XL Reef Aquarium(180g+) AJ's 375 in wall build [Archive]

AJ :)

01-03-2012, 09:06 AM

Here is the beginning of what will surely be a long process.

There was an existing 150 in the wall. It's making way for the big tank. :)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/IMG_4390.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/IMG_4391.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/IMG_4394.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/IMG_4395.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/IMG_4399.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/IMG_4400.jpg

Tom Toro

01-03-2012, 09:29 AM

I like where this is going... Can't wait!!!

iyachtuxivm

01-03-2012, 09:32 AM

Wow thats going to be something! What are the dimensions on that?

Captain

01-03-2012, 09:33 AM

AJ:) getting a new tank?!
Grats dood!

MizTanks

01-03-2012, 09:35 AM

I too like where this is going...although I'd like it more if it were going in MY living room :jester: This will definitely be a fun build to watch!

AJ :)

01-03-2012, 09:39 AM

Thanks everyone!

Thought it would be a great way to get motivated in 2012.

It is an old school high tank, 7' long, 4' high, but only 2' deep.

larryandlaura

01-03-2012, 09:48 AM

Sweet tank. I love the look of deep tanks.

mhowe9

01-03-2012, 02:07 PM

Can't wait to see you progess AJ!

thepanfish

01-03-2012, 02:14 PM

Wow, is this gonna be a zoanthid paradise as well?

AJ :)

01-03-2012, 02:18 PM

Not sure really.

It may end up being a whatever will live with a queen angel tank, where I imagine zoas and palys will be scarce!

Captain

01-03-2012, 03:30 PM

Queen angel is far and away my favorite fish! I only had mine a short time, it started being a real bully and would bite chunks out of my eel! I think you meant to call it a "Whatever a queen angel will allow to live with it tank!"

CalmSeasQuest

01-03-2012, 05:07 PM

Wow! - Can't wait to see what you do with it AJ

fishboy13

01-03-2012, 05:54 PM

That's going to be a cool tank AJ :D!

AJ :)

01-03-2012, 05:59 PM

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I will be working with the plan that the Queen will rule, and determine what will live and what won't.

But that is a long way off, as i hope to have the tank well on it's way before getting the queen.

Captain, that's crazy about your Queen biting your eel! I have heard they are bullies , but wow!

Sir Patrick

01-03-2012, 10:01 PM

I cant recall the last time I seen these dimensions on an acrylic tank! Its going to be awsome, I can tell!

AJ :)

01-04-2012, 05:16 AM

Thanks
, I have been waiting to get started on this for a long time.

AJ :)

01-18-2012, 05:48 AM

Going slow, but still working on it!

mhowe9

01-18-2012, 08:14 AM

Looks Good AJ! What are you going to do for filtration and lighting?

AJ :)

01-18-2012, 09:17 AM

I'm thinking of a remote sump around 100 gallons. Sure to get an extra large skimmer. not sure just which brand or model yet. For lighting I'll most likely use some 400 watt SE halides.

woods4542000

01-18-2012, 06:37 PM

Looking good , im hoping for an in wall build and i have my gf's blessing!

AJ :)

01-18-2012, 06:44 PM

Thanks! That's great way to start! Women really seem to enjoy picking out corals, hardware not so much. :)

Sun357

01-18-2012, 08:06 PM

Wow! Looks awesome! I can't wait to see how this goes. =)

~Fred

AJ :)

01-19-2012, 05:37 AM

Thanks Fred, I'm about half done with the acrylic polishing, it's rough on my old knees to be in there fo a couple hours.

Sidewinder

01-19-2012, 09:28 AM

woods4542000

01-19-2012, 11:18 AM

Thanks! That's great way to start! Women really seem to enjoy picking out corals, hardware not so much. :)

She seems to like the expensive ones too lol.

AJ :)

01-19-2012, 01:40 PM

AJ - looks like it's going to be awesome! How is the polishing going? Does it actually make it look new? I have some very light scratches on my acrylic and I've heard mixed things about having to drain the water before polishing and polishing with water in. I know you're doing it without water in the tank but I'm curious just how well it really works. Thanks.

Sidewinder, It is truely amazing. In the areas where it has been polished on both sides , it is crystal clear, even without water in it! There were some DA sander marks on some of the seams, I wondered if I could buff them out, they looked coarse, but after some 600, 1000, 1500 they came right out! I am using a high speed polisher, so i'm not sure how to compare to other means, but I expect this to come out very well. :)

Woods, Mine does too!

Sidewinder

01-19-2012, 01:55 PM

AJ, did you buy the polishing kit or just different grades of sandpaper?

