Jimm
01-29-2006, 09:41 AM
I took the first step toward building by dream tank and stand last night. I bought a table saw. First off I live in a small one bedroom apartment so space is a problem. Next step will be to get a mitre saw and some 2 X 4's to build the frame with.
Here are the issues that I'm having with my current setup and that I'd like to fix with the new setup. Firstly I live in a second floor apartment so I'd like to avoid crashing through the floor into my downstairs neighbors apartment. So I need a way of spreading the weight of the tank out over the floor.
Second, leaks could be a problem in an apartment so a drip tray would be good. That could also distribute the weight out over the floor joists better.
Third, my current stand is too short. I have to bend over to see my critters and that makes my back ache. So I'll make the tank stand taller. That'll also make room for a refugium/sump.
Fourth, I need better lighting. PC's just aren't cutting it for the corals that I want to keep. So I'll be making a hood for some T-5 lights. That should let me keep the clams, acropora, and anemones that I would like.
Finally, my current tank isn't drilled. So I'll be drilling a tank for a Calfo style overflow and a closed loop.
I'd also like to make a matching cabinet to hold a propagation tank and my quarantine tank.
I'll be posting pictures so if you'd like to tag along please do. I'm always open to suggestions so feel free to let me know if there's a better way. I haven't done any woodworking since I was in high school shop class and since I know who The Little River Band is you can figure out how long ago that was.
A before picture.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/meekerjp/fulltank_28Jan06.jpg
Here are the issues that I'm having with my current setup and that I'd like to fix with the new setup. Firstly I live in a second floor apartment so I'd like to avoid crashing through the floor into my downstairs neighbors apartment. So I need a way of spreading the weight of the tank out over the floor.
Second, leaks could be a problem in an apartment so a drip tray would be good. That could also distribute the weight out over the floor joists better.
Third, my current stand is too short. I have to bend over to see my critters and that makes my back ache. So I'll make the tank stand taller. That'll also make room for a refugium/sump.
Fourth, I need better lighting. PC's just aren't cutting it for the corals that I want to keep. So I'll be making a hood for some T-5 lights. That should let me keep the clams, acropora, and anemones that I would like.
Finally, my current tank isn't drilled. So I'll be drilling a tank for a Calfo style overflow and a closed loop.
I'd also like to make a matching cabinet to hold a propagation tank and my quarantine tank.
I'll be posting pictures so if you'd like to tag along please do. I'm always open to suggestions so feel free to let me know if there's a better way. I haven't done any woodworking since I was in high school shop class and since I know who The Little River Band is you can figure out how long ago that was.
A before picture.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/meekerjp/fulltank_28Jan06.jpg