New 75 gallon build with DIY stand

dirkdirk · Apr 6, 2019

Alright got an up date. Stand has been primed with a sealer primer then painted with an exterior hi gloss paint.

Sealed the lower edges with 100% silicone. To try and prevent water under the stand. May look to cut a hole on one edge of the stand bottom next to the sump to pull air for when an inevitable spill happens.

Anyway here is the painted and semi sealed stand.

dirkdirk · Apr 9, 2019

Alright did some stuff today. Pulled out the sump set it i the stand messed with it a bit. Put the skimmer together and placed it in the sump as well as the the return pump. It looks good.

Im thinking of going to hard plumbing for the drain the distance is so short the vinyl will be a pain. Might even do hard plumbing to the return pump. Hmm decisions.

Ran into one problem and one potential problem. I wont be able to run 2 gyres(one on each end). The corner overflow it very much in the way. Any ideas to keep using 2 gyres. I think ill have the return point back at the gyre

I also noticed the sump does not sit flat on the base. It is about 1/8-3/16 high. Is this an issue?

Also took a measurement and the stand is off on one side by as much as 3/8”. Even if it doesn't touch the floor with water I should be ok by putting shim every few inches correct?

dirkdirk · Apr 11, 2019

Another update.

Stand bottom is not level for sure. How ever the stand sits level measured on top surface with 4 foot 6 foot level. I have already started adding shims as many as possible. Im partly paranoid.

I thought the bottom ply was unlevel and it is about 1/8(maybe) or less it looks like the sump is naturally like this (off the same no matter the surface or orientation). The stand top need to be raised in one corner about and 1/8 inch to meet the aquarium bottom. This will be done tomorrow.

The stand is in its place tank is on the stand and wiped clean with water. Plumbing mock up and another wipe will be done tomorrow. Depending on time i will do final plumbing

Once the plumbing is done I will fill the sump and tank about half full with water and let it sit for a day or two and remeasure level. Then its time to get power and fill the tank with saltwater

Its getting exciting now.

dirkdirk · Apr 12, 2019

Since I had off work today i plumbed the tank and made it permanent. I went with hard plumbing. Ill have to find a use for the vinyl tubing elsewhere.

Tank is ready for water test which should be tomorrow. Once completed I will dry it out and start making saltwater. Sand will be placed in first then ill have to see how i want to aquascape my rocks and they will go in. Wont be doing much next week.

I added a j hook on the return line to give it some support over the long run.

I made some slight mistakes but nothing that was too detrimental or hard to fix.

Heres a picture

dirkdirk · Apr 14, 2019

Filled the tank 3/4 of the way with water and let sit over night everything remains level. With no leaks.

Also I think using 2x6 for the top frame of the stand made it too rigid a little flex would have been nice to help level everything easier.

Anyway broke off the remaining shims added a few in the gaps placed about ever 2-3 inches because I'm paranoid.

If I move ill make another stand hopefully with straighter wood not sure.

Emptying the tap water and will be adding sand soon.

dirkdirk · Apr 15, 2019

Well not really part of the build thread I guess, i broke down and got an apex el. I dont need or want orp or salinity and if i choose to do 0-10v ill get the module, still cheaper than full apex. Now if only redsea would release a date for there lights so i could preorder them it looks like 2 would be perfect for a mixed reef on my tank.

dirkdirk · Apr 17, 2019

Alright now things are getting exciting.

Well have a pest i think need help identifying.

I had an old fram from the first attempt to make a stand so instead of throw it away I turned it into a controller panel/mount

I also took my rock and made a scape. I need some shelf or something else to go further i have made tunnels and to me it like like its ascending from left to right. Any suggestions are welcome.
Also included are the remaining rock i might put something in the middle leaning against the back structure but this might be too busy.

dirkdirk · Apr 17, 2019

Sorry duplicate picture

Travis Stewart · Apr 17, 2019

Awesome job. Very similar to my build! Have a 75 up for about a year now. Went through all of this! Keep up great work.

Travis Stewart · Apr 17, 2019

Awesome job. Very similar to my build! Have a 75 up for about a year now. Went through all of this! Keep up great work.

dirkdirk · Apr 17, 2019

Travis Stewart said:
Awesome job. Very similar to my build! Have a 75 up for about a year now. Went through all of this! Keep up great work.

Thanks I appreciate it.

Also forgot to mention I have the gyre 250 horizontal at the top on the right hand side and the second gyre 150 on the back wall vertical right hand side. I think I'm going to put them on alternating random. Once back in town I’ll mix some saltwater and get this thing going.

Travis Stewart · Apr 17, 2019

dirkdirk said:
Thanks I appreciate it.

Also forgot to mention I have the gyre 250 horizontal at the top on the right hand side and the second gyre 150 on the back wall vertical right hand side. I think I'm going to put them on alternating random. Once back in town I’ll mix some saltwater and get this thing going.

Sounds like plenty of flow!

dirkdirk · Apr 17, 2019

I don’t plan on running more than 10-30% maybe every once in a while kick it up to 50%. If it proves to much I’ll put the reverse blade on one side to cut flow in half.

dirkdirk · Apr 23, 2019

Well tanks up to temp water is clear just dialing in the salinity. Was at 1.020 last night goal is 1.025.

Well I waited to long to buy LED lights. After checking the bank account im right at my comfortable level minimum. So new plan. I have a older 2013ish ati dimmable sunpower 48” fixture. After seeing the brs study on bulb life I am liking this option more and more. I purchased 3 blue plus 2 coral plus and 1 actinic. The fixture is a little dusty but should still be working.

I should get these in a day or two and I will get the light mounted Wednesday I hope. Then Saturday after payday is fish time.

dirkdirk · Apr 26, 2019

Well its up. Water is i. Apex is set up and running. Tank is at temp and salinity. Light are now up but might have some issues.

When i first turned the unit on didnt have all the lights in. The display worked fine. Put all the bulbs in so the unit would power them needs to have both bulbs to power on if I remember correctly. Unit tuned on but display only showed blocks on the top line powered the unit off for a bit and seems to be working. We will see what happens.

The bulb layout is(front to back)blue plus, actinic, coral plus, blue plus, coral plus, and blue plus.

All the bulbs seem to light up good except the actinic does this usually take time to fully light the whole tune it seemed brighter in spots(edges and middle).

Anyway heres a picture. The light in the image really wash out the photo but in person its a nice crisp blue/white very nice look.