Wayne's 105g 'Rainforest of the Sea'

[Bblinks]

Tagging along.

[The Grizz]

Thanks for the info Steve, your always great for help & ideas.

Wayne, I think making the stand a little bigger like Steve suggested as well as 2 layers of 3/4" plywood might be the best option.

[wmcinnes]

Originally Posted by sphelps

The original stand was 3/4" plywood and I recall it being pretty tight.



The marks you're referring to will probably be from the gasket as well which is small than the actual bulkheads so you have less clearance than you might think. I would account for 1" max.

A couple options I could recommend:

If you're using 1-1/2 tubing an option is to make the stand 55" x 23" meaning it will extrude 1/2" out from all sides of the tank but should give you the clearance you need.

Another option is to build up a few layers of plywood on top of the metal stand, you can drill large holes for the bulkheads and use the plywood as a spacer, not great for access after the tank is in place but an option.

Other options involve build the stand around the bulkheads or notching with added support. Or make the stand from 3/4" plywood like I did.

Either way be sure to get the bulkheads first, make sure they fit the holes properly, then measure for stand clearance. If you don't follow this order you're asking for problems.

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Thanks for the info Steve, your always great for help & ideas.

Wayne, I think making the stand a little bigger like Steve suggested as well as 2 layers of 3/4" plywood might be the best option.

Alright well I busted my butt over to Illusions after work and picked up some bulkheads. Like I originally thought, the edge of the bulkhead to the back edge of the back pane is about 1 1/4". Meaning a 1 1/2 tube is going to contact 1/4" of the bulkhead.






Thanks for chiming in Steve! I understand the theory of lengthening the stand an inch but I'm not quite sure what stacking the tank on 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood is going to accomplish.. must be having a brain fart.

I am good with increasing the stand width from 22" to 23" Greg, if that is okay with you of course!

[The Grizz]

If you shack 2 - 3/4" pieces of plywood it will raise the bulkhead nut 1 1/2" above the stand allowing you to get to it to tighten the nut, you would have to cut at least a 4"- 5" round hole in the plywood where the bulkhead is though. I can easily make it 23" no problem.

[wmcinnes]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

If you shack 2 - 3/4" pieces of plywood it will raise the bulkhead nut 1 1/2" above the stand allowing you to get to it to tighten the nut, you would have to cut at least a 4"- 5" round hole in the plywood where the bulkhead is though. I can easily make it 23" no problem.

Okay gotcha! Well now that I know I have a few options I am not so worried! Phew! Lets do that then. Thank you for helping me out!

[The Grizz]

So go with 23"?

[wmcinnes]

Yup, the extra inch should do the trick

[wmcinnes]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

So go with 23"?

Yup the extra inch should do the trick!

[The Grizz]

Done deal

[wmcinnes]

I think the biggest issue for me right now is trying to decide what I want to do with my background...

My 90 had a black background but I think I want to do something different.. a dark navy blue maybe? Im unsure how this will look with the black overflow box in the center of my tank.
Does anyone have pics of their tanks with a blue background and black overflow? Just curious!

I also like the idea of the shadowbox background. It creates a really nice gradient affect but I think I would have trouble finding an acrylic sheet to do it with & am unsure how the box setup would fit with the open top rimless tank.

Here's an example of the shadowbox. This particular individual had a canopy.