DYI Stand and Canopy for custom 70 (w/pics)

[surfingelite]

I have had my 20G H and my 7g bow tanks setup for some time now but I have always been limited due to my low lighting, inadequate filtration, and just overall tank space. So I decided to splurge and got a custom 70g tank 30" long 18" deep and 30" high. It cost me about $250 for the tank made by Custom Concepts based in Canada.

So now I am making a custom stand and canopy. This is what I got so far.


This is the frame consisting of 2x4's and 2x6's with a plywood base

The holes in wood are for the hinges and you can also barely see where I cut out in the 2x6 for part of the display refugium.

The door put on with my refugium "window." FYI trim is not fun.

Top view and my feet

The canopy

All together now

Well that is what I have done so far. Next up is staining the wood. I am thinking of doing an oil-based black so that you can see the wood grain and still be black. Black just matches most everything. Any suggestions on the stain or how to apply it let me know?

I am not the best carpenter in the world. but I basically had to put it together and take it apart a few times to get it right.

Special thanks to my good friend Paul for helping me with this project

 

[kysard1]

Looks great, what kind of wood is that ?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

What are your livestock plans for the tank? Looks like it could be an interesting aquascaping challenge. Why no drilling or built in overflow on the tank?

Got a link for the place that made the tank? How was the shipping/customs process getting the tank down into the states?

 

[Reeferon]

A++ on creativity with this stand/canopy

I would use some wood conditioner on the wood prior to staining.

 

[surfingelite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10514733#post10514733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kysard1
Looks great, what kind of wood is that ?

It is poplar wood. (not sure if it is spelled correctly...not a speller)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10514932#post10514932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by der_wille_zur_macht
What are your livestock plans for the tank? Looks like it could be an interesting aquascaping challenge. Why no drilling or built in overflow on the tank?

Got a link for the place that made the tank? How was the shipping/customs process getting the tank down into the states?

Originally I was going to do a Great Barrier Reef area tank but I think I am just going to mix and match fish and corals. I am planning to do a large single rock that I have found sitting in LFS sump. It is 55lbs about 1.5 feet tall and in the shape of a C with a larger base. It will sit up like a C and I am going to put 5-6 staghorn arcos on top and some recorida on the bottom. That will only cover 1 side of the tank. The other side I plan to fill with tall gorgonians that hopefully will sway due to a wave-maker.

The refugium will have some slower growing macro-algae’s and a few dwarf seahorses

I plan to do a closed loop and incorporate a wave maker in it. I still haven’t figured out the best way to do this but I am too poor to afford the 400W MH and the tunze 9010 skimmer. So I got some time to think. It will also have a corner overflow box.

The tank itself was supposed to go in a museum in North Carolina that a LFS was installing but changed there mind. So I got the tank a little over cost. All I know is Custom Concepts made it and it’s Canadian.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10515191#post10515191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reeferon
A++ on creativity with this stand/canopy

I would use some wood conditioner on the wood prior to staining.

Thanks

I think I will use some conditioner.... good thought

 

[DB06]

Nice looking stand. Looks tall enough to get a good amount of equip underneath.

Thoughts on stain, etc. Personally, not partial to dark stains or paint that cover most of the grain. If your going to go to the trouble of making a good stand out of wood, why cover up the workmanship? I always use a stain that allows the beauty of the wood to show...and the workmanship--just my opinion.