Night Howler Frag Tank Build

[NowGlazeIT]

Interior is sealed on all edges and once dry will be ready for clear coat on all surfaces. Exterior had a few rough patches but is ready as well overflow comes today and tank will be drilled and overflow mounted later on as long as the weather cooperates finished with my sponge insert between the two baffles leading to return and everything is ready for the 20g tear down sump build once i transfer everything over and get all surfaces clean on the 20. Things are getting closer and im getting more impatient lol but hey what do you do. Besides wait that is. The wife is looking forward to having space in the garage/fish room for her arts and crafts she does now time to spend the rest of the day with the fam til the overflow comes in.......

So flush dude

 

[Projects with Sam]

haha my wife and I have a little cheer for when I get like that (level egg crate need)
can I get an 'O'!.... 'O!'
can I get a 'C!'.... 'C!'
can I get a 'D!'.... 'D!'

What's that spell?

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

haha my wife and I have a little cheer for when I get like that (level egg crate need)
can I get an 'O'!.... 'O!'
can I get a 'C!'.... 'C!'
can I get a 'D!'.... 'D!'

What's that spell?

Bro mine just makes fun of me til i give up lol

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Got the insert in for the half sand bed half barebottom concept and I think its gonna work hit a snag was going to drill the tank today but the overflow kit i had gotten didnt come with the template. Now i know what everyone is thinking just drill plywood and use that. With that being said i wish i could the bit itself is 2 3/8 for the kit i would need a 2 7/16 hole saw bit to cut the ply wood to eliminate bounce and skipping. If i am off by 1/16 it could cause the overflow to not sit flush due to the rim of the tank. I have to be perfect with this or I will have wasted a 55g tank. I have the hole drawn out on outside and inside for where it must be. Needless to say template ordered. Went with oceans direct sand and have the bag sitting in a good area temp. Wise till its ready to go in the tank. Slowly making the progresss I need.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Got the insert in for the half sand bed half barebottom concept and I think its gonna work hit a snag was going to drill the tank today but the overflow kit i had gotten didnt come with the template. Now i know what everyone is thinking just drill plywood and use that. With that being said i wish i could the bit itself is 2 3/8 for the kit i would need a 2 7/16 hole saw bit to cut the ply wood to eliminate bounce and skipping. If i am off by 1/16 it could cause the overflow to not sit flush due to the rim of the tank. I have to be perfect with this or I will have wasted a 55g tank. I have the hole drawn out on outside and inside for where it must be. Needless to say template ordered. Went with oceans direct sand and have the bag sitting in a good area temp. Wise till its ready to go in the tank. Slowly making the progresss I need.

Good call. Just an fyi, a plunge router and 1/2" straight bit are clutch in this situation as well as a great thing to have around the shop.. I've got an acrylic template with all the common hole sizes from 1" up to 4". Routers are a game changer tool.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Well got a few last things for the stand and then all finished up glue the new planking in on top after painting the rim. Silicone the edges on top and paint the cabinet doors. This thing has come a long way has taken some time but well worth it in the end. Here are some b4 during and after shots.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Final coats on and she is so purdy. Everything is polished up and ready for the house. Ill do the doors slowly as they needed a lot of work. Top is glued down and edges are siliconed in. Everything looking glossy and i am super proud of how it turned out. It will be super easy to clean as it is an extra hard acrylic enamel. Will get her inside this week. Tank bulk heads came in for the returns finally and bit to drill them. Will be grabbing my glass drill press from work to drill the over flow and returns.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Had to bring her in a little premature due to the fact she has to get drilled but i can finally say on to the final stages and phases final bits come in today to get the tank drilled with overflow and returns. Have loc lines arriving today and template for overflow will post as soon as its done. This project has been fun and was unexpected but going to be getting back to the 90g custom build soon as i can get this bad girl running.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Been awhile since i posted but have updates tank is drilled and everything is ready for plumbing fiji cube 800gph overflow with 2 3/4in returns on each side of the tank. Going in on my day off to cut all the panes of glass for a custom sump 40-45g and more room then using my 20g tall. Frag house needed a makeover with taller ceiling and more space for frags so say hi to the frag house 2.0. I will say i like the total rack space now have lower levels for acclimation and main rack for grow outs. It has come a long way and still has a ways to go but hoping by end of september for water and transition everything from the 20 minus the old frag house. Super excited how things are looking and going. Oh and will have the noopsyche mini tester light. Should be sometime this upcoming week going on the nano column tank. Will be grabbing 2 140w noops for the 55 with my 100w nicrew in the center. Lights will be wall mounted. But when i get there ill post about it. Oh and sorry for the top down hope that doesnt go against forum rules lol

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Bro this is So legit!

Have you considered a rubble holder? I'm sure you could easily do it with scrap glass. Even 6 in by 6 in. X 2 in tall would be plenty sufficient. It could nestle right there kind of center under one of the arms of the u, which also puts it kind under the cross brace so lower light which it should be in..

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Bro this is So legit!

Have you considered a rubble holder? I'm sure you could easily do it with scrap glass. Even 6 in by 6 in. X 2 in tall would be plenty sufficient. It could nestle right there kind of center under one of the arms of the u, which also puts it kind under the cross brace so lower light which it should be in..

Bro thats a bad a** idea im sogoing to go for it now. But hey not all i got done today stay tuned......

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

So today was the day to build the controller cabinet. I figured match the theme and go hard with it. I am a steel guy and metal fab guy so i had to incorporate the diamond plate on the controller cabinet so i figured lets go for it......will have diamond plate backing and figured a nice top shelf would be good for things during tank maintenance day so things dont fall in the tank. Still gotta cut the side pieces and the back insert then paint interior white but let me know your thoughts.....

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

@Lost in the Sauce i would say i really do take your opinions and words very seriously as well as @NowGlazeIT and @Projects with Sam so rubble box it is.....3x8x8 rubble box made and ready for tank

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

In tank shots..... @Lost in the Sauce this is what you were talking about right bro

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

In tank shots..... @Lost in the Sauce this is what you were talking about right bro

That is Exactly where I was looking and thought " rubble pit here"

Great execution!

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Super happy had to take some full tank shots......

 

[Projects with Sam]

Super happy had to take some full tank shots......

looking good! jugs of saltwater ready to go in the base?

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

looking good! jugs of saltwater ready to go in the base?

For now wife said i needed to store them elsewhere besides the living room so i figured outta sight outta mind lol..... it will have a custom sump that i am hoping to get cut tonight and built by next weekend.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Are you placing an ATO res under the stand with the sump?

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Are you placing an ATO res under the stand with the sump?

Yes sir i am that will be cut with the sump glass to match will also make a lid for the ato will drill points on the outter lip closest to sump for all lines and to feed ato cables. Going big on this one to tie me over until i get the custom 90 done. Smh its never ending lol but isnt that how it is suppose to be....