kgk
Guest
I figured it's about time to start this thread, as I'm getting serious about finishing this project finally. I started on it early this year. I had a thread about this build but I guess it got lost in a database shuffle - no worries, I can start it again.
Most of you probably remember my 80 gallon rimless tank. I had it in my office, and when I wanted to remodel my office, it was easiest to take the tank down, sell the stuff, and start over. Well, the office is remodeled - I have a huge new desk & shelves, and it's turned this into a great place to work. However, I don't have a running tank - YET.
I only have so much room in the office, so I decided early on that the tank couldn't be huge. The wall the tank is going on is about 7' from one wall to the edge of the entry door. I also knew that I wanted a spacious stand - my last stand didn't have nearly the amount of room under it that I wanted. Here's what I settled on.
I ordered a 120 gallon, 3-sided Starphire tank from Planet in Dallas. It's the standard 4x2x2 size, with a standard black overflow in the rear-right corner of the tank. A big selling feature of Planet is that they use PVC on the bottom - it's amazing how much weight that saves overall. It also looks good. It seems everyone is going rimless these days, but I've been there before, and wanted to do something different. Honestly, rimless can be a PITA. Just cleaning the thing was an exercise in frustration ... water had a tendency to go everwhere.
I also had Justin Henry build me an oversized stand, as well as a canopy. He did a great job. It's built out of red oak to match the built-in desk & shelves in my office, and the stain matches perfectly. The stand is 6' long - this gives me room for a 3' sump, my ATO, and all my other equipment to live under the stand. Instead of describing it, I'll just post some pictures.
I also have most of the equipment bought - dual MP40w ES's, sump, controller, pumps, skimmer, CaRx, etc ... but I'll write about all that another time. I'm building my own LED lights as well, so that will be chronicled in this thread too.
Now for pictures! Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version. Sorry for the crappy quality - cell phone pics, blah blah.
From the entry way looking into the office. Yeah, it's messy. I have a lot of hobbies I guess.
The tank is against the entry way wall, so you're looking back towards the entry from here.
Now with the stand opened up. Underneath, it's one large open area. The ATO will go on the left hand side, sump in the middle, equipment etc on the right.
Pic of the door on the right hand side.
The top comes off the left hand side for easy ATO filling. I plan on using a gravity-feed ATO. Haven't figured out how big of a tank I can fit in here yet. I'll probably have someone build an acrylic tank to maximize the tank size.
Maybe I'll get motivated later tonight & write more. TTFN.
Most of you probably remember my 80 gallon rimless tank. I had it in my office, and when I wanted to remodel my office, it was easiest to take the tank down, sell the stuff, and start over. Well, the office is remodeled - I have a huge new desk & shelves, and it's turned this into a great place to work. However, I don't have a running tank - YET.
I only have so much room in the office, so I decided early on that the tank couldn't be huge. The wall the tank is going on is about 7' from one wall to the edge of the entry door. I also knew that I wanted a spacious stand - my last stand didn't have nearly the amount of room under it that I wanted. Here's what I settled on.
I ordered a 120 gallon, 3-sided Starphire tank from Planet in Dallas. It's the standard 4x2x2 size, with a standard black overflow in the rear-right corner of the tank. A big selling feature of Planet is that they use PVC on the bottom - it's amazing how much weight that saves overall. It also looks good. It seems everyone is going rimless these days, but I've been there before, and wanted to do something different. Honestly, rimless can be a PITA. Just cleaning the thing was an exercise in frustration ... water had a tendency to go everwhere.
I also had Justin Henry build me an oversized stand, as well as a canopy. He did a great job. It's built out of red oak to match the built-in desk & shelves in my office, and the stain matches perfectly. The stand is 6' long - this gives me room for a 3' sump, my ATO, and all my other equipment to live under the stand. Instead of describing it, I'll just post some pictures.
I also have most of the equipment bought - dual MP40w ES's, sump, controller, pumps, skimmer, CaRx, etc ... but I'll write about all that another time. I'm building my own LED lights as well, so that will be chronicled in this thread too.
Now for pictures! Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version. Sorry for the crappy quality - cell phone pics, blah blah.
From the entry way looking into the office. Yeah, it's messy. I have a lot of hobbies I guess.
The tank is against the entry way wall, so you're looking back towards the entry from here.
Now with the stand opened up. Underneath, it's one large open area. The ATO will go on the left hand side, sump in the middle, equipment etc on the right.
Pic of the door on the right hand side.
The top comes off the left hand side for easy ATO filling. I plan on using a gravity-feed ATO. Haven't figured out how big of a tank I can fit in here yet. I'll probably have someone build an acrylic tank to maximize the tank size.
Maybe I'll get motivated later tonight & write more. TTFN.
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