Few crates + $70 HD lumber + week of lunch breaks + 1 noob = ?

[Tampico]

This may belong in the DIY section but I think my noob status out preforms my DIY. I'd like some input on my current progression and suggestions for future progressions. This started with a 75 gal tank I bought to winter some koi in. They never made it. I instead spent fall and winter reading about the saltys andwould like to give it a try.

I built the stand out of some crates we get here @ work from Germany then added about $70 of wood for finish. Oh and this has been my lunch break for the past week. All DIY on a very low budget.

So that is where I stand on the tank build as of today. I have some questions @ this point that I would like some advise on if possible.

first and least important....color suggestions

or

second This tank is drilled oddly

2 1 inch holes to the upper right

1 3/4 inch hole upper left

1 3/4 inch hole lower left

I was planning to build cages for the right to for drains to the sump and the 2 on the left (3/4) with socket flex tubes for return ... with a check valve below for sure. Think I should just bond 1/4 acrylic over the bottom left hole?

Also not sure how I want to do the sump. Have a 55 I was planning on using (the base was built around that idea) but could also go with a 20gal sump and a 20 gallon fuge. May get to use MSpaint to make pictoral of what I am thinking.

Have some other ideas and issues but for the first post I will leave it @ that. Will add more if this sparks any interest or response.

also if you deem that this be better suited in DIY please move.

 

[reverendmaynard]

Looks great. I'm sure most will have questions about the internal construction, for integrities sake, though (solid wood from floor to tank, etc.).

I think holes that are drilled that low are usually for closed loop. I wouldn't use it as a sump return, check valve or no.

 

[Tampico]

Should have taken pics sooner but we only have 1 digi cam and the wife could not understand why I wanted to take the camera to work. Missed the first week of build.... Stand is larger than 2x4 lumber (1.5x3.5 here in the US... this is German lumber closer to 2x4 than our own) Looks like photobucket will only take 10 pics so will have to try to explain framed top and bottom like wall studs capped with 3/4 furniture ply (bigger than 3/4 but close remember german.) left and right side are framed the same. 8 inch centers on top and bottom 12 in centers on left and right. Does that help Will get some photos before I leave and post tonight. Its strong for sure. set a skid of rocksalt on itfriday. (30 bags x 50lbs = 1500lbs not counting skid) should cover the 75gal full almost by 2xs

 

[reverendmaynard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6687240#post6687240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tampico
Should have taken pics sooner but we only have 1 digi cam and the wife could not understand why I wanted to take the camera to work. Missed the first week of build.... Stand is larger than 2x4 lumber (1.5x3.5 here in the US... this is German lumber closer to 2x4 than our own) Looks like photobucket will only take 10 pics so will have to try to explain framed top and bottom like wall studs capped with 3/4 furniture ply (bigger than 3/4 but close remember german.) left and right side are framed the same. 8 inch centers on top and bottom 12 in centers on left and right. Does that help Will get some photos before I leave and post tonight. Its strong for sure. set a skid of rocksalt on itfriday. (30 bags x 50lbs = 1500lbs not counting skid) should cover the 75gal full almost by 2xs

Yup. Sounds good, especially since it's been load tested. Good job.

Can't help with colors, depends too much on location. Maybe with pictures of final resting place...

 

[Tampico]

Biggest stalling point is the sump layout and the plumbing layout. Any suggestions on the existing holes. just now reading about Closed Loops. Had not thought about using those. I have looked @ tanks and my drains have no overflow boxes not even sure if is gonna cause any real problems or if its a visual addon.

Gonna start skimmer research, hope that will help with the sump planning. I have some time yet but not alot. Wife wants to buy me LR for my birthday ( May 12th). May end up pushing her over to buying me a Sump.

My HVAC contractor hooked me up with a pump. May be able to work it in. Was thinking return. Its a little giant mag drive 1/12hp salt or mild acid rated with 11gpm @ 6ft head

 

[the_reef]

overflows in a reef tank are more than just visual addons, they skim the build up off the surface to help with gas exchange and also pull water off the bottom of the tank, if your tank is acrylic it would be fairly easy and cheap to build yourself one from acrylic and acrylic glue, there isnt much load stress on a overflow like the edges of your tank, are you planning on a sump under your tank? i use a 100 gallon rubber maid horse tub, but i have a room just for the tank equipment. in my own opinion if your doing a sump under tank i would go with a pre built sump and skimmer, just loose the bio balls and through some loose live rock rubble in there. if you get enough LR for your tank that will do most of your filtering, i have about 250-300lbs LR and run my skimmer and no other filtration than water changes and my tank is always clear, good luck in this very adictive hobby, you know about TFP? in lancaster? they have alot of stuff, dry goods etc. good luck your stand looks great!

 

[Tampico]

Been to TFP many times. Mostt weekends. Its less than 5 mmiles away. I am sure that SW is just as addictive as FW. My sig shows the remnants of my FW addicction.

100 gal is major sump, but you have to love stock tanks. made a diy skippy filter for the pond outside from one.

I am also very addicted to DIY. Will make my sump around a tank i currently own. stand was built to hold a 55gal. as a sump but now i am thinking of using a 20 gal as a summp and a 20gal as the fuge.

any suggestions on how tto deal with the existing holes?

 

[reverendmaynard]

That does seem to be an odd arrangement of holes.

If you don't plan on a closed loop...

You could seal the hole on the upper left, build a corner overflow box in the left corner, and use the bottom left hole for a standpipe drain. The two upper right holes would be the returns.

If you do closed loop...

Use the lower left hole as the closed loop intake. Make a long, thin, short overflow (I think it's called a weir?) inside the tank extending from just right of the upper left hole, all the way to the right side of the tank. That drains into a deeper box built into the backside of the tank, which contains the drain to the sump. Use the upper left hole as the return for either the sump of closed loop, and the run the remaining returns over the back of the tank.

View from top:

View from front:

Just some ideas.

Also for the sump, you're probably better off with the 55 than 2 20s, unless you want to put the fuge above the tank so any critters that might come from there don't have to go through a pump. Put the return section in the middle, with one overflow draining to each side, 1 side a fuge, the other for the skimmer.

 

[billpa]

Box out the left corner and use the bottom left hole for a durso standpipe/drain to your sump. Use the left of the two holes on the top right corner as an intake for a closed loop...you'll have to work the plumbing down so the suction doesnt bring in air from the surface (since the hole is too close to the top). Then use the two far corner (left and right) holes for closed loop returns. Create a majority of your flow through the closed loop and just have enough for the drain...probably only 400-500 gph max.

I work out in Ephrata so Im pretty close to you. If you need any help, LMK. And if you happen to have a free third Saturday of the month, come on over to one of our club meetings. You can click on my red house for more details.

Good luck! And BTW, sweet woodworking there!

Bill

 

[Agu]

I'd guess the left bottom hole was the drain, the left top was a backup drain, and the two right holes were for returns.

Agree that you should install an acrylic overflow and use the bottom hole as the drain. If it's watertight you should be safe from having the tank drain.

Had a 55 as a sump once, until I realized it was impossible to access a sump that was that tall in the stand.

 

[ste6168]

well the satnd looks very good but if this were my tank i would do this with the holes, first install a wier overflow or coast to coast overflow on the top of the tank and use both the 1 inch holes as drains to go to the sump. I would install a 90 pointing down into the water more on the 1 3/4 inch hole and use that as a drain for a closed loop. I would run the returns for both the closed loop and the returns over the top. About the bottom hole, i would just bond some acrylic over top of it.