My First Custom Build 60G Cube

[bl665]

Hello everyone. I am continuing my thread from the beginners corner which consist of building a custom stand and sump system.

Nick, John, and Zenzu gave me some great advice and were nice enough to give me a great head start on this.

http://scapeclub.org/forum/showthrea...75-55-Sump-Hi-!

The main reason I started this project is due to a wonderful person moving in with me to help cover cost. However this story is about the tank and not the person. She has furniture that needs to be moved in and I thought I would start a project that would be beneficial. Also the tank setup I currently have is in the way of moving furniture. Unfortunately I dont have multiple tanks set up so I cant transfer fish out of the tank to tear it down and rebuild another one. I have to be strategic with this lol. First things first is getting this puppy up and running !!

I currently have a 75 gallon tank with C02, Finnex Planted LED light and canister filter.
The new setup will consist of a 60 Gallon Cube, Grow Lights(possibly), C02, and a sump for a filter.

After much discussion about actually understanding what a sump does and how it works was much needed as I've never built anything like this before for a tank. So I started to go to some LFS to ask and came across this website which helped tremendously. I discovered what I needed for my setup was pretty simple. Basic mechanical filtration media, Biological media, a refugium for starting baby plants and to keep smaller fish temporarily, and a return section with a pump and possibly some carbon.

I came up with a few drawings for a sump since this was the first task I wanted to finish. I did a lot of research and some pretty neat pics of ones I'd make similar.

This is the basic Idea but without the skimmer as a I believe those are for salt water aquariums.



I than went ahead and drew out mine to what I would need. bare with the drawings they are not "artistic" Nor do I have straight lines.







These Ideas are becoming a reality after ordering some parts. The filter sock holder was the best buy I could have gotten. Even came with an attachment on top I can connect my drain piping to.

I than started to build the baffles. I adjusted the height, and made sure they were level and even with each other. The ones that connect to the Refugium have slits in them to prevent excess bubbles from going back into the tank. If you have a grinder I would suggest using this as I tried to use a dremmel to cut the Plexi glass and stood there for hours. Just wear safety glasses. Clean up with sand paper and all is well.












This is also the finished sump which I will be cleaning up soon after it dries. I have 1/8" Plexiglass in it and have it re-enforced with one extra layer. Waiting for it to dry before I can continue to install media and water test it.







The Siporax bio bags are also in my canister filter on my old tank so I can get the Bacteria growing and hopefully get a good jump start when I start this setup !!
Also ordered a Sicce pump and a 6500K Grow light to hang on the roof. This is going to turn out great I'm ecstatic !!




Now as far as the wood work goes. I've built the stand with ripping some 2x6 and 1x4 as trim. Than routing the edges to give the wood a little bit of a flavored look.
Here is some of the finished project which is drying.










Routed Edges.









I'll be back later for more my friends !!


Thanks for looking !!

[SamSam563]

Keep it up! We love this kind of stuff, its looking really nice

[Zenzu]

@bl665 resize the photos and then use bbc code to embed.

[bl665]

@bl665 resize the photos and then use bbc code to embed.

Thanks !! It was bugging the crap out of me ! I kept editing it and got these massive size pictures. Thank god that headache is gone !

Ok So after a lovely fourth and really getting crazy with the fireworks and some cold beer which was to hot drink in. I've accomplished quite a bit in the last few days since I took some time off. I've completely sanded down the stand to a nice smooth finish and have applied 2 coats of an EBONY Minwax stain. It is really dark but not dark enough to cover the grains of wood. I love it. My roomie thought it was to dark for him. We both agreed to disagree lol.

I've also created the doors which you wont understand until the whole stand is completed. So I wont show those yet!!
Another thing is I was finally able to get the tank on top to mark the holes where the plumbing will go. That was taken out with a whole saw which you will see. There is plenty of room for the plumbing which is perfect.

(Put em' to work)












With only few things left to do. All my anticipation is on the parts and other things I ordered I cant wait to get this thing "wet" and start planting !!


Let me know what you think guys and gals. I'll post more later !!

Happy Hump day !!

