Custom building my "New Frag System" picked up my glass yesterday

[beantown105]

So do you glue the side panels to the bottom glass or just use the silicon and do you leave a gap between the panels? Awesome work I just want to be able to replicate the same thing

 

[14 foot reef]

So do you glue the side panels to the bottom glass or just use the silicon and do you leave a gap between the panels? Awesome work I just want to be able to replicate the same thing

There is NEVER a glue. High quality silicone is your adhesive. Some people use rubber clear tabs to keep a "wanted gap" I do it by eye, but I've been doing this for 25 years.
There is a layer of silicone left between all panels

 

[14 foot reef]

Back eurobrace set first then the front panel, the order it goes together helps with seam setting and clean up.

 

[Reefering1]

You make it look easy...

 

[14 foot reef]

It actually is very easy once you have the technic and timing down.
The key is everything cleaned, prepped, and all tools, silicones and clamps all lined out and ready. Once you start a panel you have to go through the entire steps all at once and quickly so the seams are esthetically pleasing, and strong.

 

[TARHEEL78]

It actually is very easy once you have the technic and timing down.
The key is everything cleaned, prepped, and all tools, silicones and clamps all lined out and ready. Once you start a panel you have to go through the entire steps all at once and quickly so the seams are esthetically pleasing, and strong.

Have you ever done a write up outlining the process and tools needed? I'd love to read one and give this a try at some point.

 

[14 foot reef]

Have you ever done a write up outlining the process and tools needed? I'd love to read one and give this a try at some point.

I never have, as you can probably tell from my posts, I'm not the best writer around......

 

[TARHEEL78]

I never have, as you can probably tell from my posts, I'm not the best writer around......

I don't know, you seem pretty good to me. Far better than what I could do.

 

[14 foot reef]

Completed with main construction. Will add side eurobracing after overflow is installed.
Will let the tank sit for 7 days to cure, will leak test next weekend.

 

[14 foot reef]

Skimmer Box Built, ready to glue in.
8"x8"x17" tall

 

[smitten with ocean life]

wow! youre clipping along! so the euro bracing is glass? how will you keep from cutting yourself on the edge?

 

[piranhaman00]

I’m thinking of a tank with an overflow like that, do you use two drain lines? Where do the return lines go?

More pics of skimmer??

 

[14 foot reef]

wow! youre clipping along! so the euro bracing is glass? how will you keep from cutting yourself on the edge?

it's what the industry calls, "Seamed Glass Edges" no need to waste money on machine beveled and polished edges. Would have raised the glass price by $400.00 to be machine bevel polished.
The edges are belt sanded with special glass sand paper usually from C.R. Laurence glass supply company

Search sand paper | Crlaurence Site

Search results for sand paper on Crlaurence Site

www.crlaurence.com

 

[14 foot reef]

I’m thinking of a tank with an overflow like that, do you use two drain lines? Where do the return lines go?

More pics of skimmer??

2 drain lines, 1 is a 3" bulkhead sch 80 the other is a 1" bulkhead emergency overflow.

They will tie into one drain under stand then drain into main 850 gallon system sump.

See my tank thread for details of skimmer I custom built myself or this link

8' Tall x 10" tube custom Dual Mazzi Venturi Skimmer

8' Tall x 10" tube custom Dual Mazzi Venturi Skimmer. Its a combination design from many skimmers I have owned in my 40+ years of reefing. Its dry fit cut and ready to glue. Will push the dual Mazzi's with a 6000gph pump. Adding dual Dwyer air flow meters, only 1 here now. Had to go back to...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[14 foot reef]

Drilled dual overflow, main and emergency drains !!!!

Closer to water test this weekend

 

[14 foot reef]

Set the skimmer box and bulk heads.
Also set the end bracing, notice I left a 3/8" gap to allow for the XF350 Wires to cleanly come out to power supply. Trying to think of everything as I go.

 

[twentyleagues]

Not that I know anything about building a large tank and I am not trying to be critical or anything just asking. Doesnt that gap remove the effectiveness of the euro brace?

 

[Reefering1]

Not that I know anything about building a large tank and I am not trying to be critical or anything just asking. Doesnt that gap remove the effectiveness of the euro brace?

Somewhat. But in his case, he doesn't need a eurobrace and only has it for a little shelf on top tank

 

[twentyleagues]

Somewhat. But in his case, he doesn't need a eurobrace and only has it for a little shelf on top tank

That is what I figured, and the long braces are attached to 3 side walls also probably adding most of the bracing needed. Really just like to see reasoning on these things as I am looking at possibly getting a really large tank that will need resealing, it also has black trim (not sure why and probably why it wasnt ever used in the lfs) that will be replaced with euro brace if and when this happens. I have built a few smaller tanks and resealed a 75 removing trim and euro bracing it, Nothing this large though.

 

[14 foot reef]

Not that I know anything about building a large tank and I am not trying to be critical or anything just asking. Doesnt that gap remove the effectiveness of the euro brace?

It does remove a small amount of effectiveness, but the chord management was more important to me as the Euro Bracing is more for a work shelf than it is for support strength. The only flex I was worried about was the long sides of 72" and they are siliconed on 3 surfaces. Thanks for commenting, because it helps the entire forum members following understand different processes that are possible.