure on style of tank yet, the skimmer that hasn't arrived yet should be able to handle some corals but I will be taking it very slow starting with FO so i can teach the kids as much as possible. we had a lesson on overflows, sumps and return pumps this morning, talking to a 6 year old i had exactly 12 seconds to break it down before she said "Squirrel!" and wandered off...lol

 

[Sonicboom]

So seeing as i never had time to ride any more and could definitely use the funds, i decided to sell on of my babies, here she is getting loaded up 3 weeks ago...
sad sad day..;(

 

[Sonicboom]

So here is the stand in the library area, (aka an empty room) being both a castle and a pit stop area for Lightning Mcqueen, as you can tell by Rocco's shirt, he's a fan.
The tank would face a large double window which would allow the tank to be seen by neighbors coming home, I like that. It's carpeted, I don't like that.

Everything checks out with McQueen's suspension and he's ready to go!!

 

[Sonicboom]

One of the issues of buying an older home, sometimes people don't take care of things like they should...

This is what i took out of the 22 year old Montgomery ward water heater, wanna talk about hard water? I don't even know if that's calcium or lime but whatever it is i don't want it entering my house....Mind you that was only half! I managed to replaced the lower heating element and got another two months before I pulled the trigger on a new one.

 

[Sonicboom]

Shiny new unit in place with some filtration, of course this is another fiasco, after i did all the plumbing, it turns out there was a T splitting water to the rest of the house....( work in progress)

programmable and i like buttons!

 

[Sonicboom]

So the water heater was producing hot water, and i can turn my attention back to the tank while i figure out the plumbing issue.

Here is the stand with some of the floor support in place, back board COUNTERSUNK! oh yea, another tool! bought a drill bit to pre drill some holes and countersink them, used 2 1/4" outdoor deck screws. I'm also trying to see what some of the molding looks like for finishing. not liking the basket weave

 

[Sonicboom]

Here is the stand in the second dining area with tiles, this is the area which sits under an AC vent and a ceiling fan, both will help with the disgustingly hot and humid Florida weather.

flash is weak on the phone and the stain looks darker than it is. Floor is mostly in place, and inside has been coated with three coats of Kilz. By the way once I hit the molding and my neighbor was not home so i could borrow his miter say i went and picked up a sweet 10" sliding one from Lowes with an AC powered laser guide. didn't help that my floor leans towards the back of the house by about 1/16th"...

 

[Sonicboom]

Found a 75 on Craigslist I think will work as my sump, once the floor is dry i will test fit.

 

[Sonicboom]

Ok so right now I wish there was a pill for OCD, not to help you manage it but to help you gain it I guess i want to say. I mean seriously, have you seen drummereef's tank build thread!? who in the world has that kind of patience along with attention to detail! If you haven't seen it here it is http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1599945

186 pages of brilliant ideas, sparkling clean floors that not even a leaking pump got a drop of water on...;LOL and photo's that look like he had a news team documenting his every move, i mean even the floor in the first picture didn't even have a single flake of saw dust on it...LOL then he shows us a picture of sawdust NEATLY in a pile that's hes calling a mess...

man his build and his thread have really set the standard for how it should be done.

 

[Sonicboom]

Update:

I think this is hiccup #1
75 gallon is too tall for me to get a skimmer in and out of once the tank is in place...

 

[Sonicboom]

SO i managed to get one of the doors for the dry side on and just noticed one of the hinges is reversed, lol didn't notice it in person but noticed it now.. i will fix that tonight. again no cabinet skills so not even sure if that's how a door should be or if it needs a frame.:facepalm:
I will stain it tonight as well

here is the divider i made out of tongue and groove paneling ( learned that term from Josh Temple on house crashers!) it will allow me to have a dry area under the stand, the hole is for the drain, and i need one more for the return. it also need to be Kilzd with probably some coats of marine paint

and here is the "dry" area from above, it will also have a door on the front.

 

[Sonicboom]

By the way, I can't edit the first post any longer but the reason I am posting my build is for feedback, suggestions and to share my love of reef keeping with fellow reefers. If you see something wrong please let me know as I am at the stages where I can pretty much change anything and not be too impacted.

 

[Sonicboom]

So timeline wise I finally caught up to the delivery of my 180 last night, mind you it was already delayed by 3 weeks since the first one was cracked while being loaded onto the truck at the distributor.

So here it is:

 

[maddmaxx]

coming along sir..i like those dual over flows better then the corner ones...nice build so far