[Nick Shades]

Wise choice in building the reinforcement of your vertical studs using the outside horizontals. The dispersion of weight from the aquarium up top makes more solid and less rickety.

I probably would have put additional vertical studs between top on bottom laid against the longer ones, just to add additional reinforcement, but your build is totally fine
Good color for stain, too.

I really dig that sock box on the sump. That looks hella cool.

[bl665]

Wise choice in building the reinforcement of your vertical studs using the outside horizontals. The dispersion of weight from the aquarium up top makes more solid and less rickety.

I probably would have put additional vertical studs between top on bottom laid against the longer ones, just to add additional reinforcement, but your build is totally fine
Good color for stain, too.

I really dig that sock box on the sump. That looks hella cool.

Thanks Nick !! I had some trouble finding a suitable base and structure. I did a lot of watching looking and watching. I finally came across a video on youtube by the DIY King of aquariums or what not. He had a huge Acrylic tank he made a stand for so I just took that and scaled it down to the size I wanted.

4'x30"w

This thing will barely fit through the door !! haha

Ya the second coat just got done drying and I swear it looks like sweltering charcoal. Sort of like volcanic matter. Pretty neat.


The sock box is great!! It was a little out of my price range but it was well worth it. The plumbing is an 1" at the connector which is exactly the size of my plumbing and the whole part of it sitting right on top is great for ease of access ! I'm glad I heard you out and looked into it. Making a custom one would have been a pain in the ass !

I'll be putting a polyurethane coat on this weekend and finishing up the doors. Than its time to really get this thing going and plumb it !!

[BlackDiamondShrimp]

Hey bro anyway I can spend time watching you in person build an aquarium. I have watched videos on Youtube, but I can't seem to succeed in doing a very job with silicone sealing. Please PM if an in person training is possible. I would love to be good in skill of silicone edge application.

[Nick Shades]

Hey bro anyway I can spend time watching you in person build an aquarium. I have watched videos on Youtube, but I can't seem to succeed in doing a very job with silicone sealing. Please PM if an in person training is possible. I would love to be good in skill of silicone edge application.

Are you having trouble getting your faces perpendicular, or getting the bead of silicone in there at the joints?

[bl665]

Ya I was going to ask you if you actually meant building the aquarium or the sump itself. As for the baffles I can send you a video later this weekend about it.

[Zenzu]

Hey bro anyway I can spend time watching you in person build an aquarium. I have watched videos on Youtube, but I can't seem to succeed in doing a very job with silicone sealing. Please PM if an in person training is possible. I would love to be good in skill of silicone edge application.

There are things you may not be doing that may have affected your previous build attempts.

1. Not wearing gloves and/or not wearing clean gloves.
2. not ensuring the glass completely clean and prepped, You may need to use a solvent like acetone/alcohol to ensure all residues/oils has been removed and the glass has been prepped properly.
3. Not properlu applying the silicone, a piece of plastic can be cut to 90 degrees then snip the tip about 1/4" this can be used as an applicator to smooth and level the silicone. (there is a series of steps for squaring the glass and applying the silicone. Look it up online if it's really that important to you.)
4. Not maintaining proper curing temperature gives you a weak bond. Ensure that the environment is dry (relative humidity is low) and temperature is stable and maintained according to silicone manufacturers optimal range listed on the tube.
5. Using tape instead of clamps to hold the glass can compromise the joints.

That's a small list, but there are a lot of things that seem unimportant, but can drastically affect longevity.

Sorry for the derail, but hey, you got a free bump!

[Nick Shades]

I see alot of guys use bare fingers to flush a bead of silicone. I see just as many use nitrile gloves that are too large and baggy.

Props to the guys who use gloves. I don't care if they are someone who has been using bare hands for years. It might work for the application, but never is it good for your long term health.

The flip, that powderless surgeon's or medical technician's nitrile gloves are perfect, having a wrinkled glove is just going to cause you headache.

Personally, i do not use a squeegee of any kind for flushing a bead. Only gloved finger will press it into the seams in a way that is required.

[Zenzu]

Whatever works best for you, is always your best option. make sure to mask off and remove wet so you get a nice clean line.

