Filtering FW 620 Gal in Small Spaces

[Anix]

Yeah, its a 4'x8'x3' plywood aquarium--using Joey's design from DIY King on Youtube. Difference being that the walls have an additional 3/4 piece of plywood making the over all wall thinkness 2 1/4". Also the bottom of the tank is 2 1/4". I'm not sold on the idea of repurposing the stand, but a buddy of mine is a structural engineer and he likes this better than a typical DIY stand design. As for a metal stand. I habe no idea where to look or how much that would cost. I don't know anyone who could make it and I certainly don't have the skills. I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk to a few local metal work shops.

The tank will be low iron glass (3/4) and I am usong pond armor to waterproof it. I havent built the tank yet and I should be getting the stand in the next week or so.... been fighting the flu and just havent picked it up.

I will have to post a pic in the morning, but the space is about 9ft from the door to the wall and about 7 ft from the wall to a wood burning stove that never gets used.

 

[Grinch]

Santa Fe Discus has been working on a wooden aquarium that is looking really nice... I bet he'd have some good advice for you.

 

[JK47]

Yeah, its a 4'x8'x3' plywood aquarium--using Joey's design from DIY King on Youtube. Difference being that the walls have an additional 3/4 piece of plywood making the over all wall thinkness 2 1/4". Also the bottom of the tank is 2 1/4". I'm not sold on the idea of repurposing the stand, but a buddy of mine is a structural engineer and he likes this better than a typical DIY stand design. As for a metal stand. I habe no idea where to look or how much that would cost. I don't know anyone who could make it and I certainly don't have the skills. I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk to a few local metal work shops.

The tank will be low iron glass (3/4) and I am usong pond armor to waterproof it. I havent built the tank yet and I should be getting the stand in the next week or so.... been fighting the flu and just havent picked it up.

I will have to post a pic in the morning, but the space is about 9ft from the door to the wall and about 7 ft from the wall to a wood burning stove that never gets used.

A 1/4" thick stand will run you around $1,100 give or take. Thinner material will be less. Budget at least $800-900 for a steel stand to be fabricated. Powder coating etc will run you more

 

[Anix]

Yeah, I think Im going to have to build a metal stand. Now I just need a solid design.

 

[JK47]

Yeah, I think Im going to have to build a metal stand. Now I just need a solid design.

Feel free to use the pics in my 600 build thread to give you ideas. I can point out where you can make design changes to save some money if you like. Happy to give you pics under my stand as well. There is ZERO sag using 1/4" material.

 

[Anix]

Yes to all of that... lol. Meeting with a local fabrication shop tomorrow... see what they suggest. I'll be going through your thread tonight. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions, really appreciate it

 

[JK47]

Yes to all of that... lol. Meeting with a local fabrication shop tomorrow... see what they suggest. I'll be going through your thread tonight. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions, really appreciate it

Happy to help! The stand is addressed fairly early on so you can save a few hours and skip the rest (stop after the tank is on the stand, the rest is filtration and finishing work). I worked with a number of shops until I found someone who was confident in their design.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you don't want to ask in the open forum. Good luck Scott!

 

[Anix]

Read through your thread and I didnt see the question, so I'll ask it (or maybe I just missed it). If you had to do the stand over, what would you have changed? If your floor had been level, would you have changed the wall thickness? My basement floor is level.

Here is a pic of the space

The fire wood is being moved and what not. The tank will go against the wall with the french doors and I will be putting foam board against the window. The tank walls are 2.25" thick so its pretty insulated as it is, but every little bit will help in the winter.

 

[JK47]

Read through your thread and I didnt see the question, so I'll ask it (or maybe I just missed it). If you had to do the stand over, what would you have changed? If your floor had been level, would you have changed the wall thickness? My basement floor is level.

Here is a pic of the space

The fire wood is being moved and what not. The tank will go against the wall with the french doors and I will be putting foam board against the window. The tank walls are 2.25" thick so its pretty insulated as it is, but every little bit will help in the winter.

View attachment 1257872

If I had to do it over I would have had it powdercoated. There are no other changes I would have made. I LOVE it wide open like it is and that was worth the additional cost. The tank does not sag (sagging causes the front panel to bow). I really wanted the open space so I could jam a large tank under it if I decided to.

If I were to build one that were more budget oriented, I would add vertical supports underneath (three through the middle should suffice) and get the cost down by using a thinner walled material.

 

[Anix]

Yeah, I was thinking of doing the exact same thing and get the powdercoating. Read the rest of the thread... I'm now officially intimidated by your filtration system. I was just going to run some filter socks and have a large K1 section and return-- couple air pumps, heater and a Vectra L1.