A new tank build
- Thread starter tthanatoss
- Start date
Yea smitty the pictures really don't show all the tedious stuff like all the beers i'm forced to drink while i'm hanging out in the garage building this thing. Seriously tho there's still a ton of sanding to do on the exterior of the tank and stand, most of a day, before I can varnish The inside of the canopy has to be painted before I can install the lights and switches. All I have for canopy lighting for now is one of those 48" flourescent shop lights. I haven't bought bulbs yet. I made the canopy large enough tho so I can add a second one in the future. For the floor lighing I still have to decide whether I'm going to wire it for regular light bulbs or go get some of those little pot lights that use the 50w halogen bulbs.
Yesterday I puttered around for a few hours trying to decide how to make the cabinet doors for the stand. After a couple of false starts I have something that will work. A large part of that frustration is my determination not spend any more money than I have to and to try to use up what wood I already have here. Cudos to guys that make kitchen cupboards it's not easy.
I did have a cool idea to add to my substrate tho. My little brother owns a machineshop and he told me I could use his tumble polisher so I'm trying to find some old colored glass bottles I can smash up and polish. I think with the floor lighing anything that will catch the light might look pretty neat.
One thing I'm having trouble finding is bulkheads. The plastic pipe and all the fittings are available but nobody local seems to stock bulkheads. I may have to resort to ordering them online.
Yesterday I puttered around for a few hours trying to decide how to make the cabinet doors for the stand. After a couple of false starts I have something that will work. A large part of that frustration is my determination not spend any more money than I have to and to try to use up what wood I already have here. Cudos to guys that make kitchen cupboards it's not easy.
I did have a cool idea to add to my substrate tho. My little brother owns a machineshop and he told me I could use his tumble polisher so I'm trying to find some old colored glass bottles I can smash up and polish. I think with the floor lighing anything that will catch the light might look pretty neat.
One thing I'm having trouble finding is bulkheads. The plastic pipe and all the fittings are available but nobody local seems to stock bulkheads. I may have to resort to ordering them online.
Well i'm really quite proud of myself. Just built my first cabinet door from scratch and it came out exactly like I wanted it to. Closed it's recessed 3/4" and matches all the other inserts and it still opens all the way.
great idea, what brackets did you use for the door, or did you just drill holes in the frame and door and put dowel rods in it
For bulkheads check out Aquatic Eco. Make sure to order a catalog (free) with anything you order because they have a BUNCH of stuff! That place is like a DIYers paradise!
