Dual Tank Stand and Canopy Build

rybitski · Jul 19, 2011

This project has taken much longer than originally thought.. The biggest hold up has been my lack of access to a shop. I live in an apt and could not bring all of my tools along with me. I rely on the university scene shop to build all of my projects and this summer I have been hardpressed to get time in the shop due to staffing issues. At any rate my stand will hold a 90g and 20g tall tank. The 20g will eventually be set up as a refugium as soon as I figure out where I can get some algae for it. I wanted to have the refugium on display instead of hiding it under the stand. After taking some advice from the community I covered the top of the stand with 3/4" ply for stability, it adds more strength to the stand than you'd think.
Well enough talking here are some pictures. Sorry for the quality, all I have is a cell phone camera right now..

P.S. This will be a build log as the project is not yet complete.

rybitski · Jul 20, 2011

Just wanted to upload some quick pictures:

My girlfriend was about to strangle me over this mess last week. You can see the 'Project' taking over the entire dinning room. Luckily someone came last week to pick up my old stand so that is now gone.

Starting to fill with RODI water :bigsmile:

rybitski · Jul 20, 2011

Questions or comments on my setup are welcome. I have been in the hobby for a couple of years now, but that doesn't mean that I'm doing it correctly. Let me know if you see something in my setup that just isn't going to work.
Installed a GFCI outlet in waterproof conduit.

I have a small skimmer that will sit in here. I usually put a filter pad in the drip tray to catch sediment and other nasties

Just a note: the canopy that is on here is my old one and will be rebuilt later.

The frosty piece of acrylic will be lit from either end with blue LED's so that it glows. In this picture you can see where I cut a groove in the back of the door for the wire. I will eventually cover it with wood putty and re-paint the door.

blesk · Jul 20, 2011

Werry nice.

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rybitski · Jul 20, 2011

The aquarium sitting to the left is a 15g and not the 20 g tall that will eventually be sitting there.

rybitski · Jul 26, 2011

I finished wiring to doors and mixed in some instant ocean. More pictures to come soon of a little aquascaping.

swannyson7 · Jul 26, 2011

Looks good! You may want to reconsider the bioballs though... the general consensus is that they tend to be a nitrate factory as the tank matures.

toyencounters · Jul 26, 2011

Once finished it will be really awesome!

rybitski · Aug 6, 2011

I got the live rock in last week (been super busy and haven't had time to upload pictures). For some reason my LEDs on the right side of the left door are nor turning on. I need to take it apart and figure out what is wrong. But i really like the effect it creates on the door. Unfortunately the camera does a terrible job of photographing it. In person it is a much more even light. I still need to get the 20g tank drilled and plumbed before I can move on to building the canopy.

I still have not set the 20g on the stand yet, keep in mind that is a 15g that is just sitting there for the time being.

Thanks for the interest guys! I will try my best to keep the pictures coming.

swannyson7
Looks good! You may want to reconsider the bioballs though... the general consensus is that they tend to be a nitrate factory as the tank matures

What filtration configuration would you recommend?

swannyson7 · Aug 6, 2011

Ideally, I'd say swap the wet/dry out for a sump, but that's not to say that a wet/dry filter with bioballs won't work. Many people have had success with a similar setup, but over time the bioballs tend to become caked with detritus and become counterproductive.