• Amused
  • Angry
  • Annoyed
  • Awesome
  • Bemused
  • Cocky
  • Cool
  • Crazy
  • Crying
  • Depressed
  • Down
  • Drunk
  • Embarrased
  • Enraged
  • Friendly
  • Geeky
  • Godly
  • Happy
  • Hateful
  • Hungry
  • Innocent
  • Meh
  • Piratey
  • Poorly
  • Sad
  • Secret
  • Shy
  • Sneaky
  • Tired
  • Page 1 of 11 1234 ... LastLast
    Results 1 to 20 of 215

    Thread: Brad's QT build - finally

    1. #1
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874

      Brad's QT build - finally

      Well I've been promising to replace my QT for some time. I had one in the garage and I had minor issue with it being "quick and dirty", but it worked. Then there was an accident with Sweetie's automobile, it was fatal for the QT.

      I'll start with a picture of my old QT that served me well for a few years.

      Brad
      Attached Images Attached Images  










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

      • Remove Ads
        Advertising from Google
        Promoting Koi and Pond
        keeping since 2007

         

    2. #2
      EricT is offline Koiphen Kid
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2009
      Location
      under the rainbow
      Posts
      3,962
      i feel a re-build coming on

    3. #3
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      So thinking about this, I didn't want to have another QT in the garage. But I do have one side of my house that is totally unused. It was only 5' wide, 40' long, concrete walkway between my house and a block wall that is common to my neighbor. The good part is that there is a 3" gutter drain line that works.

      So I started thinking about buying a PVC tank... way too much $$$, then thought about a wood tank with something like pond armor inside it.... I did kinda drag my feet as I just wasn't happy with anything that fit the budget.

      Then about a month ago I found this tank over in the trader forum. https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100210

      The size of this tank in the above listing is not exactly correct, but it's pretty close. The top is wider and longer that the bottom, so it has a slight taper to the sides. The inside dimensions are...

      26" - Width Bottom
      30" - Width Top
      80" - Length Bottom
      84" - Length Top
      39" - Depth (but planning 36" of water depth)

      That makes this about 350 gallons.

      So now I have a fiberglass tank that was perfect for my spot. But work on my QT would have to wait until I got back from Singapore.


      Brad
      Last edited by six6guy; 08-28-2009 at 08:57 PM.










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    4. #4
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      In handling the fiberglass tank I soon realized that I should paint the outside and try and seal some of the fibers. I have a 8yo daughter and although told not to touch, she would touch.

      So I went on a bit of a quest to figure the best paint to coat and seal the loose fibers with and again stay within reason. Turns out swimming pool paint is pretty thick and isn't overly expensive. When I got to Lowe's I grabbed the ocean blue color gallon, set it into the cart and then Sweetie started to inquire... I put the ocean blue color back and took a white gallon in it's place. (Our house is gray with white trim, white will match the house trim).

      So here are a few shots of the prep and painting of the outside of this tank.

      Brad
      Attached Images Attached Images     










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    5. #5
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      I kept thinking how the inside being black isn't the best for a QT and how I should have gotten the blue paint... so I went back and got it.

      The first coat, both outside and inside, didn't cover the back that well, so it took 2 coats for both outside and inside.

      Here are some shots of the prep and the paint on the inside of the tank.

      Brad
      Attached Images Attached Images        
      Last edited by six6guy; 08-28-2009 at 09:02 PM.










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    6. #6
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      Okay, so here is how the tank looks after the second coat. It still looks exactly like this...

      On a parallel path I have made inquiries about 55g barrel kits and also a 3" aerated bottom drain. Kent will send them my way real soon. I went with a 2 barrel solution, a static pre-filter and a combo ADR & air lift. So this QT will run on air alone (no water pump).

      I'll post more once the filter parts arrive.

      Brad
      Attached Images Attached Images     
      Last edited by six6guy; 08-28-2009 at 09:04 PM.










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    7. #7
      Aussies5's Avatar
      Aussies5 is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jul 2006
      Location
      Torrance, Ca.
      Posts
      4,259
      Hi Brad, your QT tank looks good, a great improvement over the one you had in the garage.

      You said it was 350 gallons, I was wondering with the space you had, why didn't you go bigger. You got a good buy on the tank, had you not found anything, or could you have built something bigger, to give you more gallons.

      My QT is 650 gallons, I would have liked to go bigger but did not have the space as I have a long enclosed trailer next to the house and a metal garden shed and the only space I had was the space between them. You might have seen my QT pictures that I posted here.

      I have 8 Tosai in it now, 3 have failed and I am rehoming, 4 are for Andy's
      Koi grow out contest. The remaining ones are really growing and may have to go into the pond sooner that I wanted. I really enjoy raising Tosai and watching them succeed and of course fail.

