My Son's IM Nuvo Pro 30G Build

[RobW]

So just before Christmas I had posted that I had ordered my son an Innovative Marine Nuvo Pro 30 gallon long tank. I also got 3 bags of Marco shelf rock, a bag of crushed coral, a bag of special grade sand and a tunze Osmolator nano ato. That thread kind of turned into a build thread. So I am going to repost here to make it an official build thread. So here are some photos of the progress of the stand.

Also, the stand that I'm building will house two 10 gallon and one 5 gallon ato containers. One for RO/DI. One for fresh saltwater. One as a waste water container. Gonna set it up for auto top off and auto water change. A 1/2 gallon per day of water will change out. I'll use the 5 gallon for the waste since 10 gallons will be kind of heavy to pick up to go and dump it out.

For lighting, at the moment, I have 3 kessil a80's. I'll probably end up running the largest size Tunze DC skimmer that will fit. Also a small sterilizer.

I am also in the middle of designing our 275 with a 100 sump. That will be a little more intense. But gives me an excuse to order the GHL profilux 4 to test and get familiar with it before I put it to work on the big tank. Then I will just get the lighter weight version for my son's tank later. Anyway, enjoy!

 

[Cory]

The stand is very clean looking. How did you make it so smooth?

 

[RobW]

The stand is very clean looking. How did you make it so smooth?

So all of the 2x4's that I got, I sighted them for straightness. Check for crowns and cups in the boards. Once I got back home, I run the boards through my jointer. With a jointer you run one face of the board and one edge of the board through. This gives you an exact 90 degree corner. Then when that is done you run the opposing edge and face through the planer and that will give you a truly straight and square board. So standard 2x4's come roughly 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" by the time I finish milling them down I usually try to shoot for 1-1/4" x 3-1/4". Then I cut them down to my working sizes and hit them with about 100 grit on my random orbit sander. I glue every single joint with titebond 2 or titebond 3 depending on the project. I clamp everything to hold square and then fasten everything together with the appropriate screws for the type of wood im using. I usually pre-drill and counter bore the holes so the wood doesn't crack or split.

 

[RobW]

The stand is very clean looking. How did you make it so smooth?

As for the plywood. I haven't even sanded it yet. I believe its blondewood plywood. Sold at Lowe's. 1/2" is 40.00 per sheet. 3/4" is 50.00 per sheet. It has more plys than some of the others so its pretty strong.

 

[RobW]

Making a little progress. Trying to do a little bit each night after work. I have to install a block at the bottom of the front opening and a small strip of plywood to raise the height of the opening. The stand will get wrapped with a piece of 5-1/2" tall baseboard that matches whats in our house. That way when the stand goes against the wall it will look like the base is wrapping around the stand.

 

[RobW]

Getting ready to prime the stand for my sons tank now. Just a little more sanding

 

[RobW]

Stand is primed. Have to sand it tomorrow after work. I'll get the doors and shelf built for after I get the stand inside and tank setup.

 

[RobW]

Just added the base trim.

 

[BaysEndReef]

Great job on that stand! Following!

 

[reefdoink]

I love the fact that there is room in the back to organize the tank. I feel like a lot of stands lack that as a built in feature.

 

[RobW]

I love the fact that there is room in the back to organize the tank. I feel like a lot of stands lack that as a built in feature.

Yeah I wanted to leave some room back there so I could add future accessories if need be.

 

[RobW]

Working on the aquascape this evening while a coat of paint in the stand is drying.

 

[RobW]

A couple more

 

[Quokka]

I'm envious of your craftsmenship! Looking real good!

 

[Cory]

What was your method of attaching the rocks?

 

[RobW]

Had to make that piece a bit taller

 

[RobW]

I'm envious of your craftsmenship! Looking real good!

Thank you!

 

[RobW]

Thank you!

What was your method of attaching the rocks?

 

[RobW]

Smash pieces of rock fragments into powder. Then you hold pieces together and dust the powder into the joint and the pour the CA glue over the powder and it becomes a rock solid joint. And it looks natural

 

[Cory]

Smash pieces of rock fragments into powder. Then you hold pieces together and dust the powder into the joint and the pour the CA glue over the powder and it becomes a rock solid joint. And it looks natural

Thats actually pretty good. Thanks for sharing!