75g build from the ground up.

[Everyones Hero]

I've been reef keeping for a couple of years & I've learned a few things along the way. I lost everything last year during a prolonged power outage due to poor maintenance. This build is intended to make maintenance as easy as possible while still maintaining a cost-efficient budget.

First was the stand. My old stand has 2 small doors right in the middle, which makes reaching into the stand a PITA. It was also too short. My skimmer barely fit inside of it.

I found out I could have built it out of plywood- but I had already purchased the 2x4s so I figured I might as well use them.

Here's the frame. It's over sized so the frame will sit directly over the middle of the 2x4s. I know I could have used 1 2x4 across the front- but I used 2 as more of an aesthetic aspect for the doors. I pre-drilled all of the holes for the screws & then used wood glue where the pieces meet & on the screws.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0139.jpg

This is the inside of the stand. The section of 2x4s you see is for my 20L sump to sit on. It's been sanded flat & will have plywood over it to ensure a perfectly flat surface. The stand is tall enough so that my skimmer will sit inside of it & I can easily remove the top & collection cup.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0141.jpg

Here is the front piece with the plywood skin installed. I glued & screwed it into place. It's furniture grade plywood so it's nice & smooth. Should be easy enough to sand & paint.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0143.jpg

Progress as I installed the trim. It's just cheap 1x3 pine, but I wanted a simplistic look & this fit the bill perfectly. I wasted 3 pieces of wood trying to cut the top piece of trim as I used 45* cuts...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0147.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0149.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0148.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0151.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0150.jpg

I know the trim on the back hangs off some. I did that on purpose to maintain symmetry on the sides when I install the trim.

Here is the live rock. I've been what I think is called the "Berlin Method", just letting the rock sit in SW with a pump circulating & changing the water every couple of weeks. It's unreal how much stuff is still coming off of the rocks after several months of this. It really shows how much waste had built up in the rocks over the last couple of years.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0142.jpg

[Everyones Hero]

I hate how the doors always seem to get in the way so I stole the magnetic holder idea from another member on here. All 4 doors will be able to be removed & placed out of the way.

I do have 2 of the 8 slot DJ Power Panels that I would like to install inside the stand, but I have no idea where to mount them. I want them in the stand so I don't have to see the light- but I also want to make sure they're not going to get ruined by salt creep. Any ideas on how/where to mount them would be greatly appreciated.

I have 2 return pump options. 1 is to use my loud Mag7 & eventually upgrade to an Eheim 1262; or use a Little Giant external that I got from an old job. The LG doesn't work right now, but I think it's just a bad capacitor. Would there be a way to prime an external pump so I wouldn't have to drill my 20g as I don't know if it's tempered or not?

[birdsandsoap]

There are a couple of great ideas for the power placement from SaltyAl and MarlboroZoa. SaltyAl used an electrical box and MarlboroZoa (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2028738) made a nice panel that faces outward with access to all of the cords. I'm posting a link to SaltyAl's (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2035458&highlight=bow+front+stand+build) build; if you look around you will find another from MarlboroZoa (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2028738).

[birdsandsoap]

I just ordered 50 rare earth magnets on ebay last night to make removable panels as well. I hope they hold up, they are so tiny. I plan on copying Marlboro Zoa's electrical panel. It's just a piece of plywood screwed to the inside edge of the 2x4 frame. Easy and nicely organized.

[birdsandsoap]

Your stand looks great by the way, seeing all of these nice stands makes me excited to finish mine!

[Everyones Hero]

Thanks a lot for the links! I just don't want to close off either side of the stand. Maybe I can tolerate loosing the left side... But I have to have 1 panel on each side of the stand because not all of the cords will be long enough to go all the way across the stand.

As for my magnets- I just picked up a pair of cheap cabinet door magnets to start with. I'm hoping one in each top corner of the doors will be sufficient to hold them in place.

