Here we go again...New 46 Bowfront Reef

[Staplesofficewar]

When I moved to Augusta, Ga two years - I lost everything in transit - even after the life support system I build to keep everything happy. I had started building a 110 Gallon Reef tank while in PA (see old post). The wife (and I) felt it would be too big for our current house so I sold it. I have been getting the itch again lately and building from all my mistakes on the 110 Gallon tank, I am starting a 46 Gallon bowfront reef.

Step 1 - Get a tank...check!



Not a bad stand to make into a workbench huh?

I am awaiting the delivery of my bulkheads - going with (2) 1 inch ones - and then I am going to remove the bottom and have a new one made with 3/8" glass and have them drill holes in it. I'll post the removal and the reinstallation hopefully this weekend.

-J

[Staplesofficewar]

Question for anyone reading - I need to build an internal overflow box out of acrylic. It is well known that silicon does not bond well to acrylic. I am considering building a 5 wall (4 sides and a bottom) overflow instead of the traditional 3 sided one. Then the entire box would be built with cement instead of silicon. I would drill holes in the bottom to match the ones in the tank bottom (new bottom should be complete monday or tuesday). I would then apply some silicon around the holes in the glass, press the overflow down onto it while aligning the holes and then install my bulkheads until the silicon cures. If is the there is not a good bond to the acrylic, the cured silicon will act as a seal when compresssed between the glass and actylic.

Thoughs?

[Staplesofficewar]

Quick Update - Glass company dragging their feet - Bottom wont be ready until "maybe" tomorrow.

On the other hand, I finally got the tempered bottom off the tank and began cleaing it. I learned the secret is to use single edge razor blades and push them all the way through the seal, then put one in beside it - repeat until you have 3 in. Remove the middle and put it either to the left or right of the other. Continue this way until the side is completely seperated. This is very hard at first, and patience helps. I also found that it helps to elevate the tank from the inside so that the weight of the tank is hanging on the bottom - I believe it helps to somewhat. Here are some pics. Notice the white color on either side of the razor blade, this occures because of the glass pulling away but the silicon not giving up its hold.

[Staplesofficewar]

I keep getting errors uploading pics:

Exceeds forum quota by 31.1 KB.

among others - whats this about?

[mitchmac]

ur pics are too BIG !!! lol tone em down a bit...get a pic editor or preload them to a site that lets u choos what size u want to upload them at it could be that u have too many pictures saved on the server and they are cutting u offf....go a head and clear up some space buddy

[My94TA]

I like the magazine under the tank!

[OneDummHikk]

Staples, are you attaching them as attachments or uploading to the photo gallery? You have a very small limit on attachments. Uploading them to the photo gallery gives you a lot more room for photos.

Good luck with the new bottom and I like the stand.

[partobe]

Hi Staples! I know this is a little off topic but here goes. I was born and raised right outside of Agusta so I just wanted to say Hi to you and your wife! Good Luck with the tank!!

[Staplesofficewar]

partobe, thanks for the well wishing. Can I asked why you moved to NY? We moved here from Wellsboro, Pa (near Corning) about 2 years ago.

OK - FINALLY got my new bottom today. I dropped the bottom frame off at the local glass place on friday. I was told it would be ready on Monday Afternoon. I had them make it out of 3/8" annelled glass. This is 50% thicker then the tempered bottom it is replacing. The LFS guys told me it would more then replace the 1/4" I removed.
Any thoughts on this?

Tuesday afternoon I get a phone call in which a rude fella said "your glass is ready for the top of your tank" ( imagine him taking very rude and rough and acting like making the piece ruined his day). I informed him it was the bottom to which he replied "whatever".
When I picked it up, it was wrapped in paper so I had them remove it so I could examine the fit. They were not even close. The owner was standing there and was suprised that his employee had not been able to build it better. They never offered to remake it. I had to ask after I said it would not work.
Thursday - They did not call.
Friday - Its ready...again....MUCH better.


There it is...quite nice.

I masked it and the rest of the tank:



And Siliconed....


Tomorrow I will seal the inside and install the plastic bottom - water test early next week. I'll Post a completly assembled tank as well as one with it full of hydro.
J

[Seamore]

Looking good, the bulkheads are in upsidedown, threads should extend out the bottom. Patience and a plan will get you there.

[OneDummHikk]

The bulkheads can go either way, as long as the seal is on the water side. Putting them in "upside down" can have a clearance advantage and make it easier to put them in and then set the tank where it goes without having the bulkheads extend down in the way.

Looks like a nicely done job.

[Staplesofficewar]

Ohhh - I know about the bulkheads. They were just laying on the floor as I was cleaning up and I just threw them in there.

Thanks

[Loverotties]

Looking good!

[Staplesofficewar]

Hello Everyone.

Long overdue update - We have been busy getting ready for the weddding - 3 weeks and a few days....anyways.

At the first water test, two days after filling, a leak developed

I removed all the sillycone and while doing so, found a corner with uncured material. I had let it cure for 3 days, however, it was still sticky with the typical smell of ammonia. The LFS (just found them, seem to be quite knowledgeable) thinks the sillycone may be a little old. I tried again and had success.

I've build my overflow box, installed it. Installed the standpipe, and some of the return pipes inside of the overflow.
here is a pic inside the overflow:



Now it was time for the stand - I love the look of oak, but not the expense. the outside of the stand is 1/4" oak plywood.

1st, the essentials:



Make the top and bottom (of the bottom) (and the Buddy posing)



Make the top look nice and allow plumbing through:



Install some uprights and other supporting members:



Dry fit test (one of many) with some internal panels installed:



Install the front oak panel - notice the sound deadening insulation on the sides. the stant has this between all the external and internal walls:



All sides installed - door rough-cut and edges (two front ones) prepared for edging using a router:

[Staplesofficewar]

From the front:


Lets start on the canopy:



the tank - on top of the canopy:



And finally the last pic of the post and also as far as I have gotten - installing some oak on the canopy:



If you couldn't tell, I like wood glue - it's fantastically stong and wont rust. If anyone has any questions, thoughts, concerns, please chime in.

Thanks, and goodnight