My 60 gal build

[chris121277]

I started to build a new stand for my 60 gal reef tank the other day and I thought i'd share some pic's of how it's coming
When I started I wanted to make it strong as the stand that came with my tank was quite flimsy, It never dawned on me that when I was done it would weigh as much as a small bus.....lol
Oh well.....it's going to be a 2 man job to move the thing when it's done as it's alread about 150-200 pounds!!!
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5260006.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5260005.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5260004.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5260003.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5290001.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5290002.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5290003.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5290004.jpg
today i'm going to be adding the radius's to all the outside edges, bondoing all the joints putting a back on it and possibly starting on the paint
Let me know what you think, or if you have any sugestions

[365seasons]

the stand looks solid...keep the pics coming:lol:

[fishytime]

Looking goooood.....I do have a suggestion.....MDF is really not the best material for a humid environment.....it will need to be primed, sealed and then painted, otherwise it will swell up from the moister.... it a nice cheap material but when you factor in the extra steps that need to be taken painting it, you dont end up saving much.

What are your plans for stocking this bad boy?

[Myka]

:eek: For a 60g that is the most overbuilt stand I've ever seen! :lol: Lookin good though! I would have to agree with fishytime re the MDF though.

[chris121277]

Thanx guys.......I do have a habit of over building things....oops

I chose MDF just because of the nice smooth finish you get with it, and i'm going to be calking all the seams and doing a really theral job sealing and painting it. I'm also thinking of making a tray that covers the hole sump compartment (just incase)
I know there are more steps when using MDF but that's ok with me as long as the finished product looks good enough that the wife will let me put it in her kitchen:wink:

I'll post some more pic's this after noon to show my progress

[karazy]

that thing is crazy! its like a stand inside a stand :lol:

[chris121277]

Looking goooood.....I do have a suggestion.....MDF is really not the best material for a humid environment.....it will need to be primed, sealed and then painted, otherwise it will swell up from the moister.... it a nice cheap material but when you factor in the extra steps that need to be taken painting it, you dont end up saving much.

What are your plans for stocking this bad boy?


Well the tank has been up and running since September.....and I just got the sump up and running, but it doesn't fit in the existing stand and we are moving in the next few weeks so I wanted to have the new stand ready so when I have to break it down and move it then it's all ready.

Here are a few pic's of how it is right now
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5200010.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5200012.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5050001-1.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P4260008.jpg

[chris121277]

I didn't get as far as I planned today......filling all the joints and sanding them down took alot longer then I thought.
here is what I got done today
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300007.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300008.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300006.jpg

[robzilla]

looking good!! i'm going to have to pick your brain for ideas when i get to building a new stand for my 120.

did you get a lawnmower blenny the other day?

[chris121277]

No.......he always tells me that he'll bring stuff in for me but never does.
I did go out on a limb and i'm trying another powder brown tang. He's just a little guy about 2" long and looks very healthy so....fingers crossed
:wink:

They did bring in alot of fish this time, there was a powder blue, copper band butterfly, some mandarins, 2 lion fish, porcupine puffer and a hole bunch more.
If I was doing a FOWLR I would have been tempted to spend alot of money.....lol

[chris121277]

Oh....and anytime your ready to build that stand I'll gladly give you a hand.....

[Tom R]

That is one very well built stand. That tank isn't going anywhere.

Do be careful with water left sitting on the MDF it has a tendency to expand with moisture, however it does paint up nice.

Tom R

[chris121277]

all primed and sealed.....still not sure what I'm doing for door's yet....but at least when I'm done painting I can get it up and running
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5310013.jpg

[365seasons]

looks great :biggrin:

[golf nut]

That came out very nice, I would be inclined to keep the matte finish look.

[chris121277]

That came out very nice, I would be inclined to keep the matte finish look.
It is going to be a matte finish.....but that's just a tinted primer thats on there....the next coat is going to be double espresso (very dark brown almost black) so it will match my wifes kitchen table set.

[chris121277]

thanx for the complements guys...i've worked all week on this and am proud about how it has come out.

[fishay]

Great stand design! I'll be building a similar one for my 40breeder soon...thx for the ideas :biggrin:. What kind of paint, primer and sealants did you use?

[chris121277]

I'd have to go out to out side and look at the can's but it was an exterior latex.
I'll have a look in the morning and post the brand for you

[chris121277]

got the last coat of paint on the stand today.....not as dark as I expected....but atleast its done (well still needs the doors)
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6020007.jpg

[chris121277]

so...got it all set up..... added a mag 12 return pump and made a bubble/noise reducer chamber for the sump
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6050004.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6050005.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6050006.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6070013.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6070014.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6070015.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6070016.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6070017.jpg

[chris121277]

I just don't get it....this over flow is supposed to be rated for 1200 gph.....but If i have the return pump on more then about 1/3 of the way it gurgles like crazy and makes a heck of a racket

[Leah]

Wow, do you have close ups of the tank itself???

