40g to 90g Upgrade
 

This will be my chronicles of going from entry level hobbyist to advanced aquarist, or somewhere better than the former.

A little briefing;

I put together my 40g system just over 2 years ago and it was my first foray into SW. In this time I have gained knowledge from the vast amount of information on the internet, forums, talking to good folk, and trial/error.

I have learned from my mistakes of half-assing it, and now I'm ready to take it to the next level.

Here is the 40g in it's current state. (I'll photograph the sump in the daytime)
Attachment 13764


And here is the 90g stand WIP I built today while watching the Seahawks/Packers.
Attachment 13763

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...601242a046.jpg

What good is a stand without the tank?

Going to panel/stain next weekend.

How big of a sump are you doing on this build? Any idea of what equipment you want to use? Solid stand !


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In the last pic you can see my childhood 20 gal underneath. This was my original thought for my sump.

It was my quarantine tank for the last year after I moved from Kitsilano to Cloverdale. I had lent it to my cousin probably 10 years ago or so, and I most likely got it for a birthday present 10-15 years before that. Knowing the history behind this relic makes me feel sentimental towards incorporating it in some way.

That being said... The current thought is that it remains the quarantine and my sump with skimmer/reactors be a 30 long with a small separate 10 gal for refuge. The 10g kinda situated above the 30g and draining into that.

I'm trying to make this build super budget so that my wallet doesn't feel such a hit.

Hey Jeff , I have a 20 g sump. IMO better go with a 30, also there is a glass place by my house, I got the baffle cut from them like 7-8 $ each and build all myself, doesn't take long and you can make it whatever you want or need

Probably a better choice to just go bigger. What's the name of the glass shop? That's much better pricing than where I got my first sump baffles cut! Cheers bud!

I had a 20g sump on my 90 with no issues it just depends on what you want to do with it

Ps be sure you have the ability to remove the sump in case of a leak or crack. If I was you I'd reinforce the top beam on the other side of the stand and use that as the front for this very reason ie: no centre beam

The stand for my 180 as an example

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/100_6681.jpg

And made a single panel to remove for easier workability

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/a...39CAA8A1A7.jpg

For mine it was 2 2x6 sandwiched like a header no sag whatsoever

Wow that's a nice background....

Thanks it has it upsides and downsides