papawheelie Report post Posted July 11, 2011 So, I bought the 180 gal from Aquaman and I'm starting this build thread so all you guys can tell me everything I'm doing wrong. 8)/>/> I have a feeling I'm going to need alot of help, but am confident that I can eventually turn this into a beautiful tank with the help and advice of everyone here. I finally talked my wife into giving me a wall in the house where I can put this bad boy, so I started my stand today, and surprisingly had my first coat of stain on within 7 hrs of starting. Here's some pics if I can get this to work. The tank: 2 x 8 on top to eliminate center brace ( It's upside down ) This isn't all of the framing that was done, but it was the last picture I took before I was finished. I put 2- 2 x 4 braces across the top too. First coat of stain: I used a Minwax Red Mahogany. It will actually be much darker when finished. Damn there's alot of room under there! And that's it for today. Still have to paint/ caulk the interior, add another coat of stain, and poly. Let the critique begin! ???/>/> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronreefman Report post Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) I'd add a waterproof liner inside the stand under the sump. I made mine with flexible PVC shower pan liner. I even put short sides on it and added a bulkhead at one end so if the sump overflows, the liner catches the water (rather than your nice stand and floor) and it gets piped outside. It's easy, it's fairly cheap and mine has already saved me from the mess of a leaking external pump! 8)/>/> IMHO, every stand should have one. Ron ???/>/> BTW, the stand looks like it's going to be beautiful! Edited July 11, 2011 by ronreefman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
infamous_6969 Report post Posted July 11, 2011 Good idea on the shower pan liner. I will be adding one soon also. That stands looks beaustiful. Nice woodworking there!!! How much space do you have under there? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johndestef Report post Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) Love it! Watching a complete, from-the-gound-up, buildup is incredibly fun. This isn't all of the framing that was done, but it was the last picture I took before I was finished. I put 2- 2 x 4 braces across the top too. I'm a big fan of over-building...... how about an additional inner layer of 2x8s and maybe 4x4s inside the corner of the legs? One ton + on that existing frame scares me a bit. Edited July 11, 2011 by johndestef Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ckeiling Report post Posted July 11, 2011 Thank you so much for posting your step-by-step build. The stand is beautiful, and I second the liner idea. My hubby is going to be building a new stand for our 75g tank we are getting ready to set up at home. You can be sure he'll be putting a liner and overflow in it! Was the Minwax easy to work with? It looks great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronreefman Report post Posted July 11, 2011 Love it! Watching a complete, from-the-gound-up, buildup is incredibly fun. This isn't all of the framing that was done, but it was the last picture I took before I was finished. I put 2- 2 x 4 braces across the top too. I'm a big fan of over-building...... how about an additional inner layer of 2x8s and maybe 4x4s inside the corner of the legs? One ton + on that existing frame scares me a bit. Glad to hear that you did cross members at the top. That's good as it will keep the top boards from spreading. Now add a 2x4 inside each leg and run them from just off the floor and just short of the top. Screw these into your existing legs AND into the big 2x6 or 2x8s at the top and bottom. Toe screwing those legs is not enough structure to keep them sitting on the legs. If the stand shifts at all it would be easy to have those toe screws pull out and the stand collapses. Remember, you will have almost a ton of water sitting on those legs. Just my thougths and the recommendation of others who helped me build the stand under my 180g tank. I took my plans from Reef Central. Ron ???/>/> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
180reefer Report post Posted July 11, 2011 +1 on the reinforcements... I sent you a pm earlier this morning about the same... Glad to see everyone is watching! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seagullcat Report post Posted July 12, 2011 ya man, beef her up. easy to do now.tough to do later. 8)/>/> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted July 18, 2011 I'd add a waterproof liner inside the stand under the sump. I made mine with flexible PVC shower pan liner. I even put short sides on it and added a bulkhead at one end so if the sump overflows, the liner catches the water (rather than your nice stand and floor) and it gets piped outside. It's easy, it's fairly cheap and mine has already saved me from the mess of a leaking external pump! 8)/>/> IMHO, every stand should have one. Definitely going this route. Thanks for the great idea! That stands looks beaustiful. Nice woodworking there!!! How much space do you have under there? 