J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 As most of u know, I'm in the process of putting my first system together. I've been taking my time to make sure I do things right for my first build....and tonight I decided to start my thread. My tank should be built and delivered sometime next week. I decided to try a company based in Seattle, called Clear Fabrications, and Jason has been more than accommodating every step of the way. I have also picked up a few items along the way and started building my custom stand. I have tried to take lots of pictures, so I can share my experience with everyone here. Here is a link to Clear Fabrications thread on Reef Frontiers, showing pics of my tank being built... http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f116/j-dogs-new-tank-63859/#post660653 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 tank stand My buddy helped me build the custom stand I needed to fit my special room. The stand still needs doors, but they should be done soon. It also needs to be stained and sealed, so I still have a lot of work ahead of me. Here is the basic stand.... Here is the stand with some molding and base board Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Sump My main man, Matt (mattv), was kind enough to build my custom sump. It ended up being 40x20x16 with a built in refugium. He did a great job!....thanks again Matt:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Lighting As u guys well know, it took me forever to figure out my lighting. Well, I decided to go with an ATI Powermodule! I got such a smokin deal, I couldn't pass it up (naughty).......I ended up with a 10 bulb 48" fixture, plus I ordered a few extra bulbs so I can experiment and get the right color combination. This should give me plenty of coverage to grow SPS, and also allow me to grow lower light corals on the sides of the tank. I am also planning on supplementing the fixture with a couple of LED strips, for more color, and hopefully a little bit of shimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Looking really good so far bud. Can't wait to see it up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 nice looking stand. Question for ya, what are you going to be using to brace the bottom of the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titus'reef Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 This is very nice! You are up for a good start. Are you going to hide the light inside a canopy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danik Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Best choice for lights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 This tank is going to be awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Tagging along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Way to go Rashaan! You will LOVE the light! Everything is lookin real good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 You're going to love that ATI Rashaan! Nice looking stand! This is going to be an amazing tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigjohnwoody Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Jumping on the tag along wagon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Good to see it coming together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 That's going to be epic. Can't wait to see the you put it all together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 nice looking stand. Question for ya, what are you going to be using to brace the bottom of the tank? I'm not sure what u mean (scratch).......Do u see something wrong with my stand design? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 This is very nice! You are up for a good start. Are you going to hide the light inside a canopy? Titus, I plan on hanging the fixture for now and seeing how much light spills into the room. If it gets too annoying, then I will build a canopy, but it will be tricky since the wall is at an angle. So I might need a professional to handle it, if I can't figure how to build it. This is what I have to deal with.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Quote Originally Posted by reefnjunkie View Post nice looking stand. Question for ya, what are you going to be using to brace the bottom of the tank? I'm not sure what u mean .......Do u see something wrong with my stand design? It's gonna to be hard to plumb it with the back on the stand, unless everything is going thru the bottom of the tank including returns. Is the tank glass or acrylic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 It's gonna to be hard to plumb it with the back on the stand, unless everything is going thru the bottom of the tank including returns. Is the tank glass or acrylic? Shouldn't be too hard to plumb...I'll just use a hole saw to cut openings where I need them. I can't see myself plumbing it first, then putting the back on afterwards....that seems kind of tricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRENT Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Sweet build man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Looks good can't wait to see it all done. I think what reefnjunkie is talking about is the support for the bottom of the tank. With what we see only the edges of the bottom of the tank will have support. Like a center brace going across or plywood under the tank to help support the weight. I think this might be what he is talking about but I am not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramy Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 I love the demensions of the tank. That is one wicked light you got. Are you planning to put a piece of plywood under the tank witha span that far you might gut some sagging in the middle. I look forward to following along and seeing this become a reef =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Got a surprise package today...160 pounds of Bahama Aragonite Sand! The reef calculator I used said I would need about 90 lbs for a 1 inch sand bed, so a little extra won't hurt. I couldn't find a better deal, since all I had to do was pay the shipping, while the sand was free! I also added some center support to my stand. I'm still not sure what u guys were asking about earlier, when u mentioned my stands bracing (scratch). Maybe reefnjunkie while chime in and let me know, but the top of the stand is identical to the bottom structurally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 The picture above has a brace, that is what i was talking about- had you not added that, I am fairly sure it would not have been long before the bottom busted out. Its a lot of pressure on the bottom without it and I tend to overbuild. I would have ran the one the length of the tank where the cross supports ( your ends) are taking the load weight and I would have used a 4x4. I dont have a degree in engineering so none of what I talk about may even matter-like I said I overbuild since I dont know any betterDOH! Great looking stand, I suppose I'm just jealous(naughty) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Dog Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 The picture above has a brace, that is what i was talking about- had you not added that, I am fairly sure it would not have been long before the bottom busted out. Its a lot of pressure on the bottom without it and I tend to overbuild. I would have ran the one the length of the tank where the cross supports ( your ends) are taking the load weight and I would have used a 4x4. I dont have a degree in engineering so none of what I talk about may even matter-like I said I overbuild since I dont know any betterDOH! Great looking stand, I suppose I'm just jealous(naughty) Thanks for the input, but I used plans from an engineer who had a DIY plan on either Reef2Reef or Reef Central (same plans Finch used on his stand). I'm not saying the plan is full-proof, but I hope it is, since I don't want my stand to collapse one day (sad). My next step is to stain and seal the stand, then add the doors. I'm hoping I can get it all done by this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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