8 foot tank idea
- Thread starter muffywrx
- Start date
ACcording to this --> Marineland Standard Aquarium Specs, it is only tempered on the bottom. I feel pretty comfortable taking it to a glass shop and double checking at that rate, and then having them drill it 
I would rather use the 60 gallon because its new. The 75 gallon is of age ... no idea how old but it is probably over 5 years old.
I would rather use the 60 gallon because its new. The 75 gallon is of age ... no idea how old but it is probably over 5 years old.
muffywrx;5131853; said:
I think this is a good option if you must have a refugium. See how the return from the pump going to the main tank is "T" off and some of the water is going to the refugium? Then that water overflows into the sump. Much less flow for the plants and small fish. It's kinda like a mini tank in the sump.
Here is a sketch of the bottom/top of the stand.
So my tank/sump is 25" tall. How many inches should I have above the sump in the stand? 12"?
I can put a MDF piece over the stringers to support the 60 gallon I'm assuming, since that is what it has now?
Maybe add more stringers?
So my tank/sump is 25" tall. How many inches should I have above the sump in the stand? 12"?
I can put a MDF piece over the stringers to support the 60 gallon I'm assuming, since that is what it has now?
Maybe add more stringers?
Another note I'm considering ... messy fish + filter socks ... = clog? Perhaps I can forego the filter sock idea and fill compartment one with polyfill and then have the big "refugium" filled with lava rock (which I heard works as well as ceramic biomedia).
Here is a front stand view ...
Ignore the middle baffle where it isn't blacked out, i made it too tall at first ^_^ This gives 4 compartments, the first probably filled with polyfill for mechanical, the second two with biomedia. May make this into one compartment, as I see no need for the separation. And the 4th for return and drain.
Not sure how the return hooks up to the tank unless I can just pvc it facing into the tank like a basic drain pipe. I know I have two corner overflows on the tank I am thinking of ordering, but I have no idea why they are on either corner. Does water come from both sides?
Total estimated cost of lumber = $141.84 + tax
(Includes 11 4x4x8 douglas fir, 2 2x8x8 douglas fir, 1 2x4x10 whitewood, and 1 3/4x4x8 particleboard underlayment)
This is assuming I do not use particleboard on the top, since the tank is glass. Correct me if this is wrong ... But my 125 gallon stand has an open top as well.
This also assuming I don't have a front on the stand. Eventually something will be worked out, but that will only be another $20ish.
Would this stain/sealant work against water? Minwax Ebony Stain
Now I just need to figure out what I would get for plumbing.... PVC? I saw in your thread Egon, PEX? But more expensive. I'm pretty comfortable working with PVC. What width? How much do I need and how do I connect everything?? This is challenging but I'm having a lot of fun.
(Includes 11 4x4x8 douglas fir, 2 2x8x8 douglas fir, 1 2x4x10 whitewood, and 1 3/4x4x8 particleboard underlayment)
This is assuming I do not use particleboard on the top, since the tank is glass. Correct me if this is wrong ... But my 125 gallon stand has an open top as well.
This also assuming I don't have a front on the stand. Eventually something will be worked out, but that will only be another $20ish.
Would this stain/sealant work against water? Minwax Ebony Stain
Now I just need to figure out what I would get for plumbing.... PVC? I saw in your thread Egon, PEX? But more expensive. I'm pretty comfortable working with PVC. What width? How much do I need and how do I connect everything?? This is challenging but I'm having a lot of fun.
Random thought: There would be room in the stand to put a 20 gallon long for the guppies... Would I have its own filtration and heating at that point? I could throw my fluval M and penguin 350 on it, which is what they have now.
I would most likely mount lights on the stand somehow...
This would sub-hide the sump, but allow for viewing and still easy access as the sump would be twice as tall.
Or would this just be too much? That's a lot of wires on one outlet. I would have a power strip supplying all of my things... 2 canister filters, 2 300W heaters, the sump pump, and lighting already would be hooked up. This is similar to what I have hooked up currently, minus the sump pump anyway, and it is running just fine without issue. I don't want to add too much.
It would be much easier if I could plumb in the 20 gallon somehow.
I need to stop coming up with late night ideas I'm overwhelming myself!
I would most likely mount lights on the stand somehow...
This would sub-hide the sump, but allow for viewing and still easy access as the sump would be twice as tall.
Or would this just be too much? That's a lot of wires on one outlet. I would have a power strip supplying all of my things... 2 canister filters, 2 300W heaters, the sump pump, and lighting already would be hooked up. This is similar to what I have hooked up currently, minus the sump pump anyway, and it is running just fine without issue. I don't want to add too much.
It would be much easier if I could plumb in the 20 gallon somehow.
I need to stop coming up with late night ideas
I'm overwhelming myself!Stand: The stand you can make out of good old 2X4's and plywood It will support the weight easy. Check out some stand threads on here for ideas. Most stands are over built your stand is going to be way way over built. 
Sump: The sump for a fresh water tank can be/is 3 sections. First section where water comes in, put a filter sock or mechanical filtering stuff to catch the poo. Second section is bio balls, pot scrubbies, lava rock, whatever. Last section is for the pump and heaters. These sections can be separated by "light diffusers" or "egg crate" or glass. It' doesn’t have to be complicated where water flows up in one area and down another area.
Overflows: yes the corner overflows will each need plumbing to your sump. As the water rises in your tank the extra water spills into the overflow and back down to your sump. You can have two sumps, one for each over flow. Just make sure the sumps are connected to keep the water level the same in both sumps. You can have one sump with the left and right side having filter socks then the middle left and right bio filtration and the exact center with the pumps. You can run plumbing from both overflows to go in the sump at the same side.
Sump location: Your building the stand why not put the sump on the floor, then you don't need to support it. I would paint the inside of the stand with Kills white primer and do not use particle board, go with plywood. You’re going to spill water and plywood handles that better.
Pump return: Some people use spray bars. I just waterfall it right into the tank. The key is the return needs to be at the surface of the fish tank to prevent a siphon from starting if your pumps turn off.
Guppy tank: you can just run a sponge filter on it with an air pump total cost maybe $20. Put the guppy tank where ever you want.
It will support the weight easy. Check out some stand threads on here for ideas. Most stands are over built your stand is going to be way way over built. Sump: The sump for a fresh water tank can be/is 3 sections. First section where water comes in, put a filter sock or mechanical filtering stuff to catch the poo. Second section is bio balls, pot scrubbies, lava rock, whatever. Last section is for the pump and heaters. These sections can be separated by "light diffusers" or "egg crate" or glass. It' doesn’t have to be complicated where water flows up in one area and down another area.
Overflows: yes the corner overflows will each need plumbing to your sump. As the water rises in your tank the extra water spills into the overflow and back down to your sump. You can have two sumps, one for each over flow. Just make sure the sumps are connected to keep the water level the same in both sumps. You can have one sump with the left and right side having filter socks then the middle left and right bio filtration and the exact center with the pumps. You can run plumbing from both overflows to go in the sump at the same side.
Sump location: Your building the stand why not put the sump on the floor, then you don't need to support it. I would paint the inside of the stand with Kills white primer and do not use particle board, go with plywood. You’re going to spill water and plywood handles that better.
Pump return: Some people use spray bars. I just waterfall it right into the tank. The key is the return needs to be at the surface of the fish tank to prevent a siphon from starting if your pumps turn off.
Guppy tank: you can just run a sponge filter on it with an air pump total cost maybe $20. Put the guppy tank where ever you want.
