Leaking tank, so time to rebuild!!
 

Well i've finally had it with my little 10 gallon Nano tank. It has had a slow leak around the top and bottom seams for about 6 months now. I think the tank has had a pretty good run, i've had it for 17 years now (only the last 3 have been setup up as a reef tank). Definitly good value for a ~$15 tank.

So this past week i've been geting materials together for a 20g high tank. I decided to make my own stand since i didn't like any of the ones commercially available.

I built a 2x4 frame sheeted with 1/2" plywood, installed a shelf to store all my supplies/chemicals and made sure there was enough room at the bottom of the stand to hold another 10g tank. I was thinking maybe of doing a sump, but decided on having 2 seperate systems and run the 10g as a quarantine/ frag tank.I added a 5/4" solid maple ledge around the top of the stand and covered the rest with a simulated stone siding. Im pretty happy with the results

Heres some pictures of my progress...
oh and i tinted the back of the tank with some limo tint at the suggestion of canreef member Madico

Attachment 1364

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Hey cool stand, I like that stone siding look. Hehe it sort of looks like a mini fireplace with the door off :razz:

Nice work :cool:

i like the look of the stone sideing.... was it hard to install?

That stone look is very nice!

What is the "stone" siding made of?
Is it stone of some form of instulation?

yep, the product is called nextstone. it goes on in strips 4" x 48". Its very lightwieght and durable. I believe it it made of some high density urethane. Also adds an r value of 5.6 or something if you need it :razz:

Was just wondering how it would look inside a FW tank.:wink:

i think it might work, i've seen it used in shower applications. its just a matter of well making it uh... not float ;)

Just need a mitre saw, screw gun and some patience :mrgreen:

Dude that stand is sick! Wow!!

where did you find that stuff and cost efective?

i wouldn't call it cost effective, but its what i wanted. Its ~$12-16/sq ft. and i bought 20 sq ft. for this little project. You can get it thru windsor plywwod, Trail building supplies. A company called instone in edmonton sells a similar product, around $16/ sq ft.

kool a little pricey for my stand thou

I transfered over my stock from the 10G to the 20G and the 10G last night, man does that suck. I hope everything turns out ok. I'll post some pics later today or tomorrow. I still need about 15-20 lbs of live rock so the tanks a little empty and the water is pretty low :(

Hey...looks like a wrap around bar with a rock base. Looks familiar, yet...smaller. Obviously, I think it looks great!

Thanks! your tank is amazing, i plan on moving in the next year so doing a permanent install was out of the question. But, i definitly see something like you have acomplished in my future. Your tank is an inspiration and it was a kick in the pants to get started on my stand when i saw pictures of your tank! :razz:

I Put in ~20 more pounds of live rock last night so im going to snap some pictures and post em, even though theres not too much to look at right now

Well, its been a week since i added ~20lbs more or live rock. I had a minor diatom outbreak, probably from the new live sand i added. But i did manage to snap a few pics. Bear with me the pics are kinda bad, its my work camera.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1890.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1891.jpg

Lookin' good!

A bit off topic, what bike is that? It looks like a dual crown or am I just seeing things? (I'm into DH biking so I notice things like that :) )

Thanks, im working on a matching hood this weekend, then i can add my T5 HO's, just waiting on someone to hold the other end of some plywood for me to run it thru the table saw.
Yeah, thats a complete front wheel that was supposed to go on a bike i was building. I have a set of brand new 2003 Marzocchi Super-T pro's, and other new build parts too that match up nicely to the wheelset. Im looking to get rid of that stuff ASAP. If you (or anyone) know anyone who would be interested PM me or somthing and i can give a detailed list of parts as its just taking up closet space right now.

I finished up the hood last night for the most part, installed 2x24w T5 HO with Geissman Aquablue + bulbs in addition to the 2x65w coralife 10k/Royal Blue and 2x3/4w moonlights i previously had running. Going to post some pictures when i get home.. Now i guess im going to have to get on that auto top-off system. Anyone have a used one?

Tank Progess pic's
 

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1900.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1902.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1903.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1904.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1905.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1906.jpg

Tank Pic's
 

Some pictures of the tank now, has a long way to go still, but i've got time :biggrin:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1895.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1897.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1909.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMGP1907.jpg

Really nice work. Very clean. I have been wanting to build a stand for my 55G to raise it up about as high as yours is....but I'm useless with tools and I've never built anything in my life! *sigh*

Again, good job.

WOW - that looks great and your tank is coming along very nicely! You should be proud of yourself.
Now if you could just build me a couple that look just like that you can be my new hero.:mrgreen:

Thanks! I really appreciate the comments, i had alot of fun doing it! I'd be glad to help anyone with their project! Im going to add an auto top-off system as soon as i find one, or order one from JL Aquatics. I also may throw in a couple fans in the top of the hood to cut down on the heat.

Just browsing through and seen this. Wow is right!! The whole look to it , tank and stand is just really neat and original. I love the stand as well.... your aquascape is very cool as well, I am diggin' the ledges... great job!!!

Some new pictures i snapped today
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0111.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0113.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0110.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0108.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0107.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0106.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0105.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0104.jpg

Fantastic looking setup and tank! Definetly set-up for that clam with the lighting! Heh. I also like how the T5 bulb at the front folds up and out of the way!

Is that a Tunze Nanostream I see in there?

Keep up the good work!

Chris

Looks great.

How is that nanostream and refractometer working out for you BTW ?

Thanks, i had to put the T5HO in like that to give myself more room when i opened the hood to tool around in there. I was thinking of upgrading to MH sometime, but the Monti, digi, birdsnest and Crocea all seem to be thriving with the current lighting setup! The only thing i might do is get some fans to alleviate the heat.


Thanks, the nano stream is working out great, lots of flow almost too much. It was a little reluctant to get started and can be kinda noisy compared to my old wisper quiet Hydor Koralia 1. The refractometer is working well, i think my salinity was a little high when i first got it from you ~1.030 since then ive corrected it to ~1.026. Handy little tool! Thanks for the Powerhead and Refractometer!

Looking good D-rock.

Great setup Derek! Im not sure how I missed this thread.

How many hours did you spend putting all the rock on the stand.. :mrgreen:

New Shots
 

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7452-01.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7451-01.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7444-01.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7441-01.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7440-01.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7439-01.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7437-01.jpg

Growth Pic's
 

I just thought i post some pics to show some growth of some corals and inverts.

Purple Digi.

2007/06/07
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_7452-01.jpg

2007/07/16
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0107.jpg

Birdsnest

2007/5/12
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0108.jpg

2007/7/16
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0109.jpg

Finger Leather

2007/5/12
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/IMG_0113.jpg

2007/7/16
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0111.jpg

In these two pictures you can see the Feather duster reproduced and there is a smaller leathery tube growing to the left of the clam (right below the parent feather duster)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0115.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0113.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0114.jpg

Emerald Crab on candy cane
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0116.jpg

Sweet lookin tank scoob!!!

Thanks! I think its time to update it a bit. i'll post some more pic's tomorrow.

Update
 

Heres some pics to show the growth and progress of the tank.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0156.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0160.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0162.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0163.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0166.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0173.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0175.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0176.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0177.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0178.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0179.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0180.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...i/CIMG0182.jpg

Filling in nicely :)

what is that coral in the 9th and 10th pic?

The coral in the 9th and 10th pic's is a favia