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afboundguy's 35 gallon and display fuge build!!!

Just be careful with the various macro algae as I bought a bunch last FFM and some went asexual and caused some issues
Yes I thought of that after the fact. The red Pom Pom won't go asexual and hoping this one (whatever it is) won't!
 
Messed around with the plumbing for the display fuge/dwarf seahorse tank. Haven't glued anything but bought some flexible tubing to temporarily plumb it in and will be ordering the aluminum extrusion tomorrow for the stand/desk!
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Just got notified that my aluminum extrusion will be here by Friday! Can't wait to get started on that project!
 
Shipping delays caused the big order to finally get here yesterday afternoon and I had to work. Took time to check the order this morning and hope to try and start getting the big parts cut up and fit tomorrow if I'm lucky between all the various doctor's appointments I crammed into one day o_O
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Going to go bare bottom in the display fuge and read that painting the bottom the color of sand might give the illusion of sand on the bottom so I gave it a shot as I had spare paint!
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Also started building the desk/stand combo and it felt like grown up Kinex it was fun! Well it was fun except for the few times I forgot to add the parts in the slots and had to undo a few pieces!

Showed my work to the wife and she actually said she liked it way better than she thought she would!

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do you have leveling feet?
I have 6 heavy duty ones right now that will be on the main part for the tank and I plan to add some lesser duty ones on the desk side and simply tap the end of the extrusion and screw them in. The heavy duty ones are these ones but the feet will be shorter and black.

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I added another section to make the tank stand around 55 inches and due to that and adding the extra inside supports I don't have enough extrusion to add the desk portion with the shelves for the phyto. I plan to buy more extrusion down the road and add it to the setup which is one of the benefits of using extrusion!

I laid on top of it and it didn't move. It is super strong and hoping to grab some PVC sheets to get the top and the bottom so I can move the tank to the stand this weekend!
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Raised up the bottom and attached the feet. I ordered some more as I didn't have enough. Had to cut the bolt of the legs as they were way too long.

Picked up a 4x8 PVC plywood and made a top.
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Cut a piece for the bottom and put the sump in and did some rough plumbing in of the display fuge.
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I split and harvasted my phyto today and it was so much easier doing it elevated and not on the ground!

I ordered some vinyl wrap to see how they look as I might go that route as it would potentially be easier than painting!
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Man, the stand looks awesome. What is the purpose of the elevated small tank? Maybe i missed it? ATO? Phyto?
Thanks it'll look even better when I pass the L shaped part for the desk with two shelves to display my phyto cultures!

The elevated tank is going to be a display refugium hopefully with dwarf seahorses.
 
Got, that’s an awesome idea, is that 5 gallon? How big is the main tank
It's an "8" gallon AIO I found on the side of the road but it's really 10 gallons. I put a ghost overflow in the AIO part. Display tank is 35 cube 20"x20"x20" and the current sump is DIY 10 gallon sump with HOB (really hang on front) refugium but new sump will be a Sapphire 34 sump.

Stand may or may not (may) was designed to be able to support and fit an larger tank with a 48"x24" footprint :cool:
 
Purchased two different vinyl wraps to try for the PVC sheets. One is like a gray granite and other is a black wood grain. Which one looks better? I am leaning towards gray top and black under for the sump but I have zero style!

Before
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Gray
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Black
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Decided to go with the gray/granite looking vinyl wrap for the main part and will do the black wood wrap in the sump area as well as the bottom for the floating display fuge and really like the look! Please excuse the painters tape I misjudged and didn't leave enough to wrap it under a few extra inches so the painters tape is just holding it down to stick.
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Had some time to add the black vinyl on the PVC board under the stand where the sump will be going. Looks pretty nice!
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