wrench's 125 build

[wrenchhead]

Well I am upgrading from a 90rr to a 125 rr.It is not a big jump but I have been wanting a higher stand and more room for equipment.I am building the stand and canopy my self and adding a frag tank to the main system that will be located under the main tank in the stand.

I have never posted pics before so I hope this works.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=208313&size=big&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

[wrenchhead]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_001-med.jpg


I hope this works!!

[wrenchhead]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_011-med.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_012-med.jpg

Ok I have been working on the stand this weekend.The new tank should be here Tuesday so hopefully I will have the stand finished by then(just need to put the birch plywood on and install the doors)

I will be using most of my equipment from my 90 setup which includes
coral life 125 super skimmer
3 150w hqis(14k)
20 gallon sump/fuge
mag 9.5 for the return(new tank has 2 corner overflows)
2 modded maxijet 1200

Do you guys think this stuff will work ok?
Any advise would be great.
If needed I will upgrade some of my equipment over the next few months but I promised my wife this would not be a $5,000 project.
Oh yea,I need to get some supplement lighting.What do you guys recommend(t5no or t5ho or pc or vho)?

[BigBadBlenny]

i made the same mistake on my stand. i built it too bloody low for my new skimmer. you can get some pretty good stuff for $4999.99


what will you be keeping? if sps you might want bigger lights.

[wrenchhead]

LOL!!!! about the 4,999.99.I will be keeping a mix of everything.The corals have done great in the 90 and it is a couple inches higher than the 125(24'' compared to 22").I was hoping It would do better.What do the rest of you guys think?

[wrenchhead]

I forgot to mention the stand is 36" high.How tall is yours BigBadBlenny?Also how tall is your skimmer?You got me wondering now.

[BigBadBlenny]

my skimmer is 24" tall. my avatar is the one.. the skimmer itself will fit but discharge of the skimmer cant be above the water level for the sump. i built this stand 2 years ago.. and i was using a seaclone at the time.. yes i am a sinner

i wish i made my stand 6" taller. that way i could have had the skimmer under the stand and still have a decent amount of water in the sump.

i am going to build a cabinet off the left side of the tank for storage, the skimmer, all the electrics, and a future calcium reactor.

[wrenchhead]

Sorry to here about that Big bad Blenny.I would like to build a pantry cabinet about the same height as the top of canopy for equipment.If u get there before me make sure to post the build.

Well I did as much as I could today after work.I skinned the sides and the front of the stand with birch plywood.I will finish the stand tomorrow.

Does anyone Know if birch wood stains easy?If some one Knows a good method to finishing this type of wood please let me know.I am not sure if I want to stain or paint the stand.
Are there any pics of painted stands out there?

[wrenchhead]

Ok I got a lot done today.The new tank is here and I got the stand inside and the tank sitting on it.I still have some finish work to do on the stand though.I will post some pics in a few minutes.I am still looking for some pics of some painted stands.Does anyone know of any?
I do have a question or a small survey.Who has they're tank sitting directly on the stand and who has foam or some padding sitting between the tank and stand?

[wrenchhead]

I have a couple pics of the stand progresshttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_023.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_017.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_014.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_021.jpg

[wrenchhead]

Oh yea I took a couple pics of the 90 gallon that I am upgrading from and some pieces I can't wait to transfer.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_004.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_010.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_003.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_008.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_009.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_005.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_002.jpg

[drummereef]

Very nice, wrenchhead! Looks like the project is coming along. Did the urchin do much for keeping the 90g clean?

[BigBadBlenny]

i used a varathane plastic enamel on mine, its some thick stuff but it covers nice and its good against the water. i had it stained a deep red at first but i didnt like the look of it.

your stand looks great

edit i said my skimmer cant be above my sump water level. i ment is HAs to be above

[BigBadBlenny]

here ya go

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Staining birch
Q: Can you recommend an approach for getting a good, even stain on birch? I’ve had trouble finishing this wood properly in the past and I need your help. I’m building a DVD storage cabinet out of birch and I want it to turn out well.

A: Birch is a terrific wood in many ways. It’s tough, inexpensive and pleasant to work with. Birch is also used for most of the furniture-grade, veneered plywood on the market. But as you’ve discovered, staining it can be a challenge. The problems I've had usually centre around blotchy results caused by uneven stain absorption. The same trouble often plagues knotty pine as well, but there is a fix. Most stain manufacturers offer products called pre-stain conditioners, and these make all the difference. Although they don't impart a colour of their own, they do slake the thirst of overly absorbent areas of a board, yielding a much nicer look when you apply stain afterwards. Some of the best results I've seen come from a relatively new line of water-based stains offered by Minwax. Like paint, it’s tinted in stores while you wait, so there's a very wide range of shades and colours available. That's a good thing, but the kicker is the quality of colour that this stain produces. Applied after the pre-stain conditioner that's part of the system, it looks terrific

[mg426]

looks pretty good to me.

[wrenchhead]

Drummereef
Thanks.Yes the urchin cleans very well.He strips every bit of coraline algae off the rocks.I love him but he is not going in the new tank.The urchin came with some live rock about a year ago.Then his body was the size of an pencil eraser,now its just a little bigger than a golf ball.

BigBadBlenny
Thanks for the article.That was good timing.

I am trying to get some work on the set up done tonight.I opened the over flow boxes today and seen that they come with A duel nozzle setup for the return.Thats cool and it saves me some $$$$$.my lfs wanted 60 bucs for 2 splitters,locline and nozzles.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_027.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_030.jpg

[McCrary]

Looks like your on the right track to a gorgeous tank, keep us updated with lots of photos.

[wrenchhead]

Ok here is a little up date.I worked on the tank all da friday.I thought I had the 90 gallon sold but the guy had to have the tank by sat. so I had to rush things a little.I really hate doing that.I have learned that only bad things happen when you rush in this hobby.I still have a lot of work to do on the stand but here is a few pics of what I have done so far.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_032.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_031.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_038.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_036.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_042.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_043.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_044.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_053.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_055.jpg

[wrenchhead]

WOW!!! I just got my supplement lights today.They are 72 inch vhos.160 w each I think,one daylight and one actinic.These things are great.The colors of my corals turns out are amzing.The last pic I posted was sold to me as a tricolor acro and it has always been brown with purple tips and now it is green,gold and purple.Allthe other corals are showing new colors as well.I plan on getting another actinic bulb and setting up my canopy.That should make it look even better.

I bought the lights from a guy in my local reef club.I paid $100 for 2 bulbs,water tight end caps,reflector and a brand new Ice cap ballast 430 (i think)and a ballast box.Is this a good price?

I am in love with vhos!!I have never seen this much color from my corals with power compacts.I will post some pics tomorrow if anyone is still watching this thread.

[Gundo5000]

Nice tank man!

[wrenchhead]

I got a little done this today.I spent most of the day getting a rock angel out of the tank.He was fine in my old tank but since the switch he started tearing up the sps.I had to remove every thing to get him out.I did not have the aquascape the way I wanted it anyway.I worked on the canopy a little.So here is a few pics of the progress and a couple of the coral with the new vho supplement.The colors are a lot better in person.sorry for the poor camera work.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_066.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_064.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_065.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_057.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_060.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101590aquarium_059.jpg

[drummereef]

Very nice, the aquascape is really coming together. Loving the placement of the monti caps. :thumbsup:

[wrenchhead]

Thanks I love that monti.It is 6 times the size it was when I bought it and I have fragged it several times.

[Rick00]

Nice job... Your tank looks great!!!

[bwhit1406]

cool build! I am upgrading to a 125 myself. Can't wait to see the stand finished.