DIY: Stand, Canopy, & Sump for 6x2x2 (180 G) [Design + Build]
- Thread starter SoCalDiscus
- Start date
good looking design and well thought out. Could you make one end of the stand semi removable so you could slide the sump/fuge out if needed?
necrocanis;2321659; said:
Thanks!
AJordan;2321833; said:
The end panels on the stand are load bearing, so I don't think that would be possible without a totally different design. Using ply on the ends helps to prevent a parallelogram style collapse. Even if I used some sort of framing and created access, I would still need robust diagonal support. I think the compromise in structural integrity to have easy access for sump removal isn't a worthwhile trade off given the relatively low probability of needing to remove the sump.
necrocanis;2327081; said:
What is the benefit you would gain by upgrading? I think it is rather expensive isn't it?
Cost analysis:
I did some comparison shopping at Home Depot, Lowes, and Ganahl Lumber. My comments and details are below the table.
Home Depot only had inferior wood.
Lowes had marginally better wood, and offered two quality grades for the boards. The premium boards had a very fine finish, almost as if they had been polished and waxed. The color tone was slightly different from the standard quality boards and 2x4s. So, how it would react with stain is a little worrisome. I think I could build a stand that would look ok, but not great with lumber from here. The difference between the standard and premium wood is the finely sanded finish, and the knot holes. The premium has no knot holes. The 2x4s available are all generally rough cut, and look like they are very fresh wood. I'm guessing that "green douglas fir" may be referring to how new it is. The pine finished ply isn't great, but it could work if I can find a clean sheet.
Not being completely satisfied with the wood I had found, I looked for a lumber company in the area. I found Ganahl Lumber in Anaheim on Ball Road between the 5 and the 57 Freeways. They are a family owned company with 8 locations in Southern California. I was very impressed. I can not remember how many different employees asked me if I need any help with finding anything, or if I had any questions. Even the guys sweeping the floors asked if I needed anything. When was that last time that happened to you are Home Depot or Lowes?
They are a lumber yard, and hardware store. I'm not a contractor by any stretch of the imagination, but the equipment they had there was very nice, and reasonably priced. I picked up a Hitachi 18v cordless driver drill that came with 2 Lithium-ion batteries for $79. My existing drill was one of those huge hammer drills that you can drill concrete with. It seemed like a good idea at the time when my old drill burned out... until I tried using it for hours on end.
The lumber Ganahl has is very good quality. But of course, it is more expensive. If you were planning to paint, and not stain; you could get all of the structural building materials for $ 135 or so at Lowes. Maybe even cheaper if you picked up really cheap plywood. To use the premium wood at Lowes will cost around $200 for the stand and canopy. This would be wood with no knot holes on the doors, or forward facing boards of wood.
Buying the wood at Ganahl's is the most expensive at approximately $ 250. However, every piece of wood there was excellent quality. It wasn't cut from young trees what would warp. It was nice and dry. The quality rating I was looking at was "C & Btr" which means clear and better, so no knot holes. They do have lower quality wood there for cheaper which I may use in areas that are not seen, but the difference was just having knots or not.
I was definitely surprised when I totaled everything up. I haven't gotten any quotes for a stand and canopy on a 180. I'm sure it is way more than $250... and probably made out of cheap wood. But it still seems like a lot of money. The biggest difference in cost between Lowes and Ganahl is for the 2x4s. Being that the 2x4s are right there at the edge of the tank where they are clearly visible, it is probably worth going with the vastly superior wood, even though it costs $50 more. When I go back to buy, I will look into the cost of a 2x8 and see if it is cheaper than 2 2x4s being that I can always rip cut it.
If anyone knows of any other good lumber yards in the area, please let me know.
-Eric
I did some comparison shopping at Home Depot, Lowes, and Ganahl Lumber. My comments and details are below the table.
Home Depot only had inferior wood.
Lowes had marginally better wood, and offered two quality grades for the boards. The premium boards had a very fine finish, almost as if they had been polished and waxed. The color tone was slightly different from the standard quality boards and 2x4s. So, how it would react with stain is a little worrisome. I think I could build a stand that would look ok, but not great with lumber from here. The difference between the standard and premium wood is the finely sanded finish, and the knot holes. The premium has no knot holes. The 2x4s available are all generally rough cut, and look like they are very fresh wood. I'm guessing that "green douglas fir" may be referring to how new it is. The pine finished ply isn't great, but it could work if I can find a clean sheet.
Not being completely satisfied with the wood I had found, I looked for a lumber company in the area. I found Ganahl Lumber in Anaheim on Ball Road between the 5 and the 57 Freeways. They are a family owned company with 8 locations in Southern California. I was very impressed. I can not remember how many different employees asked me if I need any help with finding anything, or if I had any questions. Even the guys sweeping the floors asked if I needed anything. When was that last time that happened to you are Home Depot or Lowes?
They are a lumber yard, and hardware store. I'm not a contractor by any stretch of the imagination, but the equipment they had there was very nice, and reasonably priced. I picked up a Hitachi 18v cordless driver drill that came with 2 Lithium-ion batteries for $79. My existing drill was one of those huge hammer drills that you can drill concrete with. It seemed like a good idea at the time when my old drill burned out... until I tried using it for hours on end.
The lumber Ganahl has is very good quality. But of course, it is more expensive. If you were planning to paint, and not stain; you could get all of the structural building materials for $ 135 or so at Lowes. Maybe even cheaper if you picked up really cheap plywood. To use the premium wood at Lowes will cost around $200 for the stand and canopy. This would be wood with no knot holes on the doors, or forward facing boards of wood.
Buying the wood at Ganahl's is the most expensive at approximately $ 250. However, every piece of wood there was excellent quality. It wasn't cut from young trees what would warp. It was nice and dry. The quality rating I was looking at was "C & Btr" which means clear and better, so no knot holes. They do have lower quality wood there for cheaper which I may use in areas that are not seen, but the difference was just having knots or not.
I was definitely surprised when I totaled everything up. I haven't gotten any quotes for a stand and canopy on a 180. I'm sure it is way more than $250... and probably made out of cheap wood. But it still seems like a lot of money. The biggest difference in cost between Lowes and Ganahl is for the 2x4s. Being that the 2x4s are right there at the edge of the tank where they are clearly visible, it is probably worth going with the vastly superior wood, even though it costs $50 more. When I go back to buy, I will look into the cost of a 2x8 and see if it is cheaper than 2 2x4s being that I can always rip cut it.
If anyone knows of any other good lumber yards in the area, please let me know.
-Eric
I got the tank yesterday. It was lots of fun getting it out of the back of the truck by myself. I was hoping to get the wood today, but... hopefully tomorrow. Its tough finding a time that both Jen and I can go being that they are only open till 6 pm.
I have a HOB overflow box that I want centered on the tank; so I had it built with 2 braces leaving the middle open. I also had 3 lid sections done so that I have more flexibility in what I have open during feeding time.
I have a HOB overflow box that I want centered on the tank; so I had it built with 2 braces leaving the middle open. I also had 3 lid sections done so that I have more flexibility in what I have open during feeding time.
