busy busy on my 55 gallon

[YLChik]

I have been busy upgrading the 55 gallon after working on the 29 and learning all about plumbing and building etc I wanted to step up the 55.

So the to do list consisted of a lighting upgrade - from 4 * 65 watt PC's to 4 * 54 watt T5's retro fit into a canopy so i can have a larger variety of fish and corals

so here is the canopy I built yesterday... needs to be sanded and stained and... well unwarped a bit

side view


open

closed


I will also be working on the sump I put in last weekend - a simple 10 gallon tank with a super getto set up, just enough to get the skimmer and heater out of the tank and add and auto top off... that will be another project for this little upgrade.

I will get pics later as the sump is disassembled for fitting the canopy

[tims]

very nice amy!
what will you be sealing it with?

[YLChik]

stain and a gloss poly - lots of poly. on the outside, painting the inside white
I am going to be sanding a bunch this weekend

[YLChik]

also picked up some blue and red blastos from a local reefer...
under actnics

[icebear]

Very nice

(the lid and the blastos)

[ScruffyRubicon]

Nice work on the hood!

Love the Blastos!

[frankandmaura]

Nice work Amy...I am always impressed.

[crvz]

There it is, you've been teasing us with this hood. Great look blastos! And if you don't mind, could you document how you stain and poly? I've never done it before, and your expertise (that's right, expertise!) will very likely come in handy.

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by crvz

There it is, you've been teasing us with this hood. Great look blastos! And if you don't mind, could you document how you stain and poly? I've never done it before, and you're expertise (that's right, expertise!) will very likely come in handy.

WOW! sure
I can do that. I am starting out sanding with a 220 grit sandpaper to sand off the rough wood.

then I'll stain - I usually use a rag to stain, i think most people use a brush. I may brush on and wipe off with a rag. It;s just how my Dad taught me. I think it makes the stain look smoother - no brush marks for sure that way

I'll update with pics after that
it'ss take awhile

[YLChik]

here are some things BEn has made for me



this was my Christmas gift 3 years ago

[YLChik]

and my very first valentines gift

[Wiskey]

Looks great Amy! Nice work

The furnature is very nice too, is that what you were saying you were planning to stain it to match?

Good luck with the staining and finishing! Put on some music, the sanding won't seem to take nearly as long

Whiskey

[Brent Cone]

Lookin good Amy! nice job.
Brent.

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by icebear

Very nice

(the lid and the blastos)

Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon

Nice work on the hood!

Love the Blastos!

Originally Posted by frankandmaura

Nice work Amy...I am always impressed.

thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Looks great Amy! Nice work

The furnature is very nice too, is that what you were saying you were planning to stain it to match?

Good luck with the staining and finishing! Put on some music, the sanding won't seem to take nearly as long

Whiskey

lol true Dougs sig makes me wanna find those U2 cd's of mine
i'll post pic of the furniture I'm matching

Originally Posted by Brent Cone

Lookin good Amy! nice job.
Brent.

thanks Brent!

[blennieluvr]

I've been really unhappy with my 55 but now you got me thinking. It seems I'm not going to get into a bigger tank without a chunk of change so I may just have to upgrade what I can. That canopy looks nice and I too just have pc's. T5's would be great...also are an investment though. I drool over the idea of having a sump and drilled tank. I don't have anywhere to hold all my critters and stuff tho.