Lunchbucket's 48"x48"x20" Reef
- Thread starter Lunchbucket
- Start date
- Status
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
Rokel - NICE. I like that the 1st thing I read on the website is moisture resistance 
I just checked their website and it says Lowes in my town is the closest retailer!!! Wonder how much it is a sheet though
miwoodar - Yeah there were a LOT of sketchups and designs. Glad I took my time and figured out the best plan
jnarowe - Thanks buddy! I'm sure my thoughts and wavering got annoying at times but I guess at least I exhausted every possible way to get the best plan.
miwoodar - I took no offense at all.
erics - Really doesn't take that much time once you get it all figured out or small room changes are pretty easy. Glad I did it so I could visualize it better
Lunchbucket
I just checked their website and it says Lowes in my town is the closest retailer!!! Wonder how much it is a sheet thoughmiwoodar - Yeah there were a LOT of sketchups and designs. Glad I took my time and figured out the best plan
jnarowe - Thanks buddy! I'm sure my thoughts and wavering got annoying at times but I guess at least I exhausted every possible way to get the best plan.
miwoodar - I took no offense at all.
erics - Really doesn't take that much time once you get it all figured out or small room changes are pretty easy. Glad I did it so I could visualize it better
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
RokleM - Only $20-25!! WOW! We'll see tomorrow. I need to go get more green treated 2x4's...I ran out tonight...didn't plan much
Got another wall done tonight. One on the right
Since I ran out of green treated 2x4's and couldn't frame around the tank I thought I'd draw it out on the floor. This is what I'm thinking. There is 24" of space from the block wall to the stand and I did decide to frame out infront of the tank instead of attaching material directly to the stand. This means that I will have no front access to the stand unless I put a couple doors in there...which I can.
Front top of the tank. Tank will sit about 61" tall w/ the ply and foam under it and the celings are about 87" tall. I want to have front access to the tank in case something falls in the way front and I can't reach it from the back or the side (by block wall w/ 24" of room). I'm thinking of doing 2 big doors. One on the front and one on the other viewable side. Some maybe homemade in pine like Energy's front??? Any thoughts?
Side view
I will make an aluminum rack for the lights but will not be able to roll it completely out of the way for access to the tank
I should have about 26" if the lights are completely out of the way to access the tank or about 18" if the lights are pulled all the way up on a pulley system.
Comments? Suggestions? If not I'm gonna try to frame up the walls around the front of the tank tomorrow. I believe we might tile or pine that 4" wide area on top of the wall...the ledge in front of the tank
Lunchbucket
Got another wall done tonight. One on the right
Since I ran out of green treated 2x4's and couldn't frame around the tank I thought I'd draw it out on the floor. This is what I'm thinking. There is 24" of space from the block wall to the stand and I did decide to frame out infront of the tank instead of attaching material directly to the stand. This means that I will have no front access to the stand unless I put a couple doors in there...which I can.
Front top of the tank. Tank will sit about 61" tall w/ the ply and foam under it and the celings are about 87" tall. I want to have front access to the tank in case something falls in the way front and I can't reach it from the back or the side (by block wall w/ 24" of room). I'm thinking of doing 2 big doors. One on the front and one on the other viewable side. Some maybe homemade in pine like Energy's front??? Any thoughts?
Side view
I will make an aluminum rack for the lights but will not be able to roll it completely out of the way for access to the tank
I should have about 26" if the lights are completely out of the way to access the tank or about 18" if the lights are pulled all the way up on a pulley system.Comments? Suggestions? If not I'm gonna try to frame up the walls around the front of the tank tomorrow. I believe we might tile or pine that 4" wide area on top of the wall...the ledge in front of the tank
Lunchbucket
melev
Well-known member
If you do a pulley system, be sure to include safety chains in case you lose your grip or the rope(s) comes loose. I would have several ropes, rather than a single one. Tie the ropes together like you do with mini-blinds, you know like when you pull on the strings you want the blind to go up straight rather than crooked. Same principle for your lighting rack.
Having access from several angles is a good idea. If you can't reach it, you won't deal with it.
Having access from several angles is a good idea. If you can't reach it, you won't deal with it.
ReefingBuddha
New member
Your making moves man, congrats. Your keeping me motivated to move faster on fine tuning my system. Good luck and things are looking really nice.
Pulley system sounds like a good idea if you have the head room (and it looks like you do) Simple and effective. For the pulley system you could also get a friction cleat that's used in yachting to grip the rope and in case it falls out of your hand it would grip it by itself. Shouldn't be to expensive and seems like a good option, plus its meant for marine applications so it should hold up well.
