The 140g VIDEO! p.4

[Sherita]

I recently picked up Ace's 140g 4' x 2' x 29" tank, in order to upgrade my predator tank to something a bit more roomy. After looking and thinking, I knew I wanted a background. The problem lies in the fact that I have one very large urchin that will be occupying this tank, and the foamed background in my 72g is slowly being devoured by my tuxedo urchin (I really don't know why he isn't floating by now). Since foam wasn't the answer, I decided on agrocrete. Did some googling, came up with some recipes and ideas, and off I went.

First, I built a shallow jig to the exact dimensions I wanted the background. I then built the new acrylic overflow, and the eggcrate pieces that will be used as the backer for the agrocrete background. It's built in sections because it would be far too heavy to handle otherwise. I glued small pieces of eggcrate on randomly, to give some "tooth" to the backer in order for the agrocrete to have something to hold on to. I also glued anchors on the overflow.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/partiallayout.jpg

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/overflow_detail.jpg

In this pic you can see the half section of grey pvc covered in saran wrap. This will be removed after the background sets up. It's designed so that I can hide my return line.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/bkgd_detail.jpg

You can also see the eggcrate "anchors" that are glued on to give the agrocrete something to grab onto.

[Sherita]

The recipe I decided on was 1 part each of portland cement, perlite and aragonite sand (coarse). I dry mixed the ingredients in the tub before adding water and working by hand. You want a dry but sticky consistency. Too much water, and your mix will just run, too little and it won't stick. Since I've worked with concrete plenty of times before, it wasn't hard for me to get it where I wanted it. Ideally, a handful will stick together if squeezed, but not drip moisture. Working with it took a little experimentation, but once I got the hang of it, the rest was pretty easy. Working with each section, I put down a bottom layer of wet mix, then tamped it into the eggcrate and around the anchors. I then used my imagination to create hides, caves, cracks and crevices with with loosely patted down mix. On top of that I sprinkled handfuls of crumbled up wetmix and just barely patted it down to make contact.

The background is in four sections, with the overflow making the fifth section.

This is the far left section, the darker "hump" towards the middle/top is a hide about three inches deep. I created it by packing wet mix around a crumpled up ball of plastic wrap. This worked okay, but I came up with something better later.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/bkgd_ltside.jpg

This is the left middle section. There is a piece of pvc pipe and some fittings buried in the mix to create a cave. Didn't really like that either.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/bkgd_ltmiddle.jpg

The right middle section. No caves or holes on this one, but I built in some small "shelves" in case I want to put corals on them.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/bkgd_rtmiddle.jpg

The far right section. The overflow goes between this one and the one pictured above. This on has a multi-opening cave in it. More on how I built it in a moment.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/bkgd_rtside.jpg

[Sherita]

The overflow.....

This thing was a pita. And I didn't get a picture of one side, so use your imagination :shades:

This is a sort of "overview". Nothing is going to actually hide the square shape, but at least I can camo it a little.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/overflow_rtside.jpg

The overflow has several hides built into it, like this one.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/hideyhole.jpg

There is also a tunnel on the right side of the overflow. You can see the upper opening for it on the left upper side of this picture.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/overflow_top.jpg

Here's how I built the tunnel, I like this method.

Using wet sand, I made the tunnel in the shape I wanted.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/overflow_sandtunnel.jpg

I then GENTLY built up around it. You can see that I had already started, look to the left side of the sand tunnel in the above picture. Once you have your tunnel covered, you can gently pat the mix down, then sprinkle it with extra crumbled up mix, just to give it texture. Build up extra around your openings, so they won't be fragile. The tunnel above has three openings, top, bottom and middle. You can see them in this picture.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/overflow_rtside.jpg

Here is a closer shot of one of the openings (upper).

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/overflow_tunneltop.jpg

Once the background has cured, I will rinse it with the water hose. This will flush the sand out of the tunnels. Then the whole thing goes into a trough full of water (changed every couple of days) until the ph reads 8-9. Then into the tank it will go.

Jeeze, I sure hope it fits right :rofl:

There will be a few more updates as I get things set up for the screen tops and add additional lighting, but that's it for right now. I'll post up pics of the background with the sand cleaned out of the tunnels when I get that done.

[CoryDude]

Wow, that's a lot of work. I'm just glad you're taking the time to let your mixture. Definitely following along on this build.

[hobogato]

looks like a great start sherita

[CoryDude]

Wow, that's a lot of work. I'm just glad you're taking the time to let your mixture. Definitely following along on this build.

That was supposed to be...."let your mixture cure."