And thanks. I built a stand for my old 55g, but it was just the frame. This is the first time I'll be building one with trim, paint, & fancy hardware. I love getting a chance to be outside, working with my hands, & using my brain.

[Everyones Hero]

I finished the trim, sanded the stand, & got it painted today. It looks a LOT better than I had expected it to. The color looks awesome. It's something like "Lincoln Cottage Black" in a semi-gloss.

I still have to make & paint the doors, but I can start moving forward with getting the tank wet.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0153.jpg

I did make a slight mistake when building the stand. I knew the sides weren't going to be wide enough for my sump to fit through because of the 2x4 frame. It's 1/2" too narrow. But I thought I'd be able to get it in through the front. Nope... Luckily the back support is only held in by 4 screws so I can remove it, put the sump in, & put the support back. Crisis averted. :P

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0154.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0155.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0156.jpg

[genxson]

nice stand..

[Everyones Hero]

Thank you. The top was perfectly level right off the bat. I have to shim the bottom because the floor is uneven, but so far there haven't been any hangups. *Knock on wood*

Tomorrow I'm going to get it shimmed & fill it with vinegar/water & get all of my pumps & skimmer in it so they can soak & get all of the calcium build up off of the glass.

Then I need to get a drill bit so I can drill a 3rd drain hole so I can run a Bean Animal style drain, make another over flow, mount the power panels... So much to do. I love this part of having a tank. :P

[Exotic Reef.]

Just asking why do you have a center brace in the front and not in the back ..if you do I did not notice it if you don't ill just put in in the back because the rock will be more to the back the the front but what can you do know your done with the stand still looks good though gj

[dzfish17]

Looks great. The first thing I would do is get a generator or some sort of plan in place for when it happens again. Good luck.

[Everyones Hero]

Just asking why do you have a center brace in the front and not in the back ..if you do I did not notice it if you don't ill just put in in the back because the rock will be more to the back the the front but what can you do know your done with the stand still looks good though gj

There is a center brace in the back. It's a single 2x4, but I know they have a load bearing capacity of about 2000lbs when used vertically.

The reason for having 2 2x4s in the front is just so I can mount the doors when I make & install them.

Looks great. The first thing I would do is get a generator or some sort of plan in place for when it happens again. Good luck.

I plan on keeping better care of the tank so it can go longer without power. I also plan to get a battery backup so I can keep some kind of circulation going in the tank. And I've also heard that hydrogen peroxide can be used to add oxygen to a tank in emergencies so I'll be sure to keep some on hand in case the need arises.

[Everyones Hero]

I made sure the tank was level today & got it filled with water/vinegar. I got all of the calcium build up off of the glass & I have all of my pumps running to get off all of the build up on them. The tank looks brand new.

I need to get one 1" bulkhead & a drill bit to do my 3rd drain, plus something to make a drain for my RDSB. It's going to be a salt bucket so I can't use a standard bulkhead. I've heard of uni-seals so I'll have to look into them.

I want to drill my sump & run an external pump but I don't know if the tank is tempered or not... Last thing I want to do is try drilling it, have it shatter, then have to go through the process of getting a new tank in there.

[Everyones Hero]

Today was kind of a lazy day. I got the stand exactly where I wanted it & got the tank centered on it. Had to shim it a little bit because of the floor, but it's on the money now.

As I was filling it I was scraping the glass to get off all of the coraline & dried up algae that was covering the glass.

This is what the back looked like before I scraped it
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0157.jpg

And after a few minutes with a razor blade.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0158.jpg

Side by side.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0159.jpg

What it looks like right now. Added a gallon of vinegar & put all of my pumps & skimmer in it. Skimmer looks great now & fits perfectly in it's new place.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0160.jpg

Tomorrow I plan to drain it & look at mounting options for my DJ Power Panels. I found my box of random plumbing parts & found I had everything I needed for the 3rd drain other than a MPT elbow & the saw so I got those ordered tonight. Hopefully I'll get that in early next week & get the hole drilled.

