Tank Stand Mod

Irishman360 · 06/17/2015, 11:44 PM

I have a 60 gallon cube tank that is currently going through a cycle. I have a wet/dry filter beneath it but will be replacing it with a sump. I was either going to buy one or make my own. The problem I have is that the door to the front is too small to fit a sump through it. Would there be stability problems if I make that door bigger or make a new door on the side? I would just move the tank to put it through the back, but that already weighs 500+ lbs. and don't feel like straining myself or disturbing the tank. Anyone have any ideas or some insight on this?

rwb500 · 06/18/2015, 01:29 AM

we'd have to see how the stand is made if you want us to determine if it will be OK to remove part of it.

Jay_R · 06/18/2015, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishman360

I have a 60 gallon cube tank that is currently going through a cycle. I have a wet/dry filter beneath it but will be replacing it with a sump. I was either going to buy one or make my own. The problem I have is that the door to the front is too small to fit a sump through it. Would there be stability problems if I make that door bigger or make a new door on the side? I would just move the tank to put it through the back, but that already weighs 500+ lbs. and don't feel like straining myself or disturbing the tank. Anyone have any ideas or some insight on this?

I wouldn't adjust the side panel in anyway, as a square tank would need supporting on at least 2 sides.. If you adjust the stability of one side, you could be asking for trouble as the tank would only be supported on one corner.

I would think modding the front door would be OK, providing you dont mess with the 3 supports on the sides and back.

davocean · 06/18/2015, 08:09 AM

Need to see pics to give advice on this one.

Irishman360 · 06/18/2015, 09:49 AM

Here are the pictures of my stand that I want to mod.

Windy2 · 06/18/2015, 12:47 PM

The stand is built like a cabinet with front facing and plywood or chip board sides and back. In my opinion they are integral to the cabinet and I would not remove them. Putting it in from the back may be your best method.

tidus10 · 06/18/2015, 12:55 PM

How did the sump get in? From the top? Its hard to tell if its skinned or if the plywood is the integrity to it.. I wouldnt risk it..

davocean · 06/18/2015, 01:16 PM

I probably would not cut into that, not w/out adding vertical supports around side of cabinet(for a side door)
I would not touch front.
Nothing can be done safely IMO while tank is full on top.
So if it were me, and guessing you went in through back for what you have now, I would drain water into brutes, I'd use a thin pry bar or something that can lift just enough to use those furniture slider pads, I'd slide it away from wall, insert new sump, slide back, pump water back in.
That is what I would do.

Irishman360 · 06/18/2015, 04:06 PM

The filter can go in sideways then I can turn it in the stand. Wouldn't removing some water disrupt the cycle in anyway?

davocean · 06/18/2015, 04:43 PM

Not really.
I wouldn't take long coffee breaks or anything doing it, but it shouldn't take that long to drain, insert, pump water right back in.
I sure as heck would not cut into it w/ a full tank above, that stands for much more serious potential problems.

Tang Salad · 06/18/2015, 07:04 PM

I'd follow davocean's advice. Have everything ready and in place and you can have the tank drained and refilled in under 20 minutes.

Irishman360 · 06/18/2015, 07:49 PM

I bought a 24" high tank that I am going to build a sump out of and it fits perfectly, without having to modify the stand at all! Thanks for the advice everyone!

davocean · 06/18/2015, 08:17 PM

Cool deal, just make sure you have enough height clearance for maintenance on skimmer, and keep in mind skimmer pumps need to be raised about 6" off floor or around there usually.

Irishman360 · 06/18/2015, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

Cool deal, just make sure you have enough height clearance for maintenance on skimmer, and keep in mind skimmer pumps need to be raised about 6" off floor or around there usually.

The skimmer I am getting will have a built in pump on it. Do I still need to raise it?

daveM100 · 06/18/2015, 10:18 PM

Depends on the water lvl in your sump and the optimal working water level for the skimmer.

Jay_R · 06/19/2015, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveM100

Depends on the water lvl in your sump and the optimal working water level for the skimmer.

+1 Very important consideration.

06/17/2015, 11:44 PM	#1
Irishman360 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Brighton, CO Posts: 286	Tank Stand Mod I have a 60 gallon cube tank that is currently going through a cycle. I have a wet/dry filter beneath it but will be replacing it with a sump. I was either going to buy one or make my own. The problem I have is that the door to the front is too small to fit a sump through it. Would there be stability problems if I make that door bigger or make a new door on the side? I would just move the tank to put it through the back, but that already weighs 500+ lbs. and don't feel like straining myself or disturbing the tank. Anyone have any ideas or some insight on this?

06/18/2015, 08:09 AM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Need to see pics to give advice on this one. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/18/2015, 12:55 PM	#7
tidus10 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oswego, Ny Posts: 610	How did the sump get in? From the top? Its hard to tell if its skinned or if the plywood is the integrity to it.. I wouldnt risk it.. __________________ Support your local Reef Club! Upstate Ny - Lake Ontario Reef Society Current: 40B- Fish, Water, Rocks, Sand, Pumps, Heaters, Skimmer, Coral 93C build coming soon

06/18/2015, 01:16 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I probably would not cut into that, not w/out adding vertical supports around side of cabinet(for a side door) I would not touch front. Nothing can be done safely IMO while tank is full on top. So if it were me, and guessing you went in through back for what you have now, I would drain water into brutes, I'd use a thin pry bar or something that can lift just enough to use those furniture slider pads, I'd slide it away from wall, insert new sump, slide back, pump water back in. That is what I would do. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/18/2015, 04:43 PM	#10
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Not really. I wouldn't take long coffee breaks or anything doing it, but it shouldn't take that long to drain, insert, pump water right back in. I sure as heck would not cut into it w/ a full tank above, that stands for much more serious potential problems. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/18/2015, 01:29 AM	#2
rwb500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,694	we'd have to see how the stand is made if you want us to determine if it will be OK to remove part of it.

06/18/2015, 12:47 PM	#6
Windy2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Washington Posts: 257	The stand is built like a cabinet with front facing and plywood or chip board sides and back. In my opinion they are integral to the cabinet and I would not remove them. Putting it in from the back may be your best method.

06/18/2015, 04:06 PM	#9
Irishman360 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Brighton, CO Posts: 286	The filter can go in sideways then I can turn it in the stand. Wouldn't removing some water disrupt the cycle in anyway?

06/18/2015, 07:04 PM	#11
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	I'd follow davocean's advice. Have everything ready and in place and you can have the tank drained and refilled in under 20 minutes. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

06/18/2015, 07:49 PM	#12
Irishman360 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Brighton, CO Posts: 286	I bought a 24" high tank that I am going to build a sump out of and it fits perfectly, without having to modify the stand at all! Thanks for the advice everyone!

06/18/2015, 08:17 PM	#13
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Cool deal, just make sure you have enough height clearance for maintenance on skimmer, and keep in mind skimmer pumps need to be raised about 6" off floor or around there usually. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/18/2015, 10:18 PM	#15
daveM100 What? Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 403	Depends on the water lvl in your sump and the optimal working water level for the skimmer.