36x18" 40B Stand Build

[reefermad619]

:thumbsup:

 

[mdenigris]

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've switched focus for the time being to the 90 gallon tank in my office, which I also need to have up and running on transfer day because this 40 wont hold all of the rock and livestock from the 72 Bowfront I'm retiring.

As if one weren't enough, here's the other build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2177203

I'm building a two level water change tower in an unfinished space behind the tank - I think it's pretty cool, check it out.

 

[nwcronauer1242]

Love the stand. Nice and clean. May have to steal some of the design on a mini scale for a 5.5 pico I'll be building at work for my cube space... Tagging along for more...

 

[Hurdicuss]

Quality build, solid product. Nice work. That should make any "safety inspector" proud. I'm willing to bet once it's an established, thriving reef showpiece she will be thrilled to show it off to her friends. Best wishes for the endeavor! :thumbsup:
Kudos from a fellow fabricator.

 

[NickC5FE]

MDENIGRIS, I love the look of the 40B stand. I am building a 40B stand as well and have done up the frame in 2x4's, but like yours better! Do you have plans for it? Wish i had thought about 3/4 PLY before buying all this wood!!

Also, did you get the hardwood ply at HD or Lowes? Was it pre-finished/sanded?? Thanks

 

[mdenigris]

Thanks everyone.

NW - I'd be interested in seeing this scaled down for a pico! Be sure to post pictures.

Hurdicuss - My wife is awesome and totally supports my obsessions. This whole project was actually her idea.

Nick - The only plans I made were on Sketchup for the basic frame. I posted those images on page one of the thread. I winged it after that. The plywood was birch hardwood ply from HD. I finished it by sanding progressively with 150, 180, and 200 grit sandpaper with a random orbital sander. The finish is Minwax White Pickling stain followed by three coats of Minwax Polycrylic.

Once I get the 90 up and running (my other build thread referenced above), this stand and tank will officially retire the 72 G Bowfront - I need the 90 running for the extra rock / livestock. Then I'll be building a canopy using the same methods.

 

[NickC5FE]

Thanks michael, i will look back at the sketchup!

 

[mdenigris]

This week, we had a 20kW whole house generator and automatic transfer switch delivered and installed. The plumber needs to make the final connection to the gas manifold this week, and then we're protected and can run the entire house, including A/C and the two tanks, without the electric company.

 

[RicoJ]

Nicely done

 

[mdenigris]

Thanks Rico.

The plumbing inspector is giving me hell on the gas inspection for the generator. He's making me put individual shut-off valves on the manifold for every single gas line in the house.

 

[RJS8540]

Two coats of Minwax White Pickling stain, three coats of polyurethane, doors attached, tank set atop and filled with tap water for the structural test and final inspection before it's signed off for inside installation by the building inspector (my wife).

Next wood project is the canopy, but first......

Nicely done!!! It is a shame about the door needing to be redone.

 

[mdenigris]

Moving Day (or two)

Moving Day (or two)

Well, the stand and tank got moved to it's new home today in my daughter's room and we've begun the process of moving the rock and inhabitant's from the 72 bow front into this tank and my 90 gallon build in the office downstairs.

First I installed a new GFCI outlet - and this already saved me last night. I was struggling to plug in the return pump into the power strip for the 72 after moving some water when my wife tried to help and pushed the plug halfway in while I had my fingers on the posts and the other hand in the water (which has a ground probe). Well, I got a good jolt before the GFCI shut everything down inside of a second.

 

[mdenigris]

Moving Day

Moving Day

Here's the new location and the old tank.

Installed an American DJ power strip - this is already proving very convenient.

New tank and stand in place. It suits the room so much better.

 

[mdenigris]

To fill the tank, I siphoned water out of the existing setup (which has been running the canister for several weeks to establish a bio-filter). While moving water out of the top of the old tank, I replaced the water with FSW in the sump of the old tank since the livestock will be in there overnight. This way, they'll be moving into their own water - it's essentially the same water column.

 

[mdenigris]

My Muse - the reason for all this work!

 

[mdenigris]

After moving some rock over and doing preliminary Aquascaping, here's how it looked this morning. The pH on both tanks, as well as the 90 downstairs are all within a few hundredths of each other and all are sitting right at 35 ppt salinity. Time for the move!

 

[wackeeash]

Very nice build, the final product looks good, and have to say, I love that workbench in the first photos, I wished my shop had room for a work bench that size.

 

[muttley000]

I like the scape in the new tank, and the cabinet looks great in the room!

 

[mdenigris]

After an extremely long day, we're moved. Both new tanks are up and running with their rock and inhabitants and the old tank is torn down. All the fish are doing great, no corals were moved - those will be added new to this tank soon enough.

 

[mdenigris]

Here's a shot of the other tank - the 90 in my office. I can't believe how much rock I had in the 72. One chamber in the sump under the 90 is filled up with rock too.