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Merv's new 40 gallon build

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I just got off the phone with Will at AqOb and he's placed an order for the tank for me. I am hoping for a back glass overflow rather than a corner, so he shot an email to his rep if it's possible. So, I'm kinda glad that I was able to speak with him in person and know that he checks the forums often via PM. So far, he's been awesome to deal with, looking forward to drive up next week and check out his store. I'm gonna really really really hold myself back from buying any livestock since that would mean that I'd have to drive back to Atlantic City to my old tank rather than shooting back to Philadelphia where this new tank will be residing.

I guess that means that I'll be filling in the holes in the stand tomorrow, doing lots of sanding and hopefully do some staining before anything else.

As soon as I get the tank, I'll be working on a return manifold for better flow control.... it's gonna be a busy week!

Keep you guys posted!
 
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To sand or not to sand..... hmmmmm


I came across some videos we took 2 years ago in Grand Cayman for vacation; I had a small Olympus point and shoot that was waterproof up to 10 feet or so and I was checking out the reef outcrops and "mini atolls" in the shallow reef. I think I may try and replicate that....... I'll post some later when I trim the clips......hmmmm

here's a link to a video where I got attacked by a horde of vicious tangs!!!






Or I may just go the complete opposite and go with another minimalistic type aquascape like I had with me last tank.
 
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I stained the stand today but didn't get it as dark as I wanted. I will have to try and hit it again probably tomorrow but with the cold weather outside, it's preventing the oil from going in the grain of wood effectively. I may have to resort to painting the stand much to my dismay, I really wanted the woodgrain to show through the glossy varnish when done.

I'll have to see what a couple more staincoats does. I also have pics that I need to resize, I took "wood filler pics" all the way to sanding and staining. Will post tomorrow.



It looks like I'm probably gonna go with a skimmer after all, this month's group buy is an opportunity I don't want to pass up for a few extra savings, thanks njrc for the discount......
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Sand it down real well before the next coat. Hopefully between that and a little warming you'll get the saturation you're looking for. Good luck! Looking forward to the stained photos!
 
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Jcurry@wesketch

I know how you feel Merv. I stained my dining room floor last weekend and it took 3 days to dry, even with a heater blowing into the room. Mine needs another coat of stain but I don't really want another 3 days for it to dry.
 
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Phyl said:
Sand it down real well before the next coat. Hopefully between that and a little warming you'll get the saturation you're looking for. Good luck! Looking forward to the stained photos!
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It was still tacky as of this morning....I hope the afternoon sun and slightly warmer weather today dried it up a bit more. I'll be home at 4pm to check it out and add more stain-



Jcurry@wesketch said:
I know how you feel Merv. I stained my dining room floor last weekend and it took 3 days to dry, even with a heater blowing into the room. Mine needs another coat of stain but I don't really want another 3 days for it to dry.
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I guess I could bring the stand down to the basement next to the boiler, the roomies are gonna kill me, lol.....







I got the ballast and radium bulbs today from Nick, came in great shape! This is moving along nicely, now I need to figure out how to hang this thing without drilling into the ceiling.... I'm thinking brackets using square tubing
 
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Hole patching- use a little bit at a time, sanding in between and then filling again after dried-

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Prior to the first set of sanding

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Here's the stand outside again ready for a thorough sanding with 80 grit sandpaper, then 100

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The stand after the 1st hit with sandpaper-

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after sanding thoroughly yesterday, I got a bit impatient (weather was warm) and I decided to pre-treat the wood so that the stain would distribute more evenly. (By the way, make sure if you're using OIL based stain to use OIL based pre-stain as well- I ended up going back to the local hardware store to return this one for the right one after I noticed it wasn't "oily")

Wood patch cost: $2.99
Pre-stain cost: $4.49

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Here's the first stain coat (before rubbing with cheesecloth)

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After rubbing (definitely needs another application or two):

By the way, notice the sloppy wood filler? I got lazy sanding, I'm hoping the black stain would cover it- we'll see after I'm done!

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and today arrived my "gently used" Icecap 250 ballast...... got a decent deal from a fellow member here in our member's only section!


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:) still have to come to terms



a friend's building a sump for me. here's the plans, and he also has access to 1/4 inch plexi....

It's gonna be a tight squeeze under the stand of this cube!


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I figured the simpler the better, I downloaded google sketchup but it was just too fancy for me- this does the job just fine!
 
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I ended up having to resort to plan B today. The cold and stain were just not cooperating, I ran up to the hardware store again and bought myself a small can of oil based gloss black paint to apply onto the stand. I also bought a disposable brush since I would only need one coat of paint anyways, and some 120 grit sandpaper to smoothen the stain out. I also bought a can of cheap paint from the 'discard' rack. Got myself the plainest color closest to white I could find to paint the inside of the stand since I got it all splashed up from the stain application.

So far, I was able to get the stand painted and it didn't look too bad. I'll be returning the polyurethane varnish/sealer since I no longer need it- Total spent today: $12.45


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I applied a good amount of paint as a sealer for the inside of the stand.

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panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Steve0xr said:
Why are the side panels of the sump a 1/4 in lower?
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The side panels sit on top of the bottom piece and the front and back will fit against the edge of the bottom piece. He is using 1/4" acrylic so that is why you will notice the difference in some of the measurements.
 
panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
No because the front and back pieces will sit inside the side pieces. The internal dimension is 13" so with an extra 1/4" for the front and back panels you need 13 1/2" for the total length of the sides.

The internal dimensions will be 13x20 while the outside dimensions are 13.5 x 20.5.
 
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I got a little confused myself after looking at the plans- I'm sorry guys...


The side panels actually glue from the outside, and there is a little brace (like euro-brace) that I will be requesting to be placed on top as a lip, just on both ends.

I forgot to add that in the plans since they would be scrap pieces that would be lying around.
 
panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
The length of the bottom is 20.5. The side pieces will sit on top of the bottom piece thus they won't add any length to it.

It looks confusing and I'm trying to explain it as easily as I can. Sorry if I am confusing you more.
 
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