Thought we were going to wait until this was done, but wanted to go ahead and post what we have so far. Welcome feedback, especially with the plumbing, as we're not completely sure how we're going to do all that.
#1 - Basic Construction - Loren and a friend built the basic rectangle at a friend's house, so I was unable to take pictures. In this picture, the stand is now home and Loren has added the top piece and began caulking the inside of the stand.
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813101-BasicConstruction-BeginCaulk.JPG" alt="" />
#2 - [B]Caulking [/B]- Still a long way to go in this picture. Lots of corners, nail holes, etc. to fill.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813202-Caulking.JPG" alt="" />
#3- [B]Inside Primed & Painted[/B] - Primed first with Kilz and then painted with gloss latex enamel. Still need to do a bit more caulking to get some spots I missed and add some touch-up paint. That'll wait, since as you can tell by the attached plinth block, Loren is anxious to start on the trim. Cheated a bit on the painting and used a Wagner. ;-)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813303-Painted.JPG" alt="" />
#4 - [B]Trimmed [/B]- Bottom/Right
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288134Moulded-BottomRightCorner.JPG" alt="" />
#5 - [B]Trimmed[/B] [B]- Top Right[/B] - I've not decided yet what to do with the star. I'm either going to paint it to resemble a starfish (possibly a sand-sifter?) or replace it with ceramic or porcelain starfish. May even use a real/dried/preserved starfish (I've seen them at craft stores), but would that freak out my tank occupants?)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288135Moulded-TopRightCorner.JPG" alt="" />
#6 - [B]Trimmed - Side[/B] - My tank is probably going to have a three-sided view, so we're trimming the sides and the back.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288136Moulded-SideView.JPG" alt="" />
#7 - [B]Trimmed - Front[/B] - Everything is stain-grade plywood and mouldings. This is one stand that will not end up being painted (I hope)... well, except for the inside.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288138Moulded-Front.JPG" alt="" />
#8 - [B]The Skimmer - [IMG]http://topfathom.com/">Top Fathom 200</a>[/B] (If it will work). Havent figured out exactly how this will be plumbed. [IMG]http://topfathom.com/Hobbiest.html">Instructions</a> for assembling this are on the website. Also need to figure out which [IMG]http://topfathom.com/pump.html">pump</a> to use.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813900-Skimmer.JPG" alt="" />
#9 - [B]Skimmer inside Stand[/B] - hopefully, there will be enough room! The tape on the 30g represents the baffles which will be added. Feedback is welcome here. I'm shooting for as quiet a set-up as possible. Also, can Loren install acrylic baffles? Or is it necessary to use glass with glass?
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814001-Skimmer.JPG" alt="" />
#10 - [B]Sump & Fuge[/B] - The Oceanic has a mirrored back. There's really not a person in there..... The light will be positioned on the portion of the tank which will become the refugium. More baffles (2 of them) will be on the right side for the return. (Pump recommendation for return?)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814102-Sump-Fuge.JPG" alt="" />
#11 - [B]Corner Overflow[/B] - Top - Will need to do more research to add more flow. Recommendations? Also, is this a place where I could put my heater? I'm trying to keep the tank as uncluttered as possible with all possible support equipment hidden.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814203-CornerOverflow-Top.JPG" alt="" />
#12 - [B]Corner Overflow - Bottom[/B] - will add bulkheads and flexible tubing going into the stand. Considering painting this portion of the tank glass or using some kind of covering since the tank will have the three-sided view. (I've scrubed and soaked these pipes in vinegar. Am consididering sandblasting.....)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814304-CornerOverflow-Bottom.JPG" alt="" />
#13 - [B]Drilling for Plumbing[/B] - need 2 holes drilled through 2 layers of plywood....
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814501-DrillingforPlumbing.JPG" alt="" />
#14 - [B]Casualty[/B] - Dead Craftsman
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814402-Casualty.JPG" alt="" />
#15 - [B]Tank Trim -[/B] Top Right - brought an added piece of wood trim up over the tank's black trim and will add a bead of silicone between the wood trim and the tank trim once the tank is ready to go.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288146FinalMouldingTopRight.JPG" alt="" />
#16 - [B]Tank Trim - [/B]Left
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288147FinalMouldingTopLeft.JPG" alt="" />
#17 - [B]Tank Trim[/B] - Side
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288148FinalMouldingSide.JPG" alt="" />
#18 - [B]Tank Trim - Front[/B] - And that's all for the day.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288149FinalMouldingFront.JPG" alt="" />
Still to be done (a lot!!)
~ Fill a <u>lot</u> of nail holes
~ Sanding, sanding and more sanding
~ Paint on pre-stain conditioner
~ Paint on stain & finish
~ Construct, trim and finish doors
~ Plumbing
For now, my Outer Orbit light fixture will be suspending from the ceiling over the tank and the tank will be covered with eggcrate temporarily. Hope to add acrylic tops with drilled holes and sometime down the road, a canopy to match the stand.
