220g frag tank build...

[Mr Cob]

I think this will be a pretty massive frag tank....

Thanks Justin and Rick for the help today! We would not have been able to move it without you. Jack and I handled the 144 half circle alone but I think this one was just a tiny bit out of our league. Especially for Jack...haha!

It was fun watching Jack demo this thing....oh and Justin got a taste by tearing the entire side cabinet off...and when everyone left I ripped some trim off and it made me feel good. (see the exposed wood? that was my contribution)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5317596943_8530e62340.jpg

[ismvel]

Looking good Rob. I called you last night and left you a message on your cell to get with you today and help. Glad you guys got it in and in place..

[Mr Cob]

I got your VMAIL but I knew if I called you back you would have been here to help and I know you have a lot going on right now...thx Ismael.

[Europhyllia]

I bet you are like a kid in the candy store! Have fun :)

[GsXtC_21]

Very nice Rob, seemed like everything went smoothly for you guys..... Definitely looking forward to see where you take this..!!

[txg8gxp]

Nice, keep us updated I'm curious to see how you guys set this one up.

[Mr Cob]

Karin..."Yes", I even buy frags from us...nothing like shopping at your own store....lol

Robert and Stephen, thanks...we are kind of curious to see where it goes as well because in my head that keeps changing every hour. It was going to be set up as a room divider but that didn't work out...so we tore the side cabinet off to make it fit next to the 85g on the same wall. The frag racks will have to be pretty tall to make them more accessible.

The 85g and the 220g will drain to the same sump which will be one of our own custom made sumps "Wet Acrylic" and the frag racks...well we haven't even started talking about those yet. The stand needs to get skinned too...in order to keep my wife on our side, considering we have already converted a room to the business.

I'll post some updates as we progress.

[Scream311]

Very glad to see that side cabinet GONE ! That just ruined the look of the setup IMO.

Anxious to see the process of this frag tank build

[Kristy]

Wow... You guys have been busy! Rob, you need to do a little something special for Racquel (think spa day or at least pedicure!) for putting up with all this. Mr. Cob's is taking over!!!

[justahobby]

Thanks for having me over to help Christen your new house. It's not truly a MAASTard house until you have knicks and missing paint in the entry way from moving tanks and stands. Wish I could have stayed to help empty those pizza boxes. Look forward to the progress on this texas sized frag tank!

[Regric25]

Texas sized frag tank is right! It's HUGE and heavy. I thought we were going to loose it a couple of times! I too, am looking forward to the progression. Good luck to you guys!

[Mr Cob]

Not much yet...but I finished stripping the stand tonight...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5321962679_251f73ee5a.jpg

took the doors off too...they will be replaced with 3 large doors versus the 6 small ones it had. It's also going to get a floor put in.

[Mr Cob]

Started working on the overflow tonight....

Tools:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5350721177_72ec48bbdc_m.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5351335404_79ff09f94d_m.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5350717507_7c1f9425f4_m.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5351328952_6bbcb92863.jpg




....more after I watch a movie....my wife is going to tan my hide....! lol

[Mr Cob]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5350720153_27e0bdc986.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5351332140_32a32151f9.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5351336542_b2345a761a.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5351337556_4d0948e93d.jpg

Once the weldon 16 is dry I'll be applying the silicone to the overflow and covering it with the waterfall foam which is black. I will only be applying a light amount just to cover the overflow.

[olaggie01]

Where do you get the waterfall foam? Interested in it for my overflow.

[Mr Cob]

lowes or home depot. Kind of disappointing to see that they raised the price from $15 to $17 and some change. They stock it in the pond section outside and only keep a few cans in at a time so it pays to call the store in advance, though half the time they don't know what I'm talking about.

[olaggie01]

Cool. Do you have the exact name or a picture of the can? I found something at HD the other day, but I don't think it was the right stuff, wasn't UV resistant.

[Mr Cob]

I posted it above. Here's a larger shot of it. It's called "Waterfall Foam Sealant". It's black.

Also, home depot and lowes sell different brands. If it's not in the pond section outside then it's probably not the right kind and if it "is" then it's probably the one.

from Lowes
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5351335404_83d8ea55ec.jpg

[olaggie01]

Ahh, missed that. Thanks. I think I saw something similar at HD, but I'm not 100%. I'll check Lowes this afternoon. You don't epoxy your foam do you?

[Mr Cob]

I apply silicone first and spread it around and then spray the foam over it before it dries. This is done so that the foam never loosens from the acrylic or glass. I found that after a year the foam looses it's seal if not siliconed.

