JustDavidP's New Clam Tank Project

[JustDavidP]

Get ready...cause I've been busy...

After ripping down my 75G, I found myself wishing for reef again...

A couple 2X3's later...and a DIY tank from my friend Gustavo...and I'm ready to rock and roll again!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Framed.jpg

It's going to be plumbed through the wall, into my fish room (recently configured to hold all of my 'experiments' on new shelving) and into the Sump-zilla.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/fishroom1.jpg

Right now that Sump and fuge is busy making my dry Marco Rock into Live Rock.

New DIY MH pendant

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/MHFrame.jpg

It hangs on nylon coated chain in the stand like this:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Corner3.jpg

[JustDavidP]

The facing has been done (Thanks Gustavo!) and crown moulding tacked.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Corner0.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Corner.jpg

Spent some time helping Mr. G with a sump project last night so I didnt' get to finish the seam mouldings or the one on the floor. He and I are building out panel doors soonest...then I just gotta stain the sucker and plumb it.

That's all for now....

David

[Iconz]

Lookin good! And, looks like fun! Keep us posted!!!

[mutts]

wow! i may have missed it but what size is the tank itself?

[JustDavidP]

he he he... sorry... forgot to tell the whole story.

It's actually a DIY acrylic tank that was built by a friend of mine...

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/ClamTankCad.jpg

it was supposed to be a frag/growout tank but he wasn't happy with the way it came out and refused to sell it to the customer. So he gave it to me. It holds about 20 gallons.

However, if you look at the enclosure, it can fit a larger tank (can you say "another DIY"). I plan on using this tank for a little while, and design one that fits nicely into that cove as a final product. For now, on the left and right, there will be doors that open and allow me to view from all 3 viewable sides.

Dave

[JustDavidP]

Another shot of the tank...before the DIY durso installation:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Clamtank.jpg

[JustDavidP]

The durso.. in parts..

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/DursoSectioned.jpg

[JustDavidP]

Durso installed:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/DursonDone.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/DursoCorner.jpg

[JustDavidP]

I'm curing some dry rock from Marco Rocks and will eventually have the rock, a modest sand bed, clams (squamosa, maxima, and crocea)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/FullMarcoBox1.jpg

AND THESE PURDY WRASSE in there :)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/wrasse5.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/wrasse6.jpg

[Sweetpea]

Well, well, well... you HAVE been busy Mr. P! I love the corner set-up... very clean and classy looking!

[jojo22]

Cant wait to see it come to life!!

[dakar]

Ha! I knew you couldn't stick with only poines forever! Don't get me wrong, ponies are awesome...but.........

Are you going to invent some super way cool greenwater recipe once your clams are home?

[perpetual98]

mmmmmm greenwater...... *drools*

[JustDavidP]

I couldn't go on "reefless". I missed my 75G but didn't want to set up anything that big (yet). I miss having clams too..and this is a great clam tank.

I do have a greenwater recipe that I use... but it is Top Secret ;)

D

[dakar]

/mumbles... top secret my foot... bamboo splinters, visegrips, lantern batteries, black power, lighter fluid, propane torch... /end mumble

Yup got everything I need to extract this secret :razz:

[hummer]

very nice.. keep it up you will be done in no time..

[mutts]

can't wait to see it up and running

[JustDavidP]

And the crown moldings and trim added...

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Molding1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Molding2.jpg

And painted the back of the tank black:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/TankPaint1.jpg

D

[jojo22]

Looking good buddy!! How many clams you planing to have??

[JustDavidP]

Wellll...

I want one squamosa for my sand bed, in front. I'm VERY picky about my clams. I really have to fall in love with its pattern and I always watch them for a week or more at the LFS to ensure that they are happy and healthy.

Then, I want to get a couple crocea for the rocks. Same criteria.. I have to fall in love... I'm in no rush.

Finally, I never, in the time I kept reef, had luck with Maxima. Go figure. Most have problems with crocea. I had one, and it was doing very well until it was preyed upon by snails. In the end, I had a skunk cleaner who would nip at and tear at it's byssal threads. I got rid of the shrimp, but the clam finally called it quits. I lost it after having it for just two years.

The croceas and squamosas that I used to own are all still doing well, albeit in other friends tanks. It's not that I can't "do clams". I just had back luck with Maxima. With that said, now that I'm going to have a true clam tank, with design in mind just for tridacnids, I'm going to try again.

In the end, I think I'll have about 1/2 dozen or so, and the pair of flasher wrasse.

Dave

[jojo22]

That sounds like it is going to be sweet man!!!

[hummer]

i like it alot.. i like what you done:):)

[JustDavidP]

I wish I knew carpentry.. I've been lucky thus far, but now I need to make the panel doors.. and I'm Sooooo not good with 'purdy, finish work'.

dave

[Whoyah]

You can actually order custom cabinet doors off the internet. If your interested I can get you a couple links.

[JustDavidP]

Yeah... thought of that..but was afraid the wood wouldn't match the Ash I used to face the wall/cabinet. Actually, my buddy, who is a very handy dude.... is going to help me finish it on Sunday...he saw my posts on the Boston Reefers, looking for help :)

Piccies soon!

D

[Whoyah]

Sounds like you have it covered. Just for reference they probably do have ash, it just might a little more expensive.

[perpetual98]

I'm always up for some cabinet links! We're going to try to move in the next 6 months or so, and I'm guessing that anything in our price range is going to need some work in the kitchen. lol

[hummer]

if you where in my price range $99,990.oo but it is big , big yard too when i bought my house it needed evey thing ...kit ,both bathrooms ,eletrical,all the plumming including the main too the steet ,ferness and ac, i did fix all the plaster wall . redid the wood floors in the front room and dinning room and more
i hurt just thinking about it....... lol me and wife did it all ourselfs i get mad when thay(kids) even touch the wall ..i tell them ..there only there too hold up the roof not or touching!! PS ...I DID SPEND MONTHS ON THE WALL


good luck perptual98 have fun dont bit off more than you can chew at one time :):):):):):)

[JustDavidP]

Three out of the 4 doors are done. I just need to finish the "hood" door with Gustavo tonight. It's been busy. Sorry I've not been around.

You can see that the smallish doors on the sides will allow me to view the system from the sides. Room was left in the "stand" to fit a larger acrylic tank in the future.

Dave

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Doors.jpg

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

It looks very nice. I hope to see the clams in it soon.

angie

[JustDavidP]

It's going to take some time. I need to sand, fill, stain etc. I'm also thinking of leaving the two little doors off, and use mirrors inside to make the tank look larger...until I build a larger tank ;)

D

[hummer]

cool i like it a lot

[Sweetpea]

I really like the mirror idea! It looks beautiful so far, Dave!!!

[JustDavidP]

Thanks :) I'll be figuring out the frame for the mirror this weekend.

D

[mutts]

its pretty, but i want to see it with water... lol.

looking good! can't wait to see what else you have in store for it!

[JustDavidP]

Yeah I want it "wet" too...but it will be well into the end of the month before that is the dealio... when I get back from FLA!

D

[hummer]

aaaaaa florida can i come ...hehe