Bigger is definitely better

[IslandN8TIV]

So my beginnings in the hobby started with my BioCube 29 and thanks to another fellow RF member, have upgraded to a 40 gallon breeder. With his encouragement to post the build, here goes. With acquiring the tank for free, I decided to build a stand in the thought that it would be cheaper than buying one.

Here is the beginning: 3/4 inch plywood from Home Depot - Birch I believe.

I was in the process of finding a sump and made sure the front opening was going to accommodate at least a 20 gallon long sump.

I added a 3" base to stabilize the tank and 45 degree angled the corners for flare

Hole sawed the back for the plumbing to be routed and the bottom one for the surge protectors

To be sure that the stand would hold, I doubled up the back and sides of the top of the stand

I bought cheap hinges and a door knob with magnet for the door

Decided to stain it black to match the rest of the furniture

Here is the tank, plumbed with bulk heads and cleaned, prepped and ready for paint

Painted with "Sail Blue" and then finished with flat black to solidify the color when viewing from the front of the tank

On the stand and filling it up. The metal halide light was suspended above. Will lower the shelf for functionality

Aquascaped and waiting for the tank to clear up

Almost there...

All cleaned up

Different angle and its still really clean

This guys loves it!

 

[eww]

Nice n clean. Nice job on the stand and the blue on the back of the tank really looks good. I'm not usually a fan of the blue but for some reason on some tanks it just pops.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Peppie]

Nice build!!
Is that panel saw in your garage?
Hope you glued and screwed that back piece to the top back of your stand. It is holding the back edge of your tank.
Seams to me you know your way around the shop.
Welcome to RF

 

[rukis]

The build looks awesome, we like pictures here, so keep em coming...

 

[IslandN8TIV]

@peppie - Its actually a friends workshop that he was courteous enough for me to use. I am pretty comfortable in a wood shop and handy with the power tools *Tim (The Tool Man) Taylor grunt*. I had a blast putting this together. THANKS RUKIS

 

[dannyt204]

Woah!! I envy you with your craftsmanship! Also what a beautiful tank you have How long did the whole project take you to do?:rockon:

 

[IslandN8TIV]

@DannyT204 - Thank you!!! I built the stand a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday, stained it on a Sunday. I left it outside to air out the smell for a week. I had the tank plumbed and completed the change over from my BioCube in a day...took about 8 hours from painting the back to mounting the light and actual change over from the BioCube.

 

[dannyt204]

I see you don't have an overflow, is there any pros/cons the way you have yours plumbed out compared to a traditional overflow? I havent seen that style before :O looks unique !