75g Build (suggestions welcome)

[Haloumpalumpa]

I've had my 75 gallon setup for a little while with just the plain stand and a quick canopy. I've been reading up on reefs a lot while its just had some live rock and a few fish in it. I've started planning a redesign of my setup and have flushed out a design for the stand framing, sump and refuge.


Here's an animation of the frame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bngT89VQU1E

Here's some pics with the sump and refuge in it. You can see the overflow in the refuge for the drain that will feed back into the return on the sump

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-10-iso.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-10-front.jpg

[chort55]

I'm kind of confused... you said your redesigning your stand and that your current one is just a plain stand, and thats exactly what this looks like really :confused: If your asking if this is a good plan for the framing of your new (or current) stand, yes everything looks good and should be stable. You may want to consider a middle support brace in the back though, and even the front for that matter if your going to "skin" this frame (the middle brace in the front serves 2 purposes 1. of course added strength and support, 2. keeps your fuge light from shining through when the doors are closed).

The sump fuge idea looks ok, but not knowing your your plans are for those areas its hard to say really if anything should be done differently. But for the typical set up, looks fine IMO.

[Haloumpalumpa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14303238#post14303238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chort55
I'm kind of confused... you said your redesigning your stand and that your current one is just a plain stand, and thats exactly what this looks like really :confused: If your asking if this is a good plan for the framing of your new (or current) stand, yes everything looks good and should be stable. You may want to consider a middle support brace in the back though, and even the front for that matter if your going to "skin" this frame (the middle brace in the front serves 2 purposes 1. of course added strength and support, 2. keeps your fuge light from shining through when the doors are closed).

The sump fuge idea looks ok, but not knowing your your plans are for those areas its hard to say really if anything should be done differently. But for the typical set up, looks fine IMO.

I guess that first post was a little lacking. I am looking at redoing my setup and building a bigger stand to hold more. My current stand had one door on it and very little space for even a sump underneath it. I had to slide the sump in through the top while the tank was off, not very practical for upgrades.

I will be skinning the stand as i develop it more. I finished the framework for it now and wanted to post it up to start getting ideas and suggestions from the community. The tank is a 75g (48Lx20Hx18D) and it will be sitting on the right side of the stand in the front corner so that only the right side and front will be visible. The stand as it is now is 62"L x 38.5"H x 24"D. This will give me plenty of room underneath for my sump and refuge. Then storage on the left of the tank for supplies and area for switches. The Extra depth will allow me to run the plumbing inside of the stand so i can push it all the way back against the wall. The plywood that's on it now is 1/2" and all the framing is out of 2x4s. The main thing i was looking at is if that would be strong enough to hold the tank the way I'm wanting or if i need more support. I would like to not have any center braces just for clearance and room to work. I plan to skin it in 3/4" plywood for the added strength.

[THE ROOK]

If your going to put a cabinet beside the tank for equipment & supplies, then you could simply use a 45-55 gallon glass tank (48" long) for a sump. Plenty of room for skimmer, refuge & return. That would still leave 14" for ext. pump or some sort of reactor.

[Haloumpalumpa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14306713#post14306713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by THE ROOK
If your going to put a cabinet beside the tank for equipment & supplies, then you could simply use a 45-55 gallon glass tank (48" long) for a sump. Plenty of room for skimmer, refuge & return. That would still leave 14" for ext. pump or some sort of reactor.

The cabinet will be the upper section of the stand on the left side if the tank, it will be 14W x 24D x 30T. This will join the stand and canopy together. These might help, I added the tank on top of the stand where it will be.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-10withtanksfront.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-10withtanksiso.jpg

[THE ROOK]

I have a 48" long sump under my stand & it's great. Plenty of room for internal skimmers, pumps, heaters, etc. I'm not saying you need to go to a 48" sump. Just my setup.

[chort55]

Looks good. I personally would still do the braces I mentioned before, but I like the extra support needed or not.... however w/ the tank being off center and the brace under the left corner of the tank only being an angle brace your relying on the screws not the wood to hold, where the center brace would be stronger and give more support. However if you wanted you could also add a door on the side of the stand for ease of pulling the sump out / access / ease in upgrading :D

[Haloumpalumpa]

Here's where I'm at now. I've added a brace in the back, started the storage area, skinned it and added door openings now. Also all the ply has been changed to 1/2".

