400 gallon project

X-Treme · #1 11-16-2006, 03:15 AM

Just an idea to keep the doors from crashing on your head....... How bout those hydraulic "struts" that vehicles use to hold the rear glass or tailgates up? (can ya tell I'm a mechanic?)

Delphinus · #2 11-16-2006, 03:16 AM

W O W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chowder · #3 11-16-2006, 04:35 AM

Nice Set up..... Can't wait to see it full of life.... Lookin great so far.

vanreefer · #4 11-16-2006, 04:43 AM

Looking good man I am awaiting the open house to view the final product

niloc16 · #5 11-16-2006, 05:18 AM

i'm hooked, definitely along for the ride on this one. very well thought out. looks unreal already. love the tons of pictures too. good job man

untamed · #6 11-16-2006, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-Treme

Just an idea to keep the doors from crashing on your head....... How bout those hydraulic "struts" that vehicles use to hold the rear glass or tailgates up? (can ya tell I'm a mechanic?)

I checked those out. My largest door only weighs 17lbs and even the smallest automobile strut that I could find was too powerful. There's some math there that I can't get my head around to try to find the appropriate strut and locate it in the correct position on the door.

Pan · #7 11-16-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

I checked those out. My largest door only weighs 17lbs and even the smallest automobile strut that I could find was too powerful. There's some math there that I can't get my head around to try to find the appropriate strut and locate it in the correct position on the door.

What about the thing used on screen doors? you slide the little do-hickey in place and it stays....

untamed · #8 11-16-2006, 09:35 PM

It would seem that I neglected to explain my water change system. As it is difficult to show in photographs (and all the Herbie valves create visual confusion), here is a schematic that explains it.

untamed · #9 11-20-2006, 02:43 AM

This part of the plan started months ago when I purchased two old fir floor joists from a reclaimed lumber business. I had a local cabinet maker cut/joint them to wrap around the aquarium.

Many, many coats of urethane later...the bar finally got installed today. Once they were cleaned up, each piece is about 12" W x 2.5" thick.

As you can see, I immediately served myself a drink!

MoeReefer · #10 11-20-2006, 03:08 AM

wow, fantastic progress. ive been fallowing this now since the beginning and am a little envious. maybe someday i will have a place to do something like what you are doing. what are you going to put in the corner to the left of the tank there. have you thought of what you may put in the tank once it is ready for livestalk (aqua scaping, corals, fish).
cant wait to see the final, but i guess it will be a little while yet.

cheers