Thanks Lani. I wish I was "there yet" Slowly but surely I will get it done. Hopefully my overflow kit will get here quickly.

Once the stand is finished this thing will go together quick like a bunny.


-Prof

just remember - more holes = more chicks.

I like the way you think!

any updates?

I really like the stand, it would look a lot nicer with a sump though.

No updates to report yet. Still trying to find the time to get the lumber milled for the doors and get them assembled so I can sand and finish the stand. Going to try and get my overflow kit ordered from Glass Holes this week along with my return bulkheads. Things have been crazy at work plus I am helping coach my son's baseball team so extra time is in short supply. I'll get there though. Have you started making your stand yet?



Thanks Nal!
I'm thinking either 20H, 20L or 29gal for the sump. I can just squeeze a 30" long tank in the stand when I remove the center brace. Still planning out my sump/refugium layout. I could also make a custom one out of acrylic if I got real industrious. I have all the tools, weld-on, etc. Decisions, decisions!

-Prof

No i am procuring wood i have the post and furniture grade plywood(still need pine board). o yeah and the kreg jig. Iam trying to find a 40 breeder tank at the moment. I just bought a vortech MP40 so iam halfway there haha, well actually nowhere near halfway. I am building this really slow for some reason. its kinda fun that way. Good luck with the baseball season! and the stand is gorgeous still.

All right, the stand construction is finished. Got the lumber for my doors milled and got everything assembled. Just have to finish sand and then get my stain and topcoat on. Hopefully I can get that done this week.

Let me know what you guys think.





Things should start moving quicker now that the construction phase is done!!!

-Prof



Sounds like you are making progress. I am thinking about one of the Vortech pumps for my tank (eventually). I need to get it set up and see what the flow looks like from the sump and go from there.

-Prof

Beautiful stand!

+1

Gorgeous!! Very well done...

Thanks guys! I will be building a canopy to match but that will probably happen after the tank is set up.

-Prof

Stand looks nice, Prof

Thanks D! I'm pretty pleased with it.

-Prof

looks amazing i love it even more

Well the stand is finished, just need to put the doors back on then I will post a pics!!! Just need to put one more coat of paint on the inside. Time to get ready to drill!

On another note I ran into a deal through someone at my work who was breaking down a tank and he gave me about 70 lbs of live rock, about 50 red mushies, a rock covered with green palys (~50-70 polyps) and a couple of fish, plus CUC. There was also a long spined sea urchin in the deal that I have no idea what to do with. I did not see any of the stuff prior to picking it up so I had no idea what I was getting. Amazingly, the fish and inverts survived a 4 hour drive in rubbermaid bins in 90 degree weather since the guy drive this stuff to me from Norfolk.

The problem is the rock is covered in Bryopsis and I am not sure to how to eradicate it. I have the majority of the rock sitting in a unlighted tub after manually remove as much as I can. The rocks with corals are in a seperate tank by themselves. I have heard tell that slowly increasing magnesium levels will kill it. I have also though about keeping it in the bin for a month with a heater and a powerhead and keeping it in the dark to see what happens. The sea urchin looks like it may be eating some of the Bryopsis, but it is hard to tell. Any one have any thoughts or suggestions?

Pics of the stand coming later.

-Prof

Check with johnmaloney on whether the sea urchin will eat bryopsis, he could tell you.
The most successful method of bryopsis eradication seems to be raising magnesium using Kent's Tech-M magnesium supplement.

Thanks Weetie. I still haven't decided what to do with the sea urchin. If it does eat the Bryopsis that would be great. I did not know it was even coming until the guy said "Careful when you put your hand in the bucket"!!! The only problem is that my research shows they also like to eat coraline algae too.

I can't really complain since the stuff was all free and I have laid out the rock for how I want to put it in the 40Br and I think it will look pretty good.

I will PM John and see what he says.

-Prof

Yeah, I think they do eat coralline.
But if they eat bryopsis, just stick the rock and urchin in a dark container for a month and let him munch away.
Trade him in at LFS once bryopsis is gone.

I just got a PM from John Maloney that said the urchin probably wouldn't eat the Bryopsis. I think I am going to look into the magnesium and some other possible resolution.

-Prof

Stand looks great. Are you a true professor? If so what do you teach? I'm just a bit curious.

Thanks for the compliment on the stand.

Professor is the call-sign the people I work with gave me. I work with the USMC and USN and everyone in our office ends up with a call sign sooner or later. Usually for something goofy or good we have done, a play on our name, etc. I got mine for my capacity for useless knowledge. I have another one, but that is a story I would rather not get into...........

-Prof

As promised earlier, here is a pic of the finished stand. Still need to rub out the finish but other than that is is done. It's actually a satin finish and not as glossy in person. Hope you guys like it.



Also a pic of some of the free stuff I got last weekend that I mentioned earlier. All of the rest of the free rock is in a tub.



Let me know what you think! Looks like it is time to start drilling some glass.

-Prof

Indeed start drilling! So an aggressive tank then?

the stand looks good.

No not agressive. It's going to be a clownfish/anemone tank. If your talking about the damsel in the pic it came along with the free live rock and other stuff I got a week or so ago.



