Alrighty...I have this plan rolling and I'm going to build this tank and stand from scratch. I'm going to log the whole build so hopefully everyone can learn from what I do (and maybe from my mistakes )
Here's the plan, I'm going to build the tank to be approximately 63 gallons. It will be 28" L x 26"D x 20"T with 3/8" glass. The back 3"to 4" of the tank will be an overflow (I'll have to add some bracing for this). I figured cutting 4" off the height would make the T5s more effective and lower the pressure on the sides of the tank (hoping to go rimless). I'm going to do a 3/4" return, a 1" durso drain, and I've decided to install another 1.5" bulkhead that will have PVC that extends just above the rim of the tank that will be a conduit for me to get all my wires from the sump to the top of the tank neatly. I will be building a short canopy that will house T5 lighting.
Here's the really unique part (unique in my opinion)...To maximize my water capacity, I'm going to build my stand so the bottom section is a sealed plywood sump/refugium. It will have a cubby with drawers that I can remove to do maintenance as well. The water total capacity of the setup will be just over 100 gallons.
Now for the concept drawings...Let me know what you all think.
Here's the plan, I'm going to build the tank to be approximately 63 gallons. It will be 28" L x 26"D x 20"T with 3/8" glass. The back 3"to 4" of the tank will be an overflow (I'll have to add some bracing for this). I figured cutting 4" off the height would make the T5s more effective and lower the pressure on the sides of the tank (hoping to go rimless). I'm going to do a 3/4" return, a 1" durso drain, and I've decided to install another 1.5" bulkhead that will have PVC that extends just above the rim of the tank that will be a conduit for me to get all my wires from the sump to the top of the tank neatly. I will be building a short canopy that will house T5 lighting.
Here's the really unique part (unique in my opinion)...To maximize my water capacity, I'm going to build my stand so the bottom section is a sealed plywood sump/refugium. It will have a cubby with drawers that I can remove to do maintenance as well. The water total capacity of the setup will be just over 100 gallons.
Now for the concept drawings...Let me know what you all think.