125 mixed reef build!

Fiveo124 · Oct 8, 2018

Hey guys!

I’ve spent the last few months snatching up equipment and today finally bought the tank. Going from a 45jbj rimless cube (which cracked) to a 36 gallon (was gonna be sump). This thread is the trials and tribulations of trying to build this beast on a budget.

dbl · Oct 8, 2018

Yikes on the crack. Good luck on the new build...signing up to follow along.

Fiveo124 · Oct 9, 2018

Here’s the emergency tank today and the stand I built. Was originally for a 180 72x24.

Does anyone think it will be an issue using it for a 72x18?

SPR1968 · Oct 9, 2018

Great pictures (apart from the crack ouch!!) and welcome to R2R!

The new build looks really good

dugthefish · Oct 9, 2018

Fiveo124 said:
Here’s the emergency tank today and the stand I built. Was originally for a 180 72x24.

Does anyone think it will be an issue using it for a 72x18?

Hard to see the stand. If properly modified, I'd think it would be fine from a structural standpoint. Looking forward to following this thread!

Fiveo124 · Oct 9, 2018

Here’s some pics of the stand, it’s 40” high by 73 long by 25 wide. All 2x4. My plan is to place the tank in the center giving me about 3.5 inches on the front and back so the weight will be even on the sides but my concern is the front and back of the tank no longer rest on the front and back frame. To help this after I get the sump in I was going to add 2 more upright 2x4 in the center under the cross supports to tank the weight in the middle. Sorry if this is confusing.

dugthefish · Oct 9, 2018

I wouldn't necessarily worry about adding any more vertical supports. My concern would be the plywood sagging in the middle.

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the weight of the tank is predominantly on the perimeter. Thus, you would want maximum stand support around the edges of the tank.

I would make sure the plywood top was solid 3/4", and add some extra cross supports under the plywood, from the front rail to the back.

Fiveo124 · Oct 9, 2018

That’s the game plan, I just didn’t add cross supports because I didn’t know where the over flow was going to be.

The ply wood is 1/2 inch but I think I’m going to do another 1/2 on top that’s about and inch and a half longer so I can put a trim around the tank covering up the black frame.
It’s the first stand I’ve built and I’m terrified of it failing

Fiveo124 · Oct 20, 2018

UPDATE: I spent way too much money this week but all I need left is sand and salt and we are good to go.
Picked up a third kessil 360we, 48” aquaticlife t5 hybrid, bubble magus curve 7 skimmer, all pvc for plumbing and manifold. And possibly my favorite I made my mount for the lights.
Went out and bought about $90 worth of 1” steel pipe and fittings which will be mounted to the stand. The arm mounts for the t5 were $70 a piece so I saved about $50 and it matches my decor in my basement more.
Next week I will be moving the emergency tank off the stand so I can drill and add supports to the stand then move the monster on it and plumb it. Stay tuned!

Fiveo124 · Oct 27, 2018

Decided to spend 60 bucks and rebuild the stand, also bought a miter saw so it’s been a busy two days. I redesigned the stand since the original was built (poorly as it was my first attempt) for a 180 and I now have a 125. I added upright 2x4 supports. 4 in the middle and 2 on each end that the cross supports will rest on. The pics are self explainatory. This way ifnin the future I decided to go bigger I can go up to a 220!

Flippers4pups · Oct 27, 2018

As @dugthefish stated, as long as the corners are supported, the stand is coplanar and there's a horizontal brace in the center to keep the stand from racking, you should be good to go.

I have the 125, 6ft and built my own stand and canopy. You can check it out here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/flippers-reef-125-gallon.317425/

I have built many a stand in my day based off of "rocket engineer's" design.

Fiveo124 · Oct 31, 2018

Bubble magus curve 7 finally showed up, I’m about a week and a half from being up and running. Picking up sand Friday and the top of the stand will be put on Friday as well. Here’s some pics of the sump, will also have a carbon and bio pellet reactor

Fiveo124 · Nov 2, 2018

Dry run with lighting, manifold and plumbing all dry fitted will be glued tonight. Hopefully full of water by Sunday night

Fiveo124 · Nov 5, 2018

Busy weekend, got all the plumbing done line up electric for when I do the electric panel mounted lights, moved in to place water filled and most importantly fish are in and happy