My 120 Gal reef

[gmatt]

Originally posted by Croman
Lookin Good.

Thanks!

[gmatt]

Originally posted by smmscott
I am subscribed to this thread. Later this summer I am planning on doing a similar thing with a 120. I like the raised fuge idea and have similar ideas for the cabinet. I am interested to see how fast things fill up in yours as my plans have every nook filled up. Good luck and keep us posted it looks great so far.
Scott

Thanks,
Let me know when you start yours I like to steal others ideas. Uh, borrow. LOL.

[gmatt]

I wanted to put control switches and outlets in this cabinet instead of having outlet strips everywhere. This type of design is a little less flexible but more elegant. It's also easier to keep the wires from going all over the place. It also allows you to selectively turn off individual items without unplugging anything.



In order to put the switches on a panel I needed rails to screw the switch panel into. I ended up having to buy an angled drill chuck device by Milwaukee. I used this device for both drilling the holes as well as installing the screws. If I had thought it out more in advance I could have put the rails on before assembling the back of the stands frame.







On the inside I mounted a panel for the outlets. I did not need any rails I just used the existing 2x4 and 1x4's.







On the outside I mounted a panel for the switches. This will be covered by a door when I do the outside skin of the stand. In addition to switches I am using some wall outlet timers made my intermatic. I got them at Home Depot. There will be a mix of switches and timers.

[gmatt]

I want the bottom of the stand to hold water. Not very deep just enough to hold spills and maybe a small leak. So I sealed all seams before painting. I also beveled the edges of both stand so that I could put sealer in the seam without the sump tearing the seal.



I used a dremel sander bit to bevel the edge.







Seal all seams on the bottom.

[nanokeeper]

GMatt. Great project you have going there. I just moved out of Boynton after living there for 28 years. I wish I would have stayed another year just to see this project in person. If you havn't checked out the Palm Beach Marine Aquarium Society (www.pbmas.org) I would highly recommend it. Great bunch of people there. You have a few hard core reefers right in Boynton. Good luck. I'm definitely tagging along on this one. I'm also in the process of planning a 120 gallon setup. I had a 90 gallon in Boynton and after selling all my livestock to move I decided it was a great chance to upgrade while still using all the same equipment. My stand is very similar in its strength/design minus the refugium stand attached. Keep the great pics coming. I may borrow some ideas if you don't mind. Take care.

[nanokeeper]

GMatt. Great project you have going there. I just moved out of Boynton after living there for 28 years. I also see that you kiteboard. I am very jealous since I now have to drive 2 hours to get to the beach. I wish I would have stayed another year just to see this project in person.

If you haven't checked out the Palm Beach Marine Aquarium Society (www.pbmas.org) I would highly recommend it. Great bunch of people there. You have a few hard core reefers right in Boynton.

I'm also in the process of planning a 120 gallon setup. I had a 90 gallon in Boynton and after selling all my livestock in order to move I decided it was a great chance to upgrade while still using all the same equipment. My stand is very similar in its strength/design minus the refugium stand attached. Keep the great pics coming. I may borrow some ideas if you don't mind. Good luck. I'm definitely tagging along on this one. Take care.

[tomasga]

Originally posted by Weatherman
Now, don’t you go wishing another Wilma (or Frances, or Jeanne, or Charlie, or Katrina, or Rita, or Dennis) on us poor South Florida residents. We’ve had enough of that.


Seriously, though…

If you don’t already have a generator, I highly recommend a Honda EU series model. Very quiet and very fuel-efficient (and we know how difficult it is to find a gas station open after a hurricane).

Please refrain from mentioning Wilma (LOL)
--Frusterated Sunrise, FL Resident

[gmatt]

Originally posted by nanokeeper
GMatt. Great project you have going there. I just moved out of Boynton after living there for 28 years. I also see that you kiteboard. I am very jealous since I now have to drive 2 hours to get to the beach. I wish I would have stayed another year just to see this project in person.

If you haven't checked out the Palm Beach Marine Aquarium Society (www.pbmas.org) I would highly recommend it. Great bunch of people there. You have a few hard core reefers right in Boynton.

I'm also in the process of planning a 120 gallon setup. I had a 90 gallon in Boynton and after selling all my livestock in order to move I decided it was a great chance to upgrade while still using all the same equipment. My stand is very similar in its strength/design minus the refugium stand attached. Keep the great pics coming. I may borrow some ideas if you don't mind. Good luck. I'm definitely tagging along on this one. Take care.

No worries take as many ideas as you like. I've done the same along the way.

[gmatt]

OOPS.
I told myself I didn't want to build the stand until I had all the tanks, so I did. I should have waited until I made all modifications to the tanks. I later decided to get rid of the center brace on the 120 gal. display tank after I had most of the stand was built.

Removing the center brace required me to put the Euro style rim around the top. This would have covered most of the overflows openings. So I moved the brace on the back of the tank out to leave a larger openings on the overflows.