Thanks! I appreciate it.

Wow, it has been a while since I posted. Stand is all done and I am building the sump. Finally got my priorities straight and ordered the Glass-Holes 700GPH so I will be drilling glass this weekend. Also, my wonderful bride suprised my with a spanking new Vortech MP20 for my birthday so I am all set to go on this bad boy. Will post pics after drilling is complete. Now I just have to decide what to do first tomorrow, drill a tank or eat crabs and drink beer!!!

-Prof

you are so lucky you have a woman that is so understanding of your hobby and got you a vortech. Mine would kill me if she knew how much it cost. I'm dieing to see your setup.

My wife is the best. She totally gets my addiction and is very supportive.

I can't wait to get this thing set up!!!!

-Prof

Lol, my wife just rolls her eyes a lot.

Looks like we're both gonna be working on drilling and plumbing our setups at the same time.
Are you as nervous as I am?

I used that same 700 GPH kit from Glass-Holes for my 40B, too, with the dual 3/4" returns, AND with a Quiet One 3000! To slow mine down, I have it running through a SCWD.

I almost didn't drill mine. I thought it might be fun to set it up with dual big-ass AquaClear fuges on the back, but then I got to thinking about running Rowa and such, etc. Right about then I got a free media reactor from Bulk Reef Supply, and that pushed my thinking over the edge, to full-stand-with-sump-and-drilled-overflow. I never looked back.

I searched all over So. Florida for a decent stand and canopy, and finally found a really nice one in a shop in Boca; unfinished pine that I just sanded real well and did a few coats of semi-gloss poly. I love how it came out.

Omg, this tank still isn't set up yet? *taps foot*

Tapes foot to what?

wut?

Mine did at first, but she knew about my love of the sea when we got married. I think she likes it because I enjoy it and it keeps me at home and out of trouble. When her friends complain about their husbands always out drinking or playing golf or whatever she just smiles and says hers is at home growing coral!



I am a little bit nervous but not overly so. I have a lot of experience working with tools and my hands so I think as long as I am patient and take it slow it should be okay. How hard can it be!!!



That is the same configuration I am going with except I am using the Maxi Jet utility pump (3000 I think, I would have to look at the box). I may add the scwd later, for now I am just planning on using a valve to tweak the flow if needed.



Good grief Lani!!! I am going as fast as I can!!!! You tank is looking great by the way!

-Prof

^^^ haha! Caught!

Ok, you win.

My wife really supports me in the hobby, too. I'm very lucky to have her - she gets me gift certificates to LFSs for all my gifts any more. She says that makes it real easy for her.

She's always telling everyone that me being obsessed with this junk "keeps him outta my hair"...

Your the bestest Lani!!



As long as Mama is happy, everybody is happy!!!!

Weetie,
I will be drilling mine either tomorrow or Sunday. I will post pics once done and painted. Good luck with yours!!!!

-Prof

Very cool!

I has Holes!!!!!





Will install the overflow and the returns once the paint drys all the way. Just need to finish the sump and plumb it up then I will be able to see how wet my water is!!

-Prof

wow that stand is unbelievable. one of, if not, the best stands made. puts a lot of stands to shame. cant wait till its stocked with all sorts of goodies.

Looks awesome!
I got my tank running over the weekend, although I'm still doing some work on the canopy, hoping to complete that by tonight.

Thanks for the compliment!!! I can't wait to get it operational and stocked!



Good deal! I was checking out your thread and I like the display fuge idea. Plus, those mangroves are insane and are going to look awesome!. I still have to finish the sump and plumb it out. Life keeps getting in the way from me goofing off and having fun!!! I am hoping to be able to water test this weekend.

-Prof

Finally made some more progress. Got the sump built and hope to get the plumbing done and do a leak test later today. Will post pics soon. Hopefully everything will work as planned.

I took inspiration for my sump design from Yardboy's Ghetto Beauty 10 gallon. Since I don't plan to skim I wanted as big of a refugium as possible that could also double as a place to put frags. Kind of a display fuge even though it will be in the stand. It essentially is nothing more than a 20H tank with a bubble tower I built that has a media tray in it and a baffle in between the fuge and the pump chamber.

-Prof

Looking good. I love the stand. Heck of a lot nicer than the one I just got for my 40. Then again what can you expect out of a free stand?

Free is always good!

I didn't end up getting the plumbing done today. Need to run to the hardware store for a couple more pieces of PVC.

But since everyone loves pics here are some of my sump installed in the stand. Please note the sexy black silicone!



Top down shot



And here is some rock I am playing with for how I want to aquascape the tank. This would be the right side and there will be another stack on the left with my BTA's on it leaving a valley in between. Trying for the tank to have a open feeling.



-Prof

wow that stand is nice.Great color on top of it.

Thanks!!! This project is taking such a long time that I am anxious to get it done. The plumbing should only take a couple of hours and hopefully I can pick up some PVC at lunch tomorrow and get it plumbed after work.

My master plan is to have it in place in the family room with water, sand and rock by the end of this upcoming weekend.

Damn, I need to get some more sand this week!!!

-Prof

*whistles and twiddles thumbs*