My 125G Build Thread

[footbagger311]

My tank has been out of service for over a year and I feel it is now time to start it up again. Currently, I am still in the planning stages for the tank stand and canopy. My tank is in the back yard chilling, where it has been since about March. Later this week or so I am taking my tank to one of the LFS's to get a coast to coast overflow installed. I am also going to be getting the tank drilled with at least three holes. I plan on taking lots of pix, (as is the norm in these build threads), and getting lots of input from all of y'all.

Right now, I'm wondering how should I go about making the stand? I was at Loew's today and was looking around at some wood. I am highly thinking about putting some small wooden legs on the stand. I saw some flat, round, legs about the size of a 16" softball, flattened on top and bottom of course. I was thinking about making a frame for the stand and just putting some thin material on the vertical faces to cover the gaps. I want to have two large doors on the front of the tank to access the sump when the tank is against the wall. I also want to put the sump on some tracks of sorts to be able to make it accessible through the two front doors. Know what I mean?

[footbagger311]

I also want doors on the sides of the stand. I am still debating on whether or not I want to keep the backside opened up or not because the tank is going against a wall. So, I don't really see the need to cover it up. That just means more money I have to put into the stand and not the tank itself.

[footbagger311]

As far as lighting goes, I have a Nova Extreme T5 HO 39x12 fixture in the garage collecting dust. I was wondering if I'd be able to take the fixture apart and mount the bulbs inside the canopy while making some room for some MH lamps. I also have a 48" strip of Blue LED moon lights that I want to get mounted in there as well, or somewhere in the tank.

If I can't take apart the T5 fixture, I guess I'll have to sell it but I'd rather not because it cost me almost $800.

[footbagger311]

I also plan on getting a new skimmer as well. While I'm at it, I should start getting some reactors and such. I might as well get a new sump too. My current sump/refugium is my old 29G tank. I put some baffles in it so the tank has three compartments. The problem is that with those compartments, there isn't much room in the first one for a larger skimmer. The refugium is also kind of on the small side and the return compartment is the smallest of them all.
What do you suggest?

[footbagger311]

Also, I should mention that all of these ideas are based off the design of my current stand that is in the garage collecting debris. My 29G tank just barely fits into the two doors on the front of the stand. The back is open on it but it has two holes drilled into the top for the return/supply hoses. I want my new stand to be made around the coast to coast design pictured on this site.

[footbagger311]

I am also curious to know if I should use my 1.5" bulkheads for a tank of this size.

[footbagger311]

Another question I have, how large of a sump should I be using? I was looking at some 40G breeder tanks and they looked rather tall. I am guessing I want something sort of shallow. I know my 29G is at least 18" tall. I don't recall the exact measurement though.

Time to go take some pix of my current situation!

[ERICinFL]

There are a few links for stand design in the DIY forums, I'd check there for your dimensions.

I'd leave the back of the stand open, you want as much air circulation as possible.

I'm going to build a stand for my new tank and I'll be putting doors on the side. I want to be able to slide my sump in/out easily if needed, not to mention, I like having as much access as possible under the tank.

If you make a sump, figure out what skimmer you're going to use, how big your stand will be, how much room you'll want for sand, LR, etc., then choose the appropriate sized tank. My rule of thumb with a sump, is getting one that is at least 25% of your tank size. That way, you can have roughly 20% more water, with 5% left to hold the overflow water, if your return pump shuts off. Build the sump around your skimmer and the stand around your sump (building from the ground up ). It'll save you a lot of headache and money in the long run.

Good luck with it!

[footbagger311]

I just got back from Loew's and I spent a lot more than I was planning on spending. I ended up buying a Kreg drill kit, a new tape measure, some screws, and two 2x6's, and five 2x4's.

Tonight, we build.

I tried uploading the pix I tool earlier on facebook but the site was being gay and not uploading my stuff.

[footbagger311]

These are pix of my old tank stand that I was going to try to build around...






and after seeing how the tank stand was made, I decided to start from scratch. Beside, under the linoleum liner, it was all damp and moldy and the stand hadn't been used in over a year.

[footbagger311]

I started building the stand now. Time to upload the pix! It looks decent so far. I'm excited.

[footbagger311]

This is the top of the stand.




Victor (my roommate) cutting some wood for the bottom of the stand.



The start of the base.

[footbagger311]

Adding the vertical supports.


Top is on but not finished.





Some of the pocket holes we drilled with the Kreg kit. Can you say overkill?

[footbagger311]

Now, who knows when the next portion will be done? I know I do not.

[footbagger311]

My next order of business is to possibly get a protein skimmer and a 40G breeder tank for my sump/refugium.

[ERICinFL]

Good start on the stand.

[footbagger311]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a skimmer in a 40G sump?

[asonitez]

MSX 250

[footbagger311]

Is there a website for that?

[footbagger311]

Man, skimmers are mad expensive.

[footbagger311]

Does anyone have any suggestions how I should make the doors on this?

I was thinking about putting some really thin panels for the walls but I don't know how that would support the two front doors.

I am going to want four doors on the stand, one on each side and two in front, large enough to take the sump in and out.

[footbagger311]

One thing I should mention too before it gets too late, the stand doesn't sit level on the one level surface we have available at the moment. I was looking at it and some of the cross beams on the bottom part are slightly protruding from the rest of the perpendicular 2x4's. Could/should I shave those down or will the weight of the tank correct it? I was also thinking about getting some wooden feet on the stand. I saw these round wooden feet at Loew's and I think if I got five of them, it should support everything nicely. What do you think?

[footbagger311]

I was looking at possibly getting this skimmer for my 125. Does this seem like a good buy?

[footbagger311]

How do I move this thread over to the DIY forum? I think I'll have better luck over there.

[Phisher]

R.O. skimmers are pretty good for the money, you can check out the ASM ones as well, they may be a little pricier but they are very nice for tanks that size.

If you use thin (1/4"-1/2") plywood to skin the front add a 2x4 upright behind it for support for the doors and to keep it from bowing or warping. Look for a thread called "show me your fancy stand" in the DIY forums for some really nice finishing ideas. For the doors themselves, a lot of people elect to simply order premade cabinet doors online or from local sources, doors can be a challenge if you are new to woodworking or just don't have the right tools.