That looks promising already =) I like the rock structure on the left. Is the right side reef ceramics?

Cut my foam for the top and I'm told I'll have the tank this friday! The foam isn't tacked down...what do people typically do? I want to avoid gluing it due to hardened glue spots maybe making pressure points but I'm guessing when we try and get the tank on there they'll move and cause us grief...

Mounted the 3/4" sliding doors tonight. There is a bit of warp in the left side but I'm going to attach a vertical piece of plywood near the inner end of each door to pull the panels a bit flatter. Since the doors don't open 100% this extra plywood brace inside the door won't quite hit the stand's 2x4's. These are 22" sliders and are safe to 100lbs. I did some mods to the safety stops to give me a few extra inches of slide and after comparing the wobble at full extension to the original configuration it is the same. They wobble a touch when fully extended but are rock-solid when fully closed. A 5/8" plywood lip will be attached to the tops and sides of the doors to receive tile as well, then the sides will have an additional layer of 5/8" plywood to flush them to the door ends.

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/DSC_0394.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/DSC_0396.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/DSC_0397.jpg

Good idea on the doors, that'll create a nice clean look, very slick.

The right rock structure is a reef ceramic. Something I would use if I could go back. It's got lots of cupped areas, perfect for placing corals.

I've finished the structure that will receive the tile now. I replaced the plywood doors with maple veneered plywood since it was a much straighter/flatter product. Shame to tile over it as it's a nice board but oh well.

The doors have a lip screwed and glued onto their tops and ends. The sides of the stand were built-out 3/4" to flush with the new door lips and these ends also now have a lip on top so the tile strip for the stand's top is level around the 3 sides.

When the doors are shut the stand is a perfectly flush box so hopefully the tile plays nice and will do the same. The plywood trim for the tile is about 1 cm away from the foam's edge so it won't interfere. I'll tile once the tank is on the stand and filled so I can tile close to the tank's glass with all deflections observable. I had tiled around my 400 gallon before filling it and it bowed so the glass touched tile in a few spots which was scary...

Next I'll be removing the doors and painting their insides.

Here's some pics:

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tilebox1.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tilebox2.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tilebox3.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tilebox4.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tilebox5.jpg

The doors look great. They should give the tank a nice look when done.

I'm really enjoying this build thread...you have some great ideas!!

Now if only I had money to actually DO anything reef related haha. Thanks for the comments!

This is going to look amazing when done!

Well some progress again. This time I have the tank itself to show. I opted for no starphire and looking through it now I honestly think I'll be happier with regular glass. I hear starphire scratches easier, this isn't too green at all and I had weird distortions with my last starphire tank.

I had *removed* build this for me and they did an awesome job. Ground and polished edges, black silicone and eurobraced with a few holes. Getting the tank into the livingroom was pretty easy but to get it up on my high stand (44") we hauled my kitchen table over. We got it on the table first and from there onto the stand. Extra thanks to *removed* for delivering this beast to my door at no extra charge.

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tank1.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tank2.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tank3.jpg

That is one fine looking tank! I agree, I see very little green at all. I've got a 225 Sea Star coming next week with starphire front. I've heard from some owners that the starphire glass does scratch easier and others say no. I personally have never owned it before, so I don't know. I've seen other tanks with it and I really liked it. I'll guess I'll soon find out.

Oh - I think I saw your tank at the store before it had the bracing or box on it.

"Shore is purdy" :)

Does EVERYONE get to go into the back room there? I thought I was all special getting to see the operating room table and stuff. Yeah that was mine you saw!

Nice Tank
 

The tank is looking pretty sweet. Definitely fit for the bits!

Love,
TheBits

Coming along for the ride. Looks sweet.

Are you kidding? He'd chase me out of there with a shotgun if I got anywhere near. He had the tank out in front, you had to walk right by it to get at his fish tanks :p

Since this build is slow I will tend to update for ANY progress lol.

By extreme luck Gold's had my skimmer in stock! This won't see any electricity for months unfortunately. It's a BK SM250 and the thing oozes quality. The lid is a WEAPON. Hopefully it can skim too =)

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/bk1.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/bk2.jpg

Next item will be a Dart Gold that I have on order. I really hope the new (original) Baldor motors are as quiet as I've heard.

A bit more progress to report...

I've got most of my plumbing parts now and I began connecting it all. This pic shows the 4 1" returns into the tank. These will tee to 1.5" flex pvc that will snake behind the tank to the pump. The 90s are slipped on right now because there isn't enough clearance to rotate them all the way around and I don't want to commit at this point. I may use some 45s for the middle two returns to get some flow between my planned rock islands/piles.

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/returns.jpg

These next two pics show the two tanks I tried my hand at building. I picked up 3/8" glass and went to town and I'm really happy with the result. I water tested successfully and then added the first baffle. I may not add anymore actually. Will do a wet run and see how the bubbles are. Space was at a premium so I don't have a large return area so more baffles might actually increase noise. I'll see...

The tall tank is basically an extra 20 gallons of system volume I will have in circulation. To do a water change I'll shut it's feed valve, flip a switch to run a little eheim that always sits in it...draining it into the basement drain (via the safety drain in the bottom of my stand). Then I'll turn a valve on my mixing tank hidden in my office (other side of the wall, in a cabinet) to top up the tank and open it's feed valve back up to bring it 'online'.

