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First DIY 50g Acrylic Aquarium and Wood Stand Build
- Thread starter Guns286
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Guns286
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I had to make a new and improved overflow. I felt that the old one would leave the water level too low, so I raised it an inch and made it a little thinner, front to back. On another thread I was told that the teeth were too far apart on the old one, so I made the new ones 1/4” instead of 1/2”.
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Guns286
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First leak test: FAIL
There was some leaking from the rear, bottom of the tank. It looked like it was coming from 3 places. Honestly, I wasn’t that confident about my welding job in that area, so I guess I was right. I drained the tank and dried it out. I’m using Weld-On 16 just like you would use silicone, running a bead across the seam and then flattening it out with my finger. I’m going to do this for all of the seams, let it cure for a day or two, then it’s on to leak test #2.
There was some leaking from the rear, bottom of the tank. It looked like it was coming from 3 places. Honestly, I wasn’t that confident about my welding job in that area, so I guess I was right. I drained the tank and dried it out. I’m using Weld-On 16 just like you would use silicone, running a bead across the seam and then flattening it out with my finger. I’m going to do this for all of the seams, let it cure for a day or two, then it’s on to leak test #2.
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Guns286
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Second leak test: FAIL
Looks like the Weld-On 16 didn’t work exactly as well as I had hoped. There were no leaks until the tank was about 3/4 full. Then, along the same area, a few leaks opened up. So I drained it and I’m going with a thin line of clear silicone now. Only in that area, which will be below the sand line anyway.
Looks like the Weld-On 16 didn’t work exactly as well as I had hoped. There were no leaks until the tank was about 3/4 full. Then, along the same area, a few leaks opened up. So I drained it and I’m going with a thin line of clear silicone now. Only in that area, which will be below the sand line anyway.
SPS2020
Valuable Member
Fingers crossed for a successful third leak test! 
This thread takes me back to my college days...a long time ago (ahem). I built a 120 gallon tank out of 1\4" acrylic! I used four 1\4" x 3" internal acrylic braces from front to rear to keep them from blowing out. The top and bottom were wrapped in 3\4" x 2" red oak to keep the corners from blowing out. I cannot recollect the brand of acrylic cement I used, but it was recommended by Clarity Plus, IRRC. I lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building and had a water bed. LOL The floors were solid cement, so I wasn't concerned about the structural capability of the building. First leak test...successful. I have no idea how I pulled that off. Thank you for this thread and a trip down memory lane!
I'll be watching to see how things progress. Excellent job to score that free acrylic!
This thread takes me back to my college days...a long time ago (ahem). I built a 120 gallon tank out of 1\4" acrylic! I used four 1\4" x 3" internal acrylic braces from front to rear to keep them from blowing out. The top and bottom were wrapped in 3\4" x 2" red oak to keep the corners from blowing out. I cannot recollect the brand of acrylic cement I used, but it was recommended by Clarity Plus, IRRC. I lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building and had a water bed. LOL The floors were solid cement, so I wasn't concerned about the structural capability of the building. First leak test...successful. I have no idea how I pulled that off. Thank you for this thread and a trip down memory lane!
I'll be watching to see how things progress. Excellent job to score that free acrylic!
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Guns286
Community Member
Reef tanks, or saltwater tanks in general, always seemed daunting to me. I stuck with freshwater, then moved to freshwater planted tanks. Then my kids came and my tanks were taken over by turtles and lizards. Now that I have some time, and the acrylic feel into my lap, I thought that it was finally time to to give saltwater a try.
My hope was that someone like me would see this thread and get some help, or at least inspiration, from my journey. But, I’ll definitely take a trip down memory lane as a success!
My hope was that someone like me would see this thread and get some help, or at least inspiration, from my journey. But, I’ll definitely take a trip down memory lane as a success!
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Guns286
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Update
Third leak test: SUCCESS!!
