Flying Dutch 700 gallon in wall tank-living room/home office divider - Build Thread

[Euler Kernighan]

so... it is time to drill

for goodness sake the bottom glass is so heavy... ok stop to complain, it is time for new pics!

blue lines mark the holes:





details:





another view - the big hole will be used on closed-loop inlet:





these are de sch80 bulkheads (pattern down here in BR)





as I don't have the "official tool" I decide to make this simple jig... shame on me...





detail:





drilling:





... to be continued!

[Euler Kernighan]

1 out 10 finished:





another four:





..and finally:



10 holes for the both closed-loop:

[bugs713]

Cool!
How long did it take for each hole and how many holes per bit?

[Euler Kernighan]

it's very quick just 3 minutes for each hole. I got a video will try to show it here .

and about how many holes I have to say: no idea! but after 20 holes the bit look like new one.

[Euler Kernighan]

one more update before we dive into building the tank, this is the last time we can see all the surface of the counter top - see you in 10 years!




these holes are perfectly aligned with those on bottom glass - the black vinyl roll will be used on the bottom glass - just for aesthetics.

[vanvelzen]

As I said before Euler, the detailed way you are describing your progress is truly great. So many people should find something of use to them somewhere in your thread; I for sure did.

The picture you posted in my thread is realy amazing! I checked the link you gave on the shadowbox background project of Euromomtx out and it looks like something that isn't too tough to make but I'm not sure if I have the space to do that.... For sure something worthwhile looking at vs. just putting black foil. Thanks!!

[dahenley]

are your holes in the stand the same size as the tank bottom?
i only ask, because you will need to be able to install the bulk heads (also, if there is a little more room just in case things to line up right.

also, with a double top, its going to be hard to reach your hands in there to tighten the nuts on the bulkheads...

Looks Good!!!
(like mentioned above, the documentation is amazing....)

[Euler Kernighan]

Originally Posted by vanvelzen

As I said before Euler, the detailed way you are describing your progress is truly great. So many people should find something of use to them somewhere in your thread; I for sure did.

The picture you posted in my thread is realy amazing! I checked the link you gave on the shadowbox background project of Euromomtx out and it looks like something that isn't too tough to make but I'm not sure if I have the space to do that.... For sure something worthwhile looking at vs. just putting black foil. Thanks!!

Thank you VanvVelzen!! your words give me encouragement to continue!


I really like the look that he created - i wondering if I can make something like that! :L and you're are totally right about thinking twice before go to black foil


stay tunned I will update a ton of pics!

[Euler Kernighan]

Originally Posted by dahenley

are your holes in the stand the same size as the tank bottom?
i only ask, because you will need to be able to install the bulk heads (also, if there is a little more room just in case things to line up right.

also, with a double top, its going to be hard to reach your hands in there to tighten the nuts on the bulkheads...

Looks Good!!!
(like mentioned above, the documentation is amazing....)

welcome back my friend - been so long since your last visit! As always you're vey vey meticulous! Are you work as an audit guy?!?

no, the holes in the stand are 3/8 (9mm) bigger then holes in the tank bottom and you're right, it is hard to reach the nuts but it is ok, I can do that.


tons of pic, stay tunned!

[Euler Kernighan]

it is time for tons of pictures!!! So many pics that I decide to open an payable account on photobucket who offers an amazing image hosting service!


Here you can see the styrofoam sheet that will “hold” the tank – 5/8” thickness:

[Euler Kernighan]

Do you remember the black vinyl roll? I used on tank bottom just for aesthetics, this is the final result:

[Euler Kernighan]

As all you guys know, I really like DIYing everything but the fact is that there are some things you can’t do it all, alone, by yourself…
so, build a large tank is an example of these things and I decide to build it up on this easter holyday (here in BR) – I know, I know “regular” people enjoy a three-day weekend with their relatives or in a beach with girlfriend, but exceptional friends help to build a LARGE TANK!!!


I have to thanks a lot Allan (my brother in law who help me a lot in this project), Márcio a big friend who came with this hobby and Zeca – a guy who knows nothing about “reefing”, but is my friend since I can remember!!!


All right, Ladies and Gentlemen, Guys and Gals, no further ado here we go:


06h33 – dawn patrol:


Zeca get into my home just for a breakfast and help me with the first stage of building, we move the tank’s front (starphire glass) to the workbench and tape all the borders. He could help me by 09h30AM after that he’s travelling with his wife.


Did you see how excited Zeca is! I really like this guy:






Overthere is can see Zeca holding the left tank corner:






Here is he again! We define roles for each one, his is in charge of tank building, I’s in charge to take pictures!!!






Ok, here is the strategy: first I passed the silicone on all tank front borders – on the face not in the border (got it?), after that, I used an quick-grip clamp to hold the tank front on tank corners.

