The Build Begins

[Dastank]

Well, after all the talk I've ordered all of the key components, Ice Cap T5s, Moon lights, Euro Reef Skimmer, 3500 gph Reeflo Dart Pump, and Oceans Motions Super Squirt Compact. I haven't received anything yet, but I know it's all been shipped.

Today I started on the stand:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov002.jpg

2X4s getting attached to 4X4s

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov003.jpg

The basic frame

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov004.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov006.jpg

I wood glued everything!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov008.jpg

Here's as far as I got in one afternoon

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov010.jpg

I ran out of screws and time. I'll get more wrapped up tomorrow!

I couldn't resist... I had to see how it was going to look!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/FRAGupdateNov012.jpg

[teto_78]

very nice, like woodcrafting myself, I'm always building something for the house or for the restaurant. Anyhow, with that being said, I ended up buying a stand offbase because it was on sale, I paid $150 for a 900mmx450mmx450mm tank Stand. I figured building it myself I'd end up paying about $100 in wood alone. So now, I'll settle for just building a canopy for housing lights and stuff.

[Donstuprich]

Nice... can't wait for more

[vest0830]

Lookin good Mike! Did you get some silicone and fiberglass resin for the bottom of the stand?

[jeffb3t]

Looks great Mike. It's gonna be a nice stand.

[Dastank]

I got my new skimmer and the Oceans Motions in the mail today, still waiting on lights and pump.

Stained the front of the stand black so no color would show through the full doors and used the fiberglass resin to seal the bottom of the stand.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand002.jpg

[teto_78]

what kind of Protein skimmer did you get, and what lights are you getting...?

I've been seriously debating getting a Sunpod, anyone else like them...?

[vest0830]

I think he picked up a Euroreef. Which model, im not sure of.

[Dastank]

I got the Euroreef CS80. Customaquatics had then on sale $199, usualy $265.

I'm putting IceCap T5 lighting over the new tank. Still waiting for it to arrive!

I love metal halide lighting, I just don't like the heat or the energy consumption.

[Dastank]

Painted the interior of the stand today and purchased the exterior wood to finish it. I need to do some jointing and wood work before I can process, might take me a while. I also remembered why I hate to paint. Note the white smudges on the front of the frame.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand004.jpg

[jasalmanza]

great job mike!! looks great!

[jeffb3t]

Do a little sanding on the front and a little more stain. Oh, There is a thing called tape you might want to use when painting. It works quite well. :idea:

[vest0830]

I went to Mikes last night and check this out. He did a real nice job with it all! That oceans motions unit is pretty spiffy also.

[Dastank]

OK, I started with the doors since they are going to take up the entire front of the tank. I still have some work to do on them, but they turned out pretty nice.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand006.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand008.jpg

I also finished the side panels. After I get it all adjusted I can measure the missing pieces and get it finished.

[jeffb3t]

Man, You are moving right along with that thing. Guess I better get going with mine. You are lucky to have a place to work outside. I have my driveway but can't do anything when it's raining so I moved everything into the spare bedroom. (hope the wife isn't upset when I start putting the clear on inside the house)

[fishyface]

used the fiberglass resin to seal the bottom of the stand. fiberglass resin huh? good idea!

[Dastank]

jeffb3t gets all the credit, I stole the idea from him.

[jeffb3t]

Couple Q's for you. How think is the wood plank for the doors? How did you join them together? and Last but most important, how are you going to keep them from cupping or warping in the high humidity environment?

[hot4teacher]

I like what I see so far. You should be embarassed about the smudge marks!

FWIW, I spar-urathaned the heck (4 coats) out of my stand and almost a year later everything looks as good as the day I made it. No warping or discoloration.

I want to see pics of the new tools you were allowed to buy! Santa said he might get me a nice chop saw and/or band saw if I'm a good boy.


Man, I love the unsecurity of wireless! (A special thanks to my new neighbor for allowing me to unsuspectingly use their services) Geez I can't wait for my own to d/l some serious songs!

Dana

[Dastank]

As I said, I still had some work to do on them...

They are 14mm thick.

I used a table router to cut channel out of one side and the opposite out of the other. A little wood glue some clamps and a sander and a day later you couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended.

As far as warping, first use a high quality hard wood. I'm using a semi-hard wood mahogany. Second brace it. Third seal the #$%@ out of it. You couldn't expect a 1-meter panel of wood, like my doors, to hold up without some type of bracing and/or support.


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand010.jpg

Glad to see your back online Dana!

[vest0830]

Looks great Mike! You get into the hobby shop this weekend or do everything at home?

[jasalmanza]

I love the hinges, wish I would have went with them. Found out to late!

[Dastank]

The hinges can be a little bit of a pain, but the look is worth it. Put the last finishing touches on it only to come up a board short. Isn't always like that?

