Agh! The Agony

[moonpod]

Ok first off I'm working all friggin' weekend so I can't make it out to Tat's place.

Next, I get the stand for my new tank delivered to me by Con. It is absolutely beautiful. Steel frame. Oak panels. An arts and crafts feel to the look to match the living room. 10'x2'x40" tall. Beautiful....except oops....it's a 10x3x2 tank....

Con has the solution, but it's like...NOTHING, NOTHING goes easy on this tank. First the original tank maker is a loser. yadda yadda yadda....

[Konadog]

Chuck, what the heck is going on? Problems with the tank maker also, crap.

[moonpod]

I'm cursed.

It's beautiful, well built, just not the right front to back width. Con's gonna fix it and make it if anything more solid.

http://homepage.mac.com/moonpod/PhotoAlbum35.html

[Konadog]

Is the foundation work done, or is that a sore subject also?

[moonpod]

Ken, no that's not done either.

[Konadog]

Well, the stand and wood work look great! What's Con going to do to make it bigger?

[moonpod]

We're gonna cut one of the back steel posts out and make an "addon" section to bring it to 3' front to back. Unfortunately I lose the full side access this way, but it's much faster. I also lose 2" of interior height b/c I've gotta negotiate the steel frame in the middle of the tank.

[cali_reef]

Chuck,

I think it would be just as easy(or difficult) if Con would cut out all the front to back horizontal pieces and weld new 34"(assuming the frames are made from 1"x1" stock) long pieces to the front and back vertical frame. You don't loose any room under the stand and won't gain additional unnecessary weight from the splices he planned. One other suggestion for little earthquake reinforcement is to add 3"x3" gussets at each "T" and “L� joint, a little cheap insurance against lateral movement.

[moonpod]

It's 2x2 stuff. The weight really isn't much of a consideration. I mean, really, what's the weight of that frame vs the tank???

I'll lose 2" of interior height, but really it's no biggy. I'm more trying to figure out how to cut out the vertical support that will be in the middle of the side of the thing b/c that prohibits full access to my sump....but I dunno or rather I do NOT think that is a safe thing to do...

I'm prolly gonna bolt the whole thing to my wall studs. Can you imagine though how much force a 500g system is though if it wants to "jump". I mean the thing is like 4000 lbs in water alone....

[cali_reef]

Yeah, I guess what’s another 10 or 20 pounds of metal when you already have a 150+ pound stand to move. Cutting the side vertical piece off would be a little risky unless the horizontal piece right above is one continuous piece and not spliced, you would still have three more "legs" inside of the stand.

I would not worry about the tank jumping off the stand, or it tipping on its own. The concern would be the side to side movement of the stand vs. the weight of the tank and its content, breaking the weld joints apart.

[moonpod]

Ugh....tank THROUGH the stand...pleasant thought....

[Wilafur]

all good dude. if a quake large enough to move your tank hits, the tank will be the least of your worries.

[moonpod]

[Konadog]

That was fast!

[cali_reef]

Looks good, where is the tank??

[hail_sniper]

who is making your tank? im looking to get a custom starfire 180 built.

[moonpod]

The tank is still at the warehouse/factory. Karakreations. They are holding it until I get back in town. I do not believe they will do glass. Sam If you want glass and you want local get a clearforlife visio with starphire upgrade and the black silcone seams. I've gotta drill out the top of the stand before I put the tank in.

[moonpod]

Ken, Pierce and Wilbur, if you got a chance check out the link to my website for the pix of the new rock Dave B got for me. The tub is 9x3x2 for perspective.

[thetedinator]

Chuck,

The rock looks awesome!

cya,

Ted

[cali_reef]

Nice rocks!! But the skimmer looks even better. What happen to the Deltec?

[moonpod]

The 702 can't keep up with a tank this large--it's a good skimmer, don't get me wrong, but this system should have over 500g of water. If this one doesn't cut the mustard, I'm getting a 703 or 1003 with SCH.

[cali_reef]

okay, I am on the lookout for that "skimmer for sale" post.

[Konadog]

Chuck, great looking branch rock! It's going to look great in a fish only tank. Lot's of open spaces for the fish to cruse in and out of.

Did I hear your selling your 702? Whose BK is that?

[moonpod]

BK??? BK 400 external??? On my website???? Under my new tank equipment section???? I dunno how that got there Ken....imagine that....

[Konadog]

Hackers I tell ya! Can't trust anyone with a computer these days!