bbandu

What do you plan on keeping? SPS,FO, or mixed? I ask since I notice you have a G3, it's the same one that I had for my 110. While it worked OK, it made a ton of noise, lots of salt creep, and was a PIA to get dialed in. I would do the gate valve mod to it. Where did you get the tank from? i.e who made it. I like the center overflow.

It will be a mixed reef tank but mostly softies and fish, It took me several tries to get it dialed in but I have had it running now for about two week on my liverock and sand, The tank was made by visio and was ordered through a LFS with the center overflow.

I like the stand. I'm definitely doing the same style setup once I upgrade this 75. Only thing I'm planning on different is an arch support under the front top beam of 1/4" steel. Will add some weight but I'm trying to avoid a center support in the front sump area. Gussets and triangulated supports on side and backs will be more then enough rack support, and I'm hoping the arch will be enough to keep the front true, although a bit more welding.

Not that I mind welding though... I finally brought my tig welder home from the old shop so it needs something to do these days.

cool would like to see the arch design, something to think about on my next build.

Pretty straight forward honestly... take your top front tube, and weld the arch under it. 6-8" deep on the sides going up to about 3-4" deep in the center. I haven't put it through any cad programs to see if it SHOULD fail or not, but I can't see it bending one of the strongest shapes in architecture

Think of it like an extended gusset going side to side the full 60" of the tank

Ok I understand what you are talking about now.

Here are some more pics of the skin that I put on tonight.
Ok it is starting to look alot more like a stand now, instead of just a steel frame.

It's lookin real good. That purple really shines with the chrome wheels. 24's or 26's?

:-P Keep the pics rolling in though, I'm interested in watching a few more of these come together before I make my own.

Yep 26's, I really turn some heads when I am riding down the road in my Princess Pontiac Solstice.

No problem, I will keep the pics coming, got alot done today and hoping the weather holds to allow even more work.

How tall will your total system be because that stand looks really tall

the stand will be about 37", the tank is 24" and the canopy will be 12" tall, so it will be right at 6 feet tall when finished

as a member of the 6'+ club (6'6") I firmely endorse your 6' tall stand for optimum viewing and minimal backwear crouched down into it

I totally agree I hate have to bend down to look at the tank

ok got home to late yesterday to actually do any wood working, so I thought that I would work on the baffles for my sump.
So here are the first set of baffles (skimmer side), these will just inset into the tank with some silicone between them and the glass.

Here are the first set of baffles installed in the sump

will have another update later today

Ok I did not get as much accomplished as I wanted to but that is ok, will work on it some more when I get back.
The canopy is coming along nicely.

Is the top panel going to lift up so you change out the lights when needed? Or is the top going to be open with egg crate? What type of lights are you going to use BTW? I'm only asking cause I had someone build my canopy and it's a PIA to change out the lights or even open the front door to clean the tank. I love your stand. I wish I know how to weld.

yes the top is going to open so i can do any maintance on the lights. All of the openings you see on the canopy and stand are going to have doors that actually open, actually they will be attached with magnets. As far as welding goes I do not know how and just found someone to do it for me.

So its back to work on the tank. I decided to make some changes to my canopy design. I initially was going to install the ballast on the inside back wall of canopy, but to reduce the amount of heat in the canopy I decided to install them outside the canopy in the back. So I created a box where the ballast will be installed and it will still allow me to place the tank against the wall.

ok all the door frames are finished will install the birch plywood inserts tomorrow and hopefully finish up the trim.