Homebrewdude's 150gal build

[homebrewdude]

This is my current tank
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=955150&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

I now have a acrylic 150gal that will replace the old tank.
I have learned a lot from the last tank.

Some of my requirements
I want a clean clear view for taking pictures, that was my choice for acrylic.
I want internal overflows (old tank has hang-on overflows)
I want a taller stand, more room for the skimmer and easier to see.
I want a hood
I like the lower flow, the LPS and mushrooms seem to open up larger. I am not doing SPS.
Low electric usage
I would like to hide all plumbing and not use powerheads, but it seems a closed loop would use to much power.
I would like a electrical box with plugs and switches.

[homebrewdude]

The first task is the stand
I am planning on a 2x4 frame that is skinned in oak, maple or cherry.

I was thinking 36-48" tall anyone else build a tall stand?
I was thinking of oversizing the stand to the tank? But am not sure about the top.
I would like to tile the top with granite, but not sure how to level and hide the edge of the tank.
I am going to look into buying pre-made doors and stain them myself. I am not sure if it is worth my time to make these doors. Anyone else buy them?

[homebrewdude]

I am still working on my stand layout.
I am planning on purchasing pre-made doors.
I have a brochure from lowes and it shows $53 per door.
http://www.kitchendoordepot.com has them for $32 each.

Anyone buy doors online??

[samtheman]

If your stand is too tall you will need a stool to work in the the tank. The top of the tank should be no taller than your armpit otherwise.

[homebrewdude]

Then I would need a step stool??
If I go by that rule then my new stand will have to be shorter then my current

[samtheman]

How do you scrap your glass or reach to the bottem of your tank then?

[homebrewdude]

I will scrap the glass the same way that I do now.
I have a long stick with a scrapper on it.

[homebrewdude]

I picked up a cheap sump today
75gal glass tank
48" long
Now I can really start working on my stand design.
I am still trying to figure out the closed loop and flow for the tank.

[homebrewdude]

I have been trying to layout this 75gal tank in my stand.
The stand is going to have be tall in order to fit the tank.

What amount of flow do I want in a 75gal tank?
I have a 30gal now, with about 600gph
I have lots of red bubble algae and some red slime.

I would assume I should up the flow on the 75gal?
My return is a mag 9, probably getting 600gph out of it.
I was thinking of getting something that would push 1000gph through the sump and back to the tank.
Any thoughts??

[homebrewdude]

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/tank112707.jpg

This is my initial plan for the stand.

The 2x4's will create the corners
2X6 will span the top.
I am not sure how many vert supports I will have, that depends on the cabinet doors I will be using.

I am guessing 5 foot span only needs solid corners and one center support.

[homebrewdude]

Not so good today.
I finished the support part of the stand.

My inner size is 17" wide
My 75gal tanks is 18.5" wide.

I need to figure out if the added sump space is worth trying to reconfigure the stand...

Or do I build the 75gal into the stand, which would difficult to replace if anything happened.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/tank120207.jpg

[samtheman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11300975#post11300975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by homebrewdude
Not so good today.
I finished the support part of the stand.

My inner size is 17" wide
My 75gal tanks is 18.5" wide.

I need to figure out if the added sump space is worth trying to reconfigure the stand...

Or do I build the 75gal into the stand, which would difficult to replace if anything happened.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/tank120207.jpg

Make the center brace removable. If you have to remove the 75, lower the water level in the show tank as far as reasonable and pull the center brace. You can have it back in, in minutes and your stand won't bow that quickly.

[homebrewdude]

It is not the center brace
It is all the braces, the distance between the braces is 16" my tank is 18.5"
I am going to reverse the braces and have them on the outside.
This will give me more clearance.
I am working on that drawing now.

Thanks for the input!

[homebrewdude]

I moved the supports to the outside of the stand.

I now have room to fit my sump.

I need to look for standard size doors before I figure out how to skin it.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/tank120507.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/drawing120507.jpg

[Siffy]

http://www.cabinetdoorsandhardware.com/

[homebrewdude]

Thanks for the link Siffy...

I am messing with some doors.
I moved my brace off center.

I am not sure how the spacing for doors should be?
How close to the edge?

What do I do about the gap between the first 2 doors?
I can put a brace there, but thought about leaving as much access to the sump as I can.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/tank121007.jpg

[homebrewdude]

The tank I have is 1 150gal with one center overflow
In this overflow is the following
2 2-1/2 holes drains
2 1-1/2 holes returns

I will probably only use 1 of the returns for a 950gph return pump
I do not think I need to mess with 2 2-1/2 drains?
I will route one as a drain, and just bulkhead the other one with a standpipe that will do nothing? maybe be an emergency drain if the first one happens to clog?

[homebrewdude]

Now I thought about showing off the fuge.
I am having an external skimmer as shown in green.
The return will be on the opposite end.
Just 2 doors on the top.
The sides will be covered.
Just the center opened.


http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/snt_bernardus/Stand/tank121607.jpg