A Living Room Reef: 120 Gallon Upgrade

[G-B_Reefing]

We were thinking about where the skin of the stand is headed over coffee this morning....

- I threw around a little brainstorming as we narrowed down some options:

- Laying out the stand a little more in full so we can visualize how it could feel

What do you like better, the left or right? Horizontal or vertical slat skin behind the doors?

I made a 1 week poll up top, feel free to cast your vote if you want to influence the style choices

I'm planning the final stand to have maybe a 3-5 inch flat trim ledge around the bottom of the tank (over-hanging the frame) to cover the plastic frame on the bottom of the tank. I'm also expecting to do some additional wood trim along the corners, etc over the paneling and mirror the style on the canopy.

From this design session on the canopy, I might be headed toward 1 big panel door up top on the front. I'll have to start thinking about hinge styles and how to set up all the panel doors now too.

Anyway, let me know what you think of our brainstorming design for moving the stand skin forward.

 

[G-B_Reefing]

Well, nothing to big to update this time. But I got another thing done.

I had some plywood that had some damaged edges. So, side project it is! And while we're at this, it's time to get some more scrap wood out of the way to make room for working on the cabinet.

- A new skill saw guide ......................................... - And a blanket ladder for the family room

- I had all the scrap wood because of another thing going on: a queen murphey bed for a bedroom. I had just finished up all the struts for it.

Then I finally made it back to some tank stuff. Since I had just made a new jig... well I had to test it out on something. I cut off a 3/4 inch plywood panel for the stand. I don't have a grab handle on it yet so I didn't set it all the way in for the pictures. But this panel will sit inside into the bottom of the stand frame on the cross brace and corner supports.

I'll add the grab / pull handle to the front top so I can leave the entire panel removeable. I don't keep my sump under the cabinet. And I've never needed to remove the bottom of my current 90 gallon display (which doesn't remove). But I guess you never know. If it ever does get wet down there for whatever reason, I suppose it'll be nice to be able to remove the majority of stand to get access below it.

I usually keep a 10 gallon QT tank, food, supplies, tank tools, and my brine shrimp hatchery underneath in the cabinets. I'm going to have so much space with the extra height on this stand and no sump equipment in there!

Meanwhile I need to grab a 3/4 inch slip to 1/2 inch female threaded reducer bushing. Then I can upgrade my ATO barrel and fix the current slow leak on the old threaded fitting. The bulkhead and union are here and waiting at least.

- My Randall's Goby peaking out of it's den:

- Some of my Polythoas

Until next time... cheers