Wazzel's mostly SPS 120

[KingTriton1]

I was debating the same thing during my setup. I ended up painting the stands surface instead. I can't even tell the difference. My stand is grey but where the tank sits is black. If it were me and the tank didn't sit on plywood I would paint the tanks bottom. I wanted white in the beginning but feared it may turn yellow over time so I went with black.

 

[Wazzel]

My frag tank has not yellowed yet, but it has not been up for super long.

 

[Wazzel]

Here is the tank and my work in progress system design. Please feel free to comment. I do not have enough space between the corner of our living room and a window to make a symmetric stand work. Got a bit of layout work left to do on the system.

 

[Wazzel]

Change in direction on the stand. Wife and I have been planning our post kids life that includes a home down size, possibly as soon as next year. Going to swap to a tank only stand and a support cabinet so I can have some flexibility when we move. Probably going to end up keeping a frag tank tied in, possibly upgrade to a 40 breeder so I can keep a few fish in to help with algae control.

 

[DubiousMaximus]

Thanks for the comments. I plan on painting the back black so power heads can kind of blend in to the back ground. I really like vortecs, but I also like to look across my tank from the sides and would like to have all three viewing panels unobstructed if possible.

Look into black vinyl for the back. This way you have the options later for another setup, you know, for when the upgrade option opens up. Ive always kept sumps and refugiums with enough space to get around them for cleaning up dust & spills, a thought I had when I saw the now scratch stand plans.

 

[Wazzel]

Time time time. Not time. We had some band events get rescheduled. Will be busy until Nov 14th.

I secured 2 lightly used hydra52's today. That will give me 4 to work with when I get going.

 

[DubiousMaximus]

Dont forget to clean the reflectors and lenses from any saltcreep or whatever, most overooked maintenence for LEDs, imo

 

[Wazzel]

I got 2 gyre 130's on the way. Should be here today. Any suggestion on a quiet submersible pump in the 300-500 gph @ approx 6 ft. I am planning on using 2 and want roughly 600 gph going through my sump.

 

[itz frank]

Any reason for the 4ft and not longer since you're doing a 6tt stand anyways?

 

[Wazzel]

Any reason for the 4ft and not longer since you're doing a 6tt stand anyways?

I decided to do a regular length stand. Just have not made drawings. A 120 was as big as I could go without being tank poor or putting anything on a credit card. I also can not go 6ft with where I can put the tank. I only have 5'-10" to work with. Rimless tanks bigger tha. 120 are really expensive.

 

[itz frank]

Ah, I'm looking to make the slide from a 60 to a 125 myself. But I probably wouldn't do the 24x24 height thing because of the whole arm pit thing.

 

[Wazzel]

Steel or wood stand? With or without frag tank? Two current dilemmas that keep me from moving forward.

 

[Wazzel]

I think I have enough cash to build my stand. Think I am just going to use framing lumber and ply-wood skin. I have built a similar stand before and it was not a problem. Give the lack of an out of the weather work space, doing something more complicated will just not work at this point in time.

 

[mhucasey]

I think I have enough cash to build my stand. Think I am just going to use framing lumber and ply-wood skin. I have built a similar stand before and it was not a problem. Give the lack of an out of the weather work space, doing something more complicated will just not work at this point in time.

Unless you are able to go with Powder coated Steel, I'd stick to the Wood as well. If you had cash to burn, my #1 Preference is aluminum of course, but its not cheap.

 

[Wazzel]

Unless you are able to go with Powder coated Steel, I'd stick to the Wood as well. If you had cash to burn, my #1 Preference is aluminum of course, but its not cheap.

I do not have the money to spend on aluminum, especially now. The new tank is being completely funded with frags sold from the 60. I would have a little bit more, but Angus was a little more than the wife wanted to spend so I put up the difference from my tank fund.

Steel would kind of be a pain. We have a welder here at work that could fab it for me, but it is always dependent on other work.

 

[mhucasey]

I do not have the money to spend on aluminum, especially now. The new tank is being completely funded with frags sold from the 60. I would have a little bit more, but Angus was a little more than the wife wanted to spend so I put up the difference from my tank fund.

Steel would kind of be a pain. We have a welder here at work that could fab it for me, but it is always dependent on other work.

My LFS owner was a steel fabricator before he owned his shop and so he welded all his stands, and they were then carefully powder coated. Even so, he finds corrosion spots here and there. I think wood is a great option

 

[Wazzel]

I built this stand and hood in 06 for my 54x26x26 160 gallon.

 

[mhucasey]

I built this stand and hood in 06 for my 54x26x26 160 gallon.

That looks great! Consider a change that I made on both my wood and Aluminum Stands. Build the frame out and attach the back skin. For the front and side skins, don't put doors in, hang the skin on the front to make it a removable panel. I used Z Brackets used for hanging pictures and it is one of the best innovations I made. I can easily remove any of the sides and i have way more access than with a door. The Z Brackets are solid and the whole thing is pretty much self aligning.

 

[Wazzel]

That looks great! Consider a change that I made on both my wood and Aluminum Stands. Build the frame out and attach the back skin. For the front and side skins, don't put doors in, hang the skin on the front to make it a removable panel. I used Z Brackets used for hanging pictures and it is one of the best innovations I made. I can easily remove any of the sides and i have way more access than with a door. The Z Brackets are solid and the whole thing is pretty much self aligning.

I have been considering making removable panels using a rest at the bottom to take the weigh and magnets to hold the top in. If I do that I will need to add some cross bracing, or at lease some guests in the corners.

 

[mhucasey]

I have been considering making removable panels using a rest at the bottom to take the weigh and magnets to hold the top in. If I do that I will need to add some cross bracing, or at lease some guests in the corners.

These brackets take a ton of weight and won't let panel be pulled off by casual contact. You can see the brackets at the top and bottom in this picture:

From the side showing the attachment:

They are super easy to install as well.