My 100g build started in Jan 2011

[ibefishy]

Back in Jan of 2011 I started a new project with a tank I found on Craigslist. It was a RR 100g tank that looked as though it was cleaned with rocks. After a little negtiating I struck a deal with the seller and brought it home for $60. I figured I could sand it down and polish it until it looked like new.
Here is what I started with

This is what it looked like after the first sanding with 400 grit wet-dri paper

Here is another shot of the sanding in progress

 

[ibefishy]

Here is the homemade stand and the tank after I was done with the first polishing of it.

After I got the tank polished it was time for the sump. I picked up a 48g tank to use for the sump.

Next came the plumbing

After a few weeks had passed I started to work on the 6 x 80w T5 lights I was going to be using. I am going to use a combination of 2 aqua blue+, 2 actinic+, 1 midday, 1 pure actinic all Giesemann bulbs. I am using the TEK2 reflectors also. Here is what I have for my lights

 

[ibefishy]

Finally after many months of working on this and spending money I finally moved it into the house last Thursday. I rinsed my sand and filled it with water. I also set up my ehiem canister filter to help remove the dust from the water.

I brought the tank up to temp and mixed in the ESV B-Ionic salt. This is how the tank looks now.

 

[ibefishy]

A little more about the tank
I am using a MAG12 return pump, a 1" SCWD, I have a EuroReef RS80 protein skimmer which although small will be adequate because I have no plans of adding anymore bioload to the system. It is going to be more of a minimalist aquascape. I have dual 2 little fishies reactors, 1 for carbon and one for phosphate removal. I have a Red Sea wave controller that will run the Koralias in the tank. Once I put the canopy on the tank wityh the lights installed I will ahve a few more pics of my work in progress. If there is anything I missed or you are unclear on feel free to ask or comment. If you have any suggestions let me know I am always open to new ideas.

 

[turbo21]

looking good. Most people would have sent that tank to the trash and with w little hard work you brought it back to life

bob

 

[ibefishy]

looking good. Most people would have sent that tank to the trash and with w little hard work you brought it back to life

bob

Thanks. Honestly it was more than a little hard work, I have now started the tank cycling and hope to be adding the inhabitants from my 55 in a few weeks.

 

[Lytehouse]

very nice work on the tank, and the stand really looks great

 

[turbo21]

Thanks. Honestly it was more than a little hard work, I have now started the tank cycling and hope to be adding the inhabitants from my 55 in a few weeks.

Can you elaborate a little more on how you got the tank from scratched up t looking new. (especially what grits you progressed through and what polishing compound you used I have done a few tanks myself, but yours turned out looking better than mine

bob

 

[ibefishy]

Can you elaborate a little more on how you got the tank from scratched up t looking new. (especially what grits you progressed through and what polishing compound you used I have done a few tanks myself, but yours turned out looking better than mine

bob

Sure. First off I cleaned the tank with water and an algae pad for acrylic tanks. Then I started with 400 grit wet-dry paper that I got from a local auto body supply store. I sanded the entire tank inside going all one direction. That way all the scratches would be going the same way and not random directions. When the entire tank was finished with the 400 grit I took a real close look to be sure I hadnt missed any of the big scratches. Then I rinsed the tank good and got the 800 grit wet-dry paper and went the opposite direction so that the cutting across the scratches the 400 grit left would be removed by the 800 grit, always going across the scratches left from the previous sanding. I kept using this method thru all the different grits of paper I bought. I ended up using 400-800-1200-2000-3000 grit paper. Once I was done with the wet-dry sanding I used Novus 2 polish and polished the inside and then used the Novus 3 for anti-static and a final cleaning. Once the inside was done I went and did the same method to the outside. All in all I have approximately 50 hours into the polishing of the tank. But I can say it was worth it because a new tank like this lists for about $600, with the tank and all the supplies to polish it I spent about $100. I am always on the lookout now for trashed salvageable acrylic tanks that I can polish and resell, to fund my current tanks. Hope that helps.

 

[ibefishy]

very nice work on the tank, and the stand really looks great

Thank You very much, the canopy should be finished up this weekend and then I will post some pictures of it on the tank with the lights.

 

[johnanddawn]

wow great job - the transformation from that first pic to the last is amazing

 

[ibefishy]

wow great job - the transformation from that first pic to the last is amazing

Thank you, I am proud of it. I cant wait to get it finished and then start thinking of a larger one.

 

[GR808]

incredible transformation.. great job!!!
The sanding and polishing must have taken a while.. Awesome determination as well as quality of work

 

[ibefishy]

incredible transformation.. great job!!!
The sanding and polishing must have taken a while.. Awesome determination as well as quality of work

Thank you for the compliment. Yes it did take a long time and lots of determination, one of the hard parts was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. When I first started sanding I thought, what have I done? I sure hope these scratches come out. Its not until you get to the very last stage that you finally get to see real progress, but by that time I already had 30+ hours into sanding. The outside went a bit quicker than the inside.

 

[ibefishy]

Here are 2 updtaed pics of my build. One is with my new lights and reflectors off and the other is when the lights are on.
6 x 80w T5 Giesemann bulbs. 2 actinic+, 2 aqua blue+, 1 midday, and 1 pure actinic. The lights are not as blue as the camera makes them look though. My camera cant balance out the color, but maybe I can do it on the computer with my photoshop program.

 

[SaM]

wow you did an amazing job on that acrylic. Looks great!

 

[Hahnmeister]

Looks great, love those T5's, but... 6x80 watt T5's is a bit overkill. They tend to run about 100 watts each on IC ballasts, and those 5' bulbs are no joke for output. I predict PPFD readings in the 300's half way down the tank, and over 200 on the sand. Maybe swap out another daylight bulb for another true actinic or something... just an idea. Ive seen that light setup on 180g acro tanks before.

 

[ibefishy]

Minor set back yesterday. I broke some of my brand new bulbs bringing the light back into the house. Today I had to order some new ones, I hope they will be here in the next day or two so i can get this thing finished up.

 

[ibefishy]

here is the latest pic of my 100g tank. I got the canopy and lights finished today.

 

[ibefishy]

Quick update for you all. I got all my corals moved over last weekend and so far I havent lost anything. Here is a pic of the completed tank. Now all I need to do is finish filling it with a few more select corals and fish. I only want 2 more fish but a whole bunch of various corals I have had my eyes on.