First DIY Build, Please Help

[Hop]

DeSoto? Which state?

[coraln'fish]

Missouri. It's pretty small, 6,750 people. I think I am the only one with a reef tank. I'm going to Home Depot and Lowes to price some lumber. Be back shortly. Peace.

~Ryan

[coraln'fish]

I figure the wood and plumbing will be $100, that's rounded up to the nearest hundred. The most expensive thing will be the OM Squirt 2-way. i already have live-rock and sand is cheap.

~Ryan

[Hop]

Yup But it will be a great set up!

[coraln'fish]

Question, do you drill tempered glass?

[AquaNovice]

Originally Posted by coraln'fish

Question, do you drill tempered glass?

DO NOT TRY AND DRILL TEMPERED GLASS, IT WILL SHATTER

[Hop]

Well you will definately know if it's tempered shortly after drilling

[coraln'fish]

Finally have a new 15 gallon aquarium ordered from Truvu, should be in the next three weeks. This will be much better, they will drill the holes and make an overflow. In the meantime the stand is being completed and I'm going to order an OMsquirt 2 way. I'm about to order to return pumps, which quiet one pumps would be good for the CLS and the sump return? I'm pretty excited as this whole project turns out, I'm spending a little more money than wanted but it's no big deal..........yet. Should have things done in six weeks. Peace.

~Ryan

[coraln'fish]

So I took a break over Labor day and went to Elephant rocks National Park. I did finish the frame of the stand and it's my first project like this and my experience is a shop class back in Junior High but I think it will do.

Here is my girlfriend Ashley and me at the park.







And here is the stand progress:

[coraln'fish]

Okay, I need to make my pictures smaller next time. I thought I would show you my AP24 as of now.



So now all I have to do is finish the stand, order the pumps and OM Squirt 2 way, finish plumbing, and get it all put together. Oh, I'm going to the Atlanta city aquarium this weekend so I'll post some pics for that as well. Peace.

~Ryan

Here's the hole pattern for the aquarium:

[hng]

Looks good so far. Hopefully, you remembered to use waterproof glue for all of your joints. What do you plan for the stand? Are you using a plywood skin or will it be left open?

[coraln'fish]

I plan on using a plywood skin and throw on some crown moulding. I didn't but I plan on epoxy coating the inside and sealing all the joints.

[hng]

If you're using a plywood skin, then you could get rid of the horizontal brace that goes above the sump. That will help open up more room for down there. Also, it appears that all of the weight of the tank is on the rectangular frame of 2X4s, and that weight is transferred (vertically) to the supporting 2X4s via a few screws or nails. If you don't use glue in those joints (vertical 2X4s to frame), then all of the weight of the tank has to be supported by the screws themselves. It would be a tremendously stronger union if you used waterproof glue in those joints. This will also help for the long term integrity of your stand. Since we're dealing with a humid enviorment, it is only a matter of time before the screws rust, and their strength is compromised. Just my 2 cents

[coraln'fish]

Those screws are 3'' anodized steel decking screws. They're tough. I'm going to put a top on the stand and that will help distribute the weight and the weight will mainly be on the vertical pieces. Right? Plus, like I said, I'm going to seal the inside with an epoxy coat, and have two exhaust fans to move the humid air out. I've gotten everthing figured out so I have plenty of room inside, all I'll have mainly is my protein skimmer, a heater, and a couple other things. My next stand I build I will use glue though just to be safe. Thanks for the help.

[Fly Guy]

Have you drilled the holes in the tank yet??

I would usggest raising the CLS infeed, as well as raising the outlets. You want that cls infed high enough that it will collect less junk, and at a place that you can easily reach it for maintenance as the intake screen will need cleaned every now and then. I like the placemtn towards the side...a little higher would be better, more like mid tank. You want the outlets higher as well so you can get good flow thorughout the tank while also breaking the surface up well to help promote good gas exchange. I owuld also suggest putting them closer to the sides so you have more opti0ons for directional flow throughout the tank


If you have already drilled them.......disregard what I just said.


Omniflex nozzles for the outputs are great.....low profile and can be aimed anywhere you want by simply aiming them. Spa safety suction covers for the intake. VEry low profile and hard to see and do a great job.