Frag tank & stand build

jackri

jackri

Active Member
Ok I'll start with the end result I wanted first.
4ft x 3ft x 1ft deep frag tank with a 35" x 14" x 16" high sump built on a stand with the frag tank 3 feet off the ground and sump 5-8 inches off the ground for easy siphon cleaning.
It's also fitting in a shower stall

We have 2 bathrooms already and the 3rd downstairs is the only unfinished part left in the basement and is just a storage room. I made the frame of the stand out of 2 x 4's.
With the weight of the frag tank and sump I put extra support on the shelves to hold the weight without bowing.

 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Well the next problem was I needed 26" for the sump/protein skimmer to fit under the top shelf.. and with it being 36" high ---- and using 2 x 4's ... well I'm already down to 28" so... yeah that was a mistake and had to take out the middle shelf -- which I just made the bottom shelf.
Next step was staining everything --- I did both sides and was almost done and decided to take a picture early.

 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
After this, I finished staining, added a couple of coats of clear... and started making the acrylic tank itself.. which I'll add pictures off -- including the holes drilled and close ups of the overflow and an explanation of what was done and why... feel free to comment and ask ?'s though :)
I'm getting close (just need to run electricity in the room)
Oh.. and yes it's a pain to build it into place -- If I ever take the stand out of the room I'll have to unscrew it.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Pictures of the sump didn't upload right to facebook.. so I'll have to try again later or have the wife do something else for me. I have to plumb it yet obviously, I have the fittings.. getting the tubing and wires for electrical into the room tomorrow. I'll have to find a return pump... hate buying something online without seeing it in person -- so maybe I'll hunt around town and compare prices.
The acrylic wasn't 100 bucks like yerboy's project.. but this is all 3/8" instead of 1/4" (actually big difference) and I have some 2" support braces that will go around the top not pictured yet -- in the process of being glued down.
I used a hole saw kit to drill my holes... 1/4" drill bit and band saw to do the teeth in the overflow but they turned out pretty good and straight :)
I had to build it in place cuz it's cold outside... and my garage is full of cars :) but it will have its own spot in the room.. then once I don't have to keep going all around it I can put stuff away and look better... I'll keep posting pics on progress and hopefully full of frags before long
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
wow man! the tank looks fantastic! i will take the time to read it all but will its to late! ima keep this thread under watch!
cant wait!
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Probably a little of both... I'll be making some out of cement and crushed coral... and maybe get a few ceramic plugs to start out with.. then make all my own.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Almost done with the sump... but I need some more weld on which I'll try to get today.. and hopefully get some finihsed pics up tomorrow :)
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Ok, co worker has been sick so I've been working extra -- I took pics of the sump... maybe I'll get those up this weekend although I go to 12 hour shifts this weekend but I'll try :)
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Ok here's the sump pics I promised. I have a slow seep coming out of my weld on job but I expected it out of the sump during the conctruction -- the last side I put on last shouldn't have been last but oh well, I'll get some stuff Monday to finish sealing it up and maybe run an extra seal on the frag tank to be safe too.


 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I'll try and get some pics sent to me at work today from my wife so I can post, although I need to take another one tonight so maybe it'll wait till tomorrow :p
Finished topping off water on Tuesday, added salt on Wednesday, add some cheato and live rock in the sump on Thursday. As of this morning there are a bunch of bristle worms wondering where their other home went, bunch of baby feather dusters, and one hermit crab that somehow held on to my shaking out of the live rock.
Temp is 76-78 (tough to get a good reading from the stupid temp strip I bought)
Salinity 1.023 but will test again now its about fully heated up.
Trates/trites/ammonia???? just started cycling :D
Pendant/ballast was put on order yesterday so next week I'll have my 250w 14k phoenix to hook up hanging over it.
Pics will be coming soon
 
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