215 Gal system build...

[Davey Jones]

Other than purchasing the tank, today was the day "it" started. I bought the tank stand and canopy shown below:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5976294154_a0c532e6cf_z.jpg


The tank, obvioulsy used, is a 215 gallon Oceanic. It is open top, 3/4" glass, and has dual overflows in the back. You can only see a small portion of the back side of the stand but it is in oak finish, which matches nothing in my house, and it has some swollen spots where the wood got wet maybe?.?. Anyhow, since this is going to be a show piece in my living room I want to build a stand/canopy that will be exactly what I want. If you are going to do DIY projects to save money, think long and hard....however, if you are doing DIY so you can get exactly what you want or simply for the satisfaction of creating something with your hands then you're on the right track. Anyhow, here is some pictures of the stand build.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/5976297184_3770a027af_z.jpg

Wood for the framing part of the stand.


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5975735573_92337c5d4a_z.jpg

Here is what I was able to get done today after working on my other honey-do projects. I will go back later and add some cross members to the bottom frame and the top frame is simply resting on the bottom for now. The corner legs are partially completed. Hopefully I will get all the framing complete tomorrow.

Also one bonus with the tank was not discussed originally was lighting.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5976295638_837eddaa28_z.jpg
Two Ice Cap ballasts driving 4 165W T-12 VHO's were included. Nice bonus. This will allow me to add some corals/clams/etc in the future which was a part of the original plan. Here is a list of what I have spent so far on the total system. I'll simply update this list in the future and make references to it in later posts.

RO/DI system and spare filters - $220
Tank/Stand/Canopy/Light - $600
New Stand supplies - $66

[elmexotics]

following along on the build. Look forward to what you do with the tank. I always hate cleaning a used tank. :wavehand:

[Davey Jones]

following along on the build. Look forward to what you do with the tank. I always hate cleaning a used tank. :wavehand:

The only thing I hate more is paying full price for a new one.

[Gandolfe]

My stand has cost me over $300 and I haven't even bought the trim yet..but it can hold up to a 72 x 32 tank of any heigth, I have pics and a thread of it in DIY under my125 gallon $150 gallon craigs list bargain

[Davey Jones]

My stand has cost me over $300 and I haven't even bought the trim yet..but it can hold up to a 72 x 32 tank of any heigth, I have pics and a thread of it in DIY under my125 gallon $150 gallon craigs list bargain

I just spent $350 at Lowe's but most of that was on tools. I have enough tools already to complete the project, but the tools I picked up will make it easier and I will get more use out of them in the future for sure. I'm not counting that cost toward my project, although the cost of the entire project could probably absorb $300 extra without the bat of an eye.

I'm almost done with the frame part of the stand. A couple more pieces and I'll call it good. I did pick up the plywood for the exterior and I had it cut while I was at Lowe's. There is no good, easy way to get a true cut on an 8' piece of wood unless you are a true pro with good equipment. I'm sooo glad I got it cut at Lowe's.

[deepblue68]

keep us updated!goodluck.what are the diemensions of the tank?

[Gandolfe]

or you have a planer handy...lol
did you take a look at my thread...my 125 gallon $150 craigs list bargain

[Davey Jones]

deepblue, the dimensions are 6'x2'x28"?

It's the same footprint as a standard 180 but a few inches higher.


Gandolfe, I checked out your thread. Progess is looking good on the stand. I wish I was at the same point you are. I have managed to complete a lil more over the last couple of days.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5981563638_3c89d55f7c_z.jpg

This shot is to show the detail of the corner legs. There is an outer section that sits between the top and bottom frame and an inner section that is attached directly behind the outer section and also ties to the inside of the top and bottom frame.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5981565784_f1eae02166_z.jpg

This shot is to show the detail of how the legs sit on the bottom frame. If you will notice, one of the leg pieces is resting on two pieces of the bottom frame. I think it is better this way.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5981567866_f75041e409_z.jpg

Just showing general progress here. You can see the details mentioned in the previous two pictures, just not up close.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5981574106_f1f919e136_z.jpg

Framing complete! Well....sorta. This is a front view and you can see the 2x4 vertical members in the back that don't have an inner piece similar to the corners. I'll probably add that later today but I'll have to pick up one more 2x4.


Next I think I'll lay down 1/2" plywood on the top and bottom frames and then give it a coat of oil based Rustoleum to resist moisture absorbtion. After that I'll do some skinning. I'm really hoping I don't screw up the skinning. I'm excited to be making progress and can't wait to get my tank going, but finishing work takes patience and focus....which I'm losing rapidly. Maybe I'll actually clean my tank out first and that nastly smell will calm my excitement for a while.

[Gandolfe]

if you are going to cut finished plywood i learned the hard way, buy a trim grade fine tooth finish saw blade and cut from the opposite side that you want to show! Some of the first cuts i made caused the Oak Plywood to splinter a little, not too bad ,trim will cover it,but still there.the blade i bought has 60 teeth and cut it great without splinters.It was $12 at HD. worth it when you figure a sheet of 1/2" oak plywood is $42 and birch was $44. My stand weighs about 200lbs or so and i still haven't put the doors or trim on.I plan on eventually going to a 72 x 32x however high Tank in the future,(when i win the lottery or sumfin')Figuring i can go up to a 300 gallon tank on this stand with the dimensions.it's 74L x 32 W X 40 T. so i figure i can get a tank that is 72 l x 32 w x 30 tall+ approx.300 gallons

[Davey Jones]

Yeah I picked up a 60 tooth finishing saw blade yesterday. I'm doing my plywood a little different than you are. I'm putting mine on like it was done in this thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1771506&page=2


I had Lowe's cut the sheet of plywood into all the strips and now I can just trim it down to length and put the angles on with my mitre saw. If I had to cut down a 8'x4' sheet of plywood it probably wouldn't have been very true. I could start with that today, but I'm feeling pretty blah today and have just been camping on the couch mostly. Then Thurs - Sun I have to work and then Mon - Tues I have to go out of town to take my daughter to a choir function.

[Gandolfe]

I just cut my front and sides out of one piece and screwed it on. should add a little structural strength as well. I was just very careful when i cut the squares out for the front and stopped at the corners,then finished the cuts with a jig-saw! The pieces I cut out are gonna be the doors!Thinking about cutting them in half then making them folding doors. same with the end doors. I'm gonna make my canopy front have 2 doors as well with each door having a smaller door for feeding. the whole front will lift open if i open it front the left and just half if from the right. That way i can add rock and coral with out having to take the canopy off. The lid will hinge at the back and lift so i can access lights to change bulbs!The Red Mahogany stain for oak from min-wax is darker than i thought but with the poly it turned out nice, just a little hint of red. might do the trim in Gunstock instead of the red mahogany, just something a little lighter for contrast!