sooo somebody got motivated today.... i couldnt stand it any more fresh lumber laying around. so i made this for kicks. regretfully im 1 2x6 8' short of finishing the stand framework...

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/100_6658.jpg

make sure to put at least 1 vertical brace in the middle. just to be safe

there will be 2 vertical braces in the back of the stand the front will have no brace i doubled the 2x6 and made it a header. more than enough strength there. there is going to be only one removable panel on the front. im tired of doors and ill enjoy the ability to work under tank freely as well the sump conpartment is going to be divided by the equiptment compartment and that divider will add extra support as well. m only real concern is the halide ballasts overheating.but ill figure it out once the rough in work is complete. but thank you for the suggestion.

Great job on the stand!! Looks like things are progressing nicely for you, but seriously......hurry up!!!:lol: this has been a great build to watch!!

I'm trying lol every time I go to do something... Something happens work on rock wall it rains go to do something else and the twins are cranky... Then that thing called work gets in the way too. Being on call 24 hours can be a bugger. I'm still aiming for end of June beginning of July not much left to do. Skin stand run wires put in place plumb the lid will come later.

I'm glad your enjoying its fun for me too


Sent from a pineapple under the sea...

now that the stand is framed and ready for skinning i have come tomy first real hurdle. how to secure the access panel on the front of the tank. with the gurls being more mobile i want the front panel to be easily accessible but secure enough from tiny curiousities. so this is what i have come up with. since i dont want to use regular cam locks and dealing with im going to use (hopefully) my reef controller to actuate an electroning latch. or i may hve a seperate switch. either which way i will have two of these on the stand and custom made strikes to hold the panel in place,

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/tanklock.jpg

i know what your thinking cause i am thinking it as well. what if the power goes out and i need in no power no open. i will be having a small back up batery inside the stand as well that will power both the latch and the controller base module in case of power outage this way i can still monitor orp ph and temp of the system forprolonged outages.

in allhonesty i havent worked it out completely but im awaiting the parts and im good at winging it lol

Build is lookin' awesome, as always ...
I'll suggest something that doesn't come up much on this site ...... but don't ever lose the key :smile:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware...=3,41399,41403

Just a suggestion, but maybe it'll give you something to think about :wink:

that thing would annoy me having to look for them all the time as well i would have to attach bothside to open wheni can just press a button to open. i do realise the risk but the risk over wieghs the possiblity of the girls getting hurt and the look im hoping to achieve. not to mention i like gadgets.

ps i neverhave wo worry bout lost keys magnetic or otherwise :) hence the name if i can break into a bank(yes they asked me to) then i can get into thetank. there will be a third safeguard. that ive thought of since posting

Well then, make your own secret panel, Mr Smartypants :razz:

I look forward to what you come up with, but it better be something stellar now as you've just set the bar ....

Locksmith, Craftsman ....

:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

Its not secret I just posted it lol but I have built secret compartments for ppl



Sent from a pineapple under the sea...