Freakyy 75 build

Freakyyfort · Mar 26, 2016

Well let's kick off this build!! I'm excited. This is my first build of saltwater. Going from the ground up. Advice is encouraged hahha. Anyways I bought the lumber this afternoon and started with the stand. It's 4x4 corners and 2x4 frame. Choose to do a little extra on one side for acclimation box and water testing setup on that little table area. Thought about closing it off and putting shelves into it for storage of chemicals and tools. As I don't Wanna drop things in the sump.. cause that never happens.. haha

I'll be running a 75 display with a 55 sump below.

The tank is currently at the LFS being drilled and having overflow boxes put into it. Should be done next week.... I hope. Petco is having Thier $1 gallon sale starting the 27th.... (a few days away). Gonna get the 55 then and start with the sump build. Not sure how I'm gonna build it yet but I'm looking around at other builds.

Thanks for looking and hope you tag along. It's gonna be a slow and steady build but it'll be a fun one.

Chrisfish · Mar 26, 2016

Welcome to R2R, looking forward to seeing your progress.

Freakyyfort · Mar 26, 2016

Buttoned that up... hope tomorrow we can lay some skin on 'er. As for me I gotta be on the road alive and alert at 3 am. Had an ice storm roll thro... roads are gonna be fun pulling a 53'er

Chrisfish · Mar 26, 2016

Good luck and be safe, lol we had 80 degree weather here today

matt_97055 · Mar 26, 2016

Man I wish my garage was that clean!!!!! Hahahaa welcome to r2r!!

mcarroll · Mar 26, 2016

I have yet to build my own stands and this is totally a question just from reading other build threads:

It doesn't look like those massive 4x4's are going to be taking any of the tank weight. I'm sure that's fine, but wouldn't it make sense for those to be the main load bearing boards? It looks like there are merely braces for the 2x4 structure.

Mostly just taking notes for a future build, so I'm curious about your thoughts either way!

Freakyyfort · Mar 26, 2016

I'm no contractor... I'm not even a carpenter. My grandfather was tho... and when I'd tag along with him on jobs..... I didn't know anything about it.. measurements nope.. why and how... notta. I was more of a HEY GRANDPA YOU WANT THIS NAILED HERE!!!
so I can only say what I know from looking at other builds and whatnot.

I see the corner pieces done as 2 2x4s together or 4x4. This is actually measured out so the 4 corners of my tank will be sitting directly on the beams. It's not finished yet as I need center braces up top... guess it really goes with the rest of the hobby.. (personal preference). Me and my buddy both got up top and we're jumping and shaking it's pretty sturdy as we can tell.... guess the real test is when I get the tank up and test filling for leaks.

Freakyyfort · Mar 26, 2016

Got this when I started the 29 gallon. Which got about 20 days into cycling before we tore it down for the 75. Starting over but the rodi imo is probably a huge money saver in this hobby. Plus I can now ro my own drinking water.. win win...

Gonna be upgrading to 2 of the 55 drums. Got a great deal on two 60$ haha can pass up deals like that. Will be able outside installation as my closet is full like it is.

mcarroll · Mar 26, 2016

Good move getting the barrels!!

That shelf wants to rack with all that weight up top and no cross bracing anyway. Run!!!!

mcarroll · Mar 26, 2016

Freakyyfort said:
I'm no contractor... I'm not even a carpenter. My grandfather was tho... and when I'd tag along with him on jobs..... I didn't know anything about it.. measurements nope.. why and how... notta. I was more of a HEY GRANDPA YOU WANT THIS NAILED HERE!!!
so I can only say what I know from looking at other builds and whatnot.

I see the corner pieces done as 2 2x4s together or 4x4. This is actually measured out so the 4 corners of my tank will be sitting directly on the beams. It's not finished yet as I need center braces up top... guess it really goes with the rest of the hobby.. (personal preference). Me and my buddy both got up top and we're jumping and shaking it's pretty sturdy as we can tell.... guess the real test is when I get the tank up and test filling for leaks.

So the corners of the tank will be on top of the 4x4 beams? (Getting my beams straight.

)

If the tank isn't going out to the edge of what appears to the the stand's "top", then that all makes more sense.

I'd imagine you are you skinning the top with something? I think that can make some difference how the weight is applied to the structure too.

Freakyyfort · Mar 26, 2016

Skinned the top with 1/4 inch plywood. The outside where the tank won't be sitting is gonna be where the trim meets the tanks trim.

Doors are cut out. Now to figure out what trim to use and get the doors hung. Then paint..

Freakyyfort · Mar 26, 2016

Mcarroll.. all the 2x4s are screwed into the stud wall that's connected to the foundation.. don't think it's going anywhere. The only board not connected to a stud is the one pictured closest.

mcarroll · Mar 26, 2016

Nice!

Freakyyfort · Mar 27, 2016

Wife and I gotta go pick out trim. We got the color picked out. Gonna be a darker blue on black stand. Middle second color up.

Freakyyfort · Apr 1, 2016

Was in the area so I swung by and said hi and got myself a drill bit.. gonna take the plunge and drill it myself. One inch holes gonna go ahead and do a BA overflow with an all glass c2c. Will post more when I get that far.

Bronc · Apr 1, 2016

Good luck! Following

Freakyyfort · Apr 1, 2016

Haha that's what I'm telling myself. First tank drill. Gonna get a piece of practice glass. Ugh. 3 hours til I'm home probably won't drill til Sunday or Monday. Got a frag swap in the area I'm heading to tomorrow.

BoneXriffic · Apr 1, 2016

I see what he means about the weight load on the 4x4 not being much....still thougg my 100gal stand was done in all 1x so that stand you made could probally hold your tank up with a volkswagen beetle for a canopy. Looks nice so far. Following

Freakyyfort · Apr 1, 2016

Haha thanks yea. It's not going anywhere. But I also have a 2 year old that likes to touch bump crash his cars into you know.. I know it won't move when he does. I leak tested the tank on the stand bumped the stand barely moved the water.