[chris121277]

I haven't taken any recent close up's of the tank.....kinda looks like crap atm......just moved it the other day to the new house.
After everything clears up I'll post a few pic's of it.

[robzilla]

any updates? how's everything after the move?

[chris121277]

any updates? how's everything after the move?

Well....i'm battling a hair algae problem at the moment.....had a power outage that killed all of my SPS's except one (and it's not looking good)

But other then that the rest of my corals and fish are looking happy

You should drop in some time and check it out

[BlueAbyss]

An overflow that is rated for 1200 gph may not be quiet through the whole range of flow.

And nice setup! I hope my stand looks half as good when it's done :lol:

[chris121277]

An overflow that is rated for 1200 gph may not be quiet through the whole range of flow.

And nice setup! I hope my stand looks half as good when it's done :lol:

Thanx alot.....I put alot of work into making it.
But about the over flow.....shouldn't it handle more then about a 1/3 of the way open on a mag 12?

[04scoobysti]

Usually I use a gate valve on the line from the overflow to the sump, and put it as
close to the sump as possible so i can tune the overflow and get rid of any unwated noise.
Most noise is just from too much air getting into the pipe.
My 2cents FWIW.

[BlueAbyss]

Usually I use a gate valve on the line from the overflow to the sump, and put it as
close to the sump as possible so i can tune the overflow and get rid of any unwated noise.
Most noise is just from too much air getting into the pipe.
My 2cents FWIW.

Aha! There's an excellent theory!

Is the noise coming from the water falling over the overflow, or from the pipe to the sump? More water moving through the pipe = more air being sucked through with it, like scooby said. Also, do you just have a plain bulkhead, or do you have a standpipe attached? If the noise is from the water falling over, adding a standpipe will reduce the height of the fall, and therefore the noise.

[danny zubot]

Looking good Chris, can't wait to see it in person. Hope the frags settle in nicely, and grow like crazy!

[chris121277]

just thought I'd post a few updated pics
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P8310183.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P8310169.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P8310199.jpg

[chris121277]

I managed to get a shot of my sun coral last night wile it was fully open, It looked very cool so I thought I would share it.

I've had it for about a month now....it's kind of a pain in the butt having to target feed it every night but so far I think it's doing well.
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/suncoral.jpg

[chris121277]

Could any one tell me how to move this thread over to the right place? I would like to move it to the Tank Journal section.

[bauder1986]

Well you either wait for the moderators to move it now that you made that request on this page or you can msg a moderator to do it for you.

[mseepman]

Tank is looking good! Nice job on the stand.

As for your sun coral, mine has been with me for 2 years, always growning and I only target feed it about twice per week...It obviously gets some of what I feed the rest of the tnak every day.

[Doug]

Could any one tell me how to move this thread over to the right place? I would like to move it to the Tank Journal section.

On the way. :mrgreen:

[robzilla]

the sun coral is looking good. i'm gonna have to come over for a "in person" visit :)

[chris121277]

Any time man...I've been meaning to have you over for a beer.
I'm going over to Danny's this morning to get some more frags finally starting to look like a proper "reef tank"....lol

the sun coral is looking good. i'm gonna have to come over for a "in person" visit :)

[chris121277]

here are a few shots of the growth of my SPS's and well some of the other corals as well.
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P9250002.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P9250004.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P9250007.jpg
I re-arranged the tank yet again.....I think this is how I'm going to leave it now...lol
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P9250012.jpg

[chris121277]

Thanx Doug
On the way. :mrgreen:

[chris121277]

I was was messing around with the camera trying different settings, thought this looked pretty cool. It's a panoramic......3 shots that the camera combines into one. Have to try and do it again so all 3 are straight on, because I took them all from the same spot it almost looks like the tank is bent.
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P9260011.jpg

[fishytime]

The tank looks like its growing in nicely....I think that shot looks kinda neat....instant bowfront:lol:

[chris121277]

Got my fish shipment today and finally got my second clown and copperband......he seems to be doing surprisingly well...he hid for about 1/2 an hour then came out and has been swimming around checking everything out since.
And here's the best part........he has been in there for 3 hours when I fed the tank....he gobbled down myssis soaked in garlic like it was candy. :D
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PA160007.jpg

[Delphinus]

Mmm purdy.

[chris121277]

I did some re-aqua scaping trying to get my new and old clown to get along, just thought I'd show off the new look.

sorry about the glare off the window
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PA170001.jpg

and one from the side
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PA170001-1.jpg

[Leah]

Really nice!!!

[danny zubot]

Frags are looking good in there. Any picking from the CBB? Or did you luck out?