#1 - Basic Construction - Loren and a friend built the basic rectangle at a friend's house, so I was unable to take pictures. In this picture, the stand is now home and Loren has added the top piece and began caulking the inside of the stand.
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813101-BasicConstruction-BeginCaulk.JPG" alt="" />
#2 - [B]Caulking [/B]- Still a long way to go in this picture. Lots of corners, nail holes, etc. to fill.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813202-Caulking.JPG" alt="" />
#3- [B]Inside Primed & Painted[/B] - Primed first with Kilz and then painted with gloss latex enamel. Still need to do a bit more caulking to get some spots I missed and add some touch-up paint. That'll wait, since as you can tell by the attached plinth block, Loren is anxious to start on the trim. Cheated a bit on the painting and used a Wagner. ;-)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813303-Painted.JPG" alt="" />
#4 - [B]Trimmed [/B]- Bottom/Right
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288134Moulded-BottomRightCorner.JPG" alt="" />
#5 - [B]Trimmed[/B] [B]- Top Right[/B] - I've not decided yet what to do with the star. I'm either going to paint it to resemble a starfish (possibly a sand-sifter?) or replace it with ceramic or porcelain starfish. May even use a real/dried/preserved starfish (I've seen them at craft stores), but would that freak out my tank occupants?)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288135Moulded-TopRightCorner.JPG" alt="" />
#6 - [B]Trimmed - Side[/B] - My tank is probably going to have a three-sided view, so we're trimming the sides and the back.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288136Moulded-SideView.JPG" alt="" />
#7 - [B]Trimmed - Front[/B] - Everything is stain-grade plywood and mouldings. This is one stand that will not end up being painted (I hope)... well, except for the inside.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288138Moulded-Front.JPG" alt="" />
#8 - [B]The Skimmer - [IMG]http://topfathom.com/">Top Fathom 200</a>[/B] (If it will work). Havent figured out exactly how this will be plumbed. [IMG]http://topfathom.com/Hobbiest.html">Instructions</a> for assembling this are on the website. Also need to figure out which [IMG]http://topfathom.com/pump.html">pump</a> to use.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228813900-Skimmer.JPG" alt="" />
#9 - [B]Skimmer inside Stand[/B] - hopefully, there will be enough room! The tape on the 30g represents the baffles which will be added. Feedback is welcome here. I'm shooting for as quiet a set-up as possible. Also, can Loren install acrylic baffles? Or is it necessary to use glass with glass?
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814001-Skimmer.JPG" alt="" />
#10 - [B]Sump & Fuge[/B] - The Oceanic has a mirrored back. There's really not a person in there..... The light will be positioned on the portion of the tank which will become the refugium. More baffles (2 of them) will be on the right side for the return. (Pump recommendation for return?)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814102-Sump-Fuge.JPG" alt="" />
#11 - [B]Corner Overflow[/B] - Top - Will need to do more research to add more flow. Recommendations? Also, is this a place where I could put my heater? I'm trying to keep the tank as uncluttered as possible with all possible support equipment hidden.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814203-CornerOverflow-Top.JPG" alt="" />
#12 - [B]Corner Overflow - Bottom[/B] - will add bulkheads and flexible tubing going into the stand. Considering painting this portion of the tank glass or using some kind of covering since the tank will have the three-sided view. (I've scrubed and soaked these pipes in vinegar. Am consididering sandblasting.....)
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814304-CornerOverflow-Bottom.JPG" alt="" />
#13 - [B]Drilling for Plumbing[/B] - need 2 holes drilled through 2 layers of plywood....
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814501-DrillingforPlumbing.JPG" alt="" />
#14 - [B]Casualty[/B] - Dead Craftsman
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/228814402-Casualty.JPG" alt="" />
#15 - [B]Tank Trim -[/B] Top Right - brought an added piece of wood trim up over the tank's black trim and will add a bead of silicone between the wood trim and the tank trim once the tank is ready to go.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288146FinalMouldingTopRight.JPG" alt="" />
#16 - [B]Tank Trim - [/B]Left
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288147FinalMouldingTopLeft.JPG" alt="" />
#17 - [B]Tank Trim[/B] - Side
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288148FinalMouldingSide.JPG" alt="" />
#18 - [B]Tank Trim - Front[/B] - And that's all for the day.
[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/356/356865/folders/286101/2288149FinalMouldingFront.JPG" alt="" />
Still to be done (a lot!!)
~ Fill a <u>lot</u> of nail holes
~ Sanding, sanding and more sanding
~ Paint on pre-stain conditioner
~ Paint on stain & finish
~ Construct, trim and finish doors
~ Plumbing
For now, my Outer Orbit light fixture will be suspending from the ceiling over the tank and the tank will be covered with eggcrate temporarily. Hope to add acrylic tops with drilled holes and sometime down the road, a canopy to match the stand.