72" L, 34" H, 24" D Was the Minwax easy to work with? I am actually switching it up and going with all black oil based paint as that stain didn't really come out the way I wanted it too. I wouldn't try using it again. That's good as it will keep the top boards from spreading. Now add a 2x4 inside each leg and run them from just off the floor and just short of the top. Screw these into your existing legs AND into the big 2x6 or 2x8s at the top and bottom. Toe screwing those legs is not enough structure to keep them sitting on the legs. If the stand shifts at all it would be easy to have those toe screws pull out and the stand collapses. Remember, you will have almost a ton of water sitting on those legs. Just my thougths and the recommendation of others who helped me build the stand under my 180g tank. I took my plans from Reef Central. Yeah, I am going to do this. Better safe than sorry.. Thank you guys for all your advice, and with this, I have quite a bit more work to do. I'll post up some more pics when I get a chance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted September 13, 2011 Well I bought Bryson's 180, so now I have an extra. Anybody looking? Anywho, here's some pics of it set back up. Right side Middle Left side And my 72 Sorry about the pics they're taken with my phone. Let me try this again... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reef_Fan09 Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Wow...literally an instant ocean...:)/>/> Enjoy it, man! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
icy1155 Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Looks great. It looks like everything moved pretty well. Were there any casulties or did everything make it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted September 14, 2011 It really is an instant ocean! I don't think anything has died yet, a green pocci that is nice sized started to bleach really bad, but it is coming back now. The big toadstool is not happy so far, but he keeps getting better every day. Other than that, everything turned out great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
180reefer Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Fantastic! glad everything is doing well - that toadstool will do just fine, they are really hardy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seagullcat Report post Posted September 14, 2011 glad to here things are doing well keven.how late did you work on it? you looked to still have you hands full when i left. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted September 14, 2011 It was cleared up by about 8:00 I was still re-arranging the next day. Was it you that wanted Yumas, Dave? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seagullcat Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted September 14, 2011 lol... I take that as a yes?? I can have a bunch ready to go, just let me know.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronreefman Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Kevin, Glad to hear (and see) that everything worked out well. Great way to jump in with both feet! Ron :)/>/> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted September 14, 2011 I guess I really did do just that.. I love it! Now I just have to get rid of my 72 and my other 180 and I can start the frag tank up. My wife is going to start carrying a hammer if I bring another tank in the house right now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronreefman Report post Posted September 14, 2011 I guess I really did do just that.. I love it! Now I just have to get rid of my 72 and my other 180 and I can start the frag tank up. My wife is going to start carrying a hammer if I bring another tank in the house right now I hear that! Elaine let me set up the 180 with an 85 sitting next to it and said, "No more!" But today, on the ride home from the Keys, we were talking about setting up a 55g full time quarantine tank with a 50+g sump full of TBS live rock and oddball critters. I waited for Elaine to pull over and kick me out the door... but she just said, "Sounds like a cool idea!";)/>/> I was shocked. The QT is just for quarantine. If I need a hospital tank to treat a fish or coral, I'd set up a 10g tank. Ron :)/>/> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papawheelie Report post Posted December 10, 2011 Got an early Christmas present, a Canon EOS Digital Rebel. Now I just have to figure out how to use it! Here's some pics... Yumas. Northwoods Tri Color? Blue Tort & Mystery coral on the left. Anyone have an ID? Another Blue Tort Clown & Toadstool Hammer 3 unknown SPS. I think the one in the middle is a Lime Green Granulosa. The one on the left grows exactly like the Northwoods Tri Color, but it is all purple and has white polyps. No Idea what the one on the right is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goodreefer Report post Posted December 10, 2011 Awesome i wish i had a good camera! Love the shot with the yumas! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronreefman Report post Posted December 11, 2011 Got an early Christmas present, a Canon EOS Digital Rebel. Now I just have to figure out how to use it! Here's some pics... Well it looks to me like you picked up the technique pretty quickly. Really nice photos! Ron :o/>/> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
180reefer Report post Posted December 11, 2011 Very cool! looks like the flash went off on a couple of these shots - hard to tell what they are with it. You will have to start taking a bunch of photos to get the white balance figured out as well - the first shot looked the best, the others either got the flash, or way too blue to tell what the corals are. Love the shots, and you will get better with time! (I started with mine, then got really busy - now have to learn all over again!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
