Half of a new build.

[tommyz44]

So I've never actually tracked and did step by steps of a build before so i figured why not. So This is a half build. I already have a 30gal Display with 10 gal sump. The part i will be showing is im going to plumb in a 20 long Frag tank.

Unfortunatly no pics quite yet just my rough solidworks sketch untill i start to actually build but the design is
x 32inch
y 18inch or 16inch..(if i go 16 that gives me 3 inches still on the back for the overflow and plumbing and still cost alot less in pine board)
z 27inch

The front is going to remain open (my dogs crate is going to fit into the area underneath) Most of this i will be doing in oak since a friend of mine has tons of oak i can use. Pine board at about .125inch thick for the tops and sides.

comments questions sugestions??

 

[Breakbeats2334]

Well my first question is what program is that second is where are you gonna put the sump if a dog crate is gonna be below.

 

[tommyz44]

Its solidworks 2011 (have it on my work computer so when i have time at home i get to play around with 3d modeling) if anyone has a sketch they have designed and want a 3d model i can whip them up when i have spare time.

As far as the plumbing im actually going to plumb it right into my 30 gal display. The sump is located under the sump.

Ill have to redraw my design. As many builds im sure someone makes some alterations. This weekend i build the 1x1 and 2x2 top and bottom frames. Im not really comfortable with them holding. So im going to re build the top frame with 2x4. I cut them to legth yesterday and checked it so it looks much more sturdy will deffenetly hold the tank!

 

[tommyz44]

So as i mentioned i changed my original design. Ive started building it today since i have off. So as i said I went with 2x4s for the frame(shown in one of the pics) im still going to add corner braces on the inner parts of the legs. i will update the solid works drawing for anyone interested when i get time at work.

The wood i chose for the tops and sides was spruce (cheap and easy to stain). The stain i chose is minwax colonial maple (the picture makes it look more like a golden oak for some reason, the stain is differently darker and a slight redish tint). I also took the original frame painted it black. I will be putting this on top of the spruce give the tank a mounted look. the picture with my tank in it is where it is going. im going basically swap my supply rack and dog crate. The other thing i will be adding is most likely pine board around the front stained with the maple. This way your not seeing that nasty 4x4!

As far as plumbing the original idea was i was going to have the DT drain into the Frag then to the sump and back to DT. As you can see in the picture the Frag is going to be to high to do that. Most likely i think im going to add an eshopp nano to the frag have both empty into the sump. I already have a Y on the return pump so 60% goes to DT and 40 goes back into the sump since the overflow cannot keep up with the pump. so i think i will have the 40% line run into the frag tank when it is moved there. With that said any comments or suggestions?

 

[tommyz44]

Would like to add a small update but this weekend was slow. This humidity was killer in the gloss drying time >.<. Added the bassets to the legs to keep them sturdy. The gloss is all finished for top and sides. Bought some Molding to kinda line the table in. Also forgot about the wood for the front so your not seeing the nasty pressure treated 4x4s .

Got my overflow in today so its ready to be plumbed. the 20 gal is already cycled and ready just have to drain it and bring it down to the DT. I have a chocolate chip star fish that is in a tiny suction cup breeder thing so i added light diffuser into the tank to divide a small section for him to live in. Im going to be keeping some frags in it and also be growing macro algae in this tank. I already have a supply of cheato and now uvla and red gracilaria. Ill be adding some pics in the next few days.

 

[jmaiello04]

Looking great, Tommy! I would love to check it out when you are finished... and maybe steal some more of that chaeto!

 

[tommyz44]

Thanks! I have the gloss finished today unforunatly class at airport park untill 10 so no building tonight. Hopfully i will have it assembled and get the tank down stairs to get ready to plumb in. You will deffenetly have to come check out my tanks. Give some advice how to get them lookin more like yours XD.

And ill deffenetly have some chaeto for ya! actaully my red gracilaria is growing really well in my frag tank. The chaeto isnt doing so well....i think it is due to lack of nuetrients since there are no fish so im moving that down into my DT sump.

 

[tommyz44]

Well time to wrap it up!!

So this weekend i (basically) finished it up. I miss cut the legth of some molding on the front but it really wont look that much different.

Pic 1) Added the bassets to keep the legs from moving inwards.
Pic 2) Added the pine to the front 4x4 to hide those nasty legs
Pic 3 Finished with sides front and top at location.
Pic 4) With the dog cage underneath
Pic 5) Frag tank is Set in place and plumbed!!!

So in short original project was not even close to the finished. Spent about 70$ in wood all together. 4x4 and 2x4's i had sitting around. As well as the hardware and nail gun.

Only bad thing to come was moving the frag tank downstairs i emptied out all the water and when adding back it clouded up the tank a bit. When plumbing it into the DT it also seemed to have clouded it up a bit. The humidity may have played a part in how the glass looked though

 

[tommyz44]

I guess ill add a few more pics here. So i guess the frag tank is a mix of frags and macros. i used some light diffuser to sepperate my chocolate chip star from the coral and keeps the macros from floating 100% freely into the frag tank.

Pic 1) some Red Gracilaria, kinda see some uvla and chateo.
Pic 2) a few red mangroves.
Pic 3) I had to post this since it was like the best pic ive ever taken. Oddly it was on my phone! Peppermint shrimp on some newly added rocks.