Check the thread below for more details on the use of foam; I like to distress the foam to make it look more natural and to prevent the bubbled up foam look

This is the build thread of my 85g frag display tank, foaming starts on pg 13: (there's video of the process too)
http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?60706-85g-shallow-wide-FRAG-display-tank-build....-*updated-pics-PG20*/page13&highlight=85+frag+display

[olaggie01]

Thanks. I'm hoping to add some to a PVC arch that I'm building. I'll check out the vids.

Just noticed this on the smartpond website:

"smartpond® one component polyurethane foam is a moisture cured sealant used to fill, seal and bond rocks for waterfall construction. It expands 2 to 3 times the extruded bead and adheres to all surfaces except Teflon®, silicone and polyethylene."

AND

"Cured foam exposed to sunlight must be covered with paint or stain."

[Mr Cob]

they also have another comment somewhere that says "not recommended for aquariums".

So...use at your own risk. It's "inert" so I'm not worried about it and I've been using it for over 3 years now. Not sure about the silicone statement as that's the only thing that has worked for me to get it to mount to acrylic and glass longterm.

Yes, the foam that sticks out of the water and is exposed to direct light seems to fade. however the foam underwater has never faded and in my opinion is protected by all the stuff that grows on it such as coraline algae. I also sprinkle aragonite on my foam so that it looks natural and gives coraline something to stick to.

There are hundreds of threads online discussing foam both pros and cons of using it. Reef Central is another place to find good info. Lots of MAAST members have done some unique things with it. Type in the search "pond foam" or "waterfall foam" or "foam reef".

[olaggie01]

Thanks. I've been looking at the threads for the past few weeks. That seems to be my major concern, regarding UV degradation. I'll only be using a little bit of it to cover up the PVC, so I'm not really too concerned about it. I may just use some watery concrete mix instead, but I'll see how the concrete looks first.

[Mr Cob]

no problem...be sure to do a build thread so we can see what you do.

[olaggie01]

I need to upload it. I have one going on ARC (since I'm in Georgetown). I'll do that shortly.

[ErikH]

NOICEEEEE!

[Mr Cob]

applied silicon to overflow
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5360694713_962368bb11.jpg

foamed and added aragonite and some small pieces of rubble
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5360700109_050471dbee.jpg

closeup
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5360713127_291bed6f6c.jpg

after it sets I'll add some more rubble around the racks hanging over the sides to kind of complete the look.

[Mr Cob]

overflow is complete...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5364840580_4a681599b7.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5364839050_dd098a0b61.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5364837646_c94b1ed322.jpg

I used black silicone to seal the overflow to the glass.

[TaknByD]

Man this tank is going to be so sick once complete... I so envy you bro... I so wish I could do stuff like this... I just need to win the freakin lottery first...

[justahobby]

Looking great as always. What's the reasoning behind the lowest frag rack... doesn't look enough space between them? Or am I just having scaling problems?

[Mr Cob]

thanks guys....no reasoning Justin, it just looked cool so I went with it. My only purpose with the lower rack was to get it stretched out further for more light. These 4 racks will be for low light corals or corals that need healing time like chalices.

[justahobby]

Yeah, it looks cool. I didn't know if maybe you had different plans for the racks.

[Scream311]

Dammmm that is one Impressive Overflow/Frag Rack. Can I order one from WetAcrylic ? LoL

[Mr Cob]

Some progress...

DSA stand.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/5840819661_9d71400d89.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/5840816549_2bc4f3fe6b.jpg



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/5840825807_2533830a84.jpg



Thanks, Justin, Joe and Lorraine for helping Jack and I today.

[Joe31]

Anytime Rob.... the tank and stand look sweet, and I like the work on the overflow.

[Mr Cob]

thx Joe, can't wait to get it filled up with frags!

[Mr Cob]

6" DSB is in.

rock is in.

FYI: 2 large black acrylic frag racks will go in the two open areas.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5846511392_9147fa9da8_z.jpg

[Mr Cob]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5846523148_1505672092.jpg

i tried to make flat spots available for placing euphyllias and mother colonies
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/5846520498_7fce63ced2.jpg

[Mr Cob]

The 220 has been cycling on it's own since 07/01/2011 so I'm about ready to drop it to the sump...which is now in operation with the 85g dropping to it:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/6004792389_fbd851db84_z.jpg

once I remove the rock the entire front area of this sump will become the holding area for the platinum clownfish and picassos we will be selling soon... (bet you know where those are coming from)