kchapmanjr Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 So I am a senior in college and haven't had a ton of time or $ to have any reef tanks for the last four years, but about a year ago I bought a 27 gallon cube.... Everyone here knows what happens next... It just wasn't big enough. So the process of looking for a bigger tank began. I am probably tempting fate setting a new tank up as I am graduating soon and don't know where I will end up, but if things go right hopefully I will be able to sign on with a local firm and stay in the area. I found a tank for sale by a fellow PNWMAS member, Jeff (jfish) who had a drilled 90 at a good price back in early August, so I bought it and have been working on it since. I believe (according to Jeff), that it was another members tank before him. Jose I think was his name, but I don't remember his username. While the tank is old school quality, which I was looking for, it needed a ton of cleaning and I'm sure that it was sturdy enough but the stand was an inch and a half shorter than the tank and it did not have any real bracing to speak of (mainly just plywood). I just didn't feel comfortable with a tank putting that much weight on trim alone - especially without sufficient bracing. So I decided to build a stand from scratch instead of redoing the one it came with. It took a lot longer than I originally expected, as well as WAY too many trips to Home Depot, but am quite happy with the results. I have tried to chronicle most of it at intervals along the way but haven't had time to post anything about it until today. I will try to get up to real time as fast as possible. To start it out I will show a pic of my current 27 gallon cube (becoming either a macro-algae/seahorse tank or a nem/clown tank in the very near future), and a before pic of what the 90 looked like when I got it. Hope everyone enjoys! Current tank I have: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13679[/ATTACH] I know, it's really cluttered and overstocked, (hence the new tank). Stand when I got it: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13680[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13681[/ATTACH] So all the weight of the tank sat on the trim around three sides of the stand. Tank with a light hose-out only: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13682[/ATTACH] (Man was it dirty!) Getting stuff ready to start the build: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13683[/ATTACH] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Basic frame without any bracing: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13684[/ATTACH] I built the frame with 1x4's and 1x1's to cut down on weight and maximize space inside the stand. The old stand actually came in really handy as a work table for my table saw I was even able to use the overflow cutout as the hole for sawdust escape: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13685[/ATTACH] Stand with full bracing: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13676[/ATTACH] 1/2" plywood top and base glued and screwed: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13678[/ATTACH] Skinned with 1/4" maple: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13677[/ATTACH] In the middle of priming the interior with kilz so the enamel I will be painting it will have better adhesion. This thing is strong, but it's still light enough to lift with one hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Oops, the last three pics didn't load right. Here they are: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13687[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]13686[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]13688[/ATTACH] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Guess I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures during the trim and staining phase. Here is one with first coat of minwax ebony stain.[ATTACH=CONFIG]13689[/ATTACH] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Z Reef Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Nice work on the stand! I personally think a 90 is a great size for stability and long term success. I think you'll enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Nice work on the stand! I personally think a 90 is a great size for stability and long term success. I think you'll enjoy it. Thanks! Posting completed stand pictures now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 So here is the stand with the outside stained and poly'ed. Turned out pretty well IMO. There was still a lot to be done at this point to the inside though. [ATTACH=CONFIG]13690[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]13691[/ATTACH] Here is a pic of it inside the condo. The girlfriend will be EXTREMELY happy when this build is finished. I have s*** strewn all over the place. [ATTACH=CONFIG]13692[/ATTACH] On a side note, my rock came in from BRS yesterday! [ATTACH=CONFIG]13693[/ATTACH] 70 lbs of BRS reefsaver and 25 lbs of shelf. Didn't know they would send the shelf in one whole freakin piece! The thing is huge - 17"x16" and it actually weighs in at 33 lbs! Gonna have to split it up a couple of times to get it to work for me. Speaking of that, anyone have any of those acrylic rods floating around?? Asked Jeff at C&C and he's all out... I'm gonna have to find some way to secure this beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Z Reef Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hit up TAP plastics in Portland. They are cheap and come in 3-6 ft lengths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slumberland Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hit up TAP plastics in Portland. They are cheap and come in 3-6 ft lengths. I just bought a 6' x 1/4" neon green rod there today for $5, and that was more expensive than the clear ones (I needed a point'n stick). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 Thanks I will definitely do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 So apparently I got a little lazy with taking pics through this stage, but here are a couple more - which almost brings us up to date with where the tank is at now. Tank with silicone stripped and ready for the new momentive black to be put in: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13698[/ATTACH] I have worked with silicone before, but this momentive stuff is no joke! When it says 5 minutes work time, it really means about 2. Chalk this one up as one of my lessons learned. At least I have good razor blade skills. Painting the back of the tank in Rustoleum Universal: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13699[/ATTACH] Plumbed up, waiting on check valves and a couple of other parts: [ATTACH=CONFIG]13700[/ATTACH] Herbie overflow working like a dream! [ATTACH=CONFIG]13701[/ATTACH] Simulated every scenario I could think of multiple times - power outages, blocked main stand pipe, back siphoning, etc... Everything worked perfectly, and even better - silently DIY sump. [ATTACH=CONFIG]13703[/ATTACH] Picked up an almost new 20 long from PaulV when I bought his ATO and a couple of euphyllias. If I had known the $1 a gallon sale was going to start so soon I would've waited, because is ended up having my girlfriend stop by petco on her way home last night and grab a 29 gallon, which I will be doing the same with. It will allow for more volume for the refugium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchapmanjr Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 Dang... Stupid files didn't upload right again. Preview showed them just fine. Oh well... Here they are... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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