Iso
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-22iso.jpg

Front
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-22front.jpg

Back
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-22back.jpg

[THE ROOK]

Just noticed something. Will there be a horizontal support directly under the back of the tank? Might want to add one, if not.

[Harry_Fish]

Take a look at my build thread here:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1560031

My stand is wider than the tank and I have the main
supports under the tank, It may give you some Ideas.

Hope this helps

[chort55]

Looks good :D

I am assuming there are supports running from front to back under the plywood the tank rests on as well, especially under the left side ;)

[Haloumpalumpa]

My stand is wider than the tank and I have the main
supports under the tank, It may give you some Ideas.

Hope this helps [/B]

Looks nice the only thing is that your tank is centered so your doors would be even. If i were to do that i would have the main support going through the center of one of the doors.

Looks good I am assuming there are supports running from front to back under the plywood the tank rests on as well, especially under the left side

Yeah there are two supports that are running front to back of the stand on both the top and bottom. With the gussets and where they attach to the top of the stand is right underneath the tank and that would transfer all the load to the sides.

[chort55]

Basically per your design a few posts above, your front ideally would look like the back design, with a 2x4 support only difference would be the 2x4 support would be behing your skinned front, and inbetween the doors. Also per your design above it looks like your front doors would be even and the middle between them would be centered. Of course w/ your tank being off center, the support wouldn't be directly under center of your tank, however w/ the left corner not having an upright support under it the "center" support being off center towards that side it isn't a bad thing ;)

[Haloumpalumpa]

Ok I made some changes to the framing and finished off the design a little more.

As you can see here added a front support, and a support that runs the length of the stand in the back under where tank will sit. This should be enough to hold the stand without any issues.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-06iso.jpg



http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-22iso-1.jpg

[~sp0ok~]

looks good

[THE ROOK]

I agree - looks good

[Haloumpalumpa]

Ok, so I did some more work on my stand and flushed out how I'm doing the access for the lighting and how to hold the doors in place now I just have a little to do cosmetically and then to flush out the plumbing to make sure it works with the stand. The doors will be held in place by magnets mounted in the stand and on the door itself. The trim around the doors is just a quick mock up to give the idea, not sure yet how to give it a finished look. Any ideas would help.

These first ones are with everything closed up.
Iso
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-39isoclosed.jpg

Front
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-39frontclosed.jpg

Right
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-39rightclosed.jpg

Left
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-39leftclosed.jpg

Now with it Opened
Iso
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-39isoopen.jpg

Front
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/stand-39frontopen.jpg

[mklukas]

I like it!

The changes you made look good and they'll add a good bit of strength to the frame. I haven't seen a tank done 2 sided like that but I think it'll work out nice.

[Haloumpalumpa]

I was not happy with how the detail work of the stand was coming out, so i scrapped that design and worked on another one. Here's what I have. There's a 2x4 frame under the stand the rest of it is skinned out of plywood. The two doors on the front allow access to the sump and refuge. The door on the right side has shelving in it for supplies, and the door on the left is where all of the electrical and controllers will be. The stand is split into two halves, and upper and lower. Bottom half is around 100lbs, and top half is only 40lbs.

Overall the stand is 72" w x 67" h x 27" d

Alright on to pictures.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandClosed1.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandClosed2.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandClosed3.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandOpened1.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandOpened2.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandOpened3.png

[~sp0ok~]

....wow nice update

[uncleof6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14653413#post14653413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Haloumpalumpa
I was not happy with how the detail work of the stand was coming out, so i scrapped that design and worked on another one. Here's what I have. There's a 2x4 frame under the stand the rest of it is skinned out of plywood. The two doors on the front allow access to the sump and refuge. The door on the right side has shelving in it for supplies, and the door on the left is where all of the electrical and controllers will be. The stand is split into two halves, and upper and lower. Bottom half is around 100lbs, and top half is only 40lbs.

