180 Gallon Mbuna Reef Build

[IndovinaVI]

Alright! In business! got the truck and one helper to retrieve the goods- let me just say I certainly have some work to do!

here's how it looked, since they built the stand wider than 25" and the tank at an extra inch (rim) I had to make it in two trips- thank god I was just a few miles from the place..


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[IndovinaVI]

all wrapped up, and man this thing is bare! I mean, the frame of my original stand was triple the support of this thing! But anyways, next came the tank- once we got it loaded we decided that was going straight home, no sense moving that thing twice!

here's one for comparison:
Sh*t now my wife's really gonna kill me!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[IndovinaVI]

So now began the stand work, part 1. Removed the shrink wrap and doors, and began the staining.



Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[IndovinaVI]

okay, the attachments seemed to float away-



Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[IndovinaVI]

So while I let this dry, I headed home to begin the paint for the background. Let me first just say that this thing WEIGHS A TON! Man I took for granted the other set of hands when I got this thing- current mission: take tank off dolly & flip on its side. This took me 30 minutes.

After two pinched fingers and a bud light, tank was on its side, ready for the alcohol wipes. To keep it neat, I masked off the tank and set a safety net around the perimeter.

Using the foam roller, I heavily dipped it into the paint and used gentle pressure to coat it evenly across the glass. I figured, a few light coats would be better than dumping it all over the tank, or that I was just making my work harder.

In about 5 minutes there was an even coat across the tank- one of the shots shows the interior viewing outwards- it's going to need more than this coat.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[IndovinaVI]

after letting it dry for about 30 minutes, I began the second coat. Now that the wife's home production would have to come to a close.. to my surprise she's excited for the upgrade! Couldn't believe her joy in this project, though she seems more excited about the stand rather than the tank

Here's a shot from the inside after the second coat was on.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[IndovinaVI]

two more coats of the latex paint on, totaling 4 coats -one extra for fun, the stand fully stained/urethaned two coats, and ready to transfer home. Since everything was going so well I knew it would only be a matter of time before I made another screw up.. when removing the masking tape- cut along the seam with a blade prior to pulling it off- almost ripped a 2" chunk out luckily pressed it back down and it stuck.
shots included are of the stand and the corner of the tank where the tape pulled the paint up.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Rayne]

Its really coming along great! Looking forward to the progress

 

[austings]

Looks great! I really like your stand.

What are your plans for filtration? And also, what type of sand do you have in your 80 gallon mbuna reef?

 

[austings]

EDIT: Not sure how I missed the FX5.