PaulG's 4x2x2 Tank Journal... Now Spawning...

[PaulG]

Introduction:

System Objectives: Mixed Reef with a focus on pair & harems.

System Type: Mixed Reef

Display System:

Strike up Date: A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

Display Tank: 4x2x2 10mm, left rear corner weir

Display Lighting: LED yong hang chow special

Stand: DIY, design 'lifted' from Danger's Stand.

Hood: None yet, still undecided.

Sump: Standard 3ft Sump

Refugium: none

Refugium Lighting: none


Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water

Display Water circulation: 2 x 5000lph powerheads on alternate run times

Return Pump:Eheim 1262

Skimmer: SWC 220 (I think)

Evaporation Top Up: manual


Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: Calcium Reactor

Alkilinity Addition: Calcium Reactor

Other Chemical Maintenance: Vodka

Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:


Images:






Well today was the day I picked the nice flashy new tank up.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a bit of work done on this & update the journal on a weekly basis with the progress.

Just before anyone comments, yes the pics where taken from the rear & side of the tank as thats the orientation that it landed in when we got it off the back of the ute & no, pics from teh front won't be posted until I'm ready to move the tank onto the stand for fitting purposes







No its not your eye's, the wier looks an odd shape because it is
The piece of glass has been installed abou 5mm out of whack at one end (NOT by design I might add).


Next update will be picks of the stand that I'm building

Enjoy!

[Dallas]

MMm tank

[PaulG]

And here's a pic of the stand



Well.... a before pic

[Mxett]

Off to a good start. Good luck with your stand.

[PaulG]

Well... I got some new toys (aka powertools ) & have been madly chopping , sanding, gluing & screwing up some of the wood in the previous post & here is what I've ended up with a top & bottom frame of the stand (yes there are 2 screws missing.... I ran out due to several 'manufacturing defects')



Yes there is not as much wood here as there was in the previous post, thats because a lot of it is for a few other 'projects' as well.

Next update I should have the whole of the frame assembled & ready to be 'skinned'.

[Rod the Reefer]

I thought you had been kicking the weir with your feet!



Rod.

[PaulG]

Not much of an update this week, I ran out of 'straight' wood so I will have to get some more to continue.

Since I no longer have teh luxury of doing much on teh weekend this will have to wait till I have spare time during the week (which won't be any time soon )

Oh and also not much new equipment will be coming for awhile... since I picked up my new car on Friday night :D

[PaulG]

Time for an update....


Well there is no update!

I haven't enough quality time to spend working in the stand, I was hoping to have the stand completed, sump ordered & most of the plumbing in place & tested before Christmas but I can't see that happening now


Hopefully the xmas break will give me plenty of time to make some good progress.


Regards
PaulG

[PaulG]

We have progress!!!!






I've also been glueing up some of the pretty fascia bits which should be ready to losely fit, once thats done I'll post more pics.

[glennb]

That looks well built. And looks like you've still got enough pine to build a second tank setup.

[Scooby]

Seems unusual for a 4x2x2 to require 3 braces and am wondering whether that brace over the weir is going to hinder your Durso setup.

Wayne

[inferno6688]

that i sone solid looking stand!
looking forward to seeing it finished

[PaulG]

That looks well built. And looks like you've still got enough pine to build a second tank setup.

Shhhh... don't tell the misses

Seems unusual for a 4x2x2 to require 3 braces and am wondering whether that brace over the weir is going to hinder your Durso setup.

Wayne

That is a possibility & I do have a work around for that

Once I get the top on I'll put the tank on it & see just how much hacking & additional re-inforcing is required.

that i sone solid looking stand!
looking forward to seeing it finished

Your not the only one!

I'de much prefer to see the tank, the stand & fish in it (as would the misses)


Thanks for the feedback Guys


Regards
PaulG

[PaulG]

a little more work tonight...





Oh & for anyone else who is thinking of making thier own stand..... Measure TWICE cut ONCE!

The fascia piece on teh stand I cut 10mm too short instead of 10mm too big

ahh well..... its not as though I don't have any more wood.

I actually finished off the 4 fascia pieces tonight, just need to cut them to size & I could fit them.[/img]

[blacjack]

a little more work tonight...





Oh & for anyone else who is thinking of making thier own stand..... Measure TWICE cut ONCE!

