Cannarella's 65 total build. Finally. Lot of Pics
 

Ok so I have been around here for a while helping out where I have knowledge. I think it is about time I post up my build that I have been working on for the past several years on and off.

Well it all started out when the boss gave the OK to get an aquarium. First thought was size and location. I wanted I to be in the living room upstairs where it can been viewed and enjoyed the most. Well with it being upstairs I had to consider the location of the trusses in the house and where I can put it. So I finally decided on a location to the left of our fire place in a nook. Well I went downstairs where it was unfinished and looked at the structure. The tank would sit on one truss (parallel) directly over a load bearing wall. Not bad.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...eWithStand.jpg

So I finally settled on a AGA 65 RR, didn’t want to go too big on the first one. So I got the tank and now needed a stand. I looked around and said hey I have all these tools, let me see what I can whip up. After designing up the dream stand in Visio I got to work. So let’s look at some pics of the stand build.

Here you see the side panels being squares up with a router and strait edge
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...gEndSquare.jpg

After making some rabbets on the back edges of the sides with the table saw I used the router and made a dado in the sides and back to support the bottom shelf.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ottomShelf.jpg

By now I can see how the sides, bottom, and back fit together.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...caseDryFit.jpg

Next were the stopped dados for the front and back plywood beams.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ackSupport.jpg

Once I had all the joints tight I glued the whole thing together with gorilla glue and some brads to hold it together while the glue set. I them added a small plywood top.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ldingStand.jpg

At this point I put the tank on the stand in the shop and filled it with water to test the stand. Better in the shop then on the hard woods upstairs. She held with no bowing of the plywood at all, I even kicked the sides and pushed on it trying to rack it to no avail. As it stood there it was very strong.

As I was figuring how I was going to get a sump MRC MR-2 and other stuff in the bottom of it I was running into a dilemma. I didn’t have the room I wanted. So in the shop I have some pipes (sink, toilet, and tub drains) in the corner where I could put in a third bathroom in the house.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...a/SumpRoom.jpg

The boss said go a head and build it so we can have a bathroom down there and in the place where the tub would go build put the sump stuff. So off on a tangent work project. That would need to be complete first before anything could move forward.

During this whole build process I was planning on where I was going to get rock, sand, and critters. I was looking at getting a TBS package, but that was expensive. So I was sitting at my desk one day and a bud came up and said he just got promoted and needed to tear down his TBS packaged tank. He waned to know if I would take all the livestock for free in return for selling his hard goods. Duh yea!!! So I went and got a 100 gal Rubbermaid stock tank and got everything setup in another room.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...SetupLarge.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t.../SumpLarge.jpg

Now that I got the temp setup running, and the sump room built I turned my attention to plumbing this beast. As you can see above I have a Sequence 4300 that I am going to be using to pump the water about 15’ up and 20’ horizontally. I am also going to try and power my MR-2 off it also downstairs in the sump room. So here is a pic of the return 1 ½� and drain 2� making their journey into the wall upstairs to the tank. It is kind of unnerving hearing salt water running through my shop where there are so many things that can rust…
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...a/Plumbing.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t.../Plumbing2.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...rella/Sump.jpg

So with all of that now done I had to think about power. Luckily I work for a Lighting company and we sell switch gear that can be programmed. So after some wheeling and dealing I ended up with this (cover removed). It had 16 relays that can handle 20A individually. The lower right is the brain that totally interactive. On the left side of the relay cards are low voltage input where I can wire in float switches to power on of off stuff is water gets too high or low in specific areas. Also you can see LED status light is the relay is on or off. Upstairs I will have a 9 button panel, with LED indicators, that I can control any 9 relays I specify.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...a/Controls.jpg

So with all of that in place I went ahead and finished the tank stand construction and make some doors.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ldingDoors.jpg

I applied 3 coats of Original Waterlox finish to the outside with a light 220 sanding in between. Got a friend to help me haul it upstairs, level it, and put the tank on it.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ishedStand.jpg

I then attached the plumbing from the wall and fired up the pump to fill her up.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...dDoorsOpen.jpg

I still have to build the canopy (carcass is complete), run wire for the MH lighting, antinics, and canopy fans.

