75G DIY stand sump plumbing buildup PICS!!!!!

[chinaman4u]

I just got a used 75G tank and an Iwaki 40 pump! Over the next several months I am going to build everything I need to support what I hope to be a great minature reef. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Just so you know about my background. I currently have a mostly unplanned DIY setup with a 45 gal tank. So imagine a tank with many rerouted reglued messy unplanned wiring and plumbing... a nightmare to work on. So my goal is a planned neat looking unit thats easily serviced. Hopefully this upgrade to my new 75G will go well.

 

[chinaman4u]

From Lowe's i bought a whole bunch of red oak for $100 and cut it up. I have considered a 2x4 stand, but looking at how commercial stands are made, I decided to use 1/4 inch oak laminate doubled up and some neat dovetail joints for added strength.

Cut peices, sanded, dry fitted, doubled and tripled checked all dimensions.

The top and bottom frame with dovetails(my first time doing them!!!) Ofcourse I practiced on some scrap wood.

 

[chinaman4u]

First I assembled the base frame.

then checked the dimensions on the side supports

I then installed the floor on to the base, then the inner and outer side supports. Its held together with few screws and lots of Gorilla Glue(this glue expands and is very strong), note the top frame in the background.

 

[chinaman4u]

The completed assembly!!!

Now test fitting of the 75G tank

 

[chinaman4u]

Finished with Minwax stain and coated several times with polyurethane.

 

[chinaman4u]

Now the sump! Local glass company cut these pieces for me for $90. All the edges were sanded with fine sandpaper for a smoooth finished, taped together and bonded with Weld On acrylic cement.

Sump measures 24"x15.5"x14"high.

Then I installed the left side baffle with bubbletrap

Then the right side baffle. The angled piece is the bottom of the refugium section.

 

[chinaman4u]

Finished! The bubble trap is on the right side and overflows to the rear under the refugium to the left side where i have drilled a hole for a bulkhead to the pump.

 

[chinaman4u]

Here's a pic of the pump installed with the return plumbing through a manifold which will supply the dual 1/2" returns and a skimmer, and a spare for water changes or something.

 

[cannarella]

Nice work.

Aren't those dove tails a pain to get setup correctly???

 

[chinaman4u]

I was a dovetail virgin until this project!!! I practiced on scrap wood at least a dozen times. But once set up its easy. Was very nervous because a screw up on the oak would cost dearly, i'd have to scrap the whole length, however all went well.

 

[dattack]

Great job on the dovetail.

 

[chinaman4u]

Close up of finished and stained dovetail

 

[chinaman4u]

Finished overflow plumbing.

Leftside: Oops! No clearance to go straight across so had to do the trap type thing.

Rightside: The red ties will be replaced with something more permanent.

 

[DurangoReeFarm]

well done, diy paid off..

 

[Phisher]

Awesome stuff!

Joe

 

[chinaman4u]

Restarted my project after a three week break, i hope to have it cycling by the end of the month.

I removed the sump and added foot pads, without them; if I should have a spill, the water remains sandwiched between the sump bottom and the top surface of the stand bottom and evaporates very slowly, may cause rot over time.

 

[chinaman4u]

I added a manifold system. Just incase i also used a 1/2" union, should I later decide to scrap it.

The drain is simple and freestanding, however during testing it gurgles, inserting an air tube silences it, but this area will need some modification.

 

[chinaman4u]

This is the system with water and my soon to be 'old tank' next to it. I'll run it like this for a few days and see if it works.

Some initial issues:
-overflow gurgling, hmm.. the one side with the trap doesn't gurgle.
-lots of noise from the bubble trap in the sump.
-the manifold is nice and the flow is good(need a bigger pump , i wonder what will happen when i add my skimmer which will be fed off the single iwaki.
-motor is loud, when i run it dry the fan doesn't make that much noise, with water its louder.

 

[chinaman4u]

Cost thus far:

tank and motor $125
stand lumber 100
hood lumber 60
sump acrylic 90
plumbing/misc 50 TOTAL: $ 425.00

 

[speakeraddict]

You gotta love DIY!

I build just about everything except some of my tanks. Thus far in all my tanks (3 - 55's, 10 gallon in wall, 5 on my desk at work) I have less than $600 including liverock and lighting.

Yes, the liverock and fish were given to me and the heaters and bulbs were traded for. But everything else was either built or bought by me.

You just have to be patient and buy good used stuff when you can or trade off woodworking for the rest.

I just finished and hooked up a 4 foot pvc skimmer on one of my 55's and it works perfectly. It cost me $15-20 plus an old power head and an air pump.

speakeraddict