Pics of my Tank stand and sump build project

[ZX10R]

Just wanted to share some pics of my 120 gallon tank set-up and build. I have been building my own stand and sump for a couple weeks now. Hopefully tomorrow it will all get moved inside for the final install.

This is what I started with
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/1.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/2.jpg

Stand before sanding
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/3.jpg

My home made sump
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/7.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/8.jpg

Some plumbing
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/5.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/6.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/10.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/11.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/13.jpg

Discharge line into the tank. I milled out a 3/8" wide slot
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/14.jpg

Sump finished and stand done still need to add the other filter bag and pot scubbies to the sump
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/15.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/16.jpg

Here is the tile I went with for the bottom of the tank
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/9.jpg

[pandapr]

Nice job :thumbsup:

[Jennie]

Q on the tile bottom. Is there a way to disguise the lower black trim at the back glass pannel

[ZX10R]

I am putting a seaview background (mystic nature) on the tank so I am think it will blend in with the background.

[Jennie]

I like that one.:)

[Jennie]

btw I thought of you the other day. They had a fw teacup ray at the lfs that was about 6 inches long

[ZX10R]

Hopefully I will have it on the tank tomorrow and I will post some pics

[ZX10R]

btw I thought of you the other day. They had a fw teacup ray at the lfs that was about 6 inches long

I like the teacup ray but my brother who has a large amount of knowledge on rays has told me they are to hard to keep alive. Not sure why but he has told me not to ever buy one. Plus he has so many connection out there with people who import or have rays I can pretty much get what I want. Of course the HIGH dollar price tag comes on some of those also. I bet my ray is really going to love the new tank.

[Second Hand Pat]

Wow, very nice. Lots of time and hard work
and it shows.

[Eddie]

Nice and clean set-up! Great job

[ZX10R]

Wow, very nice. Lots of time and hard work
and it shows.


Nice and clean set-up! Great job

Thanks, I think I have learned a lot from my other tank set-up. That is why I am going BB with nothing in the tank but fish and 2 heaters. They should have plenty of room to swim around and stretch out there fins. And with my plumbing lines tied into a outside drain and my aged water barrel I should be able to give them lots of clean water.

[Eddie]

Thanks, I think I have learned a lot from my other tank set-up. That is why I am going BB with nothing in the tank but fish and 2 heaters. They should have plenty of room to swim around and stretch out there fins. And with my plumbing lines tied into a outside drain and my aged water barrel I should be able to give them lots of clean water.


Sounds like a master plan for success! ;)

[jball1125]

Very nice setup. Can't wait to see filled

[ZX10R]

Very nice setup. Can't wait to see filled

Thanks for the comment. I hope if everything goes good maybe by the weekend I will move my fish over into it.

[DiscusLoverJeff]

This is an awesome setup. I know it is keeping you busy, but when you have time, can you explain what material you are using for the sump and plumping?

I want to create a sump system as well for my 90 gallon bare tank like yours. I want to be able to have a setup where your discharge is on the bottom horizontally on one end to return water to the tank and one on the other end to drain the water that low to allow for near 100% water change without the hose and bucket routine.

Great Job!!!

[aalbina]

Wow - what a great setup! Very interesting choice in the tile - what a great idea. I haven't seen that before. Can't wait to see it filled. Good luck!

Adam

[ZX10R]

This is an awesome setup. I know it is keeping you busy, but when you have time, can you explain what material you are using for the sump and plumping?

I want to create a sump system as well for my 90 gallon bare tank like yours. I want to be able to have a setup where your discharge is on the bottom horizontally on one end to return water to the tank and one on the other end to drain the water that low to allow for near 100% water change without the hose and bucket routine.

Great Job!!!

Thanks

Here is a list of materials I used for the sump. All I used for plumbing was sch 40 pvc pipe but in the tank I wanted something darker so I went with sch 80 pipe for that dark grey color.

Used 30 gallon Aquarium $25
Acrylic $32
Two 100 micron filter bags $10
Aquarium safe silicone $3
Weld-on acrylic cement $16
Pot scrubbies $12
Total $98 beats buying one for hundreds of dollars. I just found one online I liked and copied it. I ran a drain line from my overflow box to outside. I also put in a T on the return line to the tank. So when I do a water WC all I do is open the drain ball valve, close the sump valve, open the valve on my return line and start my aged water barrel pump.