Remarks: the face of tank front was glued on the border of tank bottom and tank corners BUT the tank corners was glued on the face of tank bottom, in other words, the tank corners are ON the tank bottom whereas the tank front is NOT.

Right corner and clamp (Lowes / AceHardware):






Left Corner and clamp (Lowes / AceHardware) :






Detail:






Front view:






Another type of clamp – corner clamp (homedepot)

[Euler Kernighan]

09h43 AM: brother in law is around.

Zeca leaves at 09h15AM, I just organized some stuff and wait my brother in law to continue with the second phase – “tank back panel”.My brother in law just delayed his trip with his girlfriend to provide me a little help.

When he comes, here is what he saw:






For all panels I used the bubble wrap to “protect” panel against undesirable silicone spots. Here you can see the tank back panel resting on “workbench”:






Details on border’s tape, used to limit the silicon:






Another one:






After glued the back panel “we” just remove the bubble wrap:






Another:






Ok, everything is going well diagonal conferred and this is time to glue the eurobraces.

These “yellowish” pieces of wood and clamps just hold the brace on the right place:






Detail:






Another one:






Another view:

[Euler Kernighan]

11h25 AM: Reinforcements arrives!

My buddy Márcio just arrives in time to help me with the braces, at this point mu knees were killing me!!! As you guys know I was hit three times when I was young and nowadays I’m paying the price…

Before passa the baton, silicon so to speak, I decide to finish this bracece:






Can you see how silicone penetrates in the gap between the face of the front panel and the border of brace???






so I used my finger to push the silicone in the gap:






That’s me giving up…






So Marcio can do his job – his is a very very meticulous guy – the final result is perfect:






Another view:






Details:






This is the brace used on the back panel:






I really owe this guys – what do you guys think:

[Euler Kernighan]

I almost forgot to tell you guys, to create a gap between the face of back panel and the border of the brace, I used a “sandwich” of laminate plastic – this sandwich work like a spacer creating a 2.4mm gap – can you see the white spacer in this pic:






This is a good pic, you can see the silicone penetrating on gap created by the spacer:






Another view:






All right, after braces phase we finished the tank building – it takes approximately 5 hours to build it up, after that we lunch and the guys could go to enjoy the holiday with their families.


Allan (brother in law), Márcio e Zeca, I am in eternal debt to you guys!!! Thanks a lot my friends!

[Euler Kernighan]

Five hour later, I decide to glue the second layer of baces – yeah, in this project I decide to double the eurobraces:

In this pic you can see the clamps (HomeDepot) holding the second brace on the right place:






Another view:






All braces glued:






Another one:






Front side - LEFT view:






Front Side: RIGHT view:






This is de back view, can you see the cutouts through which the water goes to the overflow box (not here yet) – this is how I planned my coast-to-coast overflow:

[Aquatron]

Well done i will enjoy watching you plumb your close loop Also you have done a quality build all the way!

[Euler Kernighan]

thank you my friend, i'm trying to do my best overhere! the plumbing will be a big nightmare, uh?

btw, I saw a picture of your closed-loop, are you using two reeflo hammerhead gold pumps? it is almost a rocket booster , uh????

[Robb in Austin]

Lookin great Euler!

[Moretank]

Just went thru 16 pages of your thread, very informative build. You're really a DIY guy, have fun building your tank and thanks for sharing.

[Aquatron]

Originally Posted by Euler Kernighan

thank you my friend, i'm trying to do my best overhere! the plumbing will be a big nightmare, uh?

btw, I saw a picture of your closed-loop, are you using two reeflo hammerhead gold pumps? it is almost a rocket booster , uh????

Hello,

Those Hammerheads are at a wholesaler i know was just showing how to plumb two pumps to get double the flow with only 1 x friction lose. My close loop pumps are Water Blaster 16000 and my sump/refugium pump is a Dart.
My WBs are on back order should have in the next two to three weeks then its water time

Keep up the great work!

[Stockholm]

Looks like the beginning of my dream reef ;-)

[vanvelzen]

Brilliant update again of your thread Euler.
You must be fortunate with two right hands and the qualitative help you're getting from friends and family!

[octoreef]

Hi Euler, i'm following your project, it's a nice build... i'm a diy guy too and i discover some same solutions for the stand of my new project (still designing..). It's nice too see that someone like to break bones with heavy weight i-beam
Like others, i'm waiting new updates.

[Euler Kernighan]

Originally Posted by Aquatron

Well done i will enjoy watching you plumb your close loop Also you have done a quality build all the way!

Hey Aquatron,

thank you my friend... plumbing work was so hard but I took a lot of pics, will update very soon!