Many years away, back the reef!

[WinnipegDragon]

Got some time in the garage woodshop tonight to start on the stand for my 50g Reef. Had to square up my mitre gauge but got everything cut, and started the joinery with my dowel jig.



Yes my shop is that messy.

The great thing about a joinery jig is that you can dry fit the entire assembly without using any glue and it will hold together.

Top top frame of the stand dry fitted:



The overall frame is 1" over the tank dimensions in both length and width just in case I decide to put a moulding around the tank bottom.

A good start but there is a lot more to do:

[Dsekula]

Looking good, That's some nice woodworking

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[WinnipegDragon]

Spent another couple of hours in the garage tonight.

Here is the stand base, the supports in the middle will hold a sunken plywood shelf for the sump:



The legs, like the rest of the carcass, are all aligned and joined with dowels:



Here is the full stand dry fitted. Everything just needs to be dressed if it's not completely square, then glued.



In total the assembly is held together with 144 precision drilled 1&1/2" x 3/8 " fluted hardwood dowels. You could comfortably park your car on it.

[Dsekula]

That's so much more solid than the mixing station stand made me think you were going to do . Nice clean build, looks great so far!

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[WinnipegDragon]

Originally Posted by Dsekula

That's so much more solid than the mixing station stand made me think you were going to do . Nice clean build, looks great so far!

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Lol the mixing station is hidden in my laundry room on a concrete floor six feet from my drain. This thing goes in my living room.

[Dsekula]

I get it, I run a basement sump. There's certain things I'm just not to concerned about. Can't wait to see that in your living room. Your build seems well thought out and precise, I like that.

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[WinnipegDragon]

If it was well thought out I wouldn't need to carry 5g buckets of Shearer upstairs for water changes

I figure 8-10g weekly changes should be sufficient. I hope so anyhow.

[Dsekula]

Ugg.. thats no fun. Can you run a line up from a pump and drain down to the basement some how? I spoiled myself planning awc in my build, Ive gotta say I love it.

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[WinnipegDragon]

I probably could but I can manage two buckets up and down one flight of stairs.

[Dsekula]

Lol, so could I but since I've removed the task from my routine I wouldn't want to go back
Highly recommend the automation if you can swing it.

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[WinnipegDragon]

Clamped and glued...

[WinnipegDragon]

So stocking plans. Who is going to yell at me if I include a Tomini Tang...

[WinnipegDragon]

Actually picked up the sheet stock today. Opted for MDO since it has good water resistance but the MDF facing takes paint well.



Many drillings later the final assembly was ready to dry fit.



Ignore the incorrect holes in the top left leg there. That was, uh, creative alternate drilling.



Finally got the frame all glued up and clamped.

[Dsekula]

Looking good that's a solid build

As far as the tomini.. a 50 might be pushing it but that's all I'll say for lack of knowledge. I have one in my 135tho.

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[WinnipegDragon]

Yeah I know, I just need algae grazers...

[WinnipegDragon]

Big day. Skinned the stand.

First had to check for square:



BOOM!



DOUBLE BOOM!

Started cutting the MDO, and laid in the bottom shelf and side panels. There was a bit of a crown on the lower supports so hit them with the ROS until it sat nicely. Panels are just screwed so that they can be replaced if necessary. I used some leftover 1 & 5/8ths #8 Decking screws which should be basically impervious to water.



The face frame was made from the large panel cutoffs and aligned with the dowel jig.



The face frame was glued but not clamped since screwing it to the frame will ensure it doesn't move.



Lugged it up onto my tablesaw since it's the flattest surface in my garage. I really, really need a build a workbench.



Screwed the top on after checking the supporting frame for crowning, but it was all good. Everything is dead flat.



If you look closely there is a gap at the top and bottom of the side and face panels. This is so the stand will sit only on the frame and the top won't apply any weight to the ply as well. The ply is plenty strong but I want all the weight sitting on the 2x4 frame only. I'll add moulding top and bottom to cover the gap and pretty up the stand.

Next steps, wood filler, sanding and painting.

[WinnipegDragon]

Trim and primer.

[WinnipegDragon]

First coat of paint on the stand and I've layed out and glued up the accent details on the front panel. The front panel will get sets of drawer pulls to look something like a chest of drawers. The interior will stay primer white for easy cleaning and better light reflection while working inside the stand.



Considering a second paint color for the 'drawer' part of the front, maybe a pale gray?

[WinnipegDragon]

First thing first I made a template with scrap MDF to mark out my mounting hardware locations and then laid out the hardware on the front panel.



The mounting hardware consists of a frame and a button. The button is mounted to the front panel.



Laid out the panel on the stand and transferred the template marks.



Add the handles and the everything now snaps into place. The stand is finally complete!



Needs a little paint touchup here and there but I'm happy.

[WinnipegDragon]

Moving back to getting my RO/DI and saltwater mixing up and running now that the stand is complete.

Plumbing is done on the mixing tank:



And internally:



Only downside is that this pump is ridiculously overrated and doesn't push anything close to 500gph. Thirty dollar Amazon pump, you suck.

I'll either cap off one of the ends on the split pipe or maybe see if I can find some eductors to increase water movement.

[WinnipegDragon]

Did a sample rock layout on a cardboard template of the tank. Hoping to get the smaller pieces epoxied together and all of it into a bath with a raw shrimp to start curing soon.

[WinnipegDragon]

Just working on the scape plan and found out about this Aquavitro Bond stuff.* Bought some at my FLGS and sweet mother of crap is it handy.

Fifteen minutes ago this was four separate rocks:

[WinnipegDragon]

Hello beautiful. You come here often?

[FernandesReef]

Originally Posted by WinnipegDragon

Hello beautiful. You come here often?

Nice looking slimmer, which BM is it?


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[WinnipegDragon]

Originally Posted by FernandesReef

Nice looking slimmer, which BM is it?


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Curve 5 Elite.