Overall the stand is 72" w x 67" h x 27" d

Alright on to pictures.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandClosed1.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandClosed2.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandClosed3.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandOpened1.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandOpened2.png
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/StandOpened3.png

HEY I AM SO JEALOUS HERE>........ where did you get the sanitary T's?:D

[bgraves]

IMO i would make it taller. my next stand will be taller so you don't have to bend over to look at the tank. also give more room in the fuge for diff. skimmer

[james3370]

i like it ALOT :D

since you have the room in the back & the plumbing is covered, have you considered moving the tank overflow externally & gain that lil bit inside the tank??

i think asthetically it would be better looking that way....but just my opinion

[Haloumpalumpa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14654438#post14654438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleof6
HEY I AM SO JEALOUS HERE>........ where did you get the sanitary T's?:D

I had to model those up on my own, I just went to Menards and bought one then took the measurements off of it.

have you considered moving the tank overflow externally & gain that lil bit inside the tank??

I have thought about it a little, the reason I'm doing it like this is so I can use Bean's Return design. I could probably find a way to do the same thing with an external overflow and I'll have too if my tank can't be drilled.

[Haloumpalumpa]

So I've been working on the plumbing for the system and now I'm trying to figure out where I should run a manifold system from. I want a manifold to run some accessories off of without needing extra pumps but I'm wondering if it would be better to run it off of the return or off of the closed loop. For now I have it off of the return plumbing. In the pictures below you'll see the two systems I have modeled up, The closed loop and the Sump plumbing. (The stand was hidden for clarity)

The Sump Plumbing.

Using Bean's failsafe drain system (need to add the Ball valve to the full siphon). It has been modified a little to work on an external over flow. The return pump will be either an Iwaki 30RLXT or 40RLXT. It is then split to the two 3/4" returns, the refuge (3/4") and then the manifold system (3/4").

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/Stand2-04SumpPlumbing.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/Stand2-04SumpPlumbing-01.jpg


The Closed Loop Plumbing

The closed loop is fed by an 1" line into either an Iwaki 30RLXT or 40RLXT then a 1" output to a Ocean Motions Super Squirt with 3/4" lines to the return bulkheads


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/Stand2-04CLPlumbing1.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Stand%202/Stand2-04CLPlumbing2.jpg

[Haloumpalumpa]

Ok so it's time to make some updates on this build. I've started constructing the stand and gathering supplies. I have both my pumps (Iwaki 40RLT for sump and return and Iwaki 70RLT for Closed Loop).

Here's the progress so far

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Build01.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Build02.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Build03.jpg



I have also been designing up a DIY LED fixture that will be controlled by the Reefkeeper ALC when it's all said and done.
It will be 48"L x 15"D Each heatsink (6 total) will have 10 3W Cree LEDs (6 White, 4 Royal Blue). The drivers I have picked out have a 0-10V Dimmer circuit on them that I will use with the ALC when i have it running.

Here's what I have so far.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Lighting1-02.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Lighting1-02a.jpg

[Haloumpalumpa]

Here's an update of where I'm at so far. Got the bottom half finished for the plywood, just needs detail work and doors then almost finished with the top half structurally. Progress is kind of slow when having to take care of school and only having a circular saw, router (no router table) and a sander to really work with.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/Build04.jpg

[Robamus]

Dude... Sweet!

[SFeST]

Woah, killer light setup. Now I'm really interested

[jkeating2005]

this is looking great. I love the design. it makes it look like a wall piece!

Very Nice. tagging along for duration of this build!

[Haloumpalumpa]

Time for some updates, after having to spend to much money on fixing my car (bent tierod) I'm back working on the stand. All the building is done and all the holes have been filled and sanded. I have latches on the back to add a little more safety to the top section. I'm ready for stain and doors now. Here some pictures.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020200.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020201.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020202.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020203.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020204.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020205.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020206.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020207.jpg

The color of the stain that is going on here
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1020208.jpg

[Reefer2727]

Looks great!

[eon]

wow looks awesome!!

[~sp0ok~]

fing good job

[Haloumpalumpa]

Thanks for the comments everyone. This was the first time I've really done anything furniture wise with wood.

[ceige]

Is the top attached to the base? I have plans for something similar and I am wondering how will you service the back of the tank if needed?

[Haloumpalumpa]

Nope they are two separate pieces. If you look closely in the picture of behind the tank you'll see that there are latches on both sides to help line up and keep the top from falling forward if shaken to much. I would just simply have to flip the two latches, undo the lighting and then the whole top half lifts off. It's also light enough to where one person can move it without an issue.

