72 Bowfront Build Thread -- Pics & Plans!

[chemi19]

Hello everyone
I have had a 10 gallon reef tank for about 3 years now and it seems like its time to upgrade. My wife has always liked the bowfront look so we have decided to go with a 72 gallon AGA reef-ready tank. In this thread I will document my build, ask questions and get suggestions, and it will also serve as an inspiration to finish my tank.
My stand and canopy was inspired, if not copied, from Hotwired99 155 gallon bowfront build... GREAT JOB!!!



So here we go!

This is what we started with, but it didn't really go with our decor and we hated having to bend over in order to look at the stand.
So I had to find a way to make it work for us.
<br>
<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=DSCF0072.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/DSCF0072.jpg" border="0" alt="Previous Tank"></a>
<br>

First I made some drawings.
I have them in PDF and DWG; if you would like them, let me know!

<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=tank-01A.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/tank-01A.jpg" border="0" alt="Shop Drawing"></a>

 

[blixem]

I'd love a copy of those in dwg, looks like a nice build.

 

[chemi19]

The Skeleton

The Skeleton

After the drawings were halfway done I went ahead and started building the frame for the stand.
<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=IMAGE_008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/IMAGE_008.jpg" border="0" alt="angle view"></a>

<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=IMAGE_009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/IMAGE_009.jpg" border="0" alt="front view"></a>

<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=IMAGE_010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/IMAGE_010.jpg" border="0" alt="Side view frame only"></a>

The base was cut on a CNC using 2 layers of 3/4" plywood. then framed out with 2x4s and another 2 layers of 3/4" plywood as the top.

Once that was all put together we primed the structure using Kilz primer.
<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=DSCF0061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/DSCF0061.jpg" border="0" alt="Stand frame"></a>

 

[chemi19]

The Canopy

The Canopy

While the frame was drying I started building the canopy using 1"x2"

<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=DSCF0063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/DSCF0063.jpg" border="0" alt="Canopy Framing"></a>

 

[chemi19]

Plywood Skin

Plywood Skin

Now its time to start skinning the frame. This was done using furniture grade 3/4" Maple Plywood
<a href="http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/?action=view&current=IMAGE_011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/chemi19/IMAGE_011.jpg" border="0" alt="Skinned"></a>

 

[tekuri]

beautiyful can i get the plans to make this?