My 75g DIY thread

[zenn]

Got the stand mostly put together. I'm waiting on a friend to finish the doors and it'll be done. The wood work was harder than i though it would be but i think the stand will hold just fine. No worries.

Decided on a plastic storage bin for a sump. It will hold 22.5 gallons which is a little less than i wanted but i was resticted by space because i didn't make enough room under the stand for the 40g sump when i designed it. But the 22.5g should do just fine. I'm still working out the plumbing and waiting on parts to arrive. I will update as i go along....here's pics of my DIY stand.

Stage one

Stage two

Stage three

 

[JProx]

if you were interested, check out usplastics.com they have a crazy amount of plastic containers, probably 1 in their inventory would 40-50gallons and have the demenisions you need, just hope your still interested.

stand looks great, can't wait to see the finished project.
what lumber did you use?, and is it garf stand?

 

[zenn]

it's very similar to a garf stand. I got the basic design from garf. Just added some supports here and there. I will check out the usplastics.com, but like i said, i'm worried about being able to actually get whatever sump I buy into the stand since there are middle supports on the front, back and top.

 

[JProx]

i built a 55gal stand from the garf pages, and ran into the same difficulties. i just ended up using a canister and not worrying about it, however lately thats probably going to change.

they have a bunch of plastic bins, drums, and trays in every shape and size, they should have something in there inventory that will work.

 

[zenn]

some of those bins are $$$ on that site

 

[JProx]

yeah, some are. there are a couple diamonds in the ruff though. i am thinking of a way to maybe get one for free or something similar. they used to offer free samples for companies, i'm wondering if that could be 'manipulated' for personal use though.

 

[greenmaji]

Offer to write a review JProx!

 

[JProx]

that isn't going to work, i don't think. they do million dollar sales to companies, what is a review from a civillian point of view actually do ?

zenn sorry for thread jacking, i will make sure my next posts (if any) will be on subject.

 

[zenn]

**UPDATE** (yes, i've resorted to doing update posts b/c of my severe bordem this summer)

The canopy is underway now. Hopefully will have it done by tomorrow. Any sugesstions on the back part of it? I'm going to leave the back of it open but i don't want fish jumping out. I don't care how rare the chances are i'd just rather have something back there. SO i was thinking of maybe some cheap screen or something.

Thanks for looking.

 

[zenn]

Doctors Foster and Smith delivered today!

Requisite box shot:

and the Coralife Lunar 48", Power center, another 200w heater, Instant Ocean Salt, Calcium test kit, & Mag 9 to pump all that water:

Packaging was supurb and it was delivered fast. I recommend them, good service too.

 

[manooosie]

Where did you come up with the design? I am looking to build my own 55g tank and canopy and would love to copy yours... Also I basically dont have any equipment to build. How much do you think the project would cost me?

 

[zenn]

the frame is similar to a garf design. The exterior is a cobination of MDF and pine. Without proper tools it's hard to say what'll cost. I used just some basic equipment Skill saw, dremel, sander, power drill, etc. I didn't have a table or mitre saw which would have been best but i made due and it turned out good. materials ran me about 60 bucks i believe.

Just follow the garf frame so you know it'll hold the enourmous weight of your 55 gallon and then cover it in whatever fashion you desire. That's the fun part


link to garf design: http://www.garf.org/tank/buildstand.asp

 

[zenn]

Canopy is ready for paint. I just wiped it down with a wet rag therefore the wet spots.

 

[JProx]

looking good zenn, can't wait to see a finished project.

 

[zenn]

Canopy after paint and poly. The flash really brings out the imperfections and honestly it looks a lot better in person. But as you can see it didn't turn out perfect and i'm a little dissapointed that it didn't turn out a better...but it still looks really nice and will work good. But i do think it'll look better when it dries too. the bottom pic is of the coralife lunar fixture installed.

Now just waiting on the ro/di filter to show up next week and the glass shop to finish my order so i can put my sump together. Still plan on filling the main tank with water on wed.

On a side note. I realized it is way cheaper for me to order aragmax sand online than at my lfs. I might possibly be able to get them to price match....we shall find out soon enough.

 

[JProx]

lol i have a saltwater only fish store, that just adopted a price match (+10%) to internet sites policy. i was planning on getting them to use this on a mag drive pump and maybe some Mh bulbs / fixtures. i remember when sears first started doing this policy, me and friend raped them for so many brand new vid games (Gt 3 -13bucks, 2nd day after release was the biggest though.)

anyway, if you are talking about the finish on the canopy being imperfect, it could just be a polyurthane problem, sometimes when you have very high humidity (in cleveland for the past 2 wks we have had horribly high humidity) it doesn't cure correctly. its possible to fix that by taking some very fine steel wool (#00, or #000) and just give it a slight rub over the problem areas, that should make it uniform and hard to notice the imperfections.

 

[zenn]

FILL DAY HAS ARRIVED!!

Got the RO/DI unit in the mail and installed it last night. Also, I started filling the display tank today. The sump is drying after siliconing the baffles in place. Should be filled sometime tomorrow

 

[Fish_2345]

WOW 8O ! nice

 

[greenmaji]

Its looking way cool!

 

[zenn]

WOW....was i nervous when i plugged in the pump for the first time today. But i bit the bullet and thankfully everything works just how i planned. It's running well. The only thing i'm a little worried about it the return elbow at the top of the tank....the return pipe in the overflow is only press fitted into place like the instructions told be but i'm worried the mag 9 may blow it out of the bulkhead sending water jeting up into the canopy. But i haven't seen any signs of that happening but am still apprehensive. I may fab a brace or something to hold it down just for peace of mind.

But here's the pics of the sump in full action.