Starting Over - need suggestions

[gerryc]

Hi all,
Have been reading through all posts and looking at all the pics, wow. I had a 65 reef some years ago, but evrything seems to have changed, or at least the terms used. So needless to say I will be open to any and all suggestions. I am picking up a 240g reef ready tank next week, and that's what i am starting with. It will be 72x24x31, i went with this because 1) price and 2) I will have a lot of room to play with. years back I filled up the 65 pretty quick. So I am going to take time to get all the equipment first, at the same time I need to build a stand and a sump, what size sump would be good for this size tank. Then what kind of support am I going to need for this tank? I am thinking 2x6's for the frame, then I will 'wrap' it in some 'real' wood like Oak. I understand that I have to 3/4" foam under tank. I would like to incorporate everything that is compatible in the tank, especially corals, as a diver I really want to get a lot of different stuff, so when looking at it, you will tend to 'see' something diff at times etc. What you all think?
Thanks

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by gerryc
http:///forum/post/3068182
Hi all,
Have been reading through all posts and looking at all the pics, wow. I had a 65 reef some years ago, but evrything seems to have changed, or at least the terms used. So needless to say I will be open to any and all suggestions. I am picking up a 240g reef ready tank next week, and that's what i am starting with. It will be 72x24x31, i went with this because 1) price and 2) I will have a lot of room to play with. years back I filled up the 65 pretty quick. So I am going to take time to get all the equipment first, at the same time I need to build a stand and a sump, what size sump would be good for this size tank. Then what kind of support am I going to need for this tank? I am thinking 2x6's for the frame, then I will 'wrap' it in some 'real' wood like Oak. I understand that I have to 3/4" foam under tank. I would like to incorporate everything that is compatible in the tank, especially corals, as a diver I really want to get a lot of different stuff, so when looking at it, you will tend to 'see' something diff at times etc. What you all think?
Thanks
you only use foam if the tank is acrylic, not glass.
I used 2x6 for my 120 stand i built, however i could have simply used 2x4 or just 3/4 plywood by itself. My stand can hold a house

get the biggest sump you can. do you have a room for your equipment or will everything have to go under your stand? If you have a room, look into rubbermaid stock tanks as your sump.
if you have the $, check out some of the MSX cone skimmers.

 

[gerryc]

Thanks JDL for the comments, I was confused about the foam as well but the maker says it is required for warranty, i will check with them when I pick up the tank next weekend. For now I will have to go with the sump below the tank, so I was thinking of making the stand about 35" inch tall, for more room under. I have been looking at a 65g sump, will keep looking now.
I appreciate the comments I know there is other stuff here but I was hoping that people like you would respond, as you all have made better choices after the fact, by changing upgrading etc, I was just trying to collect some of the best now, or the "wish i would of done first" ideas.
I will go with 2x4 thanksagain.

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by gerryc
http:///forum/post/3068692
Thanks JDL for the comments, I was confused about the foam as well but the maker says it is required for warranty, i will check with them when I pick up the tank next weekend. For now I will have to go with the sump below the tank, so I was thinking of making the stand about 35" inch tall, for more room under. I have been looking at a 65g sump, will keep looking now.
I appreciate the comments I know there is other stuff here but I was hoping that people like you would respond, as you all have made better choices after the fact, by changing upgrading etc, I was just trying to collect some of the best now, or the "wish i would of done first" ideas.
I will go with 2x4 thanksagain.
You may want to use 2x6 for 72" stand. My 120 is only 48", but it all depends on your design. Plus 2x6 only cost $1 more so i used them.
is your tank going to be in a living room? If so, can you plumb to the basement? Having a big tank, and having the equipment in a room will give you so many more options than forcing everything under the tank inside the stand. But it can be done.
for a sump, check out clist as someone is always getting rid of tanks and you can get them cheap.

 

[king_neptune]

I would recommend close to 90 if you can get your hands on it. You said 65...thats borderline IMO, but not impossible by any means. Overall water volume will do wonders for your tank. The larger you can afford the better. Since you already have the 65 might as well go with it. You can get the glass/acrylic for the chamber walls at lowes. Pretty cheap, silicone it in place using the marine aquarium silicone they sell as well. If you need help making one let me know. I made a pretty good one that is unorthodox but turns heads and has gotten me a lot of compliments.
2x6's will hold the weight fine. Just remember to use glue and wood screws, also sheet metal brackets to fasten the pieces together will really beef up the support.
2x4 posts will also work nicely. The DIY section has a few stands, just gotta do some sifting. Or google...honestly took a while for me to find em..but they are there.
anymore questions let us know.

 

[king_neptune]

Also keep an eye out on Craigs list. People get out of this hobby all the time. I often find stuff for %20 of its retail price or better.
you can buy all sorts of equipment at a fraction, I did^^

 

[gerryc]

Thanks JDL/King, appreciate your thoughts/suggestions. I live at the tip of Florida, Atlantic is 5 mins away, Bay/Gulf 20 mins, the Keys 30 mins. We are on a reef structure here, if you dig down about 3-4 inches you hit solid coral/limestone. Therefore no Basements here! All houses are built on a concrete slab poured directly on the coral/limestone base. I am looking topurchase a house in the Keys, they are on stilts basically(most) where the main living area is, this is because of the surge possibilities when we have Hurricanes. So anything I do with the setup will have to be 'self-contaned' that is incorporated in the base of the stand. I have started drawing out sketches for the stand, between you 2 guys, maybe I should rip my my own posts etc and make them 2x5's LOL. I still think I might feel better with the 6's but will let you all know. As far as the sump goes I agree that bigger is better, especially in my case, so that all equipment could be added to it, like the skimmer etc. I have been looking on craig's and others for a large acryllic then do as you say and goto Lowes/depot and get the pieces and fabricate one myself.

 

[jdl]

 

[gerryc]

WOW, Thanks JDL, that is almost exactly what I have been drawing up, except I had more braces, and a 'bottom' in it. I was thinking the bottom could catch any leaks or other problems. BTW I am going with 2x6 as you originally suggested. Thanks again! appreciate it

 

[gerryc]

OK, the tank girl just called to confirm pickup on Sat of my tank, I asked them the real reason of the styrofoam under the tank. Her response does sound valid to me, that over time stress can and does appear in large tanks and cracks etc can appear, and people cannot figure out why. She said that 3/4 foam will reduce the stress on the tank. So I am going with it, I will add 3/4 to the recess plus frame and set it in the stand.
I forgot to mention earlier, I am going to have a 3/4 inch ply on top of the stand and drill holes where the overflows are going to go through.