Rimless Tank & Stand

[DragonShout]

~~~75 gallon

This is the stand I've been working on - it needs a little more gap filling & sanding, & then it'll be stained and sealed.

It's made out of 2x8 & 2x6 boards, ran through the table saw to get rid of the rounded corners, & then joined with a biscuit joiner - 2 per joint.

https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/775135_10205815324204209_3348197271844149526_o.jpg

 

[DragonShout]

Here's the current FTS, This was put up around 12/13/2015. I moved a neglected 125G tank from the basement to my dining room, but I thought that was a little too heavy so I put a 75G there instead. There used to be a bookshelf & a large plant along this wall.

The new tank/stand I'm building will go here. The stand is 6" taller than this.

I used a belt sander on the top of the stand and while it's pretty close, I wanted to make sure it's flat. I also didn't like the idea of the black plastic frame on top of the stand I'm making and thought a rimless tank might look nicer. I shopped reef ready tanks, found a 75G locally for ~$275, then I called a few glass shops with a cut list and got prices from a few different shops: $932, $787, $289, $277

with a flat polished edge

 

[DragonShout]

I knew about sapphire glass, and last night I read about low-lead glass, I don't know that mine's low lead. I placed the order Friday around 11pm and they said it'd be about a week.... I hope I can change the order or I might just have to get a low lead panel for the front.

I ordered 2 tubes of Momentive 103 (black) to assemble it with.

I have the overflow designed in my head - it'll be a traditional with the plumbing coming through the bottom, I believe I'll do a herbie. I'll be using three 1.5" bulkheads from BRS, just stepping the return down @ both ends of the overflow to 1" I think to make it easier to route (T shape @ the top). I think I'll use black PVC from brs, maybe blue, for the plumbing inside the overflow.

I'm planning to build the overflow out of Graylite 14, and I've had many ideas, I think I'll just give it a 1/4" gap. It'll be clean. I did another traditional overflow back in ~2006 that's still running on the 29g in my basement, I think I'll like this better. I'm thinking I'll build the overflow to 19" whereas the tank walls are 21" - advice is appreciated if you think the overflow might ought to be lower.... I'm guessing the water level will be 1.5-1.75" below the rim(less) of the tank.

I have the steel for the light bracket - it's 1.25" x 060 (thin) square tube. I have several designs, one or two that I like better than this on paper, but the Kessils are going to be just 26" apart. I was going to cut & weld this last night, I might do it late this afternoon.

I'm going to paint the back of the tank with an oil-based paint. I don't want pure black, and I don't want light blue, so I'm going to try a small amount mixed 50/50 blue/black and adjust from there.

 

[DragonShout]

Not sure what's going on, but the attachments don't seem to be working and the site's not letting me edit my post. Here's a sketch of the internals (not exact - the cross will be omitted, same as the 45 degree offsets, there will just be a T to within 1 or so inches from the top of the overflow, sides of the overflow drilled to match a 3/4" threaded coupling where I'll screw the loc-line to. I assembled a couple monstrosities @ Lowes last night

Here's the light stand I'm planning. I'll be able to run the wires inside the tubing, and I'm going to mount a small hook on the back side of each hanger so I can lift them out of the way if needed.

***Here's a mockup I did of the bulkheads to help me visualize the layout - This will allow my overflow box to sit out well under 5" from the back wall. I'm going to space them as far as possible to 13" for strength and to avoid the 2 cross-braces under the stand.

 

[DragonShout]

I just cemented the overflow idea, I think.

So the overflow is made of graylite 14, I'll have a few small strips of glass cut & silicone them at the height I like (~just over 1/4" I think, but less than 1/2" - I'll have to experiment to see how it works with the system).

Then there will be the lid, cut & sanded to the same outside dimensions, with a smaller piece siliconed to it to make sure it sits securely in place.

 

[DragonShout]

If I don't use low lead glass is that a major mistake?

 

[DragonShout]

Light hanger is roughed up. I made sure there was a smooth & open passage for wires to be fed through.

 

[Lunchbox360]

if i was you i would setup your overflow like this its super quiet..the way you want it is super loud i had to change mine because it was too loud

 

[DragonShout]

is that a durso? I have one in the basement, I'm hoping the herbie is quieter.

 

[Lunchbox360]

Rimless Tank & Stand

Yea a durso.. I had a herbie design on it and it was too loud...there is a way tho too stick a large cap over the herbie design too muffle the noise when the water falls down like as the water rises the cap lifts up allowing water to pour in or something like that

 

[DragonShout]

It'll have a lid covering the overflow (you'll see), & I can switch it to a durso later if I want. Ive watched a bunch of videos & the only reason the herbie would be too loud (from what I understand) is by sucking down air------I'm pretty sure I'll be able to modify & tune to make it silent.

I'm mostly concerned with my glass choice right now - I'm going to try to modify my order first thing in the morning.

http://www.austinstairs.com/faqs/16...ison-of-regular-glass-and-low-iron-glass.html

http://www.anjiecho.com/starphire-vs-standard-glass/

 

[philly_rfa]

tagging along on this build...

 

[homer1475]

Only problem with a Durso setup, if the single drain gets plugged, you'll empty your sump burning out the return pump, and overflowing the system. The herbie setup is quieter(if done properly), and safer as you have an emergency drain if the main gets plugged.

 

[Greybeard]

A herbie, if set up right, should be silent. I converted a factory corner-flo to a herbie style drain a few months ago, couldn't be happier with it.

That stand could probably support 10X the weight of your tank. I like over-built, you've carried it to a whole new level. Congrats

Like your light stand. Don't know what your lighting intentions are, but you might look at the Aquaticlife Halo. It'd go well with your design. I'm happy with mine.

On Homer's point: Yeah, but you can have the same problem with a Herbie, or even a BeAnAnimal setup. Suppose a plastic bag from the LFS ends up in the tank, plugs _all_ the drains. Worst case scenario, I know, but that's what you've got to plan for. So... pump runs until return compartment is empty. Only way to prevent a mess is to have enough empty volume in the display to handle volume of the return pump compartment.

 

[mgoulding]

Following along

 

[Charley Diesing]

update?