Buying new glass tank.

[Potato Patatto]

The 125g petsmart deal is probably the best full setup I’ve seen minus filters etc. Spending 1.5k to 2k is laughable, you can get that for roughly $500 brand new give or take a $100 - all in all not a bad deal. Facebook marketplace is pretty decent for that stuff too. But don’t spend anything above $750 for a full setup IMO in the 125g range.

I got a used 125 from a lfs for 200 and got an fx6 new on sale for $240, but adding lights, heater, sponge filter, substrate, plants etc I definitely neared 1k. And built a butcher block stand with galvanized steel for the legs for around $250. So the petsmart deal is a good deal, I wouldn’t get hung up on $100 bucks.

 

[Randys]

Congrats!

I love the comment about adding a drain through the wall. When you actually start putting holes in the walls of your house but mention only the number of holes drilled in the glass aquarium...you might be an aquarium redneck...

Luckily enough my man cave is a walk out. The ground slopes down behind the house into the woods. It's the perfect setup for a gravity drain.
Here's some pictures from a couple of years ago when I ran the drain for my 300 gallon tank.

 

[jjohnwm]

Beautiful set-up; P-trap, union, shut-off valve and what looks like a breather stack as well? Very well planned and executed.

I had a very similar configuration in my previous home. Now, sadly, I must pump water into my basement from my well...and then pump the waste water back out. I miss the simplicity of the gravity drain.

 

[Randys]

Beautiful set-up; P-trap, union, shut-off valve and what looks like a breather stack as well? Very well planned and executed.

I had a very similar configuration in my previous home. Now, sadly, I must pump water into my basement from my well...and then pump the waste water back out. I miss the simplicity of the gravity drain.

Thanks!
Yup, I added a vent stack also. I didn't know if it was necessary but figured it was easy to do while I had the hole open. Maybe somebody in the know could chime in. I've been wondering if I need one on the 125 drain.
The pipe running along the wall with the ball valve runs back to the first sump tank. It goes in the back of the sump then ends in an open stand pipe. It serves two purposes; I can remove the stand pipe to drain the sump AND it acts as an emergency drain in case I have a brain fart and leave the fill timer on by accident. Then the water just drains out.
I originally figured the P-trap would keep critters from crawling up the drain and into my room. But then I got to thinking that little bit of water probably wouldn't deter some animals so I put a big strainer on the top of the stand pipe. I figured that would keep out the BIG varmints anyways!
The gate valve is the display tank drain. I've since replaced it with a bigger ball valve. MUCH easier to use for it's purpose.
I also changed the return pump. The Reeflo in the picture was WAY overkill. It looked like I had two fire hoses running in the tank. I sold the Reeflo to a fellow MF member and replaced it with a Red Dragon.

 

[Randys]

My Petsmart stand rebuild is complete!

I added six vertical supports.

 

[Randys]

I finally finished the riser.

 

[Randys]

And I leveled it by taking material off the bottom of the legs with a belt sander. It's surprisingly easy to make something sit perfectly flat that way.
It's especially handy when you're sitting on a concrete floor where the flatness can vary WILDLY depending on the guy with the concrete float.
I leveled all the benches in my man cave that way.

 

[FJB]

Excellent job on reinforcing the stand, building the awesome raiser, and making them match beautifully. Awesome!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Randys]

Thanks bud. I really appreciate that.
I think I enjoy the challenge more than anything else. I seem to always have a project in the works. It's a sickness I tell ya! A SICKNESS!
LOL
If you don't mind me indulging myself and getting WAY off topic, here's my grand kid project from the summer.

 

[FJB]

Wow! That is a big project. Looks great. Lucky kids....