the wife and i had twins this past july...so i can't afford to spend over a grand on lights right now on a 6 foot tank . buti ccanpurchace a little bit here and there overtime to get them in the future. babies first. wife seond then my obsession.. this year is also our 10th aniversary and since she has so graciously given the go ahead for this build i must plan something spectacular for her.

begining to regret the whole take apart scummy old tanks to build shiney new sump idea. fingers are sore from scraping of sylicone and crud off 6 36x18 panels... but when done ill have the satisfaction that i saved a lot of money lol

if i get time tomorrow night time to do some slicing and diceing

so tonight the sump build has begun cut 2 pieces of the glass for the ends and siliconed in place

roughly what the glass looked like before

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/101_6561.jpg

and almost together and together

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/101_6559.jpg

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/101_6560.jpg

now to let it set dry and water test on sunday dont want to rush the cure time may even wait longer. then let the partitioning begin.

Ouch, that looks like a lot of work!! Looks good so far!

cleaning the glass not my fav but saved me huge cash dollars.

setting tank together with cutting the two pieces 20 min. i just have to find a trim to add along the edge for the sharp cuts. my thumb suffered but whats a build without blood sacrifices.

Looking good Jeff :thumb:

thanks greg.. its a small start if all goes as well as planned will have pics of my lights i got from -=james=- thinking of adding some led's to the mix for a three part sunset then moonlights.

next step after sump tho is purchase the glass to fix the 180.

It's a great start! You make it look easy ... Hopefully the leak test goes well!

nothing is easy and trust me it will get harder as it goes along. i dont have a simple plan in my head. i forsee alot of resin . last time i used it i got a bit high. and that was a small rockwall ive been banned to the garage for that project. true test will be when i repair the 180 if it will leak or blow up when fill lol.

but thank you im sure the leak test will be fine. i just cant wait till i can take over the guest room and make it a tank building shop. thats when this project will take flight. the waaiting is killing me lol

I knew it, diys not as simple as they say! Finally an admission :lol: lol

I know what you mean about space to work or even set up. Mine wouldn't have been possible but we had one of our kids move out, so freed up a room in the basement, another kid moved downstairs, office moved to upstairs bedroom and I get a fish room! Timing worked well!

I can't help with the 180 but I'm sure it will be fine. Having the tank sit on my floor for 2 weeks was torture, can't imagine waiting longer!! Do you have a tank going now?