So got the stand all primed up last night. I realize its not 100% waterproof but I dont have that kind of money to be epoxy coating everything. It should help and be better then nothing.
Last night I also tried painting the back of the tank black. Now im not sure how I got away with it on my last tank and really wasnt sure how I would like the results of this one with the external overflow I figured what the hey. Well I failed. No surprise there.
Even if the paint stuck to the silicone I still just dont like seeing the overflow box and glass ends on the back of the tank. I think im going to see if I can track down a piece of black acrylic and I can even get a rake cut into the top for the overflow to stop critters from getting in. I know the risk of an overflow is higher with a rake but as long as its clean I think the risk is minimal. A float switch will be in the near future to shut the pump off should the water level get too high. Really any tank with a sump should have one in my mind. Sooo with that out of the way I decided to move on. Started working on mocking up the plumbing.
The two on the left are 1" drains. I dont have really any water level in the overflow downstairs on the 90gal with 2 1" drains so I figured Id be ok on this one with just two. Plus the high water level switch yada, yada, you get the idea. I havent decided on wether Im going to try and put a ball valve or two in the lines to play with a herbie style as the only noise I get downstairs is the water hitting the sump. The 1" bulkhead on the right is for the pump output to the ocean motion. Im using the bulkhead as a mount of sorts I guess. It was planned as an emergency overflow but figured with the switch, yada, yada again, I could use it as a return as tolerances are tight in the back of the stand for plumbing.
Heres what I have planned for the ocean motion to sit on. I was going to go with 45's but run into height problems so 90s will have to do. Should be pretty sturdy. Im going to try to fasten the longer outlet runs ,that go to the front of the tank, to the stand somehow. Ill figure it out better when they get mocked in. The hardest part im finding with this is really the compact size. Trying to get an ocean motion in with all that plumbing but stay out of the way of a potential lighting fixture. Downstairs it was kinda frankenstein it together, who cares if it sticks out 2". Well that cant happen up here. Not a huge deal so far, just taking a bit more time to make sure its going to get done right.
Oh and I have to mention a HUGE thanks to whatcaneyedo as hes helping me out with the coral end of things (babysitting a few things for me) and Madreefer for helping me out with the fish situation and finding some good homes for them. Took a lot of stress off now that I can do it right and make sure im not throwing a bunch of stuff into a tank thats not ready or too small for them.