ironwill723
07/01/2009, 01:29 AM
Hello there...My name is Craig and I have been on RC for a few years now and learned a great deal from reading other people's experiences building their dream tanks and sharing their excitement and concerns along the way. This build thread for me will be my way to document my progress during the build and hopefully help out the next guy who is thinking of setting up their next tank.
A little background about myself and my experiences so far. I have been involved in the hobby since about age 14 so being 30 now that puts me at about 16 years in the hobby on and off over the years. I started with a 30 gallon way back and failed miserably probably due to lack of knowledge and a lot of bad LFS advice more than anything else. Through college I kept a FOWLR 90g that was never much to look at but kept me in the hobby while finishing up school. After a few years off I caught the bug again and set up my current tank a 36g bowfront with softies and LPS. I knew I would soon outgrow the 36g but I wanted to see if I could successfully maintain the tank before going bigger.
I have always wanted another big tank so after about a year and a half of great success in my opinion with the 36g I was ready to make the leap to something more substantial.
I was able to get a great deal on a new Perfecto 120g long tank so I decided that would be the focus of my next reef tank adventure. I currently reside in an older townhouse that has a very large living room dining room area. In the process of doing the obvious cosmetic updating I decided to use my new 120g as a peninsula/room dividing tank.
The first steps for me were to redo an inefficient and drafty sliding patio door set that was more than 30 years old. The old sliding doors were 3x3ft wide so I narrowed them to a standard 6ft wide door opening. For the doors, my girlfriend and I redid a pair of solid oak french doors I got off craiglist for $75.
The first picture is the doors installed and to the right the old space where the third door panel used to be located.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LT2w6Nbv7fUefXXLCHWfdA?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrQ7-HVmOI/AAAAAAAABV8/7qy66_UETEg/s800/P1040460.JPG" /></a>
I taped off rough outlines of where I wanted the new tank to be placed. I left a 12 inch gap on the back side of the tank for the bulkheads and external overflow box I will eventually be building for the tank. The tank will extend about 6 feet out from the wall.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6wCq1qSWNoEAiwBC8Rqkrw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRMX5A9pI/AAAAAAAABWI/lB9T40n_Xfo/s800/P1040465.JPG" /></a>
The carpet will replaced with hard wood on the left of the tank and new carpet on the right side indicated by the line running across the floor.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Yg47fcRDPvdjMDKZrimtZQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrROJz1u8I/AAAAAAAABWM/qGVgYsgpbj0/s800/P1040466.JPG" /></a>
Shot from second floor.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iP-q7x4lyVs3pP3Vqy_cOQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRPvYDEiI/AAAAAAAABWQ/OVypmpfj60Y/s800/P1040467.JPG" /></a>
New tank waiting for some occupants!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tr77gHtdXhRjjkIzCgrizQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRSpfwelI/AAAAAAAABWY/uG3NWQW0MfE/s800/P1040470.JPG" /></a>
The next step was to build the stand. I used the plans designed by another RC member found at this link:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1169964&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
Super easy to follow and the stand turned out rock solid.
First step was to cut out the carpet where the stand base would go. I tacked the carpet in place surrounding the cut lines before cutting to keep the carpet from pulling back once cut. I also noted joist beams under floor and located the tank base directly over both cross beams to avoid sagging. I am also planning on beefing up underside of floor from garage below when I begin the overflow plumbing that will run through the garage ceiling.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FxMabJZG8PFtGDi1eXv_8Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRUV6HrHI/AAAAAAAABWc/iOX95gws64U/s800/P1040471.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rvPknGm7-kYFHasv2MhmDg?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRV3jAlcI/AAAAAAAABWg/b4kkjoIeqy4/s800/P1040472.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E02k7YCxUI8DC4vtGAJlXw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRXjLCM0I/AAAAAAAABWk/p5RVQP1O4CM/s800/P1040474.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/V4SVeysAX8ifXDJWK7U02w?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRZF15DQI/AAAAAAAABWo/RZwChUTjSw0/s800/P1040475.JPG" /></a>
At this point I am done with the stand but I decide that I have made it too tall. I am 6'2" and I had wanted to make sure I didn't have to bend over to see the tank as I usually have to do on most displays. In the pictures to this point the stand is 44" high. The tank is 26" tall so that put me about 70" tall without the hood. After a quick dry run with tank in place the stand just looked too tall. After some debate I decided to lower the stand to a more aesthetically pleasing 39" tall.