It’s been 36 hours and not a drop of leaked water to be seen! I’m going to give it till morning (another 12 hours) then drain it and move on to the next phases: leak and compartment testing the sump, sanding and painting the stand. Onward and upward!
Third leak test: SUCCESS!!
It’s been 36 hours and not a drop of leaked water to be seen! I’m going to give it till morning (another 12 hours) then drain it and move on to the next phases: leak and compartment testing the sump, sanding and painting the stand. Onward and upward!
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Guns286
Community Member
It’s time to start thinking about a light. And I’ve entered a contest with Noopsyche to win what looks like an awesome light. Here’s the link to the contest.
www.reef2reef.com
GIVEAWAY - CONTEST - *** Noopsyche's It's Summer Time Giveaway ***
Noopsyche's It's Summer Time Giveaway It's SUMMER TIME!! It's a great time vacation with family, get those outdoor projects going, spend some extra time grilling outdoors, and to win a brand new K7 Pro V3 reef light for your reef!! NOO-PSYCHE recently invited Simple Reefing to test the PAR...
www.reef2reef.com
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Guns286
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I’ve been slowly gathering equipment since I started this build. I now have 2 good pumps, a great protein skimmer, and a programmable heater. Not to mention the plumbing and bulkheads. Whoever said that this hobby could get expensive is probably living in a box somewhere, just them and their tank! It is definitely the truth! But, I’m taking my time, looking for bargains and creeping closer to being ready. Lights will be my next purchase. I need a good, main tank light and a smaller one for the sump refugium. I have them picked out and am just waiting to get them.
RO/DI has been on my mind lately too. I’m not excited about having to go to the LFS to get water all of the time. So, I’m going to get an RO/DI filter and make a mixing station. I took left over wood that I had and made a container stand (top for RO/DI water and bottom for saltwater mixing. I cleared out a corner in my workshop and fortunately this corner has a copper pipe that runs to my backyard hose. I can tap into that for the filter supply.
I’ll post when I get it more together.
RO/DI has been on my mind lately too. I’m not excited about having to go to the LFS to get water all of the time. So, I’m going to get an RO/DI filter and make a mixing station. I took left over wood that I had and made a container stand (top for RO/DI water and bottom for saltwater mixing. I cleared out a corner in my workshop and fortunately this corner has a copper pipe that runs to my backyard hose. I can tap into that for the filter supply.
I’ll post when I get it more together.
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Guns286
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I’m still here. I don’t have anything left to “build”, but I’m waiting to get my RO/DI filter, a decent light, and some other miscellaneous things. It will cost around $500 to get that stuff, but life sometimes gets in the way. So, I’m figuring it’ll take another month, or so, to get these things and get everything set up.
Then the next bunch of things to get will be the live sand, live rock, Fishless cycling system, and refugium biological starter kit. Which will be another chunk of money. It all has to be gotten together so it can be added to the tank/sump at once and then the saltwater goes in the begin the cycling process. I estimate that I should be cycling by November.
It turns out that patience and planning are very big when it comes to setting up one of these systems. Especially if you have to budget your spending, like I do.
I’ll check in as I progress.
Then the next bunch of things to get will be the live sand, live rock, Fishless cycling system, and refugium biological starter kit. Which will be another chunk of money. It all has to be gotten together so it can be added to the tank/sump at once and then the saltwater goes in the begin the cycling process. I estimate that I should be cycling by November.
It turns out that patience and planning are very big when it comes to setting up one of these systems. Especially if you have to budget your spending, like I do.
I’ll check in as I progress.
ilikefish69
Kind of a Valuable Member
Brother, don’t forget about used items. I also am a budget conscious reefer. I e saved 1000’s already on used items, Facebook marketplace is your best friend. I got a free 90g complete set up, just have to watch the postings like a hawk. Just saw a 125g with stand for $40, missed my window.
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Guns286
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Oh, believe me I am! I check Craigslist, OfferUp and FB Marketplace almost daily!
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