DIY 90 Stand (55 sump, 15 cube)

[WarDaddy]

I have started the upgrade process to upgrade my 55 to a 90 with internal overflow.

The plan is to use the 55 as a sump, convert my custom (DIY) 15 gallon refuge into a 15 Gallon Cube that will house 2 percs a RBTA and maybe a clam or 2.

Here is the stand, as of Monday, the frame is built and the Plywood top and bottom are fitted. The plan calls for the stand inside to be painted with 2 coats of Kiltx2 Promer/sealer, and then 2 coats of High Gloss White exterior paint.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941239-M.jpg (http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941239-O.jpg)
click pics to see a larger version.

Hee s my son helping withthe clamps as we start to add the stands skin.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941241-M.jpg (http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941241-O.jpg)

The skin is made of 1/2" pine boards.

Here is is all skinned and waiting for trim.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941242-M.jpg (http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941242-O.jpg)

Now I ave added the trim

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941244-M.jpg (http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941244-O.jpg)

One final look at the trim.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941248-M.jpg (http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/49941248-O.jpg)

More to come... Need to start sanding.

[mmoore0803]

wow.....nice skin....that thing looks like a commercial for why you should own a nice saw...or...how to borrow your friend's saw that his wife is all ****ed about but at the same time keeping your own wife happy as heck that you didn't go out and buy more tools :rollface:

Looks gorgeous and a lot lighter than Josh's....are you going to stain it to match the other stand in the house? And are you putting a skin on the back or doors there as well?

And.....sounds like the fam is getting better.....now you can go back to sleeping in your own bed and take off the radiation suit....right?

[WarDaddy]

Oh, I forot some details.

the stand is 40 inches tall and 32 inches wide. It is wide so that the Sump and Cube can both fit inside the stand, it will make sense as the stand progresses.

I am taking advantage of the deapth by placing an 18 gallon TopOff tank and a 10 gallon refuge behind the display tank. Seeing I have a refuge above the display, I will be using part of the Sump for Prop.

[WarDaddy]

Hey, I may have borrowed a Saw, but I bought an Air Compressor and A brad/Staple gun :-)

Oh, and no matter how nice the saw, trying to figure out how to cut Crown Molding will cost you at least $20 in molding... OUCH.

[josh_peter]

I am about to start the same thing. Use my current 55 as a sump for my new 90. How are you planning on getting your 55 under your stand? I am planning on sliding mine in from the side. I am considering going with a no front brace so I can slide it in from the front, but I am not sure. As soon as I start I will post some pics.

[NicoleC]

Sweet! I wish you had asked about crown moulding; I can do workwork in my sleep having had tons of practice. And I may be needing someone to build a stand for some breeding tanks soon, so I don't mind racking up brownie points :)

[mmoore0803]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6375405#post6375405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Sweet! I wish you had asked about crown moulding; I can do workwork in my sleep having had tons of practice. And I may be needing someone to build a stand for some breeding tanks soon, so I don't mind racking up brownie points :)

eesh....that sounds like a shameless plug for build me a stand too....get in line....he has to finish MY canopy and his :lol:

why do you think i keep sending viruses his way so his family gets so sick he has to stay up all night working on his stand:eek1:

[NicoleC]

LOL! I'm not ready yet. I *should* take down my display tank and use the space for breeding... but I just can't do it...

[WarDaddy]

NOOOO don't take down the 100!

I would love to say that I could build you some stands, but I fear that my wife would toss a matress into the garage and change the locks :-)

She, how do I say this, is a little ****ed with the tank time. Mike, tankfully, has sent his sick kids up here, so I have had a free week while the family gets over the flu! And people say the flu shot does not work!

[Fmellish]

Very nice. You better get a coaster under that drink!

[Fmellish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6375567#post6375567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
... I *should* take down my display tank and use the space for breeding...

Wow Nicole. I've done it on the kitchen table before, but never on a fishtank stand!

That's wild.

Thanks for sharing

Josh

[Fmellish]

How is the saw working for you? I'll need it back when I start my canopy.

Or maybe if we have a good plan we can all do the canopys together at once. Use economies of scale to accomplish more faster.

I probably went through $100 in oak before I got good at cutting the angles.

[WarDaddy]

Here is the stand after sanding and the first coat of stain... 1 more coat then Varnish...