Once I see where everything sits I'll make a new overflow to go on the right side (the one on the left is sufficient. I'll probably make that my emergency drain since the box is rather small.

Once everything is cleaned & rinsed I'll figure out where I'm putting the phosban & carbon reactors & then I'll make the manifold to power everything. Found a buddy willing to give me a Mag9 that he doesn't need so I plan to use that to power everything.

[Everyones Hero]

Glass-holes.com ships quickly... I ordered my bit on Friday & had it Monday.

I knew I didn't have any plumber's putty but thought I might have had some silicone. Nope... What can I use instead? How about some tape.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0162.jpg

Worked like a charm. This is probably one of the most nerve wracking things I've ever done. Kind of like being in high school & waiting for your girlfriend's Aunt Flo to visit...

But luckily for me things came out just fine, much like they always did in high school...
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0163.jpg

The person I bought it from drilled the holes just below the rim. I decided to go 2 bit diameters down from the glasses edge to be on the safe side.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0164.jpg

I won't be able to do a coast to coast overflow. I will have 1 drain on the left & 2 on the right. My sump is on the right side of the tank. I know the newest drain is going to be my full siphon drain. I was going to make the one to the right of it the slow-flow w/ airline drain because it's almost a straight drop to the sump & the left will be the emergency drain.

The only problem I foresee is the water in the left overflow could get stagnant since the drain won't be getting used. Insight, ideas, or suggestions?

[Everyones Hero]

Made an overflow out of some acrylic I had laying around. It's 16Lx6Hx5W.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0165.jpg

Being supported while the silicone dries. I know acrylic doesn't bond well with silicone but it seems to work fine for an overflow.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0166.jpg

Plumbing done for the drains.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0167.jpg

Messed up the drain on the far left & didn't have another 45* elbow so I used a 90*. Not the prettiest, but it is the emergency drain & it'll do it's job.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0168.jpg

[Everyones Hero]

Rocks soaking in bleach. 3 gallons was just the right amount to give me a 1:10 ratio.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0169.jpg

Had just enough containers for all of the rocks. I don't have anything to store RO/DI in so I'll empty the big one out at midnight (that's when I started soaking them) and start filling it with RO/DI so I can get the acid dip done by tomorrow afternoon.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0170.jpg

[Everyones Hero]

Took a lot longer to get the amount of RO/DI I needed for the muriatic acid soak.

2 gallons of muriatic acid & a day later all of the rock is done. It all looks pretty good & feels a bit less dense. Before I removed any of the rock from the buckets I added baking soda & used dip test strips until the Ph registered at around 6.0 before I dumped any of the water out & before I handled the rocks (even though I was wearing gloves); then I individually rinsed the rocks off in a bucket of RO/DI & baking soda.

I ordered 40lbs of fine sand from MarcoRocks. It will give me just over 1" of cover, which is what I want.

I also got most of the return plumbing done today. My friend gave me the Mag 9.5... it is a BEAST! Drains are silent.

I put the hood on it just to see how it looked. Only the blue bulbs are working. I'm guessing one of the daylight bulbs has gone bad. I'll swap them out with some old bulbs I have laying around.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/wet.jpg

[Everyones Hero]

I got the rock in the tank & started filling it with RO/DI. This is about 6-7 hours worth of filling...
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0173.jpg

I was letting it fill a bucket then pumping that water into the tank. I decided that sucked so I used the top of a bucket & a Mag Float to hook the line up directly to the display for now.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/notabassist31/Aquarium%202012/IMAG0174.jpg

Once it's full I'm going to add a container of peroxide & run it with all of the pumps, heater, ect for a day or so to make sure I don't get any nuisance algae once I get this up & running. Then I'll drain it.

The sand will be here next week. I'll get it added, maybe move around some of the rocks, fill it with RO/DI again, then add the salt & get it cycling.