Man that thing is AWESOME!!! Every time I see a new pic and see it start to take life it gets that much more awesome!
Achilles Tang DIY 300 curved Tank Build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Achilles Tang
- Start date
OP
OP
Li,
The back is going to be blue. However I seem to always buy creatures that like to hide behind rock structures and so forth. So the back of the tank has a removable 3/16” piece of blue acrylic that will be Velcro’d on. That way when I want to do system maintenance I can simply remove the blue backing and view the tank from the fish room side as well.
The back is going to be blue. However I seem to always buy creatures that like to hide behind rock structures and so forth. So the back of the tank has a removable 3/16” piece of blue acrylic that will be Velcro’d on. That way when I want to do system maintenance I can simply remove the blue backing and view the tank from the fish room side as well.
acharpenter
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Awesome tank and thread - thanks so much for sharing this!!! I wonder if Kev would mind if we tore out half the bedroom and built something like this?.....hmmmmmmmmmm LOL
Wow, awesome design idea on the side overflows. That will make working on the tank in your custom space much easier. I'm incredibly impressed with your craftsmanship. I'm assuming after the whole tank is weld on 42ed together you'll hit the seems with some silicone to make sure it is leakproof?
When you are done I would love a tour, i'll even pay admission!
When you are done I would love a tour, i'll even pay admission!
I think it's a window to another room...
OP
OP
The little door is to my daughter’s playroom under the stairs. It’s set up just for her. The light switch is at 3 foot it will have a Princess Arial mural / theme etc..
As for as the tank goes I am shooting for a semi-commercial finish. While my skill levels lack the repetition to be perfect my hopes are that I will have clean crisp edges everywhere that are leak proof. If for some reason I should fall short of that I would put a bead of weld on 42 on the inside corner not silicone.
I will post some pics of the tunze & return box finished back when I apply it. Once you see the band clamp it will make sense. 42 is not like capillary cementing it doesn’t need to be on end if that’s what you’re asking. And thank god for that because it’s a 100” long and my ceilings are only 98”
I pick up a couple different micro mesh kits tonight from Rockler. I’m going to sand a piece of acrylic scrap with 100 grit and then try to restore it. If all goes well I’ll be sanding the two inside corners where the sides meet the bent front. If I can’t get a highly polished finish on my scraps then I will leave the inside corners as is and have my crown and picture frame cover the first inch on each side to hide the 42 in those locations.
As for as the tank goes I am shooting for a semi-commercial finish. While my skill levels lack the repetition to be perfect my hopes are that I will have clean crisp edges everywhere that are leak proof. If for some reason I should fall short of that I would put a bead of weld on 42 on the inside corner not silicone.
I will post some pics of the tunze & return box finished back when I apply it. Once you see the band clamp it will make sense. 42 is not like capillary cementing it doesn’t need to be on end if that’s what you’re asking. And thank god for that because it’s a 100” long and my ceilings are only 98”
I pick up a couple different micro mesh kits tonight from Rockler. I’m going to sand a piece of acrylic scrap with 100 grit and then try to restore it. If all goes well I’ll be sanding the two inside corners where the sides meet the bent front. If I can’t get a highly polished finish on my scraps then I will leave the inside corners as is and have my crown and picture frame cover the first inch on each side to hide the 42 in those locations.
OP
OP
Well yesterday was pretty productive I even managed to sneak away for a few hours with my wife and daughter to hit the local Easter egg hunt. It was some much needed down time from the pace I’ve been keeping at home and work. Anyway thought some more progress pictures might be fun on this snowy Sunday. Here’s how I spent my Saturday. Things are starting to take shape and I’m getting excited. It definitely has developed a few minor blemishes but none that I consider earth shattering (and I’m pretty hard on myself) But never the less I am definitely not a professional. Another interesting thing is in a few spots the Weld On 42 had developed some minor micro bubbles. They were not present / visible during gluing. Nor were they present visible during the ½ hour into cure inspection but at the 1 hour mark they started to show. Perhaps they are getting sucked in as the glue contracts. They are nowhere near a structural problem more of a curiosity as to how to prevent them.
Ok OK on to the pictures….
Off the mold and prepping for first rough cut
Cutting off excess to prepare for routing
Edge routed flush
On the table checking top pattern for size
Top made and ready to be placed
Inspecting the glued on top this moring. Edges still need to be flush cut.
Ok OK on to the pictures….
Off the mold and prepping for first rough cut
Cutting off excess to prepare for routing
Edge routed flush
On the table checking top pattern for size
Top made and ready to be placed
Inspecting the glued on top this moring. Edges still need to be flush cut.
Chad, did I ever tell you, "You are my HERO". Absolutely the most intense acrylic build I have had the pleasure to live vicariously through!
OP
OP
It has been a crazy couple of weeks but I have managed to finish up gluing and get the tank into its home. Got about 7 more grits worth of polishing to due on the corners but overall I’m pretty happy. One thing is for sure I would love to build another one now that I have made so many mistakes on this one! Luckily the vast majority of the things I don’t like are on the part hidden in the wall and the interiors of the wave boxes. I hope to fill it with some fresh water this week and let it sit for 72 hours. If all works out I’ll be starting the RO drip next weekend.