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50014118-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50014119-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50014121-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50014122-M.jpg

Tomorrow, Stain and Doors... Oh boy, Doors.

[mmoore0803]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6375567#post6375567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
LOL! I'm not ready yet. I *should* take down my display tank and use the space for breeding... but I just can't do it...

WD is right...that tank was gorgeous......use the couch for breeding:p

[Fmellish]

Mike, are your kids sick?

Sending them up to Mrs. WarDaddy is kinds cruel then. She is just getting over her flu.

[mmoore0803]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6376450#post6376450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish
Mike, are your kids sick?

Sending them up to Mrs. WarDaddy is kinds cruel then. She is just getting over her flu.

no....my kids are healthy....which is why we've been avoiding the daddy's family.....

[Fmellish]

I can't get Messenger to run. it complans that its missing registry entries. WHich is true because I really scrubbed my machine of messenger. its one of the things I do when I harden an XP install.

Reinstalling from control panel does not put the entries back.

[WarDaddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6375166#post6375166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by josh_peter
I am about to start the same thing. Use my current 55 as a sump for my new 90. How are you planning on getting your 55 under your stand? I am planning on sliding mine in from the side. I am considering going with a no front brace so I can slide it in from the front, but I am not sure. As soon as I start I will post some pics.


I am going to be placing the 55 in from the side, The tank Design calls for 3 doors, 1 front, 1 on each side. This will keep maximize my access. I am making the inside of the stand "water tight" so that it will temporarily hold and overflow, flod, mistake, with out getting the nearby carpet wet.

[Fmellish]

I find the Nick "josh_peter" to be especially coincidental.

Considering I am josh and my avatar is peter.


isn't that just freaky?

[mmoore0803]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6377842#post6377842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish
I find the Nick "josh_peter" to be especially coincidental.

Considering I am josh and my avatar is peter.


isn't that just freaky?

i thought so

[WarDaddy]

It is time for Doors. I am glueing the frams togeather now. You can see 2 in this shot.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50131787-M.jpg

I will have a total of 5 doors on the stand, and at least 2 on the canopy... Man I am struggling with a canopy design.

[mmoore0803]

lookin very nice.....sorry I missed seeing it tonight....oh well...see you in the mornin

[WarDaddy]

Well it is Friday now, and the doors are assembled, sanded and stained. There is something elegant about a simple pine door (with a birch panel).

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50155804-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50155802-M.jpg

Tomorrow morning, the final stain coat, and then tomorrow night the first coat of Varnish... I can see the light... Oh man have I got a bunch of work to do still.

I am off to dream about canopy designs.

[danskim]

very nice work.

[mmoore0803]

varnish on today? updates with pix man!

[WarDaddy]

Yea, 1 coat done, now I am prepping for coat 2... Not much to show with a new pic. Wait until something cnahges, eh!

[MyMonkey]

Taging along for this one. Love the size of a 90. Very nice stand.

[WarDaddy]

here it is after 2 days of staining, sealing, and painting.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50592295-M.jpg

You can see the small stand for the Cube now.

I did a final measurement, before fitting my doors, and found my mistake I framing on Day 1 will cost me dearly. I have to have my doors on the sides open forward, instead of back, this bums me out, but is not the end of the world. I will post pics of the exact problem tomorrow. uggh!

This is why I need to draw this stuff out...

[WarDaddy]

Here are a few more pics...

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50694152-M.jpg
now you can clearly see where the cube will sit, it will be a nice little tanks for a Couple small clows and their RBTA. I hope to add a Clam or 2 if I get lucky. It will be lit by a 70 watt MH (20k) and 32 watt Antinic PC

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50694158-M.jpg
Doors open, lots of access

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50694146-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/50694137-M.jpg
There is a side shot. Skimmer wil be right there, easy yo empty that collection cup.

More on my mistake(s) later. I will also post a list of everything I used to help those thinking of their first project.

[mmoore0803]

man that is some great work.....look at all that access

[WarDaddy]

Some recent pics...

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/57051065-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/57051056-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/57051048-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/57051052-M.jpg

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/57085404-M.jpg

Now I have to finish the canopy, set up the top off system, Kalk Reactor, CA reator and then Stock the heck out of it!

[mmoore0803]

looks great.....so what is that tank in the back for? fuge? why is the rock suspeneded off the sand?