[chris121277]

I have to admit that I was a little worried about putting a CBB in there.....but so far he has been great, hasn't touched any of my corals.....just pecks at the rocks.
He is eating frozen and pellets and is a very social fish, always comes over to check out anybody standing by the tank.
At the moment he is my fav fish.

[chris121277]

A wile back I got a used 30gal off one of my customers with intentions of turning into a sump, well I've finally got around to getting the glass to make the dividers in it.....and it's time to get down to business. This is going to add aprox 10-15 gal to my system as well as give me more room for my fuge / bad fishy box.

Any suggestions on what I should be doing are welcome.......
The plans so far are pretty basic......triple divider bubble trap, and a divider between the trap and pump to make a fuge section.
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB190120.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB190121.jpg

[danny zubot]

You've seen mine, its about as basic as they come. 1 up 1 down where ther water comes in, and another at the opposite end to act as a stop if you want a fuge. I've seen more creative sumps with very elaborate baffle configurations so maybe someone else has a better design.

How many baffles do you have?

[chris121277]

So.....I have 3 of the 4 baffles siliconed into place just need to wait until it sets a little before adding the forth.

Because of the limited space to make it easier to work on I'm thinking of cutting back the PVC pipes that I have coming from the over flow and using flexible tubing......does anyone have any pro's or cons of doing this?

I can't wait to finally have a big enough sump to be able to get the heater out of the display and have room to put my media reactor somewhere.

[chris121277]

You've seen mine, its about as basic as they come. 1 up 1 down where ther water comes in, and another at the opposite end to act as a stop if you want a fuge. I've seen more creative sumps with very elaborate baffle configurations so maybe someone else has a better design.

How many baffles do you have?

I'm putting in 3 baffles for the bubble trap, and one to make a stop for the fuge.........When you put in your baffles what order did you put them in...from the in side....over under, or under over?

[fishytime]

Over/under/over....will force any microbubbles up to the surface....your gonna love the sump for many reasons

[chris121277]

I got all the baffles siliconed into place, now just going to leave it for a few days so it completely cures. I'll properly end up waiting until next week end to get it put in and running.
I took a few shots to show how much bigger the new sump is going to be.

My existing set up
(the return area is so small that I'm now topping it off twice a day)
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB200031.jpg
The new sump set in place in front of it
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB200032.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB200033.jpg

[Leah]

Hey wanna make me a sump too! he he,actually how is the Copperband doing? I want one so bad.

[chris121277]

Not sure why......but unfortunately during the night he decided to go and check out the rest of the kitchen:sad:
I'd love to get another
WOW...I didn't realize how dusty the inside of my stand was until I looked at that first pic again....
Hey wanna make me a sump too! he he,actually how is the Copperband doing? I want one so bad.

[chris121277]

I was experimenting with the camera, I think I'm getting the hole manual focus thing figured out. Here are a few of the pics that I thought I'd share.
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270032.jpg
Just got these....watermelon zoo's
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270036.jpg
another of my new corals....was supposed to be a hammer but looks like a frogspawn to me
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270037.jpg
and a shot of my tri-color acro
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270034.jpg

[chris121277]

I was experimenting with the camera, I think I'm getting the hole manual focus thing figured out. Here are a few of the pics that I thought I'd share.
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270032.jpg
Just got these....watermelon zoo's
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270036.jpg
another of my new corals....was supposed to be a hammer but looks like a frogspawn to me
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270037.jpg
and a shot of my tri-color acro
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270034.jpg

[Leah]

Holy! Are those the frags you just got? Some look like colonies! They are incredible :biggrin:

[chris121277]

Holy! Are those the frags you just got? Some look like colonies! They are incredible :biggrin:

Just the frogspawn and the zoo's are from that order.....the other 2 I have had for a wile.

[chris121277]

The new sump is up and running!
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270033.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270032-1.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270031.jpg

[chris121277]

Had a bit of a panic situation last night.
I was checking out the skimmer and the media reactor to make sure everything was working properly when I saw a drip fall from the back of the tank, apparently when I cut the pipes from my over flow and attached the flex hose to the ends I tweaked to bulk heads to the side and they started to drip. (lost about 1/2 a gallon on the hardwood floors behind the tank)

Luckily I seen it when I did and got a bunch of towels down to soak it up.......so far no signs of damage to the floor.

When I re-installed the overflow this time I put it on the far right hand side were the pipes are visible to be able to inspect for leaks easier. But now it changes how the tank flows..and I have to start from scratch with my power head adjustments.

[chris121277]

Just a few more pics to share with you guys
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270030.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270031-1.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270032-2.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/PB270034-1.jpg

[fishay]

Nice pics, especially that second coral...what is it?

[chris121277]

I'm not positive but I have been told it is a "Blue tip Tonga Hairy shroom"
Nice pics, especially that second coral...what is it?