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/sump1.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/sump2.jpg

Once my flex pvc arrives and the baffle cures I'll get these into the stand and hook it all up! Really excited to be able to fire my Dart up. My fuge will be a 15 gallon tank on a shelf inside the stand but I likely won't build it. Just need to plumb everything to make sure a stock 15 (24x12x12) will fit. Cheaper than custom and I'm nearly out of black silicone anyways.

Nice job on the tanks! Now everyone will want you to build them one. What material is the black back of your display tank?

Hey thanks =)

The best part is they hold water! I was a little worried as I filled them even tho I was pretty careful in their construction. Only hiccup was putting a massive gouge in the table when i slid the sump over a bit lol. You can see it extending past the left side of the sump in the last pic.

The back of the tank is paint. I think the builder used a marine enamel. The 1/8" acrylic backs I had siliconed into my previous tanks buckled and warped which i really didn't like. This will allow me to scrape the back religiously like any other panel too.

OUCH! That is a nasty gouge!!! But everything looks excellent! I'm looking forward to the build! (bet you are too!)

I moved the tanks into position. Nearly broke my back and hit my head not once but twice on the opening. Hopefully not an indication of what maintenance is going to be like lol.

I found a new use for an interlocking playmat my wife wasn't using in her dayhome anymore as well! I placed the 'nice' side down since it's disney princesses =)

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/sump3.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/sump4.jpg

My suggestion for the table is a brown crayon (no really, it's worth a try).

Tanks look great. Man I love the look of a new tank, the clean lines and everything.

Where'd you pick up the tru-union valve?

Thanks Tony.

Yeah washing the table seems to have helped a bit. I noticed later I put two gashes in there haha but I think it's crayon time.

The 2" TU ball valve is from Bulk Reef Supply. I picked up a 1.5" and 4 1" of the same style and I'm glad I did since they are well built and turn so nicely. I bought all my fittings, valves and pipe from BRS. I'm waiting on a few more things from them to finish my plumbing. My black flex pvc should arrive same day (27th) so I am pumped.

So the stand is officially completed. I was happy to get this done before the tile we used on the fireplace got discontinued or something! These photos show the finished exterior and the plumbing I did inside. 2 inputs into the sump that wrap behind the skimmer are for the refugium drains. That will be a 20 gallon on a shelf somewhere in there. Thanks for lookin'!

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tiled1.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tiled2.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tiled3.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tiled4.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tiled5.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/build/tiled6.jpg

Send us more!
Imagination A++ - I love creative people, its so inspiring. This is some project.
Does the tile match the fireplace of course it does. Did you design this yourself
where, did you get the ideas......Iam a FANNNNTASTIC! HE HE! Can hardly wait
to see what goes in.

looks really good good idea on grouting the tops into a angle and leaving no grout lines on main doors.

Very nice job. I love the tile.

"Wow" hardly does justice..

Incredible truly beautiful.....

Very clean! I like the sliding doors very much

That is a great looking setup so far... The tank itself looks great! When will it see water?

Thanks guys =)

Be a while yet. Second child on the way doesn't help lol. Next up is my light rack which will be angled aluminum with a wood skin but with 3 reflectors, bulbs and a schwack of t5s it is going to require some careful saving. The build thus far has all been done with money I can scrape up on the side. I used to have a pretty nice collection of out of print cds =)

Can't wait to see more updates, I like the idea of the sliding front and matching it with the fireplace

Just snapped some shots of the new light after I got it mounted to the ceiling. It is a 12x80w Sfiligoi Stealth T5. Has some nice features such as true individual reflectors per bulb, 6-fan active cooling and a 3-piece glass shield that spans the entire bottom of the fixture. I left it out for the shots.

I'd love to show some pics of it firing bulbs. The hilarious part is that bulbs are not in my budget for a while it seems.

Interesting fact: I was precariously straddling the sink on top of the kitchen island with my camera nearly touching the ceiling for shot number two. Since the top view is my favorite of the light and nobody is ever going to see it I thought it deserved some sweet lovin'.

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/bui...-stealth-1.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/bui...-stealth-2.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/bui...-stealth-3.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/bui...-stealth-4.jpg

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/bui...-stealth-5.jpg

Wow, very clean lines. Your pictures belong in a brochure. :)

Very slick! Can't wait to see water in it :cool:

nice job, :mrgreen:

Your tank is very clean. The matching stand and fireplace gives a very professional look. I'm impressed good job on your build.

That is a gorgeous setup you got going..

12x80W... Wow... that is gonna look like a nuclear explosion :mrgreen:

a long build but well worth the wait this is what a dream tank should look like.

I guess one way of looking at it is it's almost like morgaging a car only payments are whenever you want!

Wow! Looks amazing.

Now I can't wait to get my new tank (mid Feb.) :) Its the exact same dimensions but just 2" shorter making it about 20G less. And I have an internal overflow instead of external.

Hope it ends up looking half as good as this!

Can't wait to see it filled up.