The fascia piece on teh stand I cut 10mm too short instead of 10mm too big

ahh well..... its not as though I don't have any more wood.

I actually finished off the 4 fascia pieces tonight, just need to cut them to size & I could fit them.[/img]

Highlighting the golden rule their mate. Good to know you had some spare. Stand looks real good.



Chris

[AuS MaDDoG]

You can always cut another piece off, but its a lot harder to add a piece back on

Tony.

[PaulG]

:withyou: You can always cut another piece off, but its a lot harder to add a piece back on

Tony.

No,no... thats EASY to do... liquid nails is your friend it just looks crap

Regards
PaulG

[AuS MaDDoG]

Thats what I mean

Tony.

[Bandit]

[katmurphie24]

looks great, nothing like a tank that you build from scratch... so much hard work.....

GOOD LUCK

[blacjack]

:withyou: You can always cut another piece off, but its a lot harder to add a piece back on

Tony.

No,no... thats EASY to do... liquid nails is your friend it just looks crap

Regards
PaulG

To put it mildly

[PaulG]

Not much progress to report on the stand

With the bit of rain we had before xmas I had a slight drama with a minor flood through teh garage thankfully the stand made it through with only minimal water contact, lost a bit of wood I had sitting on the ground though (warped something shocking)


I've managed to get most of teh fascia bits glued & screwed on & thats about it.

The reason this has taken so long is I had a logistical issue with the power saw not being able to cut 45' to the full depth (it can @ 90' just not at 45 ) so I managed to knowck up a pretty dodgy jig that helped but I still had to do a LOT of cleaning up of the cut by hand




So much for having it finished over xmas/ny


hopefully it will be ready for sealer & paint next weekend

[blacjack]

Well a week late won't be so bad. I'd be happy with the fact the water didn't do much damage.



Chris

[pazz]

[quote="PaulG"]Not much progress to report on the stand

With the bit of rain we had before xmas I had a slight drama with a minor flood through teh garage thankfully the stand made it through with only minimal water contact, lost a bit of wood I had sitting on the ground though (warped something shocking)


I've managed to get most of teh fascia bits glued & screwed on & thats about it.

The reason this has taken so long is I had a logistical issue with the power saw not being able to cut 45' to the full depth (it can @ 90' just not at 45 ) so I managed to knowck up a pretty dodgy jig that helped but I still had to do a LOT of cleaning up of the cut by hand

good looking stand mate , wat sort of power saw were you using should have no prob cutting a 45, my lil makita cuts through 45 mm timber of a 45 easy ..

[PaulG]

good looking stand mate , wat sort of power saw were you using should have no prob cutting a 45, my lil makita cuts through 45 mm timber of a 45 easy ..

its a cheapie GMC, oh it cuts 45' no worries...... just not deep enough for the fascia, its about 12mm too shallow.

Regards
PaulG

[PaulG]

Well we have some more progress.

Mnaged to get the top, sides & most of the bottom supports on (note to self.... put the rest on), most of the stand sanded back & holes filled

Here's some pics

Front right hand top corner


Full Stand Shot


Right hand side (oops note to self..... finish sanding the putty off)


Front left hand side



Not much else is going to get done this weekend, need to clean the shed up so I can start thinking about applying the sealer & paint & family is over so yeah....

Enjoy

[blacjack]

Stands looking real good, good carpentry skills.

[PaulG]

Stands looking real good, good carpentry skills.

Thanks Blackjack, however I have to debate the 'good carpentry skills'....

Lets just say my skills with a camera far outway my skills with a saw, there's no shot of teh rear of the stand for a reason (I didn't have enough putty to hide teh mistakes )


Tanks
PaulG

[blacjack]

At least no one else will be able to see the back, but I wouldn't have said anything, let people think your brillant



Chris

[PaulG]

Well, I've sanded the stand back & its ready for sealer (inside will get done first) now, so in prep for this I had to clean up the garage a bit to get rid of a little bit of saw dust

In teh process of doing this I had to move the tank so what better place to put it in the mean time....





I guess I should also think about ordering the sump since the stand is almost finished.

Oh & for the record, yes on the the cross members IS in the way of teh durso/syphon so some additional work is required

I also made a start on the frame for the hood but no pix of that yet.

Enjoy!
PaulG