Third time better be the charm

[Susan Edwards]

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I forgot how much I loved aquascaping.

ummm, looks like the same picture lols

 

[Stang67]

So I think I have something I like. Since I will be using some existing rocks from the current tank to seed the new tank I wanted to be sure I had places in the corners an front center to place them. This is 80 lbs of new. I probably have 40 in the current tank and 15 in the sump. So that plus a couple cups of sand should be enough to prevent a mini cycle. When I upgraded last time I was lucky and didnt have any issues so I am following the same model with this one. Nothing is glued (yet). And I cant leave this up so what's the best way to be able to break down and reassemble it again later? Lots of pics? Labels? Mark the rock somehow?

 

[Susan Edwards]

I took pics of each section. I also used a sharpie to mark where points meet. I also in 1 spot glue 2 tiny rubble pieces where they needed to meet. Each of my sections is glued/cemented except 1. It is in several pieces so I've marked it and can pretty much put it together without thinking now

 

[Stang67]

Here is a picture of the current stand.

We built it out of 2x4s and 1/4 inch sheeting. Stained with minwax pickling stain and cleared with satin poly. This stand will be used for my 55g freshwater planted tank and I want the new stand to have the same look. So we got some more sheeting and stain for the panels. The new stand will have an aluminum skeleton and this same white washed look for the panels.
Heading down to disassemble the scape and start it soaking in some water from a few water changes. Just so it has at least some time to leach out anything it may have.

 

[Mjl714]

So I think I have something I like. Since I will be using some existing rocks from the current tank to seed the new tank I wanted to be sure I had places in the corners an front center to place them. This is 80 lbs of new. I probably have 40 in the current tank and 15 in the sump. So that plus a couple cups of sand should be enough to prevent a mini cycle. When I upgraded last time I was lucky and didnt have any issues so I am following the same model with this one. Nothing is glued (yet). And I cant leave this up so what's the best way to be able to break down and reassemble it again later? Lots of pics? Labels? Mark the rock somehow?

Couldn’t get video to play.

 

[Stang67]

Couldn’t get video to play.

I'm sorry I am not tech savvy so I am not sure what issues are. I will post some pix.
EDIT: somehow I lost all the stills I took pre disassembly. Wonderful. I at least have them marked and labeled. So this is all I have now.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Couldn’t get video to play.

video plays once you click it

 

[Mjl714]

video plays once you click it

Still no luck for me, anyway no problem progress is looking good.

 

[Stang67]

Still no luck for me, anyway no problem progress is looking good.

Thanks for following along. I will keep looking for those stills. I know I took some.

 

[Stang67]

This weekend is starting off on a high note. I won a 10g ato container from MAKO ACRYLICS on a FB giveaway. https://m.facebook.com/MakoAcrylics
Looks like a brand new business out of Orlando. Pretty sick stuff. It will be nice to have a "real" ato reservoir for the new build. I started with a 5g bucket and am using a 20g aquarium now. Maybe I can turn the 20g into a separate refugium?

 

[Stang67]

Very productive weekend. Cut the filler pieces for the stand and changed some breaks.
I was going to take Princess out last weekend but we found the passenger side rear breaks were hung up. So ordered th parts and changed them out this weekend.
She is now finally ready to get back on the road.

Also had some spare time and cut out all the panels for the stand. Just need a light sand and some stain and we will be ready to go.

Now if I can just find someone that wants a couch.

 

[Stang67]

One coat down. I love this stuff.

Going to probably do 2 more coats of wash and then 3 polycrylic top coats.

 

[Stang67]

I kind of feel bad. My poor couch. I took so many naps on you. My dog loved jumping on you. You were my first real piece of nice, new, furniture when I bought my first house. Now your getting kicked, literally, to the curb to be replaced with a glass box. Yup sounds about right to me.

 

[Stang67]

Demo day is here.
Before:
During:

After:

We will be putting in another header that is 10ft long tomorrow. Will also be upgrading the water change station. New sticker donations for the new tanks are very welcome.
Will also be modifying the sump stand to snug it in between the new floor Jack's. Hope to have everything put back together by this time tomorrow.
Panels for stand are all done. Plan is to find the studs to hang the lights and put the stand together next week.
After that will be drilling new holes in the floor for the new external overflow plumbing.
Tired. Sleep now.

 

[Stang67]

Awesome car show yesterday as well.

 

[Stang67]

Mission accomplished. Tomorrow I will get to put it all back together. Have to rework some of the plumbing since we moved the sump over about a foot or so. This was a great project that I could not have done without the most wonderful man in the world. I am such a lucky girl to have such selfless people in my life. I did help tho so don't you think I went and got my nails done while he was working. I know how to work a saw too. So I have some work to do tomorrow but it was a great weekend. Oh I put the stand together this morning as well and discovered I mis measured the side panels. Short no less. But here is what we have so far. I still haven't figured out how to attach the doors either.

 

[Stang67]

Upgrade on mixing station will have to wait until I can move the rubbermaid full of soaking dry rock. Th barrels are bigger then my brute cans and they just aren't gonna fit. It's all good put the old one back together for now and everything is back to normal. Sump is running and no losses. It was a good practice run for when I am ready for the big move. Only issue I am having is with my rodi unit. Weird pressure issues. Going to try again tomorrow and want to figure out a way to mount it as well. It's heavy.

 

[Stang67]

So I don't have kids but I can only imagine what it's like for the 9 months before "it's time". All the prep, all the planning, new stuff, new room, etc etc. Then it's time and it's on the way. And then everything is real and it hits you like a ton of bricks. You knew it was coming, you planned everything you could but you are never really ready. Yeah I am kind of feeling like that. I got the call today that the tank is ready. What? Now? But? Oh crap..... well I guess it's real and it's coming whether I am ready or not. I am full of excitement for this new journey but I am so scared that I am going to screw this up. I guess the good thing is that if you drop a tank it can be replaced, not so much with a baby.
Ps thanks Joe I have never met in person but you are a wonderful person and I think you are my spirit animal.

 

[Stang67]

Some major progress to report. Rodi unit is back together and no leaks. 2 100gpd filters, 0tds at 64psi. Finally will get to do some laundry with the wastewater.

This took forever since I disconnected all the lines. Never ever ever again. Also got the new mixing station set up. It needed a new platform and I had to rework all the pvc that it originally came with. The bottom drain lines stick out a bit farther then I would like but done is better then perfect in this case.

The tub of rocks has been moved and to do so had to drain some of the water out. The water that was in the old Brute cans got transferred into the tub so the water for the new scape got a 50% change. Haven't seeded it or anything it's just sitting in some water with some circulation.
Tomorrow will be clean up and straighten up. I also need to drill a hole for a hose for the dehumidifier drain and water change drain line.
I got some missing screws from Alufab so I can attach the doors to the frame now. But I need to recut the sides first they are about a half inch too short. So recutting and restaining the sides will be the weekend task.

There is a swap on Saturday am so I am going to that too.
Have a plan for the lights. Brackets, eye bolts, a piece of pipe and done. Figure simple to start and next year get nice high end lights.
Other than that not much has been going on. Got new lights for the living room, yeah me.

 

[Stang67]

Small update today. Straightened up. Put new old floor down. Hand me down from family. Need a few more. Had an area rug. Like this better more practical and functional. Ordered suction gripper handle things from Amazon and a drain line for the dehumidifier. Oh and some Goody's powders. I have a feeling I am gonna need those. Soon.