Terry's 450g upgrade

[Frankie]

Dude! You got silicone all over your nice new clamps! I mean, look at the grips! Shesh! And your supposed to take the wrapper off before useing them by the way. It looks more professional like you have done this before (trade secrets. pay $50)

[tbittner]

We were hoping to return them!

I think we'll go get three of the big ones like those and clamp it nice and tight and give the silicone a few months to really, really, really cure. But in the meantime, go ahead and set it up the rest of the way and start enjoying it. The clamps will be up, out of the way, and barely visible during that time so why not?

I need my sleep.

[JoJo]

with that big of a viewing area you want even notice the clamps being there for a while. sacrifice a little viewing comprimise for great assurance is well worth it

[tbittner]

That's what I'm thinking too. I know I'd sleep better at night.

It is interesting though because I heard like a popping sound last night so I RAN over to check out the seal. I could have sworn it looked worse. I found out this morning that my salinity monitor had fallen off of the top of the chiller and that was the sound I had heard. I put on bar clamps with a piece of 2x4 between the screw and the glass so I can't see what it looks like anymore. If I bought clamps like the ones in the picture above I'd be able to see the seam.

[Frankie]

Not the first time your going to be jumping out of bed with this tank. When i rebuilt my 120 I swore i heard waves crashing in the living room. (stupid screen saver!)
Try some Tylenol PM to get you through a night or two.
As for clamping the tank long term I fully agree. Those clamps are short term clamps for gluing up wood. You need to get bar clamps this time. With threaded twist turns.

[tbittner]

That's what I have on it now, the bar clamps with the twist in tightener. So you advise cutting some wood, like a 2x2, and clamping it with those? They are heavy duty clamps. Or would a small square piece of plywood, just big enough to cover the metal parts, be enough?

And yes, it took me about 2 weeks to gain confidence in the sump that I had built. I heard all sorts of noises during those 2 weeks.

Confidence builds with time.

[Frankie]

I would spread the pressure out a bit more.

[pbittner]

Scott - Glad to see you back - I was starting to get concerned!!! You know that you are welcome here anytime! There is always lots to be done!! We were just saying last night - won't it be nice when we will be able to sit down and actually watch and enjoy the tank! I think Terry might be planning on moving some things down to the big tank this weekend ??? I am having trouble keeping up with the plans - so I might be wrong!

[tbittner]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I would spread the pressure out a bit more.

What would you use? How about a 2x4? Or would a 1x3 be big enough? Cut a piece about 12" long for both the front and the back?

And do you agree that this would be temporary, for say 2 months, until the silicone really cures? Or if it's completely hidden by our makeshift canopy, would you just leave it on permanently?

[tbittner]

And as far as moving things from the 120 into the 450, I think it depends on how fast the water clears from our massive sand dump last night.

I hope to get the sump plumbing done tonight so maybe tomorrow night I can start circulating water through the sump and get the water all the same throughout all of the tanks.

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Dude! You got silicone all over your nice new clamps! I mean, look at the grips! Shesh! And your supposed to take the wrapper off before useing them by the way. It looks more professional like you have done this before (trade secrets. pay $50)

trade secrets! I love it!

Terry, if you use the 1x3 turn it on it's side so the 3/4"part is against the glass and the other end is being pushed by the clamp. A 2x will be a bit more stable IMO but I would clamp it the same way, with the 1 1/2 edge being pushed by the clamp.

[Amphibious]

OMG!!!


Terry,

Thank you for sending me the link to your 450g thread. I began reading at 9 am this morning and, with few breaks, just finished, it's after 2 pm. There is little I can add in way of compliments that hasn't already been said. The easiest way is to say, "DITTO" to all. That sure is a "cool" light you got there.

When you called me a few month's ago and said you were going to do a 10' - 450g, I thought, Oh how great. Then, got busy with life and business. I forgot what you were building until your second call Tuesday about a second Solaris. I talked with PFO and as far as they know right now there aren't any. But I was told they are still shipping lights that have been pre-ordered and won't know for sure until near the end of fulfilling the orders. I asked them to put a hold on a 4' for me if they find one.

Thanks again, Terry and Patti, your 450 is AWESOME!!!

Dick

[Dentoid]

Dick, you're awesome! I knew you could help Terry!

[Amphibious]

It's all your fault Dentoid!!! You recommended me to him.

Thanks!!!

Dick

[tbittner]

Cool!!! Thanks Dick! Hopefully they have one that isn't accounted for yet. And yes, this monster has turned into a monster job! I'm so close to being done I can see fish swimming around and corals moving gently in the current.

We got the return pipe run as far as I can run it until cut over day. I'm not exactly sure when that will be yet though. In all honesty, probably not this weekend, but the weekend after that.

We also got a 3rd of the return pipe run in. The single overflow box is connected and one of the pipes from one of the doubles is connected. We have a nice slope to the 2" pipe that the overflow boxes will run into so drainage and capacity won't be an issue. Hopefully we can finish running the return pipe tomorrow afternoon/evening and I can start circulating some water through the sump from the 450.

Now I'm going to go collapse on the couch and relax! (yes Barb, I'm going to watch some stoopid tv )

OH YEAH! One other thing! I found an Achilles Tang at a LFS and they've had it for over 6 weeks and it's looking great! It's in their 700g display tank but it is for sale. Hopefully, within a week, it'll be swimming around in my 450.