180 Gallon Stand Build

[IUfan]

Hi, Just got a 180 tank and built a diy stand, taken a lot of hard work but the stand and canopy are now finished aesthetically speaking.

I now have to make sure I've not forgotten any other important steps before I move this baby indoors and put the tank on top, once that happens, its set and I dont want to have to move it again, if I can help it!

Steps I have in mind.

a. RedGarding the floor and 3" up the walls inside the stand.
b. putting soundproofing foam on the inside of the stand to keep noise down.

Questions.

1. Looking at the first picture, of the frame, does the design look like it will hold 180gallons, I actually bought the stand frame 2nd hand with the tank, it feels very sturdy, but I'm not an engineer, and 180 gallons is an incredible amount of weight alone, without a 300lb glass box thrown in on top! So if anyone can comment and put my mind at ease that would be great. - I did put a few steel corner braces on several of the corners to help reinforce those areas.

2. the stand is made of oak, the back is mostly open, do I need to use a protective coat on the inside to protect from moisture damage with the sump being in there?

3. same for the canopy, do I need to put protective coat on the inside, and if so, what kind, KILZ2?

4. Do I need to paint the cannopy white to reflect light? I plan on using LEDS?

Thanks for your advice in advance!

 

[IUfan]

continued images.

 

[IUfan]

even more images.

 

[IUfan]

last of images

 

[ValorG]

Nice job on the canopy/stand so far!

 

[scrombussquared]

Nice work. Yes, every surface of the stand/ canopy should have a protective coating on it. Oak turns black when it gets wet, and it will stay black. Latex Kilz would be a good choice.

 

[IUfan]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I used this product: Minwax Polyutherane on the outside of the stand and canopy, do I use this on the inside of both, or something more durable for the inside?

And with LEDS, any need to paint the inside of the canopy white?

Thanks again.

http://www.homedepot.com/Minwax/h_d...keyword=clear+coat&storeId=10051#.UOOGs3eaJTw

 

[IUfan]

Okay, going to use the Killz 2 for inside stand and canopy.

 

[Musbtr1pin]

Stand way overkill for 180. You are golden.

 

[glmule]

IUFan,, what are the dimension of the stand? Getting ready to build for a 180 and was wondering what the over all height for the stand is, and also what the total height all put together is? Thanks and any other info would be great.

 

[IUfan]

Just saw your post gmule, I will take some measurements for you when I get back. And post some updated pictures. If I remember correctly.

Stand height was 36"
Overall height with cannopy, was 70"

 

[IUfan]

I was almost right,

Stand height was 36"
Overall height with cannopy, was 74"

 

[IUfan]

About time I updated this page to show the progress the build has made. (If theres any way to change the thread title, the please someone chime in)

Got the tank into place in early January, seeked out a return pump and decided I would wait for Spring to get the Waveline DC12000, well I waited and waited, and that pump is still not available, so I decided to get a interim pump to get the tank started and then switch it out once that pump arrives. So only in the last month has the tank made real progress.

I'm really glad that I did wait, it allowed me to decide that the location I was going to put the tank was the wrong place, I had to do some major remodeling to move things around, had to move a doorway, and block up an existing doorway to make the new location work, but I'm so glad that I did. I told myself, its better to do this now than have to empty it in a year because I finally got tired of the inconvenient location of it.

So, for the pics.

Here you will see the finishing of the stand. Red Gurarded the bottom of the cabinet, will hold 2-3 Gallons of water in there, but hopefully that will never happen.

 

[IUfan]

Now to the plumbing of the tank. After many a conversation on here, and thanks goes to uncleof6. I decided to tear out the dual overflows, plug the 4 holes in the bottom of the tank, and instead go with a beananimal drain and a semi-coast to coast overflow box (thanks goes to Melevs Reef, great price, great overflow box, very quick too). It was important for this to be as quiet as possible, and now that its all running, very glad I did this.

Here you will see the removal of the dual overflow, and

 

[IUfan]

Now, the reallly reallllly fun part. Drilling the tank.

This was brutal, 4 holes, thats 2" of glass to drill through, average time per hole was 90 minutes.

 

[IUfan]

Plumbing and attaching the overflow box.

 

[IUfan]

Sump build and some shots of Overflow box and return.

 

[IUfan]

Beananimal back of tank look.

Tank original position, note the awkwardness between a door and a window.

Home DIY to reposition 2 doors to fit tank on back wall with no obstructions from doors.

 

[IUfan]

Picture of the old, BC 29, slowly going to get absorbed into the 180, but this is a shot of her in her prime.

Rock in - Leak test.

Plumbing works, no leaks. - Sand goes in then saltwater.

 

[IUfan]

Going to be using Radion's.

Installed 2 aluminum square tubes to hang the radions with. worked really well, and cost $20 to hang all 3, slightly better value than there hanging kits.

Now just floating a raw shrimp in a media bag waiting for the tank to cycle. Patience is a virtue.