Southern Guy's 270 Advance Acrylic Build
- Thread starter krjackso
- Start date
rkaires
New member
Your going to need allot of patience when dealing with him. He does nice work but his perception of time is way off. I received my tank almost three months after the promised date.
Good luck on your build.
krjackso
New member
well after 7 months of hell that I would rather not talk about at this point, I finally got my tank and sump...
So here are some pics. Its still wrapped up in shrink wrap, but you will get the idea...
at the dock
finally got it inside after a few nervous moments. very scary moving a tank this size!
external overflow box drilled for bean animal overflow. clears sides for observation.
hand polished rounded corners
three chambered sump (black bottom and baffles)
probe holders
filter sock area with flip lid. Had it built this way to accommodate the use of one of these down the road http://************.com/2011/07/21/rigid-filter-sock/
Glad it is all inside now! Now just have to figure out stand (and canopy?) options. Any new toys/ tech/ methods come about in the last few months that I should consider incorporating here?
Let's get this build back on track. Thanks for looking.
So here are some pics. Its still wrapped up in shrink wrap, but you will get the idea...
at the dock
finally got it inside after a few nervous moments. very scary moving a tank this size!
external overflow box drilled for bean animal overflow. clears sides for observation.
hand polished rounded corners
three chambered sump (black bottom and baffles)
probe holders
filter sock area with flip lid. Had it built this way to accommodate the use of one of these down the road http://************.com/2011/07/21/rigid-filter-sock/
Glad it is all inside now! Now just have to figure out stand (and canopy?) options. Any new toys/ tech/ methods come about in the last few months that I should consider incorporating here?
Let's get this build back on track. Thanks for looking.
geaux xman
New member
sweet!! good to see AA finally came thru! i'm excited for ya man.
besides the delay, what do you think about the quality and looks of the tank/sump?
besides the delay, what do you think about the quality and looks of the tank/sump?
krjackso
New member
I would say all is in order at this point. I still have not taken the shrink wrap off yet to touroughly inspect though. I am undecided about what to do for a stand and dont want my silly doberman pup to scratch it while its sitting on the floor. I will give some more detailed thoughts once it comes off though.
Thanks so much. I am relieved too. Now the fun part begins!
krjackso
New member
now for the stand. Plan is to do a steel framed stand and coat it with POR 15 and skin it with a contemporary look (possibly black).
Anyone have any experience using POR 15?
Also, anybody come across any inspirational designs for stands with the modern, clean look I am going for?
I always see nice furniture grade stands with crown molding and all but looking to do something different.
Anyone have any experience using POR 15?
Also, anybody come across any inspirational designs for stands with the modern, clean look I am going for?
I always see nice furniture grade stands with crown molding and all but looking to do something different.
muttley000
MTS Sufferer!
We have used POR 15 at work. Only mix what you need, work quickly, don't even think about saving anything you use to apply it! It does seem to be pretty much bullet proof!
krjackso
New member
Great. Thanks for the heads up.
krjackso
New member
Now for a quick update...
I am still shopping steel prices at the moment and waiting on final approval of my stand plans from a structural engineer. So to keep myself busy I figured I could start planning out my rock structures. As I mentioned, I will be starting out with (and hopefully maintaining) a minimalist scape in the new tank. I transferred my liverock from these blue bins...
to a stocking bin in the garage so I could have better visibility to the pieces I have to work with.
The plan is to drill some holes with these masonry bits and start building them out with pond foam and pvc/ cvpc, well before the tank even goes up.
I am hoping to have any little mini cycles out of the way by the time the tank is full of water. I also need to start the process of leaching the phosphates out of the 300+ lbs of new sand (Tropic Eden Reef Flakes) with a couple weeks of RO soaks and drains. My garage is a mess with cases of salt and sand..
I also picked up a food grade 55 gallon drum and gave it a few vinegar baths. This will obviously be used for water changes going forward.
Also, bought a steel drum dolly from Northern Tool, but think its just an inch too big to get in the closet I want to store it. Oh well...
On another note, I tested/ checked the parameters of my 180 that is basically a holding tank and boy were they a mess!! I mean awful. Not sure how anything is still alive, but oddly enough everything is growing better than ever. Guess that's how it goes. Tinker and toy around trying to perfect everything and do more harm than good. Let it go, and manage to forget about it and things look great (disclaimer-take care of your tank regardless of what I say). Actually my sps frag rack is crammed pack right now!
And finally, a pic of my little helper Mason.
Will update again when I get my stand plans finalized and the build rocking and rolling.
I am still shopping steel prices at the moment and waiting on final approval of my stand plans from a structural engineer. So to keep myself busy I figured I could start planning out my rock structures. As I mentioned, I will be starting out with (and hopefully maintaining) a minimalist scape in the new tank. I transferred my liverock from these blue bins...
to a stocking bin in the garage so I could have better visibility to the pieces I have to work with.
The plan is to drill some holes with these masonry bits and start building them out with pond foam and pvc/ cvpc, well before the tank even goes up.
