The 90g project has begun!!!

It has been over a year since I got a 90g acrylic tank from a patient.  It is 60Lx18Wx20H.  It was badly scratched when I got it but I spent about a month last year sanding and buffing by hand to get rid of all the scratches.  It still has a tiny bit of haze, but I am hoping to get some suggestions (and perhaps borrow a power sander/buffer) to get the haze gone.  I have buffing compound from the scratch kit already.

Anyway, I ran out of time and money to finish the stand. So it got shelved for about a year.  After a record month in June at the office I am finally going to finish the tank.  For those of you that have seen the current 20g in my office it will be nearly identical, just taller and wider.  The idea with these stands is that everything is enclosed including pumps cords and everything.  That way no kids (including my own) can mess with stuff while unattended in the waiting room.

The sides are 1" MDF (so freakin' heavy).  This allows me to rout the front corners to match the radius on the tank.  There are extensions glued onto the top of the tank that allow the water level to be exactly at the top of the tank without an air gap above the water line.

The stand will have a full plywood platform (necessary for acrylic).  It will also have a full plywood bottom to spread the weight over the entire area.  The bottom of the tank is 48"H to be viewed while standing, and to give room for more equipment.  The sump will be a 45g (36x13x24H) and will have a 6" deep sand bed. 






In this picture you can see the extensions over the tank openings and the slant that the canopy (14" tall) will have to allow it to open 180deg and stay there.



I will post up to this thread as I make more progress.  I hope to have it up and painted before the reef tour, if I can't have it filled by then.

Which reminds me, does anyone know any painters that will be painting with exterior grade white paint?  I would like to just trailer it to a job site and get it painted inside and out with a couple coats of good white paint.

Feel free to post comments and concerns.

Thanks,
Fax


Edited by fj40fax - September 18 2006 at 7:08pm

There is.  We have 9 ft ceilings in the office. 

I'm also trying to work out a way to get the fans on top to exhaust outside, This thing is going to evap a lot of water, and me and humidity do not get along.

Fax

Sounds great. I'm looking forward to seeing those pictures!

The stand is now painted!  It will be in the office for final assembly tomorrow.  The plan is to have it up and running with some fish and corals for the reef tour.  I was gone for the weekend and had a problem in the 20g and lost everything  (wasn't much in there anyway).  It will be a good time to move the rock over without losing too much.  I figure at my present pace the assembly should take a month or two, but could take as long as a year...

Fax

Progress: you got to love it!

Pics for all those interested...

This is the new one next to the old one.  Just installed the locks that keep wayward items from little ones out of the sump.


This is the electrical compartment.  It will have an acrylic face to separate the fresh air from the moist salty air in the stand.  Also visible as the curves in the 4x4 support are the 2 10" fan locations.  They should bring in heaps of fresh air.



This is the light rack that will hold the 2 x 250W MH's  the third bar will hold future VHO's or T5's.  The whole thing slides back for easy access.



This is the sump.  Upper right is the skimmer compartment, it will also have the filter bags from the returns.  Middle is the refugium area, to be lit by a LOA from home depot.  Bottom is the bubble trap.  It is 36x18x20H, and holds about 40g all the time plus has enough room for when the pump turns off.



That's it for now.  Have quite a bit of work to do before it gets wet, but I'll be workin on it...

Fax

Edited by fj40fax - July 07 2007 at 5:18pm

Making more progress, got the doors hung, and started plumbing.  There will be a SCWD on each side returning from a Iwaki 40 at nearly 1200gph (600 per SCWD).  Still not sure where to put the return pump, but I will put that question over in the "Plumbing an external pump" thread.



This pic also shows the wavy glued in sand in the bottom.  I didn't mean for it to be so wavy, but I think it looks cool.  I should be able to blast it with a powerhead and get all the junk off the bottom without causing a sandstorm.  That is one of two Koralia 3's blowing down, and I have another #3 to put in the middle, but I may switch it out for a rectangular tunze or whatever.

Fax

There will be a 6" DSB in the sump.

I've got some time this morning for an update, with pics!



Here is the 90 next to the old 20.  I will be pulling the 20 out on Sat.



This is a full tank shot, notice the little feeding door.  I'm so glad I made that because the hood door is sooo heavy.



This one shows the light rack (thanks again John H for getting it welded up for me!).  Also visible is the top of the "double durso"

Pretty much all that is left is stocking it with live stuff.  I got 6 chromis to start off with and lost 1 about a week after they went in.  I also got a christmas anthias, a crocea clam, frogspawn, purple gorgonia, and a large devil's hand.  Still looks very empty...

Thanks,
Fax

Looks great! looking forward to watching it grow! .. keep the pics coming!