My 300 gallon acrylic tank

[steve the plumb]

I like this colour better .This is after 2 coats.I will do another 2 coats.Don't mind the flash it makes it look more on the red side.Its walnut

[steve the plumb]

[Hop]

Looks good... Is it more like the second pic?

[steve the plumb]

yes its darker

[raddogz]

Fwiw - I used sawdust mixed with glue to help hide some of the nail holes in my stand. It helps match a little better.

[steve the plumb]

Yes thanks my buddy told me the same thing.I think it would have looked better than the wood filler.Its not as bad now with the third coat.I did get a few bubbles.I don't know if its because I used a cheap paintbrush.I sanded lightly before I put another coat.

[raddogz]

You know honestly, no one will probably notice unless you make it a point to point it out.

I hople it turns out for you.

[steve the plumb]

My wife will notice.I will also notice it where the doors meet the stain gets leftover and its darker.I guess the more coats I do the less likely I am to notice it.Either that or I am trying to fool myself.

[raddogz]

Depending if you coat with poly or varnish. If varnish e.g. spar varnish it will make the finish a little darker unless you thin out the varnish a bit, and sand in between coats.

[erics3000]

Just found your thread. I like your stand and plans.

[steve the plumb]

Thanks eric.I have been looking at your thread aswell.I just added another coat of stain.I plan to do some touch ups on certain areas(around the doors) where I couldn't get in with a large brush.I am still waiting for my cl pump and my om 8 way plus my bulkheads.Once that comes in I will drill my tank and stand.Then I can move my basement furniture around and place the tank and stand.Then I will buy the plumbing parts for the cl and return lines.I then have to drill a hole in the concrete to run my return lines to the sump and run drain lines.I didn't buy a sump yet.I will have to buy a glass tank and build some deviders for it.This will take a little time.

[cbui2]

patience is always the key to success. how big are you planning for sump?

[erics3000]

Little by little

[steve the plumb]

sump will be 100-150 gal.It will be a 150 gal tank that I will devide.I may also use my old sump as a fuge and tie that in.I want to do a dsb area in the sump.I didn't make a plan like some others do I will play it by ear.I want to keep it simple.I think just the fact of having a large sump gives me more room for cheatto.My old stand was crowded and I had no room cutting the calerpa and working on the tank was a pain.Since my sump will be open its easier to get at plus I can always add another tank to the system.I have 3 phosban reactor for carbon and po .I need another uv unit.I have auto topoff unit,doser,kalk reactor,and most of that stuff leftover from my 150 gal tank.I will probably get the lights very soon.The lighting system will be a custum light.It will be 2 x 48"fixtures.Each fixture will have 2x 250 watt mh bulbs and 6 x 54 watt T5 bulbs.My skimmer guy is hooking me up with the builder.He his also going to build me a custom acrylic bracket so it can sit a few inches above the tank.(fixture will be on the tank I don't want to hang it)

[cbui2]

thats going to be sweet Steve. i always like to go bigger on the sump and making large access cabinet doors will be nice too.

[steve the plumb]

I was thinking about a sand filter since they don't seem to take up much space but I think a dsb in the sump may be safer.I know Goodwin9 has them on his tanks and I see eric3000 bought one aswell.It may not be a bad idea to have such a unit but how do you clean them and does the sand become exausted.With a dsb you can always vacume the sand out.

[Goodwin9]

Originally posted by steve the plumb
I was thinking about a sand filter since they don't seem to take up much space but I think a dsb in the sump may be safer.I know Goodwin9 has them on his tanks and I see eric3000 bought one aswell.It may not be a bad idea to have such a unit but how do you clean them and does the sand become exausted.With a dsb you can always vacume the sand out.

Steve, There is no maintenance required with the sand filters. If I remember right, Pentair recommends replacing the sand once a year.

[erics3000]

For the price I don't think you can nock them. I want to have a heavy stocked tank. I actually got mine after talking to Goodwin.

[Goodwin9]

Originally posted by erics3000
For the price I don't think you can nock them. I want to have a heavy stocked tank. I actually got mine after talking to Goodwin.

Be careful what you post, you might be next on the hit list....heavy stocked is a no no....

[cbui2]

i'm next in line for first reef tank ever i don't know what i am doing. maybe i will look into getting a book reefkeeping for dummies

[steve the plumb]

Thanks.So its basically the same thing as running sand in a fuge.I used to use the kent biosediment and half the sand should be changed every year or two.I am wondering when changing if there will be some impact on the bioload of the tank.I guess thats why its safer to have some kind of sand in the sump and a sand filter just for security.I was also thinking of getting an H&S denitrate filter.This will be in a year from now maybe 2 years.I think with this much volume of water plus 2-3" of sand in the tank and some kind of DSB and a sand filter I shouldn't have any nitrate problems.

[Goodwin9]

Originally posted by steve the plumb
Thanks.So its basically the same thing as running sand in a fuge.I used to use the kent biosediment and half the sand should be changed every year or two.I am wondering when changing if there will be some impact on the bioload of the tank.I guess thats why its safer to have some kind of sand in the sump and a sand filter just for security.I was also thinking of getting an H&S denitrate filter.This will be in a year from now maybe 2 years.I think with this much volume of water plus 2-3" of sand in the tank and some kind of DSB and a sand filter I shouldn't have any nitrate problems.

Steve, Here is the link to the instructions for the sand filter. Under Maturation they say it can take up to 40 days.

http://www.pentairaquatics.com/pdfs/...uidize_bed.pdf

[Goodwin9]

Originally posted by cbui2
i'm next in line for first reef tank ever i don't know what i am doing. maybe i will look into getting a book reefkeeping for dummies

Please pick up an extra copy for me..Thank you!

[steve the plumb]

Thanks goodwin.It looks like a good unit to have

[steve the plumb]

I got my goods in now I need someone to help me flip the tank so I can drill it