415 Gallon Plywood Tank Build - Page 3

Yeah they are 20 amp.....that's one place I won't skimp....plus my brother in laws are electricians, so I'd get my hands slapped....I thought we had a discussion a ways back about the AFCI's? Honestly I never use GFCI on any of my tanks.

SCSInet, what would the advantage be or any advantage of going back to the box ad using a GFCI breaker in the box as opposed to separate GFCI outlets?

Thanks!!!!!!!

A few updates to the progress......it has been slow.....I did alittle more work on the skin for the front of the stand.......got everything routed out and initial sanding, still have alittle more detail work to do........I have in my mind an idea to use on the corners of the stand???? You always see the traditional woodwork, trimmed, squared corners, but I'm thinking of doing something out of the ordinary making my corners rounded? The endcaps or ends are going to be built out not just the standard flat look, but looking for something alittle more stunning......I've also got the urge to try my hand at bending wood and making a curve door......

Here's a couple pics of the progress on the front skin for the stand.

Here are a couple shots of the doors I've been working on and fabbing up between working on drywall in the fishroom. On the front of the stand will be 4 doors....The first 2 pics are of just the door frames themselves, and the 2nd 2 pics are of the door inserts I'm working on.

Here is a quick shot of what the door looks like with the frame and insert together.....Anyone have any good ideas to dress the doors up a bit?

To build the front skin I used the Kreg pocket hole jig.....I absolutely love this tool, and I'd recommend it to anyone that is building a stand or any project around house to purchase it.....

1st pic is of the pocket holes and the next couple of pics are of the framing I used to give the skin a tight snug fit to the stand itself. I might use a couple pins in certain places to make sure it stays secure, but right now the fit is all but perfect.

Last bit of work update. I had stated earlier in the thread that one of my main objectives was to have the top of the tank open and unobstructed with the lights. I've seen countless tanks incorporate moveable light racks and just love the look and the convenience it offers for so many reasons... The lighting on the tan will be LED. I had originally planned for MH, but LED I feel is the way to go. Alot of people that have done the moveable light racks have used the kits by Stanley. They are very nice kits, but they weren't stock items here at either my Lowes or HD and I hate ordering and waiting on parts.

With that said I have a good supply locally of metal and went out and purchased "U" "C" channel and decided that I could cut my own slots into the channel to allow the roller to move the canopy. It probably would have been easier to buy the parts, but I wanted to have a little fun as well. I started off cutting with a cut off wheel, but got alittle lazy and decided I could do it alittle easier. I don't recommend this and I know I shouldn't have done it, but "Hard Heads make a soft A$$" as my old man always told me..... I put a metal cut off wheel on the table saw and set the fence up and started my cuts. Actually it wasn't really that bad, but if you tried to rush or push through it, it did want to grab and take you for a ride.

I still have the intention to make the light rack motorized at some point since I have the motor and such laying around, but when I have more time to play with it I will. Here's a few pics of the tracks under construction....

Here is the door rollers I found at Lowe's that would fit the job perfectly, so I bought them!!!! The reasoning behind covering the aluminum track in wood, is that I felt the track needed alittle more support to handle the lighting and I really don't care to see exposed metal.

Drywall work is coming along.....hopefully with the long weekend coming up I can get quite a bit done....Had a little accident with the RO/DI unit....Did you ever have those thoughts when you know you shouldn't do something, but you do it anyways???
Here was my RO/DI before.

Here's the after my moment of better judgement......

Yeah.... Tell my wife.... She just loves the sound of the power tools roaring and drywall dus^& h
Hopefully with the long weekend I can make some headway on finishing the drywall and other odds and ends.

No the canisters didn't actually fail.... Me moving it and I dropped it from about 5' up. Didn't fare to well, but looks like Custom Aquatics will be getting a call.

The RO/DI was another DIY project. Super easy to do, but not wise thinking on my part. Anyone have any good info or thoughts to decrease waste? I remember catching a thread awhile back, but don't remember where I saw it at. Any ideas?