The wood I put on tonight is a little darker because it hasn't been sanded. I figure a good three hours of sanding and it will be close to ready for stain.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand015.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand013.jpg

[vest0830]

Thats looking real nice Mike!

[hot4teacher]

Awesome!

Are the side panels on hinges too?

Last question: Who is going to help you carry it up the stairs? :D

Dana

[Dastank]

I didn't hinge the sides. I figured that the front opening up all the way was going to be good enough.

[jeffb3t]

As far as carrying up the stairs, probably me... he has a pump I need... and want...

[jasalmanza]

Congrats man, that looks great! So now, stain and varnish? I got a pretty hot tip on some really nice laquer if you need, let me know~

[jeffb3t]

Hey Mike, Post some pics of you new monster pump up here. It will make us all envious.

[Dastank]

Here's the Dart and the Oceans Motions. I threw my keys in there for some persective.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand016.jpg

Here's what there sitting on. The picture is a little dark, the side is the same color as the front. You'll see another fine example of why I'm not a painter by trade. I still have to put another coat of stain on it, do a little touch up, get Jason's lacquer trick, and then finish the interior, but I'm very happy with it so far!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/Stand019.jpg

[jeffb3t]

Looking great! Did you apply the stain with a paintbrush?

[vest0830]

thats pretty nice mike.

Comming along really nice accually.

-you going to paint or stain the inside as well? -or be like me and never finish it :lol:

[Dastank]

I think I'm going to paint it all white. I bought some masking stuff today to compensate for the lack in painting skills and more white paint.

Don't worry Frank, there will be something I never finish!

[jeffb3t]

You mean you bought tape??? I'm proud of you!

[jasalmanza]

You're going to love that dart! Words of wisdom: make sure your fittings are tight. Sequence recommends using teflon paste, but I could not find it so I just went with the tape...big mistake. I wound up having to silicone the males to the pump to get a seal.

[jeffb3t]

Ohh, Good advice. I might have to do that when I hook up the pressure rated iwaki.

[jeffb3t]

Hey Mike,

Take a picture of the can of stain you used and post it. I like that color.

[vest0830]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8622464#post8622464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jasalmanza
You're going to love that dart! Words of wisdom: make sure your fittings are tight. Sequence recommends using teflon paste, but I could not find it so I just went with the tape...big mistake. I wound up having to silicone the males to the pump to get a seal.

thats real good info right there!

[Dastank]

Well, after and other projects, I'm back on the big one again! I made the internal bracing for my hood.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal005.jpg

The IceCap lights just fit inside, it's kind of scary

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal006.jpg

And to answer Jeff’s question about the difference between the IceCap and Tek Reflectors. I thought I would show you the writing on the bulb. Nothing like polished aluminum!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal010.jpg

[vest0830]

Looking good Mike! the Tek and the ice cap are a night and day difference.

[jeffb3t]

Very Nice. Don't forget to get the frag tank up and running. Matt will be sending some goodies real soon!

[Dastank]

I'm putting water in it on Wednesday afternoon! I already have rock that's been cooking for 6 months, the lights should be here by next week at the latest, the tank should be ready soon!

[jeffb3t]

Mike, Any chance on ligting it up with one of the T-5's you have already? Frags are coming on monday and I need to either set up my 25 long with a halide on top (man the wife is going to kill me when she sees the elecricity bill) or we can put everything in the frag tank if it is ready.

[Dastank]

I'll make it ready! I'll do something for lights, even if it's set up the IceCaps.

[vest0830]

Water is going in this afternoon.

[jeffb3t]

Good! glad to hear that. I do have a 25 long ready with some NO flourecents that will work for holding them temporarly. Oh, BTW if anyone cares, I priced glass out today for a 150 gallon 5' X 2'X2' tank Eurobraced and made from 1/2" plate glass. Price was 50000 Yen. Same tank out of 3/8 glass was 43000 yen. Not too bad really.

[vest0830]

50k yen would build the rest of what you have Jeff. Keep what you have.

BTW, the tank is flowing. Really, really nice accually.

BTW #2. Rememeber me sayin I just keep adding calcium to the tank. Well, after we ate dinner I thought, I should test it. I stopped at 700ppm ...and could have continued on. :lol: I think a water change is a MUST this weekend.

[jeffb3t]

I don't know, 150gl is just so tempting...

[jasalmanza]

It would give you alot more options! and just think of the cost to run it!!!

[jeffb3t]

It actually won't cost that much more to run it. Teh same equipemtn I would put on the 75 would go on the 150 only 1 additional 250 watt halide.

[Dastank]

OK, I thought I would share the latest progress...

The hood is complete with room for more lights if need be.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal012.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal011.jpg

Back view

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal019.jpg

Front view of stand and tank

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/90Gal016.jpg

Now all I have to do is the electrical inside the tank, build a sump, run a mile of piping, and test it all.