[ZX10R]

Wow - what a great setup! Very interesting choice in the tile - what a great idea. I haven't seen that before. Can't wait to see it filled. Good luck!

Adam

I got my tank set-up last night and took a few pics. It was about 10 p.m. when I got done and I hadn't eaten or drank anything since about 2 p.m. so I was just a little tired to get online and post some recent pics. Hopefully tonight I can I still need to make my sump cover and finish plumbing my drain line to outside. I am very pleased at how it is looking and where I have it sitting in my house. After seeing my tile choice and the background together I wish I would of went with a little darker shade of tile.

[ZX10R]

Here are some new pics as of tonight. All I have left to do is finish running my drain line outside and add the fish.

With Flash
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/Picture002.jpg

No Flash
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/Picture003.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/Picture001.jpg

[Jennie]

WAIT! what happened to the tile??:confused: I have a suggestion too that might save heartache someday. Get yourself a doorstop/bumperguard to keep that knob on the door from reaching the
fish tank

[ZX10R]

WAIT! what happened to the tile??:confused: I have a suggestion too that might save heartache someday. Get yourself a doorstop/bumperguard to keep that knob on the door from reaching the
fish tank

The tile is in there just hard to see from the angle I took the photos. That was the first thing I notice was the door handle hit the glass. My door has one of those adjusters on it so I screwed it out until the door was several inches away from the glass. But it still makes me worry so I may put something along the edge of the tank stand to keep the door back.

[Skip]

Get a new door that opens the other way>> duh!! :D

[Second Hand Pat]

Very, very nice and glad you have a solution for the door. Also careful with that wood floor. Water is a wood floors enemy.

[ZX10R]

Get a new door that opens the other way>> duh!! :D

I would like to I don't really like my front door but that cost $$$$ and I would rather spend that on fish :D


Very, very nice and glad you have a solution for the door. Also careful with that wood floor. Water is a wood floors enemy.

My wife already screwed up my laminate wood floors using a steamer on them. So that will give her a even better reason to replace the floors. Since she is pushing me to tile the floors anyways.

[Skip]

ok... 6" piece of 2x4 sticking out perpendicular from the tank on the floor.. LOL

ps.. nice tank!

[Second Hand Pat]

My wife already screwed up my laminate wood floors using a steamer on them. So that will give her a even better reason to replace the floors. Since she is pushing me to tile the floors anyways.

Laminate floors are more touchy then wood floors with water, tile might not be a bad choice.

Look on the bright side, looks like your tank will be ready for those discus from Kenny. :D

[ZX10R]

ok... 6" piece of 2x4 sticking out perpendicular from the tank on the floor.. LOL

ps.. nice tank!

My thoughts also nothing like a good old piece of 2 x 4 laying on the floor for a door stop.


Laminate floors are more touchy then wood floors with water, tile might not be a bad choice.

Look on the bright side, looks like your tank will be ready for those discus from Kenny. :D

Ya but this tank is getting my ray and other discus and Kenny's fish are going in my 92 corner tank that I have everything in now. Along with some cardinal tetras, cories, and brushy noise pleco

[ZX10R]

Here are some updated photos fish have settled in just fine. I really think they are liking this tank way better then the other one.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/26.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/27.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/24.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/22.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/23.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/25.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/28.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/29.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Looks great and the fish look happy. I did my first WC tonight, need to practice more.:o

[ZX10R]

Looks great and the fish look happy. I did my first WC tonight, need to practice more.:o

I did my first one tonight also kind of got some water on the floor. But I am sure with some practice myself I will get it right.

[Jennie]

Just put some thick bath towels down. It's what I do

[Second Hand Pat]

I did my first one tonight also kind of got some water on the floor. But I am sure with some practice myself I will get it right.

DL is right, you need to protect those floors.

[ZX10R]

Just put some thick bath towels down. It's what I do


DL is right, you need to protect those floors.

I just got a little on the floor when I removed the aged water line. I just used a towel to wipe it up there wasn't much.

[Kingdom Come Discus]

I know it is a little late, but that is a fantastic job, you should be proud.

[ZX10R]

I know it is a little late, but that is a fantastic job, you should be proud.

Thanks a lot Kraig for the comments.

Here are some updated pics. I changed the spray bar around because I didn't think the ray liked the water spraying out along the bottom. Sump seems to be working great haven't had any problems with that so far.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/SprayBar.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/sig4s/Tank%20Build/Sump.jpg