I am hoping to have any little mini cycles out of the way by the time the tank is full of water. I also need to start the process of leaching the phosphates out of the 300+ lbs of new sand (Tropic Eden Reef Flakes) with a couple weeks of RO soaks and drains. My garage is a mess with cases of salt and sand..
I also picked up a food grade 55 gallon drum and gave it a few vinegar baths. This will obviously be used for water changes going forward.
Also, bought a steel drum dolly from Northern Tool, but think its just an inch too big to get in the closet I want to store it. Oh well...
On another note, I tested/ checked the parameters of my 180 that is basically a holding tank and boy were they a mess!! I mean awful. Not sure how anything is still alive, but oddly enough everything is growing better than ever. Guess that's how it goes. Tinker and toy around trying to perfect everything and do more harm than good. Let it go, and manage to forget about it and things look great (disclaimer-take care of your tank regardless of what I say). Actually my sps frag rack is crammed pack right now!
And finally, a pic of my little helper Mason.
Will update again when I get my stand plans finalized and the build rocking and rolling.
frogspawn74
New member
Nice start
krjackso
New member
Thanks yall. I suppose after an involuntary 7 month delay to start, whats a few more weeks. I am definitely gonna try and do it right. Thanks for following and please throw out any ideas/ advice/ or things you have always wanted to try. I am looking to do some original things with this build.
krjackso
New member
just a quick update...
Still waiting to find a welder to put my stand together. Work has just been crazy busy lately. Some of these quotes I have received are absolutely laughable. Sand is still RO soaking to leach out any extra phosphates. I did manage to order a few new toys though.
First my Canon T3i DSLR showed up. Very excited to learn how to use it and document this whole process a little better. No more iphone pics after this post (hopefully)...
I also finally pulled the trigger on an MP60 to compliment the Mp40 I already have. damn this thing is big! I realize I will probably need more flow, but these will get me started.
Still waiting to find a welder to put my stand together. Work has just been crazy busy lately. Some of these quotes I have received are absolutely laughable. Sand is still RO soaking to leach out any extra phosphates. I did manage to order a few new toys though.
First my Canon T3i DSLR showed up. Very excited to learn how to use it and document this whole process a little better. No more iphone pics after this post (hopefully)...
I also finally pulled the trigger on an MP60 to compliment the Mp40 I already have. damn this thing is big! I realize I will probably need more flow, but these will get me started.
tanksfishtank
Premium Member
This is going to be amazing! I am definitely following along! Enjoy the fun and excitement that comes along with a new setup!! Good Luck!
krjackso
New member
I sure hope this build delivers. Thanks for joining the ride bud, glad to have ya...
krjackso
New member
Mocked up all my plumbing the other day and realized I needed some more pieces. Of course! No matter how many times you go through it, you always need more. That prompted a BRS group buy and it just came in the other day. Picked up a few more things too but realized I will never do schedule 80 plumbing again. Yea the trendy aesthetics are nice and all, but this crap gets expensive. Cant say its worth it or not till its finished but hopefully this will be my last order for plumbing for a while. Fingers crossed.
Also picked up some hydor flo rotating heads for my maxijets that will be magnet mounted on the sump walls and keep detritus from settling in the sump. A coral viewer for my clams and some top down shots eventually. another ph probe and some more media to get that free shipping mark and fill up this beast of a GEO reactor.
Also picked up one BIG piece of shelf rock from BRS. They really came through. This thing is awesome and will be a great focal point of my minimalist scape. May end up being a ric island or maybe part of a bonsai type structure. Either way I am pleased.
Thanks for looking.
Also picked up some hydor flo rotating heads for my maxijets that will be magnet mounted on the sump walls and keep detritus from settling in the sump. A coral viewer for my clams and some top down shots eventually. another ph probe and some more media to get that free shipping mark and fill up this beast of a GEO reactor.
Also picked up one BIG piece of shelf rock from BRS. They really came through. This thing is awesome and will be a great focal point of my minimalist scape. May end up being a ric island or maybe part of a bonsai type structure. Either way I am pleased.
Thanks for looking.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Actually subscribed this time since things are coming along. I just did my third order with BRS and came in today and hoping that is the last order! (Not quite as convenient as going down to the plumbing store, eh?)
***Pics look better too! I'm still taking the pics in my build thread with my Bionic and hoping to pick up a nice DSLR soon.
***Pics look better too! I'm still taking the pics in my build thread with my Bionic and hoping to pick up a nice DSLR soon.
nuccadoc
Member
Looks like you are on your way to great setup! Thanks for sharing. My only recommendation....and this is something that can be done at a later date, is I would get a bigger skimmer, like the Vertex 250.
My 400 is acrylic and I really like it. Do not use fine/sugar size sand as a substrate though, it will get caught up in the magnet scrubber and create scratches.
My 400 is acrylic and I really like it. Do not use fine/sugar size sand as a substrate though, it will get caught up in the magnet scrubber and create scratches.
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