      Just wondered.




      Katie, My Heart dog and Paige, My friend.

      Barbara

      "I may be old but I refuse to grow up":dance:
      I am a YADA, YADA, YADA.YADA. Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about.


    8. #8
      Marilyn's Avatar
      Marilyn is offline Supporting Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Apr 2008
      Location
      happy in the Heartland! 46071
      Posts
      17,079
      Brad, I have a similar fiberglass qt I'm setting up. I need to patch an area where the glass is cracked and is leaking.
      Does the swimming pool paint handle the flex of the fiberglass well?

      Still learning as I go but y'all can call me Marilyn

    9. #9
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      Quote Originally Posted by Aussies5 View Post
      Hi Brad, your QT tank looks good, a great improvement over the one you had in the garage.

      You said it was 350 gallons, I was wondering with the space you had, why didn't you go bigger. You got a good buy on the tank, had you not found anything, or could you have built something bigger, to give you more gallons.

      My QT is 650 gallons, I would have liked to go bigger but did not have the space as I have a long enclosed trailer next to the house and a metal garden shed and the only space I had was the space between them. You might have seen my QT pictures that I posted here.

      I have 8 Tosai in it now, 3 have failed and I am rehoming, 4 are for Andy's
      Koi grow out contest. The remaining ones are really growing and may have to go into the pond sooner that I wanted. I really enjoy raising Tosai and watching them succeed and of course fail.

      Just wondered.
      The tank is just over 350g, then when you add two 55g barrels and some pipe it will be right at 500g total. This is a good size for having to medicate. Not too small, not too big. I could have made it from other materials, but I wouldn't have made it much different in geometry than this fiberglass tank.

      I missed the grow-out from Andy's Koi. I didn't have a QT at the time (it's been sense March), but it would have been fun to pop in and visit with friends.

      Brad










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    10. #10
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      Quote Originally Posted by Marilyn View Post
      Brad, I have a similar fiberglass qt I'm setting up. I need to patch an area where the glass is cracked and is leaking.
      Does the swimming pool paint handle the flex of the fiberglass well?
      I think the tank is very fix-able. Fiberglass is pretty forgiving to work with.

      Pool paint would potentially seal a small crack that leaked, but it wouldn't have any strength for the long term. So it would work for a while but then leak again is 6 or 8 months.

      Working with fiberglass isn't that hard. You will need to get some fiberglass resin, hardener, and fiberglass cloth. I know that they are sold at Lowe's (and I'm pretty sure Home Depot). I looked for them, just out of curiosity, because of this tank and found them in the paint area. Lowe's had Elmer's brand, but their are other good brands out there.

      Instructions will be on the can, but I'll give the overview. For a hairline crack I'd make the patch 6 inches wide or so, wide for plenty of strength. Sand and rinse with water the area to both rough it up and also to remove any dirt or paint. Let it dry completely. Make sure you work in a well ventilated area, with rubber gloves, face mask for dust, and old work cloths. Use a cheap brush that you can toss, mix small batch of the resin with the hardener agent, brush the mixed fiberglass liquid on the area to be patched. Lay a piece of the fiberglass cloth over the still wet area and then brush in more of the mixed fiberglass liquid until the cloth is saturated and well plastered to the repair area. White colored cloth will turn almost clear when completely saturated. While it sits and cures you should clean up and go take a shower, fiberglass can give you the itches and the sooner off the less the itch.

      You can just do the outside, the inside, or both if you like. If doing both sides I'd suggest doing them at separate times. For a minor crack that leaks I'd say a fiberglass patch on the outside will give both strength to the patch area and form a seal. After the fiberglass is cured I'd hit both outside and inside with pool paint just to make it look snazzy again (also gives a seal).

      I always have best luck if I can get the patch area flat. It's harder to work with if you are fixing a vertical wall.

      It's also possible to have somebody help you who has done fiberglass work before. It's really not that hard but there are tricks you learn each time you do it. So my second time always turns out better than my first.

      Hope that helps.

      Brad










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

      • Remove Ads
        Advertising from Google
        Promoting Koi and Pond
        keeping since 2007

         

    11. #11
      MikeS's Avatar
      MikeS is offline Supporting Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      May 2009
      Location
      Jonesborough Tennessee, United States
      Posts
      2,664
      Make sure you clean the fiberglass, especially the patch with acetone prior to painting. Most fiberglass resins purchased at retail contain Wax which will hinder your paint bond. Acetone will de-wax the surface. Keep using a a clean side on your rag each time you re-saturate with acetone.
      Mike & Sharon Shaw
      Jonesborough TN

      https://www.koiphen.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=437164

    12. #12
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      Quote Originally Posted by MikeS View Post
      Make sure you clean the fiberglass, especially the patch with acetone prior to painting. Most fiberglass resins purchased at retail contain Wax which will hinder your paint bond. Acetone will de-wax the surface. Keep using a a clean side on your rag each time you re-saturate with acetone.
      I didn't know they add wax to the new resins these days. I guess it shows that it's been a while sense I fiberglass patched a friends car fender and my brothers boat hull...