So that is where I stand now. I am getting some nice #0 and #1 aragonite on a power buy thanks to the Tampa Bay Reef Club. I should be passing through town right when they get the delivery and pick it up. I think their total order came out to exactly 3 tons of sand ordered. WOW. My 160lbs will be a drop in the bucket. I should have the sand in the tank at the end of the month and start transferring the rock and critters afterwards.

That’s all for now.
Andy

Nice Work! I like your lighting control system, will be following along on updates

Thanks

It is for total contol. Pumps, heaters, whatever...

Looking great, Andy! :thumbsup:

Really like the craftsmanship in the stand.
Nice to see real woodworking, instead of the ordinary 2x4's, screws and filler ;)
Do you have any other plans for flow, other than the return? What type of flow do you expect with that amount of head?

Yeah nice job. I'm a 2x4 and screw guy, I'm not even up to the point of using filler. Haha :) Anyway I'm in awe.

BTW, watch that exposed insulation, I think that's supposed to be bad for your lungs.

Thanks RumLad. There is actually another 3/4" ply skin on the sides and face frame on the front that hides the lower trim of the tank. I have a ton of pics of test joints and such that I didn't want to bore anyone with. Yes it took me 3 years to get this far but I did lots of planning and hopefully I am getting it right the first time. I love how the inset doors fit perfectly. That was my first time trying them.

As you can see in the sump pic right now I have a PCX 30 that I am borrowing to just circulate the water. According to the head loss calc it should only be pushing about 80 GPH. When I fired it up it filled the tank in about 30 minutes. The plan is to get the sand in, then move over the skimmer, and then the big Sequence 4300 which is running the temp setup and I am planning on running the skimmer and flow with it. The head loss calc said with the pipe I had it can provide about 1200 GPH. I am shooting for around 500. I built a manifold with outputs in each opt corner of the tank where I can screw in 1/2" lock line to aim. I am ready to try several ideas though. Nothing is permanent just yet. That is the best part of the hobby, experimentation.

Thanks, I have been working down there for about 6 years and I am more afraid of the fine dust then I am the insulation. It is kinda like asbestos, as long as you don't touch it to flake it off you will be OK.

Heres a shot of the back and side meeting with the rabbet joint in the side panel.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...UpOfRabbet.jpg

How often do you break the flourescent tubes on the ceiling?

I see Irwin chisels in the one photo... isn't it a shame that Marples sold out to Irwin (DeWalt, etc).


ACK! And your a Makita guy!

What else do you spy??? I have yet to break a lamp. whomp whomp whomp. (hitting head to knock on wood)

Yea my dad got me a set years ago. i have a good set of stones to sharpen them on. I like the mirror finish when they are sharpened.

Aww don't let those blue tools bother you. I love my impact driver. They have been great tools. I would have preferred to have all gray tools, but PC doesn't make an impact. My shop is melting pot of brands. I don't have any yellow though, except for drill bits.

On another note I talked to one of our R&D engineers about reflectors. I showed him some of the home brew ones that have popped up here and he had a chuckle. His words, true parabolic would be best. He is going to look for some alternatives that he thinks would work well for the application. We will have to see what he comes up with.

I like Titebond, but cant stand gorilla glue. Did anybody ever tell you that buying drywall screws and finish nails by the pound is expensive? The FAT MAX tapes and 10-499 utility knifes can't be beat. Is that a #1 or #2 Stanley block plane? (low angle?). I looked at a few JET dust collectors but don't have the room. I like the $1 large spring clamps and the $6 tubes full of the different smaller sizes. The PONY brand pipe clamps are also one of my favorites. Woodcraft recently had the interlocking floor mats on sales, but the warden vetoed that one. Does a girl work in that shop? I bought mine a panel carrier so that she could do some work instead of watching. "Bring me the next sheet woman!". Though she has to stop and use the softsoap every 5 minutes. It is always empty. Worse yet, she uses the "BIG BOX" of shop towels like they are cheap paper towels. I asked for for a new set of push/hold down pads for christmas. You know the kind with the soft foam rubber? She has no clue and will just get me a pair of New Balance shoes instead. Have you eve balanced a ballast core upon a narrow ledge? I jsut can't get mine to stay. If I had one of those Uni-T-Fence things, I could build a nice platform for it because I have a nice WWII saw blade from forrest. My neighbors complained about the eyesore I call a windowshaker. I built a box and put it inside the shop, all they see is the screen. The wife is happy too because it does not stick out into the walkway! The craftsman diagonal cutters sure make cutting zip ties easy... I wish I had a set. Well I am off to eat some hot dogs and read my new book. I keep it under the fish tank, it is by the Stephen guy...

