Steve's Tank Build
- Thread starter smcnally
- Start date
paulthomas
Punk
... Sister! 
So no halides Steve? Just to be on the safe side, I'd have the interior of the cabinet glassed in too. At least you'll never have to second guess whether or not it'll hold water safely.
So no halides Steve? Just to be on the safe side, I'd have the interior of the cabinet glassed in too. At least you'll never have to second guess whether or not it'll hold water safely.
OP
OP
smcnally
Tankless
... Sister!
So no halides Steve? Just to be on the safe side, I'd have the interior of the cabinet glassed in too. At least you'll never have to second guess whether or not it'll hold water safely.
Correct, this will be T5 and mostly an LPS softy tank with less demanding SPS in it. The inside of the canopy and stand will be coated in white epoxy paint. And, after a bunch of people recommended it, I will be glassing the corners of the cabinet.
paulthomas
Punk
Nice.
After your move, do you plan on a really big tank?
After your move, do you plan on a really big tank?
OP
OP
smcnally
Tankless
Yeah, but I have a feeling that if this comes out as nicely as I want it to, that I will be happy with it for awhile. I will definitely have a nice, large, in-wall tank one day, but I will probably put it off awhile so we can focus on getting a bigger home and making babies...or at least practicing more often
paulthomas
Punk
Yep, in the woman's eyes, practice makes... practice. I mean perfect.
In-wall is the way to go. In my house the only place I could put it in-wall is in the basement, which would suck.
In-wall is the way to go. In my house the only place I could put it in-wall is in the basement, which would suck.
Jim Tansey
Well-Known Member
Thats a nice setup Steve, but in thinking about it, I would use a conventional glass or acrylic sump (probably custom) in place of the built in.
Jim
Jim
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smcnally
Tankless
I have no room to get one of any decent size in there unless it is built in with no way to get it out. You seem kind of worried about the plywood sump, Jim...any reasons why? After seeing many plywood tank builds online that hold far more water, I'm not worried at all, but maybe I'm just being naive.
The entire plywood frame will be very solid. It will be 3/4" cabinet grade ply pocket screwed together every few inches. Between that, some strong water resistant glue, glass tape, and epoxy paint, I'm hoping it will be fine.
Jim Tansey
Well-Known Member
Steve,
I have restored wood boats and built a few water storage tanks and built-in coolers, we always glassed the seems inside and out and full glass inside, done this way they are 100% reliable. I just don't like the idea of seams only and epoxy paint, but I may be overly cautious. I like the overall design, its really neat.
Jim
I have restored wood boats and built a few water storage tanks and built-in coolers, we always glassed the seems inside and out and full glass inside, done this way they are 100% reliable. I just don't like the idea of seams only and epoxy paint, but I may be overly cautious. I like the overall design, its really neat.
Jim
Wow, nice project. I always wanted to build my own tank but never have the gut to actually do it. I was wondering if you can tell me the name of the glass store that you ordered them from? Maybe someday i summon enough courage and i would order the glass and build my own tank.
Thanks
Thanks
OP
OP
smcnally
Tankless
I went through Contract Glass in Wilmington.
OP
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smcnally
Tankless
So I was thinking that maybe I should make the canopy shorter and more slim. And, maybe instead of using the middle bulkhead for a wire chase, that I could have a telescoping pole go right through and mount to the lower cabinet. This way I would be able to slide it up and down and possibly even have it hold in a "semi-up" position to show off the trim-less tank. This would put the T5s about 2" off the water though in the lowered state...too close? What do you think?
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SaltCreep
Non-member
Ya it can cause skimmer level issues.....maybe split the overflow drain in two, and have half go to the skimmer and the other half to refugium?
You could do fancy valves an stuff to controll flow.....
Anything to avoid another pump is my motto.