      Good tip. Thanks.

      Brad










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    13. #13
      MikeS's Avatar
      MikeS is offline Supporting Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      May 2009
      Location
      Jonesborough Tennessee, United States
      Posts
      2,664
      They always have, the laminating resin used for construction has no wax. The finishing resin does, this is usually the type found in the small repair kits found in hardware and home supply stores.
      Mike & Sharon Shaw
      Jonesborough TN

      https://www.koiphen.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=437164

    14. #14
      Marilyn's Avatar
      Marilyn is offline Supporting Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Apr 2008
      Location
      happy in the Heartland! 46071
      Posts
      17,079
      Thanks guys! It doesn't sound too bad but the fear of the unknown is my hardest hurdle. Once I get the FF (ala Ethan's design) dialed in on the pond I'll be working on getting the qt situated. Thanks again.

      Still learning as I go but y'all can call me Marilyn

    15. #15
      andres58's Avatar
      andres58 is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Oct 2007
      Location
      Palm Beach, Florida
      Posts
      3,352
      nice paint job
      Jorge

    16. #16
      Aussies5's Avatar
      Aussies5 is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jul 2006
      Location
      Torrance, Ca.
      Posts
      4,259
      I missed the grow-out from Andy's Koi. I didn't have a QT at the time (it's been sense March), but it would have been fun to pop in and visit with friends.
      You will have to mark your calendar for next May. That is when the fish sold the year before come back to be judged. He gives really nice prizes and has a lot of different catagories.

      I like the blue color you did on your new QT, almost like the blue tubs, it should be great if you want to take pictures.




      Katie, My Heart dog and Paige, My friend.

      Barbara

      "I may be old but I refuse to grow up":dance:
      I am a YADA, YADA, YADA.YADA. Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about.


    17. #17
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      Quote Originally Posted by andres58 View Post
      nice paint job
      Thanks. I am happy with how it came out also. I never would have thought about swimming pool paint had it not been for the guy at Lowe's who suggested it. Seems he used to work for a pool contractor and he knew it would work well on my fiberglass "seal the loose fiber" job. The blue color was just a perk!

      Quote Originally Posted by Aussies5 View Post
      I like the blue color you did on your new QT, almost like the blue tubs, it should be great if you want to take pictures.
      It may photo well, but the idea was to be able to see anything that may be wrong. I guess it's almost the same thing. I could have just used the white I guess, but thought the blue would be more calming for the Koi. Those were the only two colors Lowe's had on the shelve.

      Brad










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

    18. #18
      Joey S's Avatar
      Joey S is offline Supporting Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jul 2006
      Location
      Jacksonville, FL
      Posts
      21,987
      Drats...only blue and white. I was hoping green to repaint my vortex. It's fiberglass and being in the sun, some of the fibers are showing through.
      For the love of Koi
      Don't Sweat the Small Stuff





      Lifetime Charter Diamond Member #4 WWKC

      JOIN THE WorldWide Koi Club NOW



      Certified Koi Keeper (CKK)

    19. #19
      birdman's Avatar
      birdman is offline DIY Savant
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2005
      Location
      Palm Springs, CA.
      Posts
      21,812
      Nice looking Brad.

    20. #20
      six6guy's Avatar
      six6guy is offline Bumbles Well
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Reseda, CA
      Posts
      7,874
      Quote Originally Posted by Joey S View Post
      Drats...only blue and white. I was hoping green to repaint my vortex. It's fiberglass and being in the sun, some of the fibers are showing through.
      I'll bet you can get some green pigment added and it will work just fine. Your not really looking for a water tight seal, just to pretty up the outside.

      Quote Originally Posted by birdman View Post
      Nice looking Brad.
      Thanks man. I know you have done this a few times, so that means a lot.

      Brad










      "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
      Albert Einstein

      Bradley W. Olin
      newest member of EIHIOICGI





      My pond stuff can be found at...

      My Pond Build
      My QT Build
      My CC-FF Build
      My Active Carbon Filters

      • Remove Ads
        Advertising from Google
        Promoting Koi and Pond
        keeping since 2007

         

    Page 1 of 11 1234 ... LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •