Lunchbucket's 48"x48"x20" Reef

Status
Not open for further replies.
tacocat - GREAT suggestion. I had been thinking about this for quite sometime. Less chance of getting some nasty algae on the LR and I can ship them cheap and drill them dry.

I have the LR from my wifes 58gal to put in the cube how many lbs of marcorocks do you think I would need? 25 or 50? I'm thinking 25lbs since it is supposed be double the rock for the $$ due to no water in it.

Anyone ordered from there? Any pics of what you got?

thanks
Lunchbucket
 
Thanks CAreefer.

Oh I need to contact the guy doing my stand and see if you powder coated it today. Has been done (welded) for 1wk. Said it was supposed to be done today

Lunchbucket
 
The guy got my stand done today! Hope it was done right so it will hold the weight :D Under those two pieces are adjustable legs (aka big allen bolts that screw in and out).

Stand together (no bolts in the two pieces yet)
stand.JPG


Stand apart
stand_apart.JPG


Here it is before hand. Not sure if you can tell where it was cut and welded bars so that it can be bolted together
angled_view.JPG


Now I can get the tank up off of the floor and on the stand. Need to order bulkheads so that I can start plumbing :D

Need to figure out what sized sump to use. I only have like 21.5" inbetween those bars to get a sump in and out. I can put a bigger one in but if I need it out I would have to take the tank off of the stand and pull it apart to get it out :( I'm thinking maybe rubbermade stock tanks but the 50gal are 51" long x 31" wide x 12" high so I could tip them sideways and get them in there. A 70gal is 40"x32"x24 so I could not get it in there :( I guess I could do a sump (50gal) underneath the stand and one outside the stand? I think 50gal won't be enough and 70 won't fit.

I could make one out of acrylic but that would cost way more then a stock tank.

Lunchbucket
 
Sweet! Looks like you'll have it up and running by the time I get there. ;)

You'll probably want something on the floor that is just as high as the cross bars, then a solid wooden platform to set the sump upon.

If you can stand it on its end and slide it in, the rotate it into position, you could get a nice-sized custom made acrylic sump. Since you made your last one, it just is a matter of you getting it built.

I would recommend you make a mockup sump out of cardboard first to make sure you can navigate it into the stand via those bars.
 
you could get 2 used 55G tanks and tie them together using PVC pipe and two bulkheads once they are underneath and in the stand
 
Melev - Ummm...yeah the stand will be done by the time you get here :D but that is it! I'm thinking an acrylic sump will cost WAY more then I could get something else for. I need to think about the budget here :D

mattyice - good call. That would work and if I union them together I could get them out too I bet. 55's are 18" front to back right? Plus they are cheap. Would need to drill them though. I have a buddy in y club that might be able to help me out.

55's are tempered on the backs are they?

I would like to do acrylic or a stocktank as they don't break as easily as glass. I'm always paranoid about busting one. Just me the worry wart sometimes

Lunchbucket
 
i dont think you would have to worry about them breaking if the tanks are properly supported, also they are 12" front to back so at least you will have space underneath the stand as well
 
12" front to back is good BUT they are 4ft long...NOT good. The stand is 48" on the outside dimentions. I'd need something about 45-46" to fit in there...on to the next option.

Anyone know what the biggest 36" long tank is?

Lunchbucket
 
Quit being cheap. This is a freakin' upgrade. You're supposed to feel the pinch. ;)

Just build it.

Then you can brag about it forever.
bow.gif
 
Build two acrylic sumps, an in-bound and an out-bound, and tie them together with a couple of big bulkheads. Then you won't have to worry about microbubbles either, and you will be able to get them out if needed. Rubbermaids suck man.
 
mattyice - Nice call again they are 36x18x17 or so. I guess I could use a 65gal as they are 37x19x25

Hmm..might price out some acrylic but I'm sure it will be too much

Lunchbucket
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11079936#post11079936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lunchbucket
mattyice - Nice call again they are 36x18x17 or so. I guess I could use a 65gal as they are 37x19x25

Hmm..might price out some acrylic but I'm sure it will be too much

Lunchbucket
Click to expand...

I'd build it from a used acrylic tank. You can find cheap ones on craigslist, the paper, or even an LFS. Buy scrap acrylic from a nearby plastic shop or ebay (search acrylic sheet) to make baffles and such.

I bet you could order precut baffles from any of RC's many vendors. Make sure you threaten to put them in a headlock if they don't give you a discount.
 
tacocat - Good point I could probably could get a scratched up tank that I could use. I'll have to search and see. I'll talk to the LFS guys and see if they have anything too.

LOL what online vender could I threaten??? Hmm...melev is visiting this weekend....maybe I could threaten him since he is Mr. Acrylic

Nice suggestion!
Lunchbucket
 
If I had to do it over again, I'd have an L shaped sump. The water would drain into an acrylic 20g tank, and the the water would flow from there into a 45g tank or so. I'd use the 20g to house a filer sock and skimmer.

You'll find that a cube tank is weird. I have my drain going from the rear and being routed to the front of the tank, and the water flows through the sump from the front to the back.

If the water in the front flows from the back to the front, the return pump will end up in front where it can be noisy and block access. This would also result in the skimmer being placed in the rear, thus making access to the thing a little tougher.
 
Interesting on the 20gal and 45gal option. Now just need to find a 20gal and a 45gal :D

Yeah I've been thinking about the whole sump thing and it will be just as you described w/ the water draining to the back and then to the front for the return.

I'll do the skimmer out of sump I think.

Ok here is what I found out on prices for sump options.

In town LFS haven't asked the out of town one yet
40gal breeder - $94 (+ tax) each (would need 2)
65gal - $150(+tax) would need 2)

Plastic shop out of town
3/8" acrylic - $221 (full sheet), $161.16 (1/2 sheet) would need two
1/2" acrylic - $268 (full sheet), $210.44 (1/2 sheet) would need two

In town plastic shop
3/8" acrylic - 261 (full sheet)
1/2" acrylic - #358.50 (full sheet)

So DANG this would cost me 210 or so for two 40breeders plus have to drill and add bulkheads for the low range or $540 for 1/2" acrylic and I have to add bulkheads and cut and glue it.

Hmm....what to do what to do :( anyone have opinions?

Oh well I might have a friend that has some 40breeders in her shed for free. My question is how well does silicone hold up if it has been in the cold in a shed?

thanks
Lunchbucket
 
I went down the road of buying my own acrylic sheets and gluing them together. Thought it would be a good DIY project. Next time, I'll just buy my acrylic sump pre-made. What a PITA it was for me. Just my own personal experience for what it's worth. If your good with acrylic, go for it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Z
5.7ft tank stocking
Replies
7
Views
252
ZanaZoola14
Z
Z
Wrasse compatibility
Replies
0
Views
157
ZanaZoola14
Z
N
Bristletooth chasing butterfly
Replies
1
Views
117
Reefing102
Reefing102
Z
Stocking 35gal, 140ltr tank
Replies
13
Views
846
ZanaZoola14
Z
Lucid88
Nuvo 15 Fusion -First Reef Tank
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Lucid88
Lucid88
Back
Top