Final Build Update Post #4
So time for another update! The stand and canopy build is finally finished!! I have the final coat of urethane on and if there's any imperfections, I don't care anymore I am done! LOL I am FINALLY done! I way over did this to make it a furniture grade stand. I can say I will never do that again!! However I hope you like it! Now to get the tank resealed, drilled, plumbed, and my overflow setup!
DIY Overflow:
Here's my DIY on my ghost overflow that I'm making. I initially was going to do a glass setup till I saw Joey (King of DIY) make one out of acrylic for his goldfish tank and I was inspired. However as I didn't have a table saw, I was able to find a friend who did and he let me borrow it, however I upgraded the blade to a 10" 90 tooth one to get the smoothest cuts I could get. One quick tip was to slide the piece back and forth once the last tooth cut was made to smooth out the blades rough cut edges. I don't have it glued up yet, but will be doing so as soon as I get the mounting surface prepped for gluing. Here's the pics of the overflow so far.
Internal overflow box - 36" L x 5" H x 2" D
External plumbing box - 23" L x 7" H x 6" D
1.5" bulkheads, 3 to be drilled in the tank to hold the overflows together and 3 for the beananimal drain system I will be using.
I wanted to try a router, but the setup I was working with wasn't keeping it stable enough to get straight cuts, however I have since seen a method that would have probably worked if I ever do it again.
Internal box has the teeth, the outside box is the other one.
Close up of the inside teeth
Next is the overflow, this is finally done! WOOT WOOT!! I have a friend coming over today to help place the tank on the stand so I can get the plumbing for the overflow started.
Power Panel Update:
Here's one of the
ADJ PC-100A
Two panels mounted, if a third is needed then I can use the center door to mount another one.
Here's an up close view of one where it's mounted.
A shot from the back showing the board I used to get the panel at the right height. Notice there's no mounting hardware visible from under the power panel? LOL
I'm about 90%+ done now. Just trying to figure out some final details on my plumbing before flooding the setup and seeing if it holds water. Which will run in the garage for about 2 weeks before it comes in the house. It's been a long journey, but glad it's almost done!!!
I also have my DIY LED light fixture figured out, I've got all parts on hand now, minus the wiring. Which I will work on that while I'm leak testing the system.
This picture does it no justice as to how big this setup really is. It's a 125g tank which is 72" long by 18" wide. The stand is right at 7 feet tall and 6'8" wide.
More updates below.
Here's the inside of the stand as viewed from the back side.
The entire back side.
View of the return pipe from the top.
View of the return from inside the tank.
Pipe from the pump to bypass the tank as needed, or to adjust the flow through the tank.
Pump plumbing.
Last night I worked on the overflow plumbing some to get it tuned just right. I've gotten the overflow quiet and starting a full flow within 30 seconds or so.
My return pump is a Jebao DC12000 that I got about 2 years ago or so. I know I've seen reviews about them either being loud or not lasting or something else wrong. There's a bit of a turbine type sound to it, but in the garage the back is wide open, so not sure how it will sound in the house. The most noise is coming from the sump divider where the return water comes in, as it's coming over the edge and falling down about 2" there's an air bubble under it and it churns the water and makes a bit of water fall type noise. So anyway's I tested the return pump flow going into the tank last night using a 5 gallon bucket and some additional tubing to direct the flow where needed. I had my wife time me filling the bucket. There's 6 speeds on this pump and I tested the flow and power consumption at each setting.
I assume the total water volume would be about 160 gallons in the 180 total possible system.
6 - 99 watts - 12.97 seconds - 1387.81 gph - 8.67x turnover rate
5 - 82 watts - 14.57 seconds - 1235.41 gph - 7.72x turnover rate
4 - 66 watts - 17.34 seconds - 1038.06 gph - 6.48x turnover rate
3 - 50 watts - 19.75 seconds - 911.39 gph - 5.69x turnover rate
2 - 37 watts - 24.10 seconds - 746.88 gph - 4.66x turnover rate
1 - 27 watts - 32.30 seconds - 557.27 gph - 3.48x turnover rate
I'm thinking of running the pump at either speeds of 4 or 5, however as the tank is currently bare, I can't really see how the flow of water at that rate will affect the substrate or the plants or fish.
Now I never saw any other DC pumps when I bought this a few years ago, however I've now seen the Ecotech Marine DC pumps and besides for their cost, I wonder if I should save up some money to buy one of their pumps in case or for when the Jebao pump may go out. What sucks is that depending upon the pump it's either $349 (M1) or $449 (L1).
Alright another big update! I move the tank/stand inside the house! Woot Woot! I got the tank in the house before baby #2 is here next week.... OMG Next week?!?! I'm not ready for that yet! LOL
I got the lift cylinders from Western Marine that are Taylor Made and are supposedly rated for marine use, well I picked up two 20lbs cylinders as not knowing anything about cylinders and I couldn't get the formula, or was too lazy to try, I just went with about what the lid weighed. Well it lifts easier, but doesn't hold it up. So I ordered 2 of 40lbs and 2 60lbs shocks to hope that one of these will hold the damned thing! Before the current shocks the doors weighed in at about 40lbs but now they are coming in at 15lbs, so hopefully the 40lbs shocks will do the trick. Luckily there's a 30 day window to return what I don't need. So hopefully one of these shocks coming in tomorrow will be the right ones I need.
Going through the front door!
Inside the entryway.
Damn it, there's always gotta be a touch of carnage! When moving off the furniture dolly from outside the house as we were pushing it in this drug on the dolly and pulled right out from the brad nails that were holding it on. Oh well.... $hit happens! I will be gluing it back on.
Time to check level.... wait what?!
Holy crap I didn't even have to level the stand! This is inside the bottom of the tank, she's level! Wow!!! I'm surprised the guys laying the foundation did it right in this house, as my previous house was way off when my dad and I tiled the place.
Here she is in the den. Luckily the piece that broke off is in the back corner, however it will get fixed soon. (I know the flag in the flag case isn't folded correctly, but I've never gotten around to fixing it after my dad gave it to me. I'll get it one day.)
Anyone coming to my front door will get to see a nice treat while they wait for me to get to the door now. (The round purple on the right side of the pic is my wife's belly, she's about 38 or 39 weeks along.)