GoToSleep's 700g Build Thread (& complete remodel)

I like the PVC idea ;D but I would have been too lazy to do that for this much rock on the bottom of the tank. I helps that my sand bed is only about an 1" thick so I didn't wind up covering very much rock.

I don't have any rock touching the glass except for my overflows.

 

Yeah, I hear ya!

I have my new big tank about 3/4 the way filled with salt water, but I have to bite the bullet and transfer the rest of my LR from my existing 90g to the 200g. We had our local club's annual BBQ at my place on Saturday, and despite 3 months of prep, I still did not have the 200g all rolling.

I gave up trying to get it done before the BBQ and relaxed and spent the time enjoying the beautiful weather and 30+ club members at my house I think i will transfer the 90g on Monday or Tuesday.

 

LOL, you wrote So and I read Son. Hence my reference to him. Your SO should know better but I understand the need for harmony in the home.

 

So today’s project was to finally get the lights mounted. Like so much about this tank, it took a bit longer than I expected, though part of that was due to my letting one of my 9 year olds help with the power tools. To help with the planning I graphed out the tanks dimensions and the location of the overflows. I then made scale cut outs of the reflectors and worked out the best position for them in the tank. Each reflector is roughly 15” x 15”.





A few days ago, I picked up some ¾” aluminum (square) tubes. I got a 2” x 2” piece of oak which I notched out using a radial arm saw and screwed inside the ends of the canopy with stainless steel screws.





I used more stainless steel screws to attach the reflectors to the aluminum rails.

 

Ahhh I see

 

Wooohoooo more pics!

And the "placing the rock on the bottom glass" kind of depends on the livestock you want in your tank. We have a dynamic duo of a pistol shrimp and goby, and we know for a fact that if we didn't have our rock on the bottom glass, we probably wouldn't have a tank today. Our aquascape is also epoxied together in 3 different sections, which helps. If you are going to have any critters that will be digging through the sand alot, I highly advise you to put your rock on the glass or on egg crate sheets that are covering the glass. If not, do what you want

 

Here are the reflectors actually mounted over the tank.





The next step is to get them wired to my ballasts. I’ve got a little idea for how to mount my ballasts as well.

 

FTS with my canopy in place… I should actually be able to leave it there from now on.



The tank is a bit clearer today and another 200 gal of salt water should be ready by tomorrow.

 

i think about all i can say is wow and caint wait to see it with lights and livestock

 

This is like my ultimate aquarium dream.. have it be the centerpiece of a room.. and a big tank. Might be hard.. since my rooms now are all centered around my mounts from hunting hahaha... can't wait to keep following the progress of this.

Gonna sub to the thread :thumb_up: