175g Bow-Front + many beers and tears (many pics)

geekengineer

geekengineer

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#21
#21
Yeah Hopefully not coming across like I'm telling you what to do. I just agree its a bit frustrating that it isn't clear to me which way is going to be less risk in the long run. :eek: If it sounds like the guy who you got the tank from knows what he's doing I myself would feel much safer with foam too. I still debating a bit on if it would hurt for me to go ahead and put a yoga mat on my framed tank just to be safe.
 
scmountain

scmountain

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#22
#22
geekengineer said:
Yeah Hopefully not coming across like I'm telling you what to do. I just agree its a bit frustrating that it isn't clear to me which way is going to be less risk in the long run. :eek: If it sounds like the guy who you got the tank from knows what he's doing I myself would feel much safer with foam too. I still debating a bit on if it would hurt for me to go ahead and put a yoga mat on my framed tank just to be safe.
Click to expand...
It is all good!
But yes very frustrating that there is no answer for such an important question. I dont care how extreme I have to go, just please dont turn my living room into a lazy river!
 
scmountain

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#23
#23
per usual I am way behind updating and working on my build. New position at work, springtime house prep, blah blah blah......

As of this last Easter weekend I now have the tank plumbed to the wall! (fish room to be on the other side of the wall)

Cost: $109 (mistakes were made and unions really drive the cost up quickly!) I planned on having each return and drain plumbed out for redundancy.... but after many a discussion I opted for both 1" drains to feed into a 2" main drain. Also to reduce stress on my return pump, and my abundance of 1" pipe, the returns are 1" then Tee off and up at 3/4"



Seeing that the tank came pre drilled with only 2 holes in each over flow I went with duroso stand pipes and followed their guide (DIY Duroso)
I was contemplating having a hang-on overflow "box" in each overflow plumbed to the drain for emergencies, but I am not sure if I only need one or if two would be overkill... thoughts?

When installing the standpipes into the bulkheads I had the Boss drop them in while I crawled underneath and tightened them.... a 29" game of operation for her and my hands in a small space. we tested our "love" when I went to leak test it and saw.... an O-ring clearly not where it was supposed to be hahaha ( as you can see the cutouts in the stand needed to be wider for easier access to each bulkhead)


after making sure every O ring was accounted for and 24 hours of no leaking through the standpipes or bulkheads we finished assembling the rest of the plumbing underneath.



the rest of the plumbing will exit from the wall behind the insulation, span 3 feet into the garage/shed fish room.

My next task is to fix the broken tank strap. The tank was operational with the broken strap but I am going to repair the broken "strap" and add another brace to both existing "straps" just to be safe. Now you know why I was so paranoid about with the foam.
My plan is to epoxy the old pieces together, epoxy an acrylic gusset on both "straps" (broken and non broken), then I will make a brace over both straps out of aluminum.

here is the damage ( I have the "missing" piece to epoxy in as well)
 
scmountain

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#26
#26
TheRealChrisBrown said:
I imagine finding an entire new top trim piece for the whole tank is impossible? I think you are on to the next best solution... Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Yea I did not find any, and luckily there was a good amount of folks out there who have done patches to braces before.

I finished the braces, still need to post pics, but I am confident at the strength of this epoxy

Cake_Boss said:
That plumbing looks intense. Are you planning on adding a manifold of some sort to the return?
Click to expand...
for now I will have a union there so that I can add a true "manifold," but currently I don't have any equipment to add! :(
 
scmountain

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#27
#27
Bad news: Laid off of work last week (didn't see it coming, but they ran out of work for me)
good news: have some time to work on the build!

here is one of two fixed braces
lightly painted the top, prepped and scored both surfaces, alcohol cleaned, glued and clamped.



Super lucky to receive a 150g Rubbermaid tub for our "sump." It was a bit bigger than we had planned, but only had to add plumbing! (then 24h leak test)



Plumbed it to a Reeflo Snapper Needed to make it as compact as possible, so we "tucked" the pump under the lip of the tub.



On the inside of the casa, finished framing the wall for the face of the tank. To add to the "whoa" factor of the Bow front, we decided to recess the tank in the wall that fits the tank before the glass starts to curve. This look will elongate the tank/room and also allow the viewer to to approach perpendicular to the curve.

 
Dr.DiSilicate

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#28
#28
Sorry about the job man! I’m sure a guy with your talents will find something quick.


Sent from my iPhone using MASC - Marine Aquarium Society of Colorado
 
TheRealChrisBrown

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#29
#29
I like that extended wall area! Do you know how you are going to finish it? Is it going to be drywall and paint, wood, stone, etc.? Sorry about the job, hopefully something will materialize quickly for you.
 
scmountain

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#30
#30
TheRealChrisBrown said:
I like that extended wall area! Do you know how you are going to finish it? Is it going to be drywall and paint, wood, stone, etc.? Sorry about the job, hopefully something will materialize quickly for you.
Click to expand...
I will dry wall it for now, I always liked the rock look but fiancee is not down with it.
 
scmountain

scmountain

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#34
#34
busy weekend! Picked up 2 food grade 55g drums for $10!


mocked up potential layout in fish shed. Stacking the barrels gives us very little space to get access to salt bin, so we might mount them side by side above the sump.



Inside the house:
we lined the inside of the tank area with painters tarp in a "rather creative" attempt to waterproof the area from humidity, spills, etc etc. (pic is room only half "sealed")
Painted angle Iron and mounted it above the tank for Lighting mounts ($22)


Also started the drywall project. Total cost for tools, mud, sheets etc $95 (could have been cheaper had we owned the tools ourselves as mud and boards are rather inexpensive)

Had to bring in the big muscles to help get these sheets mounted (Her first drywall project!)



had a few oops and "aha!" moments but overall it went well. "Bowed fronts" are annoying haha
We were too excited and had to mount our sole XR30w to see how it looked. (yes the sides are the access points, but you can stand on the stand "behind" the tank to reach all parts of it.)



with the frame skinned and first coat of mud (goosebumps!)


Very excited with the whole project and it finally starting to look like a normal room again.
(3rd coat of mud, light sanding, but haven't done the top coat and 220 grit yet)


next steps:
finish the wall as error free as possible
pick a paint that will look good
make the "faux" panels that hide the access points
install the accent lighting on the left and right overhangs of the wall
 
Dr.DiSilicate

Dr.DiSilicate

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#37
#37
Looks really nice! So nice to see you both working on it. Not that common for both people to be into the build. Full access from the back will work fine I’m sure. Get a mag float for the glass...


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TheRealChrisBrown

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#38
#38
I like the lower drywall work you guys did, looks really nice! I think you are well on your way to a super awesome finished product! Keep up the good work, and the pics!
 
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