2 stand Questions

[kraze3]

Im going to be skinning my stand this week and making it nice and fancy. Ive had two ideas for the back and just wanted some input. The first was just to leave the stand as is so the overflow pipes would run out of the back of my tank down along the back of the stand and then into the stand and into my sump, refugium, etc. The other option I thought of was to extend the back of the stand and inch and a half or so, so that the oveflow would exit the back of the tank and go directly thru the top of the stand and out of sight. To me running them into the stand from the top will be easier access to the pipes because the tankw ill be up against a wall. I know either way you will see the pipes comming out of the back of the tank, but was just looking for any pros and cons to either setup.

Second Im staining my wood with a natural stain, no paint just the natural wood look. I want to seal the inside of my stand so that if there is any spillage or leaks the inside will hold some extra water, just in case. Im going to silicone all the joints etc. Im looking for input on any recommended sealants to "water proof" the inside of the stand. Also should I seal and then silicone, or silicone then seal?

Thanks in advace
mike

 

[BrainBandAid]

I actually like the idea of bumping the stand out a little, then running the pipe through it along the back. I'd never thought of that, but in my head I think it looks pretty sharp. I like things clean looking like that. It would be a little extra work, but it'd be worth it.
Just keep in mind, if one day you have to replace the pipe, or if there's some other problem, it might restrict you. I'm a very firm believer in unions and ball valves everywhere.

I would seal then silicone. The sealant might not be as durable as the silicone, especially if it were applied to a semi-flexible surface like the silicone. Sealants usually have to penetrate. What're you using?
I was going to use that "Kilz2" paint to seal the underside/inside of my stand and sump/fuge area. But I know everyone shrieks when someone mentions anti-mildew materials. Actually, I just read the label and it doesn't say anything about mildew/mold. Just "multi purpose stainblocking". Nothing on the back, either. Should be fine, then.

 

[kraze3]

I will deff have ball valves and the such still, they would just be on the inside of the stand. I also thought of bumping the back of my canapoy out the same length and then having a removable board run from the stand to the canopy to completely close off the back. This way everything would be hidden. I think thats the way im going to go.

I thought of kilz for the underside but I wasnt sure if it was safe or not. I guess it wouldnt matter what color the inside of the stand was, i was just going with the natural wood stain to make it all uniform. When you think about it though how many people are going to see the inside, or how many would even care what the inside looks like.

If anyone knows of any reason to why i shouldnt use kilz please chime in, maybe ill even look into some kind of boat paint or something.

Thanks for the response

 

[BrainBandAid]

I've heard alot of people use some form of epoxy to coat everything, but I think that's excessive and too expensive. I think the Kilz would be fine.

"When you think about it though how many people are going to see the inside, or how many would even care what the inside looks like."

You will!
Maybe I should speak for myself... you should see the back of my entertainment center... I made an aluminum bracket with holes drilled in it to ziptie all my cables together. Nobody sees it, but it looks clean!

I'm going to leave the paint white for that "clean" look. Plus it may help spread some light around in the refugium.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Instead of a removable board from stand to canopy, why not something with hinges that would swing open and close.

 

[Tommyc]

I used the Kilz primer on the inside. Then coated it with Rustoleum Marine Coatings Topside paint. Multiple coats. Do the paint first, then silicone the corners etc. If you do the silicone first, many types aren't paintable.

On the stand thing, I expanded mine out the back like you describe. Actually a lot more than an inch or two. More like six.
So the plumbing will actually run down through the top of the stand behind the tank, vice behind the stand. That way the stand can butt up against the wall. Depending on how you do it, you can also hide that plumbing. I've built a power center (need to build the second) that stands behind the tank, on either side, positioned on the back corners of the stand. With the back of the tank painted black, you wont see any of the overflow and return plumbing, even if you're looking at it from the side. There are other alternatives to hiding it too.

Tanks not up and running yet, but the stand is basically done. Still need to drill the back and build the second power center, etc. Kids....work...wife...etc...too many demands on my time....the list goes on. If I knew how to easily miniturize .jpgs, I'd post a pic. But I don't. Maybe I'll find the time....

Tom

 

[kraze3]

I hear what your saying about the inside and "i will see it" and all. I dont want it to look bad or messy I guess i meant it wouldnt matter to me if it was the natural wood color or the kilz white color. I hear what your saying about the wires though, im already trying to plan how to run all the wires to my power cabinet im going to build into the side of the canopy. I want them all neat and hidden so when it is open all you see is all the equipment etc.

The hinge thing isnt a bad idea, it will just be a little more work. Id have to have something to connect the stand to the canopy, or just sticking up from the stand to the canopy. Its not alot of extra work but for a board that may only be 3-4 inches long i just figured if i removed it id have more room to stick my arms back there if i needed to. Again it is only an inch or two extra id be taking up but i might need that inch or so. For the same token though if im going to close it all in I could make that space as big as ia wanted. Ill have to think about that but it is a good idea.

 

[xtrstangx]

I made a back 6" off my 180g to cover up the plumbing. I did this on my 40g as well to cover up the hangon overflow box.

 

[kraze3]

Im now thinking of expanding it more, 6 inches would probably do it. It sounds like your setup is similar to what im trying to pull off. I hear ya about not having any time with the fam and all but if you do get them resized Id love to have a look. There used to be an addon at windows.com that allowed you to right click an image and then go to resize and it was that easy. Im not sure if its still there or not though. Ill do some searching and see what I can find.

 

[kraze3]

Thanks for the pic xtrstangx, your stand looks great! I like the way you built it. You could either make that piece removable or you could hinge it as pito suggested earlier.