Pulley system sounds like a good idea if you have the head room (and it looks like you do) Simple and effective. For the pulley system you could also get a friction cleat that's used in yachting to grip the rope and in case it falls out of your hand it would grip it by itself. Shouldn't be to expensive and seems like a good option, plus its meant for marine applications so it should hold up well.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
Nickde123 - I don't feel like I'm getting a lot done...I feel I can move faster but thanks for the confidence
Majo - Thanks man! I'm just trying to get it up and running so it will look 1/2 as good as yours. Your tank is the BOMB!!
erics - Thanks! Hope to move faster. I want this baby up!!
melev - Great idea on the safety chain!! I'll do that. I like the idea of a couple ropes too. I'll have access from the two side from the front and the other two sides from the back! I have short arms and it is 4ft either way I look at it
thirschmann - Thanks! Wow I motivate...I'm only used to do that at work. I do have the headroom adn I'll look into that friction cleat...thanks for the suggestion
asmodeus - Thanks! I'm thinking either tile or wood...tile most likely. Might have to find some cool fish tile
Ok pic from tonight
The framing for the top is NOT done. Not sure who far down yet that I'm going to frame. I'm thinking only about 3.5" or so. That would mean that I could have a 24" tall door. So I'll most likely do something like 24" tall by 40-44" wide. I looked at Lowes tonight on what type of wood I want to use and how. My wife wants something w/ very little grain...I'm thinking pine? She likes maple too so we will see. I have a friend that has a nice wood shop so if i need to joint and biscuit some pieces together to make a solid door I can. Any suggestions on these two doors? We want a fish theme down in the living room if that makes any difference
Lunchbucket
Majo - Thanks man! I'm just trying to get it up and running so it will look 1/2 as good as yours. Your tank is the BOMB!!
erics - Thanks! Hope to move faster. I want this baby up!!
melev - Great idea on the safety chain!! I'll do that. I like the idea of a couple ropes too. I'll have access from the two side from the front and the other two sides from the back! I have short arms and it is 4ft either way I look at it
thirschmann - Thanks! Wow I motivate...I'm only used to do that at work. I do have the headroom adn I'll look into that friction cleat...thanks for the suggestion
asmodeus - Thanks! I'm thinking either tile or wood...tile most likely. Might have to find some cool fish tile
Ok pic from tonight
The framing for the top is NOT done. Not sure who far down yet that I'm going to frame. I'm thinking only about 3.5" or so. That would mean that I could have a 24" tall door. So I'll most likely do something like 24" tall by 40-44" wide. I looked at Lowes tonight on what type of wood I want to use and how. My wife wants something w/ very little grain...I'm thinking pine? She likes maple too so we will see. I have a friend that has a nice wood shop so if i need to joint and biscuit some pieces together to make a solid door I can. Any suggestions on these two doors? We want a fish theme down in the living room if that makes any difference
Lunchbucket
JCTewks
In Memoriam
If you want minimal grain, pine is not the answer. If it's going to be stained/natural, look at soft maple, birch, or beech. the soft maple has the least grain appearance. If you're going to paint it...no brainer, poplar is the way to go....but if you're painting it and not wanting anything fancy like raised panel doors, just use plywood or MDF. The MDF takes paint really well. If you want to us a panelboard and do any edge routing, see if you can find MDO. If you like the look of Chaker style flat panel doors, they are pretty easy to make with some 3/4" x2" square stock and 1/4" plywood. I'm sure your buddy with the shop will be able to help 
If you need any Idea's on woodwork, PM me and I can help...I'm kindof a 6th generation cabinetmaker as well as the other stuff I do. I've been working with wood since I was 7 :lol:
If you need any Idea's on woodwork, PM me and I can help...I'm kindof a 6th generation cabinetmaker as well as the other stuff I do. I've been working with wood since I was 7 :lol:
erics3000
Active member
take your time withthe live stock bro...If you can you might be able to put water and sand in your fuge with some rocks to start things up.
SPeaking of that I dont remember your fuge or sump? WHat about rock live or base. Oh yeahhhh I ofrgot you already havce a weet tank your are going to make the transfer with. You might be able to add a bigger sump next to your current setup so you have more water when you do your transfer..Just rambling... I took about 3 tanks down when I did my move. No corals or anything like your current sweet system.
I relaly am starting to love the huge cubes more and more. I really ove the depth. Next time I aint messing around I am going 48 wide minimum 600 gall. blah blah ..
JCTewks..I might hit you up down the road on mythread. Finish carpentry is mot a specialty of mine.. hahhaha .I am still contemplating my tank side in my office. Anyway sorry for the hijack Lunch..Whew 2 double expresso and I am off....
SPeaking of that I dont remember your fuge or sump? WHat about rock live or base. Oh yeahhhh I ofrgot you already havce a weet tank your are going to make the transfer with. You might be able to add a bigger sump next to your current setup so you have more water when you do your transfer..Just rambling... I took about 3 tanks down when I did my move. No corals or anything like your current sweet system.
I relaly am starting to love the huge cubes more and more. I really ove the depth. Next time I aint messing around I am going 48 wide minimum 600 gall. blah blah ..
JCTewks..I might hit you up down the road on mythread. Finish carpentry is mot a specialty of mine.. hahhaha .I am still contemplating my tank side in my office. Anyway sorry for the hijack Lunch..Whew 2 double expresso and I am off....
- Status
