Toms 93g cube upgrade

[Tommyboynj]

After spending the winter months clearing the honey do list of some serious diy projects (built ins around the fireplace, kitchen remodel, ceiling fans in the kids rooms, banquet seating in our dinner area) my wife gave me a nice fathers day surprise by giving the all clear for an upgrade.

Neither of us have been 100% happy with the location of the 75 and really liked the idea of having the tank veiwable from multiple side and after spending some time today disucssing location we have determined this will be a 120 peninsula build.

Ill be diying a stand and using most of my current equipment as I originally purchased with future expansions in mind.

Now im on the hunt for a 120 with a single corner overflow so I can plumb it herbie (wish id done this on the 75 instead of durso) or a tank I can drill on the short-side for bean animal.

Heres a pic of where the tanks gonna go

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[Sobo's Reef]

Oh I love peninsula tanks. Are you worried about having the window so close? Any direct sunlight?

 

[Tommyboynj]

Oh I love peninsula tanks. Are you worried about having the window so close? Any direct sunlight?

Nope. Those windows are on the front of the house. South facing but I have a covered porch. I get I a slither of direct light in the winter for about 10 mins in the am when the sun is low but the spot my current tank is in already gets that with no ill effects.


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[Sobo's Reef]

Nope. Those windows are on the front of the house. South facing but I have a covered porch. I get I a slither of direct light in the winter for about 10 mins in the am when the sun is low but the spot my current tank is in already gets that with no ill effects.


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Sounds like a plan. can't wait to see how this turns out. peninsulas are awesome. I think I'd pull my hair out(what's left of it) with setting up the rock scape Lol

 

[TanksNStuff]

Sweet, another 120 peninsula build! If I ever get done with my stand, I'll get mine up too and we can compare notes and ideas Tom!

Looking forward to hearing about your plans for this one.

 

[dirtycontour]

Should be a fun build. I think your choices in overflows are second to none.

 

[trivan]

Congrats on the green light. I'm hoping your build goes faster then mine.

 

[Tommyboynj]

So I'm going to DIY my stand. Dimensional lumber. When I did this for my 75 I totally overbuild it and I'm quite sure it could support the main display at the Camden aquarium. I going to use the standard plans used widely on RC. Plan on using a pocket hole. Jig for all the leg and base which be 2x4. I'm going to use 2x6 for the upper frame as I'd like to go with only 1center support on the side of the tank that wont get as much access etc. planning to start this next week. Do you think I can be safe with just one center brace


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[Mark...]

So I'm going to DIY my stand. Dimensional lumber. When I did this for my 75 I totally overbuild it and I'm quite sure it could support the main display at the Camden aquarium. I going to use the standard plans used widely on RC. Plan on using a pocket hole. Jig for all the leg and base which be 2x4. I'm going to use 2x6 for the upper frame as I'd like to go with only 1center support on the side of the tank that wont get as much access etc. planning to start this next week. Do you think I can be safe with just one center brace


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My 180 is on that stand right now. Same lumber dimensions, just one center support. Still probably over built. You can also borrow my Kreg gig. It does not have the clamp though.

The 2x6 does make it harder to skin according to Rob...but the master did it of course.

 

[redfishbluefish]

The RC dimensional plan is up to 4 foot tank, 2x4 with no center support. Over 4 feet, 2x6 upper frame....WITH NO CENTER SUPPORT.

Your are correct, these are extremely over built. You won't need a center support using a 2x6 top frame.

 

[Tommyboynj]

Thanks guys. I'd figured I'd be totally fine. I really want to keep the stand open. One think I hate about my 75 is the crappy access to the sump. Mark thanks for the offer on the kreg. I already have one. Best 30 bucks you'll ever spend.


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[Tommyboynj]

Gonna get this going on Thursday. Time to get to the lumber for the stand. Plans might change slightly. Wife really likes the looks of a cube so I'm thinking of a marineland 93 rimless. Set up on a peninsula stand.


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[Empire]

Can you go with the 150 cube?

 

[Tommyboynj]

Can you go with the 150 cube?

I wish. It would just be a tad over bearing. The space between the moulding where that side table side is 32 inches. The 150 is 36. The wife doesn't want the overlap.


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[Tommyboynj]

So now that I'm entering the world of rimless tanks I'm going to open a can of worms. Foam or no foam? Marineland says it voids warranty but so does putting it on you own stand. The top of my stand is going to be skinned with cabinet grade 1/2 ply and I'm 100% confident in my carpentry skills to build everything square, level and flat. Thoughts....


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[kschweer]

I personally would go with 3/4" for the top. I can't remember off the top of my head but does the marineland cube have a bottom trim?

 

[MatteZ]

Bare glass needs to sit on homosote.

 

[Tommyboynj]

Thanks guys. Here a really basic rendering of the set up in sketch up. Right hand short side of the stand will be up against the wall. The little drop down on the left will act as a place to put a cold adult beverage when im sitting on my couch. Im gonna enclose that area and have the top come off. It will house all the electrical etc. Underneath the tank in the crawl space i have a water line running to an outside faucet. Gonna tap into that for RODI. Wife wants the RODI out of the laundry room. Called trop. Said they can have the tank in a week or so. Sweet!

 

[kschweer]

Nice sketch. Should be pretty cool when it's done. Did you use sketchup for the rendering?

 

[Tommyboynj]

Toms 120 upgrade

Yep. I used sketchup. Ordered the tank yesterday. Should be here by Thursday so now I've got to gear up on the stand. Been thinking about the transfer from the 75. I'm going to be using my existing sump so this isn't going to be a simple case of setting up the new tank and moving everything over. Here's my plan so far.

Day prior to breakdown I'll make 2 brute cans of sw. Plus I'll have a bunch of rodi on hand in case of an emergency.

Day-1 transfer all rock and livestock into 100 gallon Rubbermaid. Move equipment over to new system. Fill with fresh saltwater and wet test.
Day 2 partially drain system. Aquascape. Fill with water from old system. Move over fish and coral.
Day 3 drink beer and pray.


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