My 90 gal build + stand build

gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
This is my first of many first in this Marine world. I bought a 90 gal Aqueon with a Mega overflow. Im going to run a 29 gal sump all in and on a custom built stand that I will build. I will probably make many mistakes setting up as I have no experience with Marine aquariums. I do have some experience with wood so the stand should come out ok. In addition to this I have been doing a lot of reading on making my own live rock. I know there are many opinions for and against this and I have decided to go for it. I will have some "real" live rock, that I will purchase, in the tank. I have already made 2 different batches of rock and will post some pictures of some of the work soon.
Here is the big NEXT QUESTION!!!!
Can I go to the beach, somewhere clean, and get sand for the tank? It would seem that it would be ok as long as pollution was at a minimum. After all the sand you buy comes from the ocean. Do they process it? I would hope that they didnt cause it would seem that would defeat the purpose. Anyway you may not learn anything from this thread other than what not to do but it should at least provide some good entertainment.
Please feel free to point mistakes Im making.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Welcome to SWF, and look forward to watching your build
As far as sand from the beach, sadly I don't have a beach..lol...but I have read many times that it is not a good idea to use beach sand due to unknown trash that could be in it
again WELCOME....
 
fishkid13

fishkid13

Active Member
Beach sand will work but you really have to watch out for pollutants and such. Some black sand I got at the beach is highly magnectic so just watch what you get.
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
Again, not wanting BEACH SAND was really looking at maybe a submerged sandbar.
Any who, I have started my build on my Aquarium stand. Ill post some pics maybe tomorrow.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I understand you're not getting "beach sand" but I think we are all classifying it the same whether you get it from the beach or a sand bar.
Either place you have to watch out for polluntants and what hitchhikers you may get along with it.
It can be done though.
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
OK. Just wanted to be clear hope I didn't offend. Have you ever done that or know someone who has. I mean you read about it but it would be nice to hear some personal experiences.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Read an article from another website -- can't post the link but its almost 40 years old -- he replaces the sand if I remember correctly with sand from the ocean. He lives on the coast -- I'm as far away as you can get ;)
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
Ill post one but then you can browse on the web where they are posted. They are not in a logical order as you browse but you can see what I am doing.
The canopy is almost finished and I still have to cut out for the doors as well as make the doors. If all goes well by Wednesday I should have most of that done as well as put the trim on it. Then some stain some finish coat and poof a stand is born.
Hope you enjoy. If you don't then be kind as I could cry.

 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
Here are a few more pics of the canopy and stand. Wont be long now before the stain and finish coat.


Here is the tank in all its glory LOL. and my "ugly sump" I think Ill call it.


More to come! Oh yeah got my 2 Koralia 1200 gph and my Mag 9.5 as well as my Coralife 220 skimmer. I know I have read both good and bad on the skimmer. Tell you the truth it was a $$$$$ thaang. I hear tell that the only real concern is the pump on the skimmer so I may upgrade that later. But for now Im Happy just being in the game!
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
Ok between coming down with the funk and working I have now finished putting the trim on the cabinet. The only thing left is to make the doors, stain and finish the cabinet and then on to the tank build!

Here are a few pics of the canopy and molding being applied as well as the base cabinet with trim.





I will most likely stain the cabinets this evening and then put the finish on tomorrow. I hope you enjoy.
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
First finish coat is on and now its hurry up and wait 3 hours before the next coat. I hope 2 will do it but who knows. Im not gonna come this far to not give it the shine it deserves. The next thing is when I get the cabinets in the house and tank on it and all I have to start building the doors. Sheesh, those are not easy.
If not successful then I will simply order some doors from a friend.
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
Hot diggity dog

I got it in the house and have the tank on the stand. I have to say it looks good to me
I cant wait to start plumbing it and yeah I got to make those doors.
I hope you like it as much as I do. Here are some pics.

 
posiden

posiden

Active Member
Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3124652
Read an article from another website -- can't post the link but its almost 40 years old -- he replaces the sand if I remember correctly with sand from the ocean. He lives on the coast -- I'm as far away as you can get ;)
I thought paul said that it didn't work. He first used the sand form "the beach" and it went black way fast. He then replaced it with dolimight(sp). He is in this months reef mag. He explains it.
IMO sand from the sand bar wont work. It will go sour on you. We cant recreate everything in the ocean. It will build sulphur dioxide. If I recall right.
Acording to paul, just use the water.
 
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