New setup thread

[big t]

New setup thread (mostly diy)

Well here is my official new setup thread. I will start with my stand. While it is not built w/ loads of 4x8's and loads of 2x4's I do feel that it will be a more then adequate stand. Some will agree, some will disagree I am sure. The stand is constructed of 3/4" 9 ply walnut finish plywood on the sides back and top. The bottom is a piece of run of the mill 3/4" ply. The top to back joint is situated so that the top completly overlaps the back piece on the horizontal plane. For the rest of the joints however the sides and front sandwich the front. I used almost a hundred biscuits in the construction of this thing! Anyway I will ramble on. The sides sandwhich the middle and then the front is biscuited onto the overall frame of it. The front is constructed of solid birds-eye maple. I used a mortice and tennon type joint to join the 4 pieces. The top section of the front is about 8 inches wide and will be supporting the full width of the front of the tank w/ no center section support, so I am going to double it on the inside w/ a piece of 3/4" plywood. I am also going to run several pieces of ply on edge going from front to back inside the stand underneath the top to keep it from sagging in the middle. This will also provide a nice solid pice for the top to rest on. I am aslo going to do the same thing for the sides. I have yet to build the doors, but they will be a raised panel type w/ walnut frames and a birds-eye maple panel. The stand dimensions are 49.5" wide 36" tall and 24.75" front to back. I am going to be using a 90g tank, but can obviously upgrade to a 120 when i get the 90 overfilled w/ corals So anyway this setup will have a diy sump, diy skimmer, diy kalk reactor, diy calcium reactor. A ampmaster 3000 on closed loop and a iwaki rltx 30 for the return. Enough of the boaring details, now for a pic of the stand. It is being sanded now, and the front will be glued on friday, followed w/ finishing this weekend, and I will most likely be starting on the doors and sump after that.

 

[NaH2O]

Very Nice!!

 

[reeffan]

Cool, can't wait to see the finish set-up. Post some pics

reeffan

 

[esmith]

Tom, the stand looks beautiful already, can't wait to see it once it's finished.

Keep the pics coming.

Eliyah

 

[G~]

as for he strength the wood is plenty strong. i would be worried about water getting into the joints and weakening the glue. since the glue is what is holding it all together you might want to seal those joints real well.

very nice clean look, i like it a lot!!!

G~

 

[Stang69]

Looks great T


Jeff

 

[MarineDreamer]

Seconded! I think it looks great too, Tom!

Trevor

 

[big t]

Hey G~ I used gorilla glue for all the critical joints, so that is waterproof. I used a water resistant glue for all the rest.

 

[DonW]

Tom does your top sit in a rabbit on the front and sides?

Don

 

[big t]

Not really Don, it will essentially once I add the piece of plywood on the inside. The plywood will be glued and screwed in on the inside.

 

[jesshimom]

Where are the ordEr forms? :}

 

[DonW]

Tom
Are you going to be wrapping the inside perimiter with ply on end screwed to the sides and front then pocket holed up into the top?

Don

 

[big t]

Don, Yes except I don't think the pocket holes will be necessary, I think the fact that there will be the several pieces of ply on end going front to back supporting the top will hold it all together

 

[DonW]

Tom,
If you a screwing down from the top into the end grain of ply your defeating the purpose of the screws. The Idea behind the pocket hole are to come up from the bottom into the cross grain of the top. You need support end to end (the long span).

Don

 

[big t]

Hey Don, there will be no screws going into the top directly. The screws will be going straight thru the additional plywood into the side, and this will also be gorilla glued. The top will be glued to the sides, but I don't feel that any screws will provide any benifit.

 

[DonW]

Tom,
Have you found a home for your old tank yet? My soon to be son in-law may be interested.

Don

 

[big t]

Hey Don, the old setup is available. It will include the sump, mag 7 pump, stand, and tank. I am thinking that $200 would be a good price. No lights are included, but if someone wanted it there is a free hood also.

 

[wanareef]

Looks nice - but for something that is closed and behind equipment, that walnut is a little over kill - but a classy cabinet it will be.

 

[big t]

I hey I agree wananreef, If I could have gotten it in a smaller quantity, i would have and just done the sides and top with it, but since I had a whole sheet I just used all of it. I used some epoxy to paint the inside, so its grey anyway.

 

[big t]

update

Well I have put a few coats of varnish on the stand, and built the second overflow. I think I may install it tomorrow, and might even start drilling holes. I think monday I will be starting on my doors Well here are a couple pix. Notice that there is 6 inches behind the tank that will be for plumbing clearance (that is what I told my wife ) Isnt it funny that I already want to upgrade to a 120 hehe.