I managed to raise enough money from my first sell off to order a Profilux, three head doser and a few Tunze Stream 2 cables. The whole package should be here later this week. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Cherry Corals is having a 25% off sale on Profilux products right now.
Here is the obligatory children in the tank shot courtesy of my daughter and two of her friends that were over to play today.
I managed to raise enough money from my first sell off to order a Profilux, three head doser and a few Tunze Stream 2 cables. The whole package should be here later this week. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Cherry Corals is having a 25% off sale on Profilux products right now.
Here is the obligatory children in the tank shot courtesy of my daughter and two of her friends that were over to play today.
I am following along here and just can say one thing: AMAZING !!!
I just read you got the Profilux controller also. Congrats.
How many Streams are you going to control?
From what I read somewhere the Tunze Cable 1 listen to different ports as the Tunze 2 does. If you have only 2 streams you might get an issue using the same cable for both.
If you run 4 streams or more like I do and use also the "splitter cable" you won't have the issue running Tunze 2 for all streams.
I am not a pro here either but it was a little tricky to chain the dosing pumps, streams and powerbar. I figured it out after a while. If you need any help LMK.
I just read you got the Profilux controller also. Congrats.
How many Streams are you going to control?
From what I read somewhere the Tunze Cable 1 listen to different ports as the Tunze 2 does. If you have only 2 streams you might get an issue using the same cable for both.
If you run 4 streams or more like I do and use also the "splitter cable" you won't have the issue running Tunze 2 for all streams.
I am not a pro here either but it was a little tricky to chain the dosing pumps, streams and powerbar. I figured it out after a while. If you need any help LMK.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks but I have managed to finish up gluing and get the tank into its home. Got about 7 more grits worth of polishing to due on the corners but overall I’m pretty happy. One thing is for sure I would love to build another one now that I have made so many mistakes on this one! Luckily the vast majority of the things I don’t like are on the part hidden in the wall and the interiors of the wave boxes. I hope to fill it with some fresh water this week and let it sit for 72 hours. If all works out I’ll be starting the RO drip next weekend.
I managed to raise enough money from my first sell off to order a Profilux, three head doser and a few Tunze Stream 2 cables. The whole package should be here later this week. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Cherry Corals is having a 25% off sale on Profilux products right now.
Here is the obligatory children in the tank shot courtesy of my daughter and two of her friends that were over to play today.
Chad, this is absolutely AWESOME! Amazing work!
OP
OP
Michael
To start I plan on running 4 controllable Tunzes and Four 6065’s. I hope to have then all controllable in the next year but you know how these tank start up costs are… I have to thank you again for taking the time to show me your system last month. I had no idea that controllers had come that far. I am working on the Aquailluminations next I think I’m going to start with 2 3’units the openings in the top of the tank are 38” so they would have an unobstructed path to the water. The interior dim of the tank is 90” so I am probably short by two Aquailluminations but I figure if the light dispersement is really bad I can always add them after the fact since they are modular. From the research I have done each port on the Profilux can handle two Tunzes via a splitter or one without. Thank for posting so many details in your build thread I have incorporated many of those ideas into my build.
Scubaspew thanks for the kind words
Fritz I never did comment on your Hero comment. I was afraid it would lead to tights, spandex or maybe even a cape. Which would just not be pretty with my figure. There are only a select few people who can make wearing anything look good! :fritz::biggrin:
Oh did I mention I SURIVED THE WATER TEST 2 HOURS AND COUNTING AND NOT A DROP! I filled it up after work tonight and then ran between my shop projects and the tank every hour checking on it. Talk about nerve racking!!! If I get though the next 72 hours without drips crazing or general tidal waves it’s off to the RO drip this weekend.
To start I plan on running 4 controllable Tunzes and Four 6065’s. I hope to have then all controllable in the next year but you know how these tank start up costs are… I have to thank you again for taking the time to show me your system last month. I had no idea that controllers had come that far. I am working on the Aquailluminations next I think I’m going to start with 2 3’units the openings in the top of the tank are 38” so they would have an unobstructed path to the water. The interior dim of the tank is 90” so I am probably short by two Aquailluminations but I figure if the light dispersement is really bad I can always add them after the fact since they are modular. From the research I have done each port on the Profilux can handle two Tunzes via a splitter or one without. Thank for posting so many details in your build thread I have incorporated many of those ideas into my build.
Scubaspew thanks for the kind words
Fritz I never did comment on your Hero comment. I was afraid it would lead to tights, spandex or maybe even a cape. Which would just not be pretty with my figure. There are only a select few people who can make wearing anything look good! :fritz::biggrin:
Oh did I mention I SURIVED THE WATER TEST 2 HOURS AND COUNTING AND NOT A DROP! I filled it up after work tonight and then ran between my shop projects and the tank every hour checking on it. Talk about nerve racking!!! If I get though the next 72 hours without drips crazing or general tidal waves it’s off to the RO drip this weekend.
WelderInWi
Senior Member
That is awesome, man! Was there plans, or did you know exactly what you wanted-needed? :beerchug:
OP
OP
I designed prints for the basment. The tank plans have been resting in my head for three years now keeping me awake some nights
Screwtape
Senior Member
That's a lot of water! Good luck with the rest of the l**k (don't want to use a bad word) test.
Water looks a little more natural in there than its' previous occupants. :biggrin:
Water looks a little more natural in there than its' previous occupants. :biggrin: