Custom Cabinet for 90g Reef (Build Thread)

[lakee911]

Actually, you did say "8x8 pressure treated pine." So, teak wouldn't apply.

For what it's worth an 8x8x8' PT .40 CCA costs about $55. Since that's 7.25in x 7.25in x 96in we have 5,046 cu in. A stand 48"x 48" x 16" would be 36,864 cu in. 36,864/5,046 would be a little less than 8 timbers. That's 8*55 = $440. So, yes it would be possible to build at least two stands like that with $1200.

PT lumber is not the way to go for stand building though. As it dries it can shrink and warp and it doesn't usually remain square and level and plumb...maybe one, but not all three.

Anyhow, why not just drop all the arguing before someone closes the thread?

Jason

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11558358#post11558358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lakee911
Actually, you did say "8x8 pressure treated pine." So, teak wouldn't apply.

Come on guys....I was making an obvious (or so I thought) exaggeration about how no matter how much wood you throw into a stand, if it's not built properly it will fail. Again, this is an exaggeration, but we all get the point, right?

I agree, lets drop it at this point and move on.

 

[steelerguy]

This was an excellent thread and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing a bunch of wood turn into such a nice piece of furniture. I have absolutely no wood working stills beyond cutting, painting, and nailing baseboard and casing. Well, I did build a stand for my 30 gallon water tank and my chiller, but they were ugly. This thread has already got me considering a small project to build a stand for a 40 gallon frag tank. Something that will not be too heavy so I have a little wiggle room if I don't build quite right.

Anyway, I just wanted to congratulate you Red on a wonderful job and for sharing your entire planning, build, and finishing process with us. Along with being generous enough to make your plans available to others and posting costs to give people and idea what they are getting into.

As far as some posts, just remember that some people have a hard time offering advice without making it sound like criticism. Some people just get kicks nitpicking another persons work or design. Others just like to make people mad for the fun of it. Then you have people that are a combination of this and then act indignant when this is pointed out to them.

Great job, keep posting pictures as things progress, and if you start another project you better let us see (and others judge).

 

[RumLad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11558307#post11558307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
No, it couldn't, because there is no structural support between the cabinet doors to carry the weight of the front of the tank (that's what the 2x6 header and 2x4 legs are for). On the back, the plywood supports the center span, with some cutouts to cut down on furniture weight. Hence, no 2x members on the back of the stand.



-Dustin

Putting aside our past ,

Can I ask once again, was the decision to use the 2x header set-up on the front based on engineering design or just on your personal experience/judgement? That's all I am looking for on this topic, really.

You made the front of the stand with a simple cut-out for the doors. You still have the top and sides of the plywood "frame" to carry load. Plywood is excellent for this purpose based on its interwoven laminate structure. The width of the cut-out seems too small to be of consequence in this issue. It looks as if you have about 8 inches of 3/4 inch oak plywood covering that opening. There should be very little if any deflection from the weight of the tank, seeing as the total weight is spread over the entire bottom surface.
Again, was the decision engineering based or gut feeling?

This, I feel, is how people learn to make these decisions for themselves, instead of being told by someone else, each time they have a project to consider. If they can learn to trust their gut feeling, as some of us do, then they will be brave enough to forge ahead. If not, they know to get a proper analysis done beforehand.

 

[RumLad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11558416#post11558416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
Come on guys....I was making an obvious (or so I thought) exaggeration about how no matter how much wood you throw into a stand, if it's not built properly it will fail. Again, this is an exaggeration, but we all get the point, right?

I agree, lets drop it at this point and move on.

Isn't it odd how some people take comments a certain way, even if not intended that way? You and I both know that I have congratulated your build numerous times throughout the 20 pages. Have I raised the thought provoking questions / comments along the way? Sure I have, but I think they made you take a second and consider the points raised. We aren't all perfect you know.

By the way, have you figured out the temperature issue yet? I am honestly curious to know if the convection cooling idea has worked or if you have trimmed the light cycle back or what?

 

[itnerd]

Rumlad,
Dustin is clearly a gentleman and all will agree following this thread. He generously took the time to share EVERYTHING as a good neighbor would.Lets see some of your work and please tell us how you did it. I'll sharpen my pencil.
Compare your posts to Cannarella's. What you have is a helpful participant and then not so much.
Dustin, on behalf of many of us...thanks for the effort and inspiration.
Cannarella, thanks to you as well.
This thread is one of the best I've seen lately.

 

[cannarella]

It's been fun. I really like how it has turned out. I have really enjoyed Dunstin's build. I still need to get up there and see it. I never get on that part of town.

 

[RumLad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11561350#post11561350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by itnerd
Rumlad,
Dustin is clearly a gentleman and all will agree following this thread. He generously took the time to share EVERYTHING as a good neighbor would.Lets see some of your work and please tell us how you did it. I'll sharpen my pencil.
Compare your posts to Cannarella's. What you have is a helpful participant and then not so much.
Dustin, on behalf of many of us...thanks for the effort and inspiration.
Cannarella, thanks to you as well.
This thread is one of the best I've seen lately.

itnerd,
If and when I build something tank related I will be glad to share my thoughts plans ideas etc with the group. And will welcome ALL comments ideas, concerns opinions etc as they are presented.
Keep that pencil ready!
And I agree that this build thread has indeed produced one of the finest stands in a long time. I have said so numerous times from the beginning. Excuse me for asking a tough question or offering a different opinion once in a while. I thought that was encouraged (at least allowed) on this forum.

A question for you though, do you not think that water usage in the Atlanta area is an issue of concern (especially when you're beloved cannarella posts about sneaking around in the bushes at nightime in order to use his garden hose? pg 10)? Or that placing two MH lights in an enclosed canopy may cause a heat issue, when discussing the temperature of a tank?

When the op asks for peoples thoughts in the very first post, does that imply that only those opinions that agree with his should be offered?
And I thought this was an open forum for the free exchange of opinion.

That's enough from me, you all enjoy yourselves.

And please Dustin, keep us updated with a photo now and again to let us see the tank mature.

 

[cannarella]

Yes it is a concern, but it has stabilized with rain and reduced out flow from the dam. Mid November was the time when the Media was really hyping the story. Actually the day I posted that was the worst drop in lake levels. I must have been because of me... You never hear about the drought now. Funny how the media only reports the bad stuff. Not that it is improving much. We still need a lot of rain to bring the pool back up but they have a balance now. Since winter is hear, the "rainy" season can start and hopefully help in recovery. I would say that even if we fully recover, that the leave some water restrictions on to remind us how precious it is. I never water my lawn so it won't bother me. I let mother nature do what she wants.

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

double post...oops

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

I sold the 18g nano tank/stand/light/filters (local tank breakdown setup I bought for $200 because I wanted the livestock & rock) for $130 to a local reefer here in Atlanta, so I had some cash to burn...

Bought my first SPS frags today -- LFS had them on sale @ 3 for $49 so I couldn't pass up the deal. On top of that I bought all the neccesary calcium/alkalinity test kits & additives these guys will require until the tank is stocked enough later down the line to warrant a calcium reactor. Enough of that, here are some pics. If anyone can help identify these, that would be awesome!

2x 1" Millepora

2x 1" Acropora

2.5" Staghorn

 

[cannarella]

Don't know what they are but the look good. The Ca and dKH test kits will help keep up. I just started dosing with ESV 2 part. I am down at about 350 with 7 - 3" average frags and I am trying to catch up. Also hanging out in the chemistry forum now...

What store did you go to? Do you know where The Fish Store and More moved to?

Looks good.

Andy

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11647378#post11647378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cannarella
What store did you go to? Do you know where The Fish Store and More moved to?

I bought the coral from Cappucino Bay b/c of the sale, and I bought the test kits from Marine Fish because their test kits were 50% off.

The Fish Store moved to Roswell Road, a few miles north of the perimeter. I drove by it today but didn't stop; to be honest I never got a good vibe from that store. When I walk into a LFS and the first thing I see is a standard oak 90g tank/stand combo with a $1,400 price tag, I can't really take the store seriously.

 

[cannarella]

Dang it, double post.

 

[cannarella]

Yea, I hear ya. They were pricy are the old location, but had lots of live stock. Where is Cappucino Bay located?

When looking online for hard goods look at www.aquabuys.com. They are up in Lawrenceville and you can go pickup the stuff. They are open on Saturday also.

 

[MeuserReef]

Cappucino Bay is the coolest LFS that I have ever been too. I stopped in while working in Norcross last fall and was blown away with the SPS selection. I talked to the co-owner for about 2 hours and was never even partially-coaxed into buying anything. I will definetly return if Im ever back that way.

Nothing even close to that place here in Houston. (TNT Fish & Reptile.......... your getting there! )

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

If CapBay had the floorspace of Marine Fish, it would definitely be "the place" to go. Marine Fish is much, much cleaner, brighter, and more organized. That being said, CapBay's SPS selection is probably 20x that of Marine Fish.

All said & done, both stores are grade-A.

 

[cannarella]

Where is Marine Fish located? I am an OTP person...

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

Johnson Ferry Rd, few miles north of the river

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

I've had my 90g up & running since November, lightly stocked (3 SPS frags, 6 softies), and have only recently began testing my alk/calc levels and adding B-Ionic. I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong -- my calcium levels are barely moving even though I'm adding much more than the recommended dose of B-Ionic part 2. Here's my log:

Alk in meq/L
Calc in ppm

1/20/08
pH 7.78 Alk 4.0 Calc 225
6tsp pH buffer added
30mL B-Ionic Part 1 added (alkalinity)
30mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

1/21/08
pH 8.20 Alk 2.5 Calc 290
6tsp pH buffer added
30mL B-Ionic Part 1 added (alkalinity)
30mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

1/22/08
pH 8.21 Alk 3.0 Calc 250
6tsp pH buffer added
30mL B-Ionic Part 1 added (alkalinity)
60mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

1/23/08
pH 8.21 Alk 4.0 Calc 225
6tsp pH buffer added
30mL B-Ionic Part 1 added (alkalinity)
90mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

1/24/08
pH 8.22 Alk 4.0 Calc 230
120mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

1/27/08
pH 8.17 Alk 4.0 Calc 230
240mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

1/28/08
pH 8.11 Alk 3.5 Calc 275
300mL B-Ionic Part 2 added (calcium)

Does my progression look normal? Is it supposed to increase this slowly? I haven't made any water changes since the log began.

Thanks for the help!
Dustin