[Haloumpalumpa]

It's been quite a while since I've done some updating on here. I've finished staining the wood and sealing it. I have a new 75g tank and have since drilled it for a closed loop and overflow. There's a shallow box inside the tank for skimming with holes drilled through the tank to a larger box on the outside for the overflow plumbing.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1030049.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1030050.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1030051.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1030052.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1030053.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m157/HaloUmpaLumpa/Fishtank/P1030054.jpg

[jb61264]

Absolutely beautiful work on your stand...gorgeous! Will you be painting teh back of the tank?

[Haloumpalumpa]

Yeah I will be painting it after i get all the plumbing done and I'm ready for the first leak test.

[james3370]

my only suggestion would be the 2 large bulkheads/plumbing in the center (i assume closed loop suction side)....i would replace the unions w/ union ball valves. you won't be able to seperate the plumbing w/out either a ball valve there to stop the flow or draining the tank below the bulkhead

**edit** 2nd look i think the bulkheads are threaded on the wet side, so maybe your plan is a screw-in plug inside the tank in the bulkhead if ya need to service the plumbing??

btw....stand looks AMAZING :D

[Adam76]

Looking awesome can't wait to see more.

[Haloumpalumpa]

Thanks for the comments. Just a few more pieces of equipment to buy before I can start letting it cycle. Need to get the two Sea-Swirls for the return, a skimmer, and a Reefkeeper. I will hopefully be taking down my current tank this weekend and grabbing the sump from under it to use in here. I will also temporarily use the T5 lighting that I have above it till I can find time and money to do the LED fixture I mentioned.

As far as skimmers I'm still trying to decide what one to go with. I'm looking at the octopus 160 or 200 and the SWC Extreme Cone 160.

[Haloumpalumpa]

Finished up the plumbing over the weekend. Doing the leak test this week and so far only one small leak on a threaded fitting into the OM super squirt. All I can say is that Bean's drains are definitely Silent! The only noise I have is from the pumps themselves. The tank will continue to run for a few more days before being drained, cleaned, and the plumbing broken down to get ready to be moved into my new house within the next few weeks. I will get some pictures of the completed plumbing up in the next few days.

[dtrm]

Hope your build is on track, waiting to see some pictures and updates, what cad software did you use to design it on? Looking great.

[Haloumpalumpa]

Hope your build is on track, waiting to see some pictures and updates, what cad software did you use to design it on? Looking great.

Well things are kind of on hold right now as I'm getting settled into the new house, planning a wedding, and getting setup for another year of school. But I'm still working on it here and there getting it ready and trying to get the last of the equipment that I'll need. As for the CAD software I used Solidworks 2009. I would strongly suggest for anyone that if you're not experienced at building a project that you spend a lot of time working on the design so that you know what you're getting into. I also had access to a nesting software at work so I was able to use it to tell me exactly how many sheets of ply I would need and how to cut the pieces. The cad models helped me tremendously in planning and making sure my idea would work and that it was possible for me to build. I had limited tools (Router, Circular Saw) to use so my design had to be done with only those.

[CoralFiend]

Excellent job so far. Can't believe you did that stand with a circular saw and a router. Nice skills there. Like the overflow & drain. You obviously put a great deal of thought into this project. I think your only regret might be that you didn't go with a bigger tank. This should be an awesome display. Tagging along..

[Haloumpalumpa]

Excellent job so far. Can't believe you did that stand with a circular saw and a router. Nice skills there. Like the overflow & drain. You obviously put a great deal of thought into this project. I think your only regret might be that you didn't go with a bigger tank. This should be an awesome display. Tagging along..

Thanks I did have some small hand tools to use also but for the most part it was just that. I'm really happy with the overflow and the drains on these too. I've had both the Iwaki MD-100 and MD-75 hooked up at the same time with full flow and the overflow is silent and can more than handle the flowrate. Bean definitely did a great job with this overflow style and I have to give him a lot of praise for it. The only noise that comes from my tank is the sound of the pumps themselves there's not gurgling or waterfall noise like my last overflow had.

[aquaenthusiast]

Wow awesome build! Any updates????

[chrishet]

tagging along...

[Triple One]

hope this set-up still has a future! i like that you decided to do the refugium in the sump after all... curious too how well those pumps work for this plumbing configuration.
how deep do you plan to make your sandbed?