[nofearengineer]

Finally get to start a new tank from scratch since finding TPT!

Since improving my 46 so much, I have to resist the serious MTS urges. However, finding a brand new 75-gallon tank for $75 was too much to resist.

So let's kick this off right.

Stand build!

After a day of careful tank measurements and CAD work, I bought some lumber and took it all to a friend's house. He is a professional luthier (http://www.jihguitars.com/), who also used to make cabinets and such. So we tweaked a few things, and got to cutting in his awesome shop. Piled it all back into the truck and took it home, where I started putting it together.

Oh yeah, it was a great excuse to buy a new cordless drill kit. :hihi:

It's built for a 75, but it would probably support a 175 (tall, of course :hihi.

I wheeled it in to the house and got it situated to final verify that it would fit perfect.

Success!

All that's left to do now is to trim it out, put the doors on, and paint it. I haven't decided if I want to do it all white, or taupe with white trim (like the walls).

I've never done cabinet doors before, but I found out I will need a special tool to cut the cups in the doors for concealed hinges. So that might take a while.

I'm going to give it a few days at least to make a decision on colors.

I really like having a counter behind it, so in case I ever want a couple potted plants up there to hang some roots in, it should be perfect.

 

[[email protected]]

That special tool that you need is a 35mm drill bit made especially for those hinges. It's normally done with a drill press, it's darn near impossible to do it with a hand held drill. Find a local cabinet shop, I'm sure they would quickly do it for you.

 

[blazeyreef]

looks like a sweet start!

 

[nofearengineer]

Finally got some time (and the motiviation :biggrin to finish the stand. I was actually able to find my exact base molding at the local Lowe's, and the people I bought the house from left cans of all of the paint colors they used, so perfectly matching my wall was a piece of cake!

Now the reason I did this was because the tank is black rimmed, with black silicone. Since it's going to stand out regardless, I'd rather accentuate it, rather than futilely try to blend it in. So I blended the stand in instead. A black suspended lighting fixture will complete this look well, I think.

I'll post some more pics tonight when I get the door knobs (white) installed and the tank put up on it. The paint was still a bit tacky when I took this pic.

 

[CL]

Nice job matching the stand to the walls! I have to say, it's like the house was built for that tank :hihi:

Might I ask what kind of engineer you are? I'm gonna guess a mech-e at a certain certain large company located in Indiana, judging just by your location. I'm currently in my fourth year at UK studying biosystems engineering.

 

[nofearengineer]

Nice job matching the stand to the walls! I have to say, it's like the house was built for that tank :hihi:

Might I ask what kind of engineer you are? I'm gonna guess a mech-e at a certain certain large company located in Indiana, judging just by your location. I'm currently in my fourth year at UK studying biosystems engineering.

Yes, the breakfast bar is a near perfect fit, isn't it? It will also make water changes and maintenance a bit easier as well.

I am an Electrical Engineer.

4th year...you're almost done. It will be funny when you get out and discover your Engineering degree is merely a testimonial that you can survive a 4-year beating. :biggrin: UK is a fine, fine school. Congratulations!

 

[longgonedaddy]

Looks great!

 

[MiSo]

looks amazing so far. great job.

 

[nofearengineer]

I found the perfect doorknobs tonight. Except they aren't even doorknobs. They are finials for curtain rods, marketed by Martha Stewart. As she would say "it's a good thing". (Are guys supposed to know that stuff? :biggrin: )

Screwed them in and they're perfect.

I put my Flourite sand in (still in bags) to get a rough feel for the amount needed. I'm not even sure the one bag I put in my "also in progress" 10-gallon would make this amount enough. I probably need a couple more bags (total of 7).

This tank is directly under the tallest part of my vaulted ceiling. I'm toying with suspending a light all the way from a 2x2 that sits up on the ledges to either side. Either that or putting one hanger on each side wall, so that there is no horizontal structure other than the light. That would preserve my vaulted height. What do you think?

 

[CL]

I'd personally make some light bars that are attached to the stand- it would keep the area above the tank more open.
I have seen someone suspend a light from a very tall vaulted ceiling before and it looked very nice, however, I'm not sure if their ceilings were are high as yours are.

 

[nofearengineer]

What I meant was to attach a "hook" of some sort to each side wall, about 24 inches above the tank, that a cable on each end of the light fixture would go straight up to. The hooks would only protrude far enough off the wall to be above each end of the tank, probably only about 3-4 inches.

Instead of a straight bar all the way across the opening.

Just clarifying if my first description wasn't very good.

 

[MiSo]

A sky light over the tank would be amazing.

 

[Chronados]

That's an awesome location for the tank there. If I were you I'd have some driftwood sticking out of the water for some emersed plants that could be seen on the other side of the counter

 

[xmas_one]

Why is the stand wider than the tank?

 

[nofearengineer]

I did that on purpose because the area is carpeted. I wanted any possible drips to stop on the slight overhang instead of the floor.

It also puts the weight of the tank rails on the structural members of the stand, rather than on the aesthetic parts.

 

[nofearengineer]

A sky light over the tank would be amazing.

Haha...I agree. Sadly, that is far beyond the scope (and budget!) of this project.

Maybe someday when I get married and my house just isn't compatible with my princess' stand of living, and we build. :icon_lol:

 

[etk300ex]

That looks great man, nice work!

 

[GMYukonon24s]

I really like the way you made your stand!

 

[nofearengineer]

I finally got all of my pieces together and expanded my regulator tonight. Now I can feed my new 75, a small growout/QT tank, and keep my 46 running.

 

[longgonedaddy]

Any updates?