You make me laugh. You missed the Bessy K-Body clamps hiding in the backgroud. I got rid of the Unifence fence and got the Uni-T-Fence. Much better for jigs. That is the low angle block plane. I have 2 of those carriers and they keep the hands nice and fresh. The big box towels come in very handy. The Shop Fox dust collector does a great job, much better then the shop vac. A surprise present lat year for my birthday. A WWII is in the near future hopefully, for now it is all Freud blades. They do well as long as you clean them everyonce in a while. I reallt like the 80T in the chop saw. Mmmm hot dogs, had those for dinner last night. Bubba burger tonight. Have you noticed that there have not been that many tool quesitons lately? Bummer if you ask me.

Later.

:D

Do you do the commercial disclaimers also?

I saw the clamps, but was not sure if they were the real deal. I figured those were freud blades too! I even figured one was the ATB... next best thing to a WWII according to FWW. The forrest chops saw blade is rated well also, though I hear very good things about the DeWalt 80T. I did not miss the mag lite, or the B&D workmate (I own 3 sizes. Full size, bench top and hoppy type clamp on). Who wears grey new balance shoes anyway! I have bad luck with the slip jaw C clamps. But I do like the lack of drip loop on the sump $5 power strip... nuthin like a little water spray running down the cord into the quality piece of electrical equipment. (we will not talk about my implementation that looks about the same). Whats in the red hinged box? Cheap drill bits or the cheapy socket set?

I am building a new shed as soon as I get the permit (I know... I am the guy the NEVER gets a permit, but I got in a fight with the neigbor lady on that side and I KNOW she will turn me in.) It will only be 160 sqFt... around 12 x 13.5 Kinda small, but the largest they will allow.

Those would be the mowing shoes... Forstner bits in the red box. There are tools that I will invest in. I may be cheep but I know when it is worth the money to spend a little more. If you can guess what the blue bar is you win the prize. Have you ever eaten at Vincents Pizza over near Monroeville?

Next house will have a 30x30 out building with 10' ceilings all for me.

Blue bar = ergonomic conduit bending device handle.

Nope, but I guess in it's use it tries to get twisted on the twisties.

cannarella - very sweet! You have done some great work here - I'm very envious. I have all the tools and I'm just learning, thank you for the photos they really tell the story.

OK so last night I moved the GenX PCX30 off the permanent setup and swapped it with the Sequence 4300 on the temp setup. Man the Sequence is much quieter.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...0015Medium.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...0012Medium.jpg

That is one awesome Rubbermaid tank you got - they make it so much nicer. You also have gate valve - they are the best way to go. On the regular valves I'm always having to get a hammer and tap them to get them to move.

I have to ask about the pump output - now that is some heavy connectors - was it the only way to get everything to line up properly?

The Sequence makes a very nice pump - I think you'll be much happier!

Well since I had the Sequence in use on the temp setup I could not make it use it in mock up so plan B was to put the suction and output in the general area. I left the return line high so I can remove that section of pipe below it and the pump so I can pull the pump out for service. All the strait pipe sections from the sump to the last union before the gray gate valve is spa flex so if it is a little out of alignment it works out and eliminates the pump from sending vibrations through the plumbing.

I did not want to use ball valves for that purpose of not being able to dial them in along with they can be very tough to open and close that it could stress the plumbing.

The stand looks great Cann. How large is your tank again? That is one intense sump system you have setup. By the way, what type of table saw are you running. After using my friends Delta at his work I can't imagine using anyting else. I was thinking of picking up a Delta DL36-717 with the Biesemeyer fence but man those things are pricey. Know of anything comparable for a cheaper price?