[Sherita]

The stand is built, stained and ready to rock! 42" tall, so no stooping to see the pretty fish:bighug:

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/standexterior.jpg

Full access from the front and the right side with magnetic doors that lift out of the way. I can lift my sump in without touching either side.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/standinterior.jpg

And with a little help from some friends, up the tank goes! It took four of us to wrestle it up there, LOL.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/tank.jpg

I've got the top/canopy built and stained. I'm going to get it sealed and ready in the next day or two. It's a two piece, with both upper and lower, so that I can fit my screen tops in to keep the occupants secure. There will be two eels in this tank (zebra and ocellated) as well as a huge lunar wrasse, the eels are escape artists, the wrasse routinely tries to jump.

[Flyride95]

Very nice!

[SABOB]

Awesome, keep the updates coming


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BBQHILLBILLY]

great job on the overflow box. The 42 inch stand height is perfect. very inspiring.

[Sherita]

Thanks guys! The first coat of poly is drying on the canopy/light box now. I'm hoping to start plumbing and setting the background in a couple of days if everything goes as planned. My predators will be SO happy with their new digs.

And I've already got two more builds in the wings. But this one must be done first.

The 72g reef in the bedroom is getting an upgrade, and I picked up a really cool 90g tall at ER yesterday. I've decided it will be a dither tank, full of little fish with lots of movement.........blue reef chromis, purple firefish, agile chromis. And a pair of Gumdrop Coral Crouchers. Oh yea, I still have the hall tank to build too, species specific for harlequin shrimp. A nano-biotope of sorts.

Gah, it will NEVER end.

[cniles]

Love the Magnet doors!

[hobogato]

looks great sherita

[Sherita]

Canopy and screen tops are done. Tomorrow after work I can start fitting the lights in. I'm going with an 8 bulb T5HO, led moonlights. The top is designed to be completely eel proof. The upper part locks in a raised position, which will make working in the tank a LOT easier.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/canopy.jpg

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/canopyopen.jpg

Any powerhead cords will come out of the tank through these pass-throughs. They are designed to be small enough to keep all of my predators in their tank. You can see these on either side of the screens in the above shot.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/passthrough.jpg

Detail shot
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/passthrough2.jpg

Once I get the lights fitted, it will be time for the initial plumbing and installing the background. It's getting closer to being done, I just want to move very slowly and think everything out. This tank is way too big for me to screw up halfway through and have to start over.

[hobogato]

nicely done! great idea on the chord pass-thrus

[Cammed_02]

The eel proof lid design is sick, love the color too. Looks like it's coming along nicely.

[Sherita]

Thanks everyone :)

I'm not too worried about the zebra moray, but the ocellated is very aggressive and I would hate to have to pick him up off the floor.

[Louis-210]

Looks Great!! Now i want a bigger tank and im not even done with my 100 gallon lol . . .

[Sherita]

The background is in, and some of the lights are installed!

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/14Sept12_1.jpg

A couple of up close shots
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/14Sept12_2.jpg

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/14Sept12_3.jpg

Sump is in place. Lots of room under there! No more trying to squirm my way to the back to fix something. I will have work lights under here once it's all done.

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/14Sept12_4.jpg

I've still got to install four more T5 bulbs in the canopy, and wire in the moonlights and fans. Then I can start the plumbing and sump work. There's a ways to go yet, but I'm gaining on it :)

[koa25]

Dang Sherita, That is looking awesome. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Big_Pun]

a work of art and its not wet yet!!

[350gt]

That wall is amazing... Can't wait to see this thing color up....

[Sherita]

New update. Got it plumbed in, gonna get it wet tomorrow. I went with gate valves in the sump this time, I am sick and tired of fighting with sticky ball valves that you can never get adjusted right. Refugium will be on the left, skimmer section is on the right. I still have four more T5's to install in the canopy, which will punch the light. You can see the uv sterilizer behind the sump, and a carbon reactor will sit to the right of the sump. The entire thing will be controlled with an ACjr, thinking of upgrading to an Apex, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I need to decide what I want to do for extra flow within the tank, I will probably go with Koralia's, since I don't like the noise of the vortechs. Might upgrade to tunze's later, or go with a wavebox.

If all goes well, this bad boy will have fish in it soon. I'm not expecting a cycle since I am adding about 200lbs of well seasoned live rock (this came out of my 75g, along with a bunch more that has been in my 110g holding tank with my livestock for quite some time).

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/140g_3Oct12.jpg

Sump, up close:
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/140gsump_3Oct12.jpg

Sand in the tank, and the penductors are installed as well:
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/140g2_3Oct12.jpg

FTS, LOL.
http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/140g3_3Oct12.jpg

[Scutterborn]

That looks really sharp!