[bl665]

I see alot of guys use bare fingers to flush a bead of silicone. I see just as many use nitrile gloves that are too large and baggy.

Props to the guys who use gloves. I don't care if they are someone who has been using bare hands for years. It might work for the application, but never is it good for your long term health.

The flip, that powderless surgeon's or medical technician's nitrile gloves are perfect, having a wrinkled glove is just going to cause you headache.

Personally, i do not use a squeegee of any kind for flushing a bead. Only gloved finger will press it into the seams in a way that is required.

I know exactly what you mean here Nick. I hate using the gloves for a lot of applications. I did exactly that on this sump and just beaded it with my finger after applying it. Another thing too with the inside of the baffles you have to get in there with just your finger because unless you have them spread further apart your caulking gun will not be small enough to dial a bead in.



You basically just slide it up with slight pressure. Dont press to hard or all the silicon will come out. Honestly it takes practice and I've been messing with stuff like this for years doing plumbing.

Enjoy !! More work is getting done this weekend folks so ill post some pics !!

[bl665]

Here is a link to that youtube video...

[Nick Shades]

I meant to ask earlier in the thread, but got distracted, what router did you use for this project?


I have never used one, yet have wanted one for a decade now. There are so many choices at Home Depot, Lowes and Harbor Freight, that I cannot make a decision on one. Your job is, essentially, what I have always wanted to do - minimalist, but beautiful.

I might as well go out and buy the same one you used.

[bl665]

I meant to ask earlier in the thread, but got distracted, what router did you use for this project?


I have never used one, yet have wanted one for a decade now. There are so many choices at Home Depot, Lowes and Harbor Freight, that I cannot make a decision on one. Your job is, essentially, what I have always wanted to do - minimalist, but beautiful.

I might as well go out and buy the same one you used.

It was just a basic Harbor Freight one. My roommate bought a whole bunch of wood tools a couple years ago and hasnt really used them so I offered to take advantage

Here is what the kit looks like. Most of the bits are for making cut ins on cupboards and what not but The ones I used are for the edging which worked perfect. !

I think the hardest decision would be choosing the bits.







A little more work and the doors are completed !!






Time to clean off all the excess silicone from the sump wooo !!!

[Nick Shades]

I think next paycheck i am buying one from HF

[bl665]

Ya even if you don't work with wood all the time I think it is still a great tool to have. Just the fact that it offsets the wood is enough for me.

I was able to test my sump finally (the baffles anyways) I got a hold of a water hose this weekend and let her rip !! It was amazing how strong that silicone is though I still have to re do the baffles with better reinforcement. They would bend or flex so far when you start filling up the tank its pretty fun to watch.

Here is a video of what you dont want to see after you create something like this.

https://youtu.be/eNO698SIzgw

Here is how I corrected this issue! Hopefully this will work!








Stay posted friends good things are about to happen and the boredom will be over !!

[bl665]

Ok another update. Boy this thread died out quickly !! Sorry guys I know its been taking a minute to get this stupid stand done. Finally though it is finished with doors hung like monsters and is inside the house after removing one door !! I did measure correctly promise. The door just didnt swing all the way so I had to take it off !

Next I find myself doing plumbing late last night and told myself. Lets do this tomorrow when we have more energy !

So as far as what I have left to do to get to planting: Plumb, check for leaks, fill with water and install substrate I'll have to go over this process though as I'm transferring things over but here are some pictures of the finished product.







Ya This thing is pretty heavy so I decided to put some handles on it to make it easier to carry!!!


Now I had to cut the place mat to mend to the drain and return line. I still have to tighten them down but I actually have a question here.

Where the drain and return pipe go into the bulk heads do I need to glue these as there in the tank ??






A look at the underneath side looking back towards the plumbing. I hope I made enough room for all these fittings haah !!





This light is also pretty amazing and is brighter than S^^^ !!



Can't wait to get this It is soooo close !! Hope you guys feel the same

[Nick Shades]

You do not have to glue pipe fittings contained in the same liquid medium you are displacing.

You should always,always cement when you are out of identical mediums.