72 gallonbowfront build

[scubasteve]

Well since the hacker jackwagons wiped out the original thread i guess i will re post it..

 

Started with a standard reef ready 72 gal. Bowfront.

Cut out the factory overflow, and plugged the overflow and return holes.

 

Drilled new overflow and returns on the back, 2 - 1" returns and 2-1 1/2" overflow holes...

 

 

Then painted back black..

[scubasteve]

Then took the factory stand and did a few mods... cut out the rear center brace and added a larger split rear brace that is removable and pocket screwed in. Added a shelf for the jeabo wp converter box on one end and another shelf on the other for a dosing pump.

Also added a drop shelf for a DJ power strip at the top, and a cross brace to mount an ATC temp controller.

Also reinforced the bottom with 3/4" ply ...

Then sealed all joints, and painted with three coats of epoxy paint to seal it.

Then painted the inside cherry red, and the outside black.

[scubasteve]

Did a few more small add on's to the stand to accommodate equipment placement.

Then fadricated the sump, has dual 4" filter sock holders, skimmer chamber & baffle, main refugium, wier baffle and sponge rack, bubble trap and return chamber.

Never did take any sump only pics... sheesh!

[scubasteve]

Then fabricated my dosing chamber box. Each chamber holds 1.5 liters

And a 4 gallon ato reservoir.

All out of 1/4" acrylic. You can see the dosing chamber box in the last pic to the right of the sump.

[scubasteve]

Then started mounting all the equipment to the stand. Main power supply is the DJ power strip, secondary is a modified 6 plug powerstrip slaved into the ATC temp controller. This gives me 2 plugs for cooling, 2 plugs for heating, and 2 plugs that have continuouspower supply.

[scubasteve]

Have most of the equipment mounted up here.. sump with sca-302 skimer, fuge light, jabeo dc 6000 return pump, nts-01 doser, 2-brs deluxe media reactors on a cobalt 1200 pump with valve, the jabeo twins controller with a wp-10 & 25, and a hydor smart level ato connected to a cobalt 400 pump. Still a cple more pieces to add..

[scubasteve]

Then started fabricating the overflow. Took the ghost style for my patern, with a slim internal overflow bulkheaded to an exteral return with a bean animal. Used 1" sch. 40 with gate vales. Connected to flex hose that terminated in the sump to cpr sock it tubes for adjustable depth on the pipes.

 

[scubasteve]

Plumbing up the overflow and returns.

[kriz2fer]

Nice......(whistle)

[scubasteve]

Thanks kriz.. not as techy awsum as your last build tho...

[scubasteve]

Now its time for the leak test!!

[scubasteve]

Three smal leeaks at threaded fittings later its good to go!!

[scubasteve]

Now for the light canopy... decided to go with Bo's OR T-247 lights... pretty nice light for the price!

Used aluminum channel and brackets to mount to the wood frame. The hood only weight 8 lbs without the light fixtures!

[scubasteve]

Fabricating the light hood.

 

Wanted tne top to match the stand

[TheClark]

Love all the details on the stand, like the shelves for the DJ and doser. Very nice! Stupidly I filled my tank with water before doing finish work, my poor stand sits half finished today! This is inspiring to get back to it.

[Blackice]

Wow very impressive I envy people with a eye for details I try but never works lol

[Bicyclebill]

Nice work! I love the curved canopy. I started with that level of detail in mind, but years later and changed equipment and I've got a snarl of wires again

[rworegon]

This is a very nice build. I've seen it in person. Scuba Steve is very handy with building stuff.

[scubasteve]

Love all the details on the stand' date=' like the shelves for the DJ and doser. Very nice! Stupidly I filled my tank with water before doing finish work, my poor stand sits half finished today! This is inspiring to get back to it.[/quote']

Thanks!! Thats usually how mine end up too but i actually had worked on this all spring and wasn't in the usual throw it together hurry..

[scubasteve]

Wow very impressive I envy people with a eye for details I try but never works lol

 

Thanks!! I wanted this build to look like a piece of furniture as its in my living room..

[scubasteve]

Nice work! I love the curved canopy. I started with that level of detail in mind' date=' but years later and changed equipment and I've got a snarl of wires again[/quote']

 

I made my last hood a rectangle an never really liked it.. so I set out to have this one match the stand.

[scubasteve]

This is a very nice build. I've seen it in person. Scuba Steve is very handy with building stuff.

 

Thanks Randy!! Hows the reef looking? And i may be hitting you up to radius some screen channelsoon bud.

[scubasteve]

Heres the hood all finished with the lights installed

 

 

[scubasteve]

Everything all finished and ready to swap out.. took out every coral and dipped them, had a mild infestation of red flat worms so i also dipped all the live rock with flat worm exit as well.. what a pain that was... but haven't seen any of them since!

[scubasteve]

Moving day!