Taking the stand apart to lower...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pAXF_-Ew-oJIXHLzWvR-Xw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRfgogWHI/AAAAAAAABW4/hu2gVP28ats/s800/P1040479.JPG" /></a>
A little background about myself and my experiences so far. I have been involved in the hobby since about age 14 so being 30 now that puts me at about 16 years in the hobby on and off over the years. I started with a 30 gallon way back and failed miserably probably due to lack of knowledge and a lot of bad LFS advice more than anything else. Through college I kept a FOWLR 90g that was never much to look at but kept me in the hobby while finishing up school. After a few years off I caught the bug again and set up my current tank a 36g bowfront with softies and LPS. I knew I would soon outgrow the 36g but I wanted to see if I could successfully maintain the tank before going bigger.
I have always wanted another big tank so after about a year and a half of great success in my opinion with the 36g I was ready to make the leap to something more substantial.
I was able to get a great deal on a new Perfecto 120g long tank so I decided that would be the focus of my next reef tank adventure. I currently reside in an older townhouse that has a very large living room dining room area. In the process of doing the obvious cosmetic updating I decided to use my new 120g as a peninsula/room dividing tank.
The first steps for me were to redo an inefficient and drafty sliding patio door set that was more than 30 years old. The old sliding doors were 3x3ft wide so I narrowed them to a standard 6ft wide door opening. For the doors, my girlfriend and I redid a pair of solid oak french doors I got off craiglist for $75.
The first picture is the doors installed and to the right the old space where the third door panel used to be located.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LT2w6Nbv7fUefXXLCHWfdA?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrQ7-HVmOI/AAAAAAAABV8/7qy66_UETEg/s800/P1040460.JPG" /></a>
I taped off rough outlines of where I wanted the new tank to be placed. I left a 12 inch gap on the back side of the tank for the bulkheads and external overflow box I will eventually be building for the tank. The tank will extend about 6 feet out from the wall.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6wCq1qSWNoEAiwBC8Rqkrw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRMX5A9pI/AAAAAAAABWI/lB9T40n_Xfo/s800/P1040465.JPG" /></a>
The carpet will replaced with hard wood on the left of the tank and new carpet on the right side indicated by the line running across the floor.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Yg47fcRDPvdjMDKZrimtZQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrROJz1u8I/AAAAAAAABWM/qGVgYsgpbj0/s800/P1040466.JPG" /></a>
Shot from second floor.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iP-q7x4lyVs3pP3Vqy_cOQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRPvYDEiI/AAAAAAAABWQ/OVypmpfj60Y/s800/P1040467.JPG" /></a>
New tank waiting for some occupants!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tr77gHtdXhRjjkIzCgrizQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRSpfwelI/AAAAAAAABWY/uG3NWQW0MfE/s800/P1040470.JPG" /></a>
The next step was to build the stand. I used the plans designed by another RC member found at this link:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1169964&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
Super easy to follow and the stand turned out rock solid.
First step was to cut out the carpet where the stand base would go. I tacked the carpet in place surrounding the cut lines before cutting to keep the carpet from pulling back once cut. I also noted joist beams under floor and located the tank base directly over both cross beams to avoid sagging. I am also planning on beefing up underside of floor from garage below when I begin the overflow plumbing that will run through the garage ceiling.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FxMabJZG8PFtGDi1eXv_8Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRUV6HrHI/AAAAAAAABWc/iOX95gws64U/s800/P1040471.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rvPknGm7-kYFHasv2MhmDg?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRV3jAlcI/AAAAAAAABWg/b4kkjoIeqy4/s800/P1040472.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E02k7YCxUI8DC4vtGAJlXw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRXjLCM0I/AAAAAAAABWk/p5RVQP1O4CM/s800/P1040474.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/V4SVeysAX8ifXDJWK7U02w?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRZF15DQI/AAAAAAAABWo/RZwChUTjSw0/s800/P1040475.JPG" /></a>
At this point I am done with the stand but I decide that I have made it too tall. I am 6'2" and I had wanted to make sure I didn't have to bend over to see the tank as I usually have to do on most displays. In the pictures to this point the stand is 44" high. The tank is 26" tall so that put me about 70" tall without the hood. After a quick dry run with tank in place the stand just looked too tall. After some debate I decided to lower the stand to a more aesthetically pleasing 39" tall.
Taking the stand apart to lower...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pAXF_-Ew-oJIXHLzWvR-Xw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqv1c_AjJfouwE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/SkrRfgogWHI/AAAAAAAABW4/hu2gVP28ats/s800/P1040479.JPG" /></a>