AJ :)

01-19-2012, 02:01 PM

Just used sandpaper for automotive finishes. The 600 grit is a 3M product, the rest is Maguire's brand. I'm also using polish for automotive use as well, I'll probably clean the tank out with vinegar and water well when i'm done.

Sidewinder

01-19-2012, 02:09 PM

Sounds good - my scratches aren't deep at all. Most were caused by a piece of crushed coral substrate getting caught in the cleaning sponge - very superficial. I was thinking about just sanding with like a 1500 grit and see how that goes. My intention was to do this while the tank was still full of water. I figured I could do a small area...let it sit for a day or two...do a small area...etc.

AJ :)

01-21-2012, 09:21 AM

I haven't done one with water in it. Keep us posted on your progress. :)

woods4542000

01-21-2012, 12:22 PM

Sounds good - my scratches aren't deep at all. Most were caused by a piece of crushed coral substrate getting caught in the cleaning sponge - very superficial. I was thinking a bout just sanding with like a 1500 grit and see how that goes. My intention was to do this while the tank was still full of water. I figured I could do a small area...let it sit for a day or two...do a small area...etc.

I had the little acrylic kit, and put the fabric sandpaper on my magnet did a good job on fine scratches.

Sidewinder

01-23-2012, 06:59 AM

Woods - did you remove the scratches with the water in the tank?

woods4542000

01-23-2012, 06:23 PM

Yes I did, I believe the scratch kit came from preuss think it came in a blue case with essentially everything you need. I had some bad ones fine scratches were a cake walk.

Sidewinder

01-24-2012, 06:44 AM

Woods - thanks for the info. I think I mightbe daring and give it a try! :)

AJ :)

04-15-2012, 05:52 PM

Moving along slowly. But still moving!

Tom Toro

04-15-2012, 06:40 PM

Awesome job on the sanding and that is a great presentation tank. Really looking forward to the rest of this thread.

Moving along slowly. But still moving!

MizTanks

04-15-2012, 08:38 PM

Tank looks beautiful A.J.

CalmSeasQuest

04-15-2012, 08:45 PM

That last photo is deceiving. You lose the sense of scale and the tank doesn't appear to be a HUGE as it is.

mhowe9

04-15-2012, 08:55 PM

Looks good AJ!

AJ :)

04-16-2012, 07:33 AM

Awesome job on the sanding and that is a great presentation tank. Really looking forward to the rest of this thread.

Thanks! It really was more work than I thought it would be. But the best thing about unpleasant jobs is when they are done. :)

There is more rock to add to this, But I'll most likely order some more from Marco rocks as well.

Thanks Mike and Jamie! I gotta get moving on this project to have it mostly done by my daughter's graduation.

You know it's funny Tom, how our perception of a large tank changes once we have one. I recall starting with a 29 gallon, thinking it was good sized, then a 55, then a 125......

You should have seen me inside the tank placing the rocks as my wife directed me from outside. It was a different way to do things but we had no choice.

Thanks everyone for the comments. :)

woods4542000

04-16-2012, 09:47 AM

New pics? I'm living vicariously here lol.

AJ :)

04-16-2012, 10:08 AM

Just the one for now. More by the weekend though. :)

binford4000

04-17-2012, 12:10 AM

Looks great AJ,get some water in that beast.Nice job !!

AJ :)

04-17-2012, 02:48 PM

Thanks! Hope to have it full and running by the weekend!

AJ :)

05-04-2012, 09:04 PM

Here are some random new pics.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5277.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5278.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5307.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5305.jpghttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5291.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5294.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5308.jpg

MizTanks

05-04-2012, 11:04 PM

OMG those fish have got to be soooo freaking happy!! I'm happy just looking at them in there-yes I'm giggling inside for the fish :) That is one awesome tank!

binford4000

05-05-2012, 03:28 AM

NICELY done AJ !!! Looks great :thumbsup:

woods4542000

05-05-2012, 06:19 AM

Looking good! Do you have a sump on the other side of wall? How fun is cleaning?

AJ :)

05-05-2012, 06:50 AM

Thanks everyone! It is a bit backward as there is still so much to do and yet it's up and running.
But we'll get there. :)
Using the magnet trick Carl suggested, cleaning is so much easier than it used to be.
There is a 150g sump behind the tank. Still have lots to go. i want to build a walk over the sump and install a quarantine tank in there too.

keeplearning

05-05-2012, 09:08 AM

Amazing. Like something you would see at a public institution. I am assuming it is in the basement?

AJ :)

05-05-2012, 12:46 PM

Thanks! Yes it is in the basement. Too much weight to be anywhere else. :)

AJ :)

05-30-2012, 10:05 AM

Here is the sump area, and some updates on my slow progress. :)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5647.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5645.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/aj93x/fish/IMG_5643.jpg