Chris,
Actually, what you see on the pump is just what I did with regular old sandpaper. I havent gone over it yet, but will probably finish it off with a pollishing wheel on my dremmel. I am kind of glad that the iwaki is now going to be the sump return... it will be in a more prominent spot and will also be easier to clean.
- Chad

Update:
 

I just picked up the tank yesterday and here's a photo:



http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9.../061212046.jpg



I turned out to be 30"x18"x17" (lwh) and the builder did a pretty good job on it. It initially came with euro bracing but that came off right away - I just like the plain top look more. The inside measurements and my predicted water level make this tank about 35gals; with the expected output of my two pumps, I am figuring that I will have 40x's turnover! There is even room to add more flow if needed (not needed) because my bulkheads are 1.5" but my current pumps have only 3/4" fittings :o .

- Chad

Chad the tank looks really good are you going to have it a SPS with high flow i take it.

looking good man

asmodeus,
Thanks! It sounds like overkill but the plan for this tank was actually zoos and rics. My last three tanks have been in the 30-40x's range and I have always been really pleased with higher flow (as long as the velocity is kept down). My only concern right now is that my sump is a lot smaller than I thought it was - (only 16gals total volume and I still need to leave room for drainage when the pumps are off). I am worried that my 730gph return rate is going to wreak havoc with micro bubbles...

The tank builder forgot to add the sheet of black acrylic to the back wall, but he is cutting it for me now and I will put it in myself. I figure that it should look better with the overflow not visible. I am also considering using a razor blade to clean up the silicone job in the corners. Finally, I have the overflow eggcrate off and am going to black that out as well.

- Chad

How are you going to have fish and coral there is no water in your tank, take it back they are trying to rip you off :)



Er anyways :) Beauty...looks very nice sir.

Haha, ya those fellas at Gold's have been great to deal with, but....

...delivered, with water and livestock? That's more like it!

Looking pretty snappy ,Chad . Be careful with that razor blade :)
Thought you had gone to sleep there, for the moment .Nice to have things happening again....................Dave

Well I didn't like how much the closed loop intake strainer protruded into the tank so I cut it down a bit.


Here is a pic of the modified one next to stock:


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9.../061213003.jpg


Here you can see that it takes up a lot less room:


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...9/strainer.jpg



I wouldn't normally recommend reducing the size of the strainer, because that only increases the likelihood of a blockage. In this case however, I am not concerned because the bulkhead/strainer size is 1.5", but the pump is only 0.75" in/out. This modified stainer still had more surface area (I think) than a stock 3/4" strainer. Also, I am not keeping an anemone or anything in the tank that would be capable of blocking it all by itself.

- Chad

What did you use to bond the piece back on?

Isn't it obvious? He used baby blood.