[WarDaddy]

yep, Fuge, with a deep sand bed. The rocks above are int the overflow, I like to call it my "pod factory"

[mmoore0803]

nice....where will the chaeto go?

[countertopguy]

Very nice. I love the 15 cube set up!

Are you going to make side panels when you do the hood?

Did you use pine to skin the stand? Looks great. Nice work.

Steve

[WarDaddy]

Thnaks! I skinned the stand with 1/2" pine boards. the doors are 3/4 Pine frames with 1/4" birch panels.

The canopy is not complete, it is sitting in my garage in 3 pieces, wating for me to get some serious time out there. The canopy will have panels to hide everything behid the tank. It shoud be a lot like yours, only I have more space behind, seeing I made room for the cube up front.

thanks for the ideas, I love the set up so far, now to finish it off and watch the reef GROW!

[countertopguy]

Tell me more about the 70w MH on the cube. You got me thinking about a tank for my GBTA. I just might have to put together an office tank. :)

[WarDaddy]

you can see it in the top left of this picture
http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/56397587-M.jpg

I bought it from someone here at RC.

It is a lot like this:
http://www.specialty-lights.com/mhff70.html

It is an outdoor light with a simple ballast. I just screwed it into the Plywood above the cube. Super simple. I also have a 32 watt PC Actinic light I use for morning/dusk light that is not as intense. I have a 20K bulb, I wated 14K but could not find one. finding higher K 70 watt bulbs is a little more difficult.

[reef-newbie-11305]

Great work, everything looks very good. Got hooked on this thread and followed it to this point... Wish I had your skills. Can't wait to see the finished canopy and the whole setup..

Great work again, will be watching

[countertopguy]

Bryan- You have gotten me interested in a Nano Cube. Where did you get your 15? I cannot seem to find one locally.

Thanks

Steve

[mmoore0803]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6817185#post6817185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by countertopguy
Bryan- You have gotten me interested in a Nano Cube. Where did you get your 15? I cannot seem to find one locally.

Thanks

Steve

He built it all himself....he's one talnted guy ;)

[WarDaddy]

LOL, yup got the glass at a local glass shop.

here is a pic of the cube while the silicone is curing.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/31235833-M.jpg

The second box is a sump I made, it is the same size.

[countertopguy]

Did you make a frame for the top and bottom? I assume that is 1/4" glass. Starphire?

[alien9168]

Verry cool!

I like how you incorperated the nano into the stand!

Certainly is original!

:D

-alien

[WarDaddy]

It is just normal glass shop glass. I have no frame on them.

the edges are nice and smooth. It is working real well, I love it...

Now if I can only get that Halide to fire back up. It appears to have stopped working :-(

[alien9168]

too bad about the halides

[mmoore0803]

when did it die?

[WarDaddy]

New ballast on the way. 70 watt Ballast from Catalina. I want it now!

[MyMonkey]

What brand tank is the 90? Or did you build that one too?

[WarDaddy]

The 90 was bought used, guy told me it was a custom, and I believe him seeing the workmanship of the tank. It is beautiful. Many have told me they think it is starfire glass.

[Hurgoth]

Nice stand! I came across this while searching for info on 90g.


Wardaddy! Will you help me build my new stand after tax season? :) I live in RSM too!

[WarDaddy]

Here it is...

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/79806397-M.jpg

From the left
http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/79806398-M.jpg

From the Right
http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/79806400-M.jpg

Front doors open
http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/79806401-M.jpg

Front totally opened
http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/79806402-M.jpg
Look at that easy access. 8 inches from lights to water.

And the lights
http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/79806403-M.jpg

[impur]

That is one sweet setup, well done. Glad i came upon this thread as i'm beginning a 75 or 90gal in a few months!

[itstheantitang]

Great Setup!

[jeffreylam1132]

The stand and canopy looks awesome. Nice work!

[MyMonkey]

Updates? Really dig the 15 cube in the stand. Nicely done.

[HotRod68Camaro]

Lets see some new tank and cube shots.

[WarDaddy]

:-( I am shutting it down

We are attempting to move to Atlanta, so it is getting turnd off.

All I have left is rock and sand, and the rock is going tonight.

Once we land in Atlanta and get a new house it will be started back up. i will post new pics when I get it going!