Shrimpchips's 100g (Live!)

[shrimpchips]

Well, it's been a long time (spoiler alert: nothing concrete has happened! lol), so I thought I'd give an update and get some opinions.

I've finalizd the dimensions and the tank is apparently done and ready to b delivered (I say apparently since I've been waiting on pics from Miracles for about a week now). The final specs for the tank is 42 x 24 x 24 (110g), with the front and two sides in 1/2" starphire glass. Bottom is 5/8" tempered with three holes, and a corner overflow with an angled front (Drawing from Miracles in Glass):


I modelled my stand after D2mini's stand on RC. Here's what I think it'll look like when all done and together:


Here are the stand blueprints. Let me know what you guys think:




I'll be losing the screwstrips in figure 3, instead opting for pocket screws to attach the uprights to the top and bottom frames. I'll probably also add gusseting to preventing racking. Also, the top frame will be 2 x 4, not 2 x 6, as many people agreed that it wouldn't be necessary.

Also, to attach the side panels, I'll be using recessed magnets, and for the front doors, I'll be using these nifty hinges:


Everything has to be held inside the stand (ATO reservoir, sump, dosing containers, etc:


I have changed the plumbing a bit to allow me to bypass the skimmer section and drain right into the return chamber, so that I can use the skimmer section for water changes.


Since the sump might have been a tight fit, I planned it all out too (that, and I like planning):


All that is left is to collect a few missing plumbing pieces, bild the stand and get the tank delivered! Hopefully all up and running by then end of October!

[Nebthet]

Nice.. I can't wait to see this tank come together. It has been a long time waiting..
The stand you are planning is really nice looking.

[purelife]

Very nice will be a nice tank to watch progress, looking forward to future progress!

[phyto4life]

Nice.

So far so good.

[sweet ride]

so far so good, any updates?

[shrimpchips]

Yep, I've made some decent progress. My acrylic things should arrive on Friday (a member of a local forum is making them for me), and I'm still waiting on plumbing from a local mail order store. Other than that, I'm just waiting on having a new 15A circuit installed behind the tank, and it's ready to go.

I built the stand in our living area (of a 600 sqft condo), so I had to cut everything at my parent's place and bring it over to assemble.

Here's the stand progression:
2x4 frame:


There's no screw strips for the uprights - instead they're pocket screwed into the base and top rails:


Everything was glued and screwed together:


I got it all skinned (1/2" ply for first layer, 3/4" for the finishing layer). The doors were just mocked up to see how it would look all together:






Now it's down in the garage - it just got two coats of Kliz (white) for the interior tonight, and I'll do a coat of black stain on the exterior before work tomorrow and after work to finish it off.

Tank got delivered today too


Custom angled overflow:


Sump tank (25g):


All nekked!




I was hoping to have it running by the end of the month, but I guess not. Hopefully I'll have it wet by the second or third week of November.

[kien]

Originally Posted by shrimpchips

I was hoping to have it running by the end of the month, but I guess not. Hopefully I'll have it wet by the second or third week of November.

You still have 3 days, including a weekend coming up! Get to it!

Great looking stand and tank! This one is going to be a beauty.

[reefermadness]

Wow ....cant believe I missed this. Looks great. Holy planning batman.

[shrimpchips]

Kien, I can only hopw that my tank will look half as nice as your tanks do. Your rockscapes always inspire

Darryl, nice to see you here. I don't post on "that other site" anymore, so updates are here or on RC

I made some more progress on the stand yesterday/today. I got the second coat of Kliz on last night, and it looks pretty good - makes it much brighter inside of the stand. My last stand was painted black inside, and it makes it very dark, even when lit inside. This time it should be a lot easier to see things when it's nice and bright in there:


Here's the stand after the first coat of black stain:


I'm going to do a second coat tonight, then it should be done. Just going to let it air out a few days in the parking garage, then bring it back upstairs.

[Rbacchiega]

tagging along. looks like it's going to be a great tank