geektom's 135 gallon adventure

[jayo]

that looks ridiculously strong. I'm enjoying following the progress, thanks for the updates!

[geektom]

Well, I am learning a lot through the process- it will not be perfect, but it will be sturdy.

[varanidguy]

Well, I am learning a lot through the process- it will not be perfect, but it will be sturdy.

Wow that looks awesome! Can’t wait to see the finished product.

[geektom]

Ok, frame is done- now for a couple coats of sealant, then the plywood floor and top.

[jayo]

That must weigh a ton. Looks good! I think you could put a 1000 gallon tank on there without worrying (except for your floor!).

[geektom]

That must weigh a ton. Looks good! I think you could put a 1000 gallon tank on there without worrying (except for your floor!).

Thanks! It is actually not that heavy- I used kiln-dried 2x4’s, and dried the other lumber out for 6 weeks. Lighter than the 1/2” glass tank, that is for sure!

[Shoulan]

Looking good! Until I got a tank, I had never thought about how much they weighed with water. Lol. Luckily the dresser that I put my 29g on happened to be sturdy enough. Lol.

[geektom]

Looking good! Until I got a tank, I had never thought about how much they weighed with water. Lol. Luckily the dresser that I put my 29g on happened to be sturdy enough. Lol.

I think about my first 20g, many years ago, that I put on a stand that was almost 4 ft tall with tiny little feet- just a disaster waiting to happen!


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[kberg2498]

Aint no kill like overkill! My stands I've made (which are ghetto) are overkill just as the one pictured. Always better to go overkill than risk it.

[geektom]

Quick side note: safe to say my emersed bacopa Caroliniana is doing pretty well...

[h2o_cube]

Quick side note: safe to say my emersed bacopa Carolinian is doing pretty well...

I love it!!!


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[geektom]

Ok, top and bottom surfaces are done- side panels will be added once it is inside, as I want to measure enough clearance for the FX4 hoses to fit easily between the wall and the back of the tank.

Added some leftover vinyl tile underneath that I had laying around.

[Kole85]

Loks fantastic Tom. Cant wait to see that tank sitting on top of it.

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[geektom]

Loks fantastic Tom. Cant wait to see that tank sitting on top of it.

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Kole, your wish is my command!



I still have to move all that network wiring, and then I will paint the back of the tank the same gray as the walls.

My decision to add the foam layer put the tank a *smidge* taller than my wife requested, but she still gives it a thumbs up. Plus, when it is full and scaped, it will settle a bit.

Once I have the filters unpacked and generally set where they will live, I will add the side panels, which will be wider than the tank and frame by about 1.5” to accommodate the hoses.

Now I have to figure out my heater and CO2 choices- then it should be permanently in place and I can start with substrate and hard scape.

[Kole85]

Nice. That foam layer will help a lot with the tank leveling itself as it gets filled, better for it to be an inch too high than unlevel.
With the height of the stand maybe you could house your co2 tank in the stand for the 29g next to it. That way you can have a larger co2 tank.

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[jayo]

I really love that it is the same width as the window. That looks great.

Eventually, you might consider the stand of the rightmost tank, to put the height of the top of that tank level with the 20 on the left side. Giving you a symmetrical presentation.

Thanks for posting these, it's so much cheaper than having to set up a new big tank myself!

[geektom]

Thanks, guys- both good suggestions, but unfortunately the tanks on either side will be going away. That was part of the deal with my beautiful bride.

I am hoping to keep the 29 somewhere different as a low-tech so I have a place for quarantining fish.

[Nick Shades]

Is that soundboard underneath it?

Dunno why i never thought of that.

[geektom]

Is that soundboard underneath it?

No, vinyl peel n stick tile.

[Nick Shades]

I mean underneath the tank

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