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Achilles Tang DIY 300 curved Tank Build (1 Viewer)

clownnut said:
any reason to use the black acrylic on two sides?
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The ¾” acrylic was just too thick for the new Stream 2 magnets IMHO The slightest vibration or bump and they failed. I had some 3/8” black left over from some DIY projects so I decided to use that. I could have used clear as well but the black matched the magnets so I ran with it.
 
i see, cant wait to see the achilles tang swimming in it.;):biggrin:
 
clownnut said:
cant wait to see the achilles tang swimming in it.;):biggrin:
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Four long long years buddy I can't wait either.... In fact the four wave boxes and turbulent water in the tank have been largely designed to keep that fish happy. Like I said last week come midsummer I am all over that purchase Look Out SWE here I come !
 
clownnut said:
i see, cant wait to see the achilles tang swimming in it.;):biggrin:
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Are you talking about like this?

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Not too much to report at this point. It’s been a crazy month. I did manage to get the basement done in time for my daughter’s birthday on May1st. Since the tank was full of tap water I hung her Aerial Motorized mermaid in it on a string and it swam around in circles. It was a bigger hit than if I would have had fish.
I wound up leaving the test water in it for 3 + weeks before finally draining The fish room is mostly complete now I am just waiting on some custom high flex crown molding I ordered to go between the cherry casing and tank surface. I don’t want the tank anywhere near the crown when I’m shooting the finish nails in it, so the tank is on hold for another week. Everything is in place to fill and start up the system once that molding is on. A week is about what I need to finish up some side projects I have going for other people and then the hammer drops on my system and I’m in high gear until it fully operational. I’ll try to post some pictures of the mechanical / fish room and finished oval room this week / weekend.
I guess the good news is I’m very confident in the tanks strength after the extended water test.
 
Achillies- any updates? Pictures?

Stupid acrylic newbie question...what do you use to cut the corners off of the triangles you use for weld on gluing? Can you use a mitre for that?

Do you use/recommend the pins method for attaching your acrylic pieces with weld-on?
 
Veloboy – I just used my miter box saw to cut the corner. The squares fracture easily so cut them slow. I used my table saw to do the notches on the two points for the clamps. I will qualify the falling statement with I am by no means a qualified acrylic fabricator more of a mad scientist who reads a lot of internet articles and then jumps head long into projects with little practice. That said here’s how I solvent weld. If you have a router table or jointer I cut a crisp edge on my acrylic sheet first. Anything under 3/8” I lay right on the sheet it is to be joined to and capillary cement it. I usually use a some clamps or hand pressure for a few minutes’ afterwards. Over 3/8” I use hypodermic needles. The size depends on the thickness I’m gluing. I like those type of needles because the top part that attaches the needle to the syringe provide a pull knob of sorts.

As far as my build goes I haven’t made a ton of progress as of yet. Work continues to be a burden and I’m still juggling family events and finishing of a side job. I’ve managed to sneak in a few hours in here and there late at night when its too late to work in the shop and the family is in bed. I through a RO feed into it last Wednesday its finishing up tonight. Remaining lights and rail system should be here later next week . Mostly I just need a good 20 hours on it. To finish plumbing, set up automation etc… That said since there have been a few requests for pics here it is in all its chaos and glory.
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Achillies- one word: WOW. I haven't even gotten to the tank yet....! I'm just referring to the frame out. Man, your work is incredible.

Thanks for the triangle info...love the idea to cut notches for clamping. thanks also for the description of your acrylic joints. I could ask you a million more questions, but this is your build thread so i'll have to make do with pictures. Get more up man!

What are you planning on for lighting? You mentioned a rail system...are you having this fabricated or what are your plans?
 
I’m back…. Finally got caught up on other pending things thought it was about time to get back into this thread. Tank has been going for a few months now. Started adding some fish and coral from the 55 this past week. Here is a tank shot still playing with live rock but basically going for a lot of open sand. Still working on polishing out some of the fine sediment in the water column from the new sand. Although it continues to get better as I add sand from the 55.

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Command central has been established but I am not running anything as of yet.

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I have been working on my light rails here are a few shots of the right side I just finished hanging tonight. The lights to date have been resting on wood planks that are blocking at least half the t5’s

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does the power wrap around inside the wall to the controller? Or is the light just plugged into the wall temporary?

That's a nice rock to sand ratio :)

The pump boxes on the side are so slick!
 
All four wires from the light will travel up the support cables to the profilux bar. Then the Profilux bar will plug into the wall on the far end of the track.
Everything is just plugged in temporarly right now.

The pool table has been in my family 25+ years I have not assembled the rails yet as I wanted to make so restorations to them first.
 
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