so i setup my first tank

[overtsilence]

i've been browsing these forums for the past few weeks and finally decided i'd make my first post. i just got my tank setup today and have everything up and running. it's a 55 gal tank and i have around 100 lbs of sand and 55lbs of lr. i don't own a light fixture yet, but the rock still has some weeks of curing to go in cycling this. i think i've basically got everything going as far as i can for now. what do you all think?

 

[imsqueak]

Do you plan on doing FOWLR? (fish only with live rock)
That stand looks a bit scary.:eek1:

 

[overtsilence]

haha yeh the stand is the best i could pull together for the time being but its pretty sturdy so i figure thats what i matters...i checked for how level it was and what have you before i started everything and its going well so i think it should be okay. for now i do plan to just go the live rock and fish but i may add some corals down the road not completely sure yet

 

[n8rad]

i 2nd the stand. Are you sure thats going to hold up for as long as you have the tank up and running?

 

[zmazza]

If you live in TN I've mastered the art of building 2x4 stands. I'd be happy to help you build one, if you like.

 

[overtsilence]

yeh i'm in johnson city, how much would you charge for something like that

 

[AquaVolGP]

just use 2x4's and with cross braces.....then you can work later on what type of cabinets etc you want on the outside

 

[Kennetht]

You need to come to the Tri-Cities reef meeting at the end of teh month. We will be meeting in Piney Flats, and there is a thread for it here. I could help with a stand, and I'm sure others could too. I would never use 2 stands to hold one tank, it just doesn't look safe, and that's ALOT of weight on it. If you plan to one day keep coral, I would plan ahead for that. I learned the hard way and wasted money on lighting that wasn't sufficient, and then had to buy new again.

 

[fishdoc11]

I agree on the stand especially if you have kids, critters or drunk friends about. That's > 450 lbs on your 2 stands and 55 gallons looks like a lot more than 55 gallons on the floor
Otherwise it looks pretty good so far. A background would make it look a lot better.

[welcome]

Chris

 

[zmazza]

I wouldn't charge you anything. If you'll buy the materials, we'll get you fixed up. A few two x fours shouldn't run more than 20 dollars, TOPS. And that's a high estimate.

We can make it so you'll easily be able to add plywood to the sides at a later time, if you want.

 

[zmazza]

Painting the background with something like krylon fusion (make sure to paint the outside and cover everything you don't want painted up, including the top) looks awesome. I'll post some pictures of mine. For 3 dollars, you can't beat a wrinkle proof, water spot proof background. You can get all sorts of colors too. I went with a darker blue, but they have black, light blue, green, yellow, lol. Any color you can think of.