This is the design of the modification I am going to do:

Before:









After:










I had a hard time finding information about removing the center brace and installing a euro-brace. I thought others might find the same problem so I created a separate thread. If you would like to follow the progress of converting from a center brace to a euro-brace you can click on the link below:


http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ferrerid=42160

[gmatt]

OOPS yeah, oops.
After making measurement, ordering the glass, layout of the pieces I realized this would no longer fit the stand so here is the stand with modifications.

Before:









After:

[lessans]

I have a very hard time interpreting what that little pedistle is for. It's really hard to imagine how the stand will fit into this stand. Can you explain?

[gmatt]

Here’s both stands with the primer coat of paint.

[gmatt]

Here’s both stands with the final coat of paint.

[gmatt]

I have a question for anyone following this thread. What kind of paint did you use inside your stand? The follwing image shows some of the products I used. The paint I used I purchased because it said Epoxy I thought it would be waterproof and durable. As it turned out it was very thin and took three coats. Is there a better type of paint to use on the inside of the stand?

[Rendos]

I used Kilz as a primer...then I used an oil-based white paint for the top coat.

[sltwtrlvr]

WOW! I've added your thread to my favorite place! :-) Keep us posted and can't wait to see after it's done!

Michelle

[wonk]

nice work! It's remarkable how much work doing the stand, hood, and trim are (DIY). It's at least as much as doing the rest of the tank. And it's not really as exciting as doing more of the tank-proper work. . .though at least the materials dont hurt as much

I'm getting to the end of my stand/casework. I'm keeping a thread about my 120g tank as well.

I used doubled 2x6 construction for my stand. since my stand is really part of the house, I wasn't nearly as nice about the rough work as you have been.

[want2reef]

For a final coat I would use an Alkyd Enamel (oil base).

[gmatt]

Originally posted by nanokeeper
GMatt. Great project you have going there. I just moved out of Boynton after living there for 28 years. I also see that you kiteboard. I am very jealous since I now have to drive 2 hours to get to the beach. I wish I would have stayed another year just to see this project in person.

If you haven't checked out the Palm Beach Marine Aquarium Society (www.pbmas.org) I would highly recommend it. Great bunch of people there. You have a few hard core reefers right in Boynton.

I'm also in the process of planning a 120 gallon setup. I had a 90 gallon in Boynton and after selling all my livestock in order to move I decided it was a great chance to upgrade while still using all the same equipment. My stand is very similar in its strength/design minus the refugium stand attached. Keep the great pics coming. I may borrow some ideas if you don't mind. Good luck. I'm definitely tagging along on this one. Take care.

Thanks for the tip about PBMAS I will definitely look them up. I actually work in WPB, and live in Boynton. I'd be very curious to see others tanks in the area. As far as SPS reef the LFS don't seems to have much except Oceans below.

Thanks,

[Bruno]

It looks great so far. I sure would like to see that in person whens it's done. I live in Boynton also.

[nanokeeper]

Thanks for the tip about PBMAS I will definitely look them up. I actually work in WPB, and live in Boynton. I'd be very curious to see others tanks in the area. As far as SPS reef the LFS don't seems to have much except Oceans below.

No problem. Joining that club was one of the best things I've ever done in this hobby. I was fortunate to be one of the first members and watched it grow to what it is now. Everyone involved are some of the best people I've ever met. Initially each monthly meeting was held at a local hobbyist's house so that you had a chance to see their tank and learn the philosophies of how they approach the hobby. My wife, who really dislikes this "fish stuff", even went to some of the meetings and really enjoyed them. You wouldn't believe how many amazing tanks are located in PBC. I don't think you'd regret it at all.

As far as stores. Rob at Ocean's Below is great and always stocks the primo stuff. There was a store that opened last year and is located a few blocks north of 10 ave on Federal hywy. Can't remember the name but if you ask at the www.pbmas.org site I'm sure they can tell you. All of their display tanks are made of starfire glass and they have a beautiful tank dedicated to sps. Coral Sea Aquariums on Military trail north of Southern blvd has some nice stuff too.

I love how your stand is turning out. Please keep the pics coming.

[mille239]

Beautiful work, I can't wait to see it come together! I used the Kilz paint for my stand and the wall behind it, it seemed to cover pretty well.

How is the euro-bracing comming along? any pics?

I too am setting up a 120 gallon, the build-up is at:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=754066

Great job, keep it comming!

[mille239]

Oops...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=754066

[adnup]

WOW - I'm jealous! Looks insane!!
Jumping on for the ride

[gmatt]

Originally posted by lessans
I have a very hard time interpreting what that little pedistle is for. It's really hard to imagine how the stand will fit into this stand. Can you explain?

Sorry for not responding earlier. Are you talking about the 4 leg pedestal on top of the Stand? If so that is not going to be used. The glass lip on my euro style rim will not fit with the vertical 1x4s in the back on the right and left hand sides. So I cut the tops of them off to make room for the euro top glass rim that I did not plan for in the original design. The eruo glass top sticks out 1 1/2" past the back of the tank.


Are you talking about the pedestal under the Stand? That was me simply putting wood on top of the 2x4 frame. The frame was there I just covered it, Then I thought it makes a good channel for wiring and a raised ledge for small equipment like pumps, and other equipment.