-Ben-

[Sherita]

Thanks Ben! I still have quite a bit to do.........new float bracket for the ato, build up a bracket to brace the return plumbing, finish the work lighting in the sump, finish the lighting in the canopy, trim down the overflow cover (that thing HATES me, I have worked on it I don't know how many times, GRRRRRRR), cooling fans, heaters, and a ton of other stuff. Then the real work starts. Lots of water mixing, transferring and adding of live rock. Once I'm sure the levels are good, the predators go in. And then I can tear down the 72g and redo my bedroom floor because of water damage. Wonder how THAT happened????

[Scream311]

WoW Busy Busy Woman, for me to come out of Hiding just to Post on here says alot about this Build Thread, im Inspired by how Clean And Professional this Tank Looks. GOOD JOB

[Sherita]

It's WET!!!!!

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/140g_wet.jpg

My poor RODI is working overtime. I need to make about another 30-40 gallons to finish up topping the tank and filling the sump. I can't wait to throw the switch on this bad boy :bigsmile:

[koa25]

Looking great, Sherita. The thrill of the build.

[RayAllen]

Great job, looks awesome!

[hobogato]

your fishies are going to love you even more for this :)

[Sherita]

And BAM! Threw the switch, and she is running like a dream. Plenty of flow coming from those penductors. I've still got about 100lbs of live rock to move into the tank, so I will redo the 'scaping then. I'll dump a cup of sand from one of my other established tanks in there, and add some rubble in the sump and behind the scaping to seed with pods and other micro critters. I've still got more light to add. And I've got to hunt up my 1/4" tap so I can get the ato float switch mounted up (it's run off somewhere yet again, sigh). I'll add the skimmer tomorrow, clean up the wiring and put the controller on. Powerhead placement is just temporary, I'll get them in their permanent spots tomorrow. Next week I'll order the cuc for this tank, mainly large snails (the trigger and tusk will nom anything very small). In the near future, I will add the spiny rock urchin and one of the tiger tail cucumbers from my 72g tank. I've also got a large conch to add into the tank as well. I'm going to watch the tank for the next 36 hours or so, and then start slowly adding in livestock. I'm not expecting a cycle at all, but I'm going to move very slowly, just in case. Here's what she looks like for now:

http://coralbeauty.us/140Build/140g_running.jpg

What do ya'll think?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Its a new world never seen. very nice. very kool. nice touch.

[koa25]

I think it looks freaking awesome. I am going ti hire you to do my next tank lol.

[Mr Cob]

beautiful Sherita, love the back wall.

[350gt]

Perfect!

[Scutterborn]

That tank is a pure bad ***!!


- Ben -

[Sherita]

Livestock list for this tank:

Harlequin Tusk
Lunar Wrasse
Zebra Moray
Ocellated Moray
Humu Humu Trigger
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish
Marine Betta

Spiny Rock Urchin
NPS Rock Anemones
Mini Carpet Nems
Tiger Cowrie
Red Knobbed sea star

various low end corals....leathers and shrooms, orange monti, fairy dust palys, whatever else I come up with.

I'll add a smaller species tang of some sort to help control algae, and a forceps butterfly (always wanted one!), as well as an angel of some sort (undecided).

PH was my main concern, due to the aggrocrete background, but it's holding steady within acceptable levels. I'm going to finish up the work on the tank today, and probably start adding livestock tomorrow.

[Sherita]

Well, I had a very nice video to show you folks of the new tank up and running. Unfortunately, youtube has now turned into more google garbage and refuses to function. So, I'll just take pictures tomorrow so you folks can see it.

[Sherita]

I have no idea if this will work or not, but let's just see.........


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsI4X9Ku6Tc&feature=youtu.be

[jwalk034]

Lookin Good!!

[reefreak]

Looks great love the big wrasse

[Mr Cob]

you killed it on this tank, looks great!

[Scutterborn]

I only see one problem. It's a big one...

How will you ever outdo this art!!

:)


- Ben -

[Flyride95]

Looks awesome!

[ErikH]

WOW how did I miss this? Sherita, you should pat yourself on the back for me! Your planning, execution, and little things like gate valves, put this thread over the top! Great job all the way around. Did you build the stand and canopy yourself? They came out great!

[Sherita]

The stand and canopy are home built :) I wanted something big enough underneath that I would no longer be cussing trying to reach in and under the tank while working. The background is aggrocrete, I built the overflow out of acrylic. The sump is built by me as well. I put a lot of thought into the build, learning from my past mistakes.

One thing I know for sure, no tank here will ever again sit on less than 40" of stand. It makes life so much easier.

[RayAllen]

Awesome! I will try to be there. Will be stocking the tank soon. :)