Third Time's A Charm!

yeah we will put some 2x4's in the frong to drill to. Also there will be other 2x6's thru out the stand with the scrap we have left. The thing will be built like a brick. My stand only has end supports and headers that span 9ft, so this thing is going to be 10x stronger with the middle supports.

Philby check out my FS tank buddy, might be perfect for ya! plus we can rewire it for you icecap ballasts! and drill for a closed loop ect...
 
I picked up the lumber for the stand, and a Dewalt miter saw since I had nothing but a hand saw up till now.
IMG_8532Medium.jpg




I also made a quick mock up of the tank and stand. I wanted to make sure I was really happy with the stand height before we start building tomorrow. I ended up with 29 3/4" as the height. I would prefer something taller for viewing the tank standing up (a taller stand makes the tank seem larger), and I would prefer it lower for viewing the tank while seated in the room (sps look like crap from the side and bottom, you want to look down on them for the best coloration). I compromised bewteen my ideals and ended up with this.

IMG_8536Medium.jpg



Brad
 
It's a little low, but no one will even notice.

especially if you get a DLP, they'll want to sit down to get the best viewing angle, and then it'll be perfect for looking at the tank.
 
throw some screws in it and the stand is done! Good job. Nice miter saw laser and everything should make for quick work.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10285152#post10285152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Philby
It's a little low, but no one will even notice.

especially if you get a DLP, they'll want to sit down to get the best viewing angle, and then it'll be perfect for looking at the tank.
Click to expand...

It's funny, because you're right, it does look low. On the other hand, it is actually taller than the standard AGA stand for the 75, 90, and 125 I have had. It is just that everyone seems to do big tanks on a tall stand.

As for the tv. I am planning on a DLP once the tank is done, and the basement is finished. I think the finished look is going to be nutz.


Brad
 
The stand is now finished. It took JJ and I about 5 hours to build the stand and walkway. In the end I was very happy with the results. The stand is built like a tank, and what is amazing about it, is that it was perfectly level without being shimmed. My only concern is that we built the walkway out of left over MDF. The problem is that MDF seems to be destroyed by water, which doesn't bode well for a walkway in a fishroom. I intend to seal the walkway and pant it (Any suggestions on what to seal it with?) and I hope that will be enough to make it work. On the upside, the walkway is not connected to the stand at all, so it can easily be removed and replaced if needed.


Here is a pic of the stand before we put the bottom on it. It is sitting upside down here.
IMG_8540Medium.jpg




Here is a pic of the completed stand sitting in place. It is anchored to the floor and not going anywhere.
IMG_8544Medium.jpg



And lastly, here is the walkway around the tank. It is built just high enough for me to access the tank from behind, but also stand upright on it. The next step is to seal it and paint it before the tank arrives.
IMG_8548Medium.jpg




Brad
 
Regarding the walkway, have you thought about laminate or linoleum?

I would think that f you used linoleum and sealed the seams with silicone it would be waterproof as you'll most likely spill water on the steps over time with maintenance/etc.

Just my 2 cents worth....

Otherwise, this looks like it will be an awesome build!

I'm interested to see how you will trim the tank on the viewing side and handle the canopy.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10295484#post10295484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by llebcire
Regarding the walkway, have you thought about laminate or linoleum?

I would think that f you used linoleum and sealed the seams with silicone it would be waterproof as you'll most likely spill water on the steps over time with maintenance/etc.

Just my 2 cents worth....

Otherwise, this looks like it will be an awesome build!

I'm interested to see how you will trim the tank on the viewing side and handle the canopy.
Click to expand...




The linoleum sounds like a pretty good idea. Would it be difficult to install on what are essentially 2 very large steps?


As for the trim on the viewing side, I too am interested in seeing how I will trim it! I think I may need to bring in a real carpenter for that part, as the side of the tank, stand, and canopy will not be a perfect vertical line. The canopy will stick out to the side of the tank, and so will the stand.

For the canopy, I intend to do something very simple. There will be rails suspending the lighting above the tank. The canopy will not be attached to the rails. The canopy will just be cosmetic essentially. Since the tank is so big, a little opening from behind or through doors in the canopy aren't gonig to be enough to work in the tank. To really do anything in the tank, the canopy will be removed, and the lights will be pushed behind the tank to allow me to work from above. Therefore the canopy will have no holes for fans, no doors, and no attachments. At this point it is all a theory, so we will see how it goes.


Brad
 
From a carpenters stand point that stand should hold a semi, as for the mdf, personally I would rip it all off there and replace it with a 3/4 ply. Nomatter how you seal it theres going to be that chance of water leaking, if that stuff gets wet it turns into an instant sponge, then to mush. If your looking for the long term I would really suggest ply. Jason
 
I was thinking the same thing. He already had all the pieces of MDF so we just went ahead with it. Once It was done I set my soda on it and it started to form up around the bottom of it. Wasn't sure if sealing it would help or not.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10297423#post10297423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glaspie69
From a carpenters stand point that stand should hold a semi, as for the mdf, personally I would rip it all off there and replace it with a 3/4 ply. Nomatter how you seal it theres going to be that chance of water leaking, if that stuff gets wet it turns into an instant sponge, then to mush. If your looking for the long term I would really suggest ply. Jason
Click to expand...

Well, I had kind of been thinking that I might need to do that. The steps won't be a problem to replace with ply. The question is, can I keep the top and bottom of the stand as MDF, or should I replace those pieces as well? The top piece would be easy to swap out, but since the bottom is secured to the floor, it would take some doing.


Brad
 
Honestly mdf is the last thing you want on a floor. Concrete will always attract moisture, I would replace the bottom with 3/4 treated and the top with 3/4 ply. Your going to be up a $hit crick if that bottom board starts rotting out after the tank is set up, same with the top. It's going to be alot easier to change them out now rather than trying to tear down a tank to change them.
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate your advice. I am going to tear out all the MDF and replace it as suggested. I guess I shouldn't have let myself be talked into MDF by the kids working at Home Depot. I originally intended to get plywood. When I told them how much the tank would weigh their response was "you'll want to get MDF to deal with the weight." Well, it looks like they overlooked the water issue, and I, a total noob when it comes to construction, didn't even consider the issue. So now it needs to be fixed.

I hope that this thread, which I predict will become a monster over the next 6 to 9 months, will help future Iowa reefers design their own systems and avoid mistakes. I will try to keep a list of sorts of the mistakes I make along the way. This is mistake #1. Stayed tuned for further blunders.


Brad
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10298690#post10298690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dascharisma
I hope that this thread, which I predict will become a monster over the next 6 to 9 months, will help future Iowa reefers design their own systems and avoid mistakes. I will try to keep a list of sorts of the mistakes I make along the way. This is mistake #1. Stayed tuned for further blunders.


Brad
Click to expand...

If you do make anymore blunders, I hope they happen and get corrected in the construction phase. I would hate to see anything happen to your tank after you get it fully stocked with nice corals again. Btw, the two-step walkway looks really nice!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10298690#post10298690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dascharisma
When I told them how much the tank would weigh their response was "you'll want to get MDF to deal with the weight."
Click to expand...

You should go kick the guy that told you that.....regular 3/4 ply has more sheer strength than mdf on a good day. MDF is mainly used in cheap cabinets and custom speaker boxes. Honestly it's nothing more than powdered sawdust thats doused with glue and compressed. I think you should go into home depot and raise a $hit fit, they are the "you can build it we can help people" it was there staff that suggested an inferior product, or the completely wrong one for that matter.
 
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