So do you just use the copper strands twisted to give it a slight gap so the Weld-On can get in?

Oh, yeah... Sorry about that.

Yes, the pins (twisted wires) are inserted between the two pieces to allow enough solvent to soften both pieces before removing the pins and bringing the two pieces together. When the pins are pulled any excess solvent will squeeze out and help to seal the weld, while the two softened pieces become one as the solvent continues to dry. For our climate (Dry Colorado Air) I use WeldOn 3 and allow the solvent to soak for approx 1:15 (min:sec) before pulling the pins.

the pins do make a huge difference. Allows you to get a great, even seal. The only thing you have to watch out for the amount of weld on that now goes in there. It is easy to over do it opposed to the standard wick you usually get with thinner acrylic sheets.

I had a problem with the pins allowing too much weldon in and then after dropping the sheet it presses little weldon balls out into the inside 90degree corner which is impossible to sand.

looks awesome calvin. cant wait to see it with lights and water! kudos on the butt welds as well.

Thanks Dopamine!

Do this 4 times over the course of the day and this is what you have:







Top and Bottom (plus flush cutting, sanding and polishing) are all that is left!!!

wow it coming along nicely. cant wait to see this thing full of water.

was that u i seen asking about 1000w bulbs on the other site? if so is that what ur going to run on this one too?

Thanks, yes that was me but for another tank. I have dual 1000w MH's on a 225 at my folks house. Here's a link to that build.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=1050944

You weren't kidding about really long. Looks good so far, can't wait to see how it turns out. Keep us posted on any progress you make.

LOL! Nope not kidding. Thanks, I'll be posting any and all updated here.

Here's some pics of the flip w/ my 3yr old.

I couldn't get any further away to try to get it all to fit, but that's almost 8' from left side to the seam (part un-masked) and then another 4' to the right side.


I threw the top on it just to get an idea of how it will look.


Reverse side.


From the stairs coming down...

I wish I had your skills.

Wow, this is a great thread. Thanks for taking the time to bring us all along.

OMG that is mammoth! Very impressive. I really wish I had the skills to do that - I struggle with my 24g AIO

Tagging along

WOW, this tank is really coming along nicely.

cant wait to see the next step

WOW this is amazing.
your tank is going to be so awesome.
i think best part for you is telling everyone "ya i built it all myself" wow im so impressed with your skills i wish i had them.
cant wait to see more

Great build, hope you continue in the same vien!

Just practice and have patience, but more than anything just the confidence and courage to try.



Thanks, glad you've enjoyed it.



LOL! See comment above.



Thanks!



Lots and lots of steps still to follow...



LOL! Thanks, yes that's always the biggest eye opener... Same thing happens on the current 225 I did. I think most people believe that aquariums magically happen and don't realize that people can actually build them.



Thanks!

Looks great man, love the view from the stairs!

Well I just spent an hour reading the thread at RC of the tanks at your dads house and you have some of the best DIY skills I have ever seen. Are you in the trades, or just a really good learner?

Thanks! It's my fav as well.



LOL! No, I'm an analyst. Just love anything hands on.

Looking GREAT ! Will be taging along on this one .

Looks awesome. If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for your acrylic?

i have never built an aquarium but i love DIY
although with my cash flow i can barely afford my 20 gallon diy lol

Thanks everyone!

AcroporaLokani, The 4 12' pieces cost me 500.00 (took 2 sheets of 1/2" to build) and the ends and overflow box were about another 75.00

I just got the acrylic for my sumps, and that's costing me another 170.00 but still have to order the acrylic tubing for the skimmer...

bro, i wish i had you skills, your tank, and your money. lol

cant wait to see the fisnished product.

LOL! Thanks, not sure about money though... My wife stays at home w/ our 2 kids and one on the way, plus a 2k mortgage. I'm broke!!!

ya but you will still have one sweet tank

+1 to that!

one word; DAYUM!

thats a nice setup you have there i love your acrylic work with this one

lol. at least you have a wife that understands your passion about your hobby.
"someone" that i know broke up with their ex because they didnt understand that "someone's" passion for the hobby. is it obvious that "someone" is me? lol anyways, my gf now actually has a oranda tank of her own(that i take care of). and spends more money on her tank than i do.

LOL! I hope so!



Thanks!



LOL! Thanks, always trying to push the envelope...



We all have our passions, aquariums are cars are mine, and she knew that from the beginning. Fortunately she she also has learned to enjoy the fish along with cars. Now the trick is to get the kids grown up so she can go back to work and I can start to buy some real toys...

what are you doing online,, less play more work!! now get working on that project so i can see the end result!!!

Working, or I'm supposed to be... Can't work on the tank until I get home, and actually I've been waiting for my larger solvent bottles (being delivered today). If there is time tonight, perhaps I can get the top welded on.

Top and Bottom are done, all that's left is flush trim routing.

I need the foam for the stand anyway and decided to give it a shot welding on top of it. WOW! By far the easiest way to shim up the weld since the stryo allows the shims to slip under the acrylic without trying to lift the entire assembly. I also tried a new mix; I added approx 1/8-3/16" (measuring from the bottom of the bottle) of WeldOn 16 to the 2oz bottles before adding WeldOn 3, let the mix sit for a while to ensure the 16 was fully disolved... I again used 2 copper wire trands twisted together for the pin method and allowed approx 1:30 (min:sec) soak time before pulling the pins (spaced approx 8" apart). To accomplish adding this mix to approx 25.5 ft of 1/2" acrylic in 1:30, a friend and I each used a 16ga needle on a 2oz bottle both applying it at the same time.

Here's the bottom going on:











And the rough length before flush trimming; this will put it as long as I can go (about 3/8" short of hitting the column)...

Looks great Calvin.........wish you were local so you could build me a custom tank . How much has the materials cost so far ? John

Well Reeflo had a sale today, and I just couldn't help myself... They were practically giving them away!!!



1 Dart CL, 1 Dart for the mixing tanks, 1 Dart for a back up, 1 Dart is for my buddy who helped with the build and 1 Dart is TBD...

tbd to give to a fellow reefer? jk jk
looks nice, can't wait to see the set up!

Holy pumps....

I seriously think this is one of the best DIY projects I have seen on any site. Its all in the details. Very nice. I cannot wait to see corals in it.

Chuck

AWESOME! That is all i can say...holy smokes...tagging along!!!!

-DCG

Close, actually I ended up trading it with Marc (melev) for one of his RO/DI units.



Thanks! I actually finished the tank last night (well 99% done, still need a little polishing) and hope to get some friends over tonight to get it on the stand and find out how out of level my stand it... More pics coming. Of course the tank is the easy part, I still have the filtration and flow to build.



Thanks!

I like it...I like it a loottt ( in Lloyd's voice from Dumb and Dumber) ...this is gonna be soo crazy!

I agree.

This is siiiiick! I cant wait to see it with water!

Im so excited!

Amazing... I am actually getting a MH set up from the wife as a b-day gift!

I don't think I could convince her to let me put something like this in.

Keep up the Great work!

LOL! Thanks!



Thanks!



Me either!



Thanks! Me too!

I too have a 12 footer... but its not a tank.

AHAHAHA Kraylen never ceases to amaze me...

By the way Calvin, good work, keep on keepin on!

What? I have a small boat!