Bladezz's 338 build

[afrokobe]

awesome build! love how you wielded up your own stand. wish I had the skills!

 

[docforestal]

Great tank stand, really impressed and following along with anticipation

 

[Bladezz]

awesome build! love how you wielded up your own stand. wish I had the skills!

Thanks! It's a lot of work and I'm thinking all the time why didn't I just buy one. lol

 

[Bladezz]

Great tank stand, really impressed and following along with anticipation

Thanks, I am taking my time here. Just got most of the supplies to beef up the floor and run a 40 amp circuit to the aquarium (not that I will use all that). Then tank movers to load the tank on the stand, plumbing (yikes!) then hundreds of gallons of RO water....

Then some time to cycle.

Maybe then I will be able to move my 120 family into the main display.

A looooong process but I'm trying to do it right the first time. Applying 30 years of experience to this thing.

 

[Bladezz]

Experimenting with Hydros on my test tank. This is going to be a nightmare on my big tank.

 

[Bladezz]

While I am taking my time with my big build I've spent a little more effort on my 120 test tank.

New skimmer.

Note the foam coming out the lid of my "little" skimmer.

 

[Bladezz]

 

[Bladezz]

A beloved retail supplier suggested that a smaller skimmer would get better results. So, that is what I did initially. Expensive mistake. BIGGER is better!! IMO and YMMV.

 

[Bladezz]

I never thought I'd be collecting dolls as an adult dude. lol

 

[i cant think]

I never thought I'd be collecting dolls as an adult dude. lol

I mean, if they’re that adorable who wouldn’t collect them?

 

[Bladezz]

Some progress. Need to paint and get her moved into the house.

 

[Swackro]

lets see this thing set up

 

[Bladezz]

lets see this thing set up

Tell me about it! lol

 

[Bladezz]

Painted... The finish is a little crusty but I have some ideas to fix that sometime down the road.

 

[Bladezz]

Tuesday it goes on the stand.

 

[Bladezz]

Seedlings getting ready for the big move.

 

[Bladezz]

 

[Bladezz]

What a journey this project has turned into.

• I’m finally ready to get my tank on a stand. I helped with that process and tweaked my back.
  • See my previous post (I’m hurting there. LOL)
• So, I start the plumbing process.
• The tank was drilled for BRS’ 2” Sch 80 bulkheads (FPT x FPT). The Sch 80 bulkheads require a 3.25” hole in the glass. This is critical because not all bulkheads are made the same as you will see below.
  • The flange side of the FPT x FPT bulkhead doesn’t accept standard NPT fittings. Ugh, and ok I say.
  • I try 2” bulkheads from the Tractor Supply. They have an OD that is about 1/4+” smaller than I’m comfortable with i.e. too much play in the hole. Possible leak problems.
  • I tried black plastic bulkheads from BRS not even close. They almost fall through the Sch 80 holes drilled in my tank.
  • 3rd set of bulkheads from BRS (3rd time is a charm right?). I get the 2” Sch 80 Slip x FPT. Well, the slip side doesn’t accept standard 2” PVC. what the heck is going on here…?
• I did some due diligence on the BRS bulkheads and none of my professional stores (non-big box ones) had a clue as to what the FPT thread pattern was or what the “slip” side would accept. (Basically the 2” Sch 80 bulkheads from BRS are un-usable unless you only need the “bottom” side of the fitting. )
• Now I’m waiting on some Hayward brand bulkheads. Hopefully they arrive on Monday so I can start moving forward.

In the meantime, in the 120 gal tank, my flame angel has started nibbling on some of my favorite coral… ****!

So, I have the material to build a stand, I have a long wait for my big tank to cycle and now I need to get a flame angle out of a small’ish tank stuffed with LR. Lets put the 120 on a stand, take it apart and get it off the floor like a proper tank setup should be.

Note: the 120 was only ever meant to be a seed tank for live rock. How things change.

 

[Bladezz]

Nobody knows what adapter is needed here, Sadly....

Plastic bulkhead

Tractor supply bulkhead

Sch 80 bulkhead

Hopefully these will work...

 

[Bladezz]

Started the 120 stand on Wed.

General layout (front panel and back will be the same)

Front and back panels welded

Now to finish and paint

Painting (flat black this time)

Twins!

Help is coming this week to lift the 120 onto the stand....