Tank outside or in while I skin the stand?

SallyWho · Jul 18, 2018

My stand is built, painted with killz and is just waiting to be skinned. The tank is outside, drilled, has the back panel painted, and is just waiting to cone inside. Skinning the tank will require some predrilling of holes, driving screws, and the like. If I bring the tank inside and put it on the stand, will the vibrations and jiggles of the stand while I'm skinning it cause the tank to crack? I'd really like to get it cycling, since I can do all the side stuff (building the canopy, mounting lights, skinning stand, etc) while it cycles, but I don't want to risk cracking it either. Thoughts? Will a 120g withstand some vibrations and bumps while I make the stand pretty? Thanks!

Brew12 · Jul 18, 2018

SallyWho said:
My stand is built, painted with killz and is just waiting to be skinned. The tank is outside, drilled, has the back panel painted, and is just waiting to cone inside. Skinning the tank will require some predrilling of holes, driving screws, and the like. If I bring the tank inside and put it on the stand, will the vibrations and jiggles of the stand while I'm skinning it cause the tank to crack? I'd really like to get it cycling, since I can do all the side stuff (building the canopy, mounting lights, skinning stand, etc) while it cycles, but I don't want to risk cracking it either. Thoughts? Will a 120g withstand some vibrations and bumps while I make the stand pretty? Thanks!

Unless you plan on getting rough with it, the tank should be fine. It will likely see more vibrations from the pumps it will have running than the drilling.

SallyWho · Jul 18, 2018

Brew12 said:
Unless you plan on getting rough with it, the tank should be fine. It will likely see more vibrations from the pumps it will have running than the drilling.

Excellent! If I can round up some strong people, I could have it moved inside by the end of the week, and hopefully full of water by the end of next week (it's seriously going to take me a while to figure out how to plumb this thing)! I can't wait to see it filled and 'scaped!!

Brew12 · Jul 18, 2018

SallyWho said:
Excellent! If I can round up some strong people, I could have it moved inside by the end of the week, and hopefully full of water by the end of next week (it's seriously going to take me a while to figure out how to plumb this thing)! I can't wait to see it filled and 'scaped!!

Don't forget that you can take your rock and put it in a plastic tub with a heater and powerhead to start your cycle. The glass itself doesn't need to be involved. And, the bacteria will survive hours outside the tank while you work on your scape.

Just another option....

JBKReef · Jul 18, 2018

@SallyWho I second what @Brew12 said... I'm currently cycling some rock in a plastic tub in preparations for my next build. A small heater, powerhead, and your rock will get the ball rolling. I used biospira and some of Dr Tims ammonia as well to really help expedite the cycle once it all goes into the tank.

I used this same process with my first tank and it was cycled within 10-14 days of getting wet... probably sooner but I wanted to ensure everything was good to go.

cracker · Jul 18, 2018

Sure would be easier to work on the stand without all the weight of the tank. You can pull away from the wall etc. Is the stand leveled & all?

SallyWho · Jul 18, 2018

Yes, I just double checked to be sure, but the stand is level on all three planes! Bubble is perfectly centered. And yeah, the weight of the tank will make the whole kit 'n kaboodle harder to move, but if I can at least get it inside, then I can work on the stand at my leisure. It's hard to find time to use my saw because I work nights, which is why I haven't cut any of the slats for the stand decor or built the canopy yet. :/ But I have a couple of nights off coming up, so I should hopefully be able to figure out how to plumb the darn thing by the end of next week!