Owl's 75G

[Owlbehere]

:19: I'm setting up a new aquarium!
This tank is being set up to move my 1 1/2" leopard bush fish to grow up and live in but I will also be getting him some "friends".

I guess the best place to start this journal is with the stand as I don't have the tank yet lol. My dad is helping me build this stand DIY style :P. I really didn't want to spend over 200$$$ on a stand when for much much less I could build my own.

I started by going to Home Depot and purchasing 7 - 8ft. 2x4's, 2 - 8ft. 2x2's, and 2 sheets of 1/4" plywood that I had cut down a little while there. In all I spent about 65.00. I got the best 2x4's I could find... they where $2.75 each but very lightweight, hardly any knots at all and pretty straight.

I had my dad cut them down for me. I ended up with 5 15.25", 4 48.25" and 8 33" pieces from the 2x4's and 4 40" pieces of 2x2. I strategically had him cut the wood so there would be less waste.

This stand (another reason for a custom build) is going to be 40" tall.

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0634.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0634.jpg)
WOOD

We started out by screwing (with 3" exterior screws) the leg supports together first, or the 33" pieces.

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0637.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0637.jpg)
Dad getting it level

They end up looking like this:
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0639.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0639.jpg)

[Cliff]

You can't go wrong by building your own stand with 2X4s

[Owlbehere]

After building the leg supports we put together the top and bottom frames and put the 2x2's in the corners to attach the top and bottom to the legs. These provide no support and are just to help attach the top and bottom to the legs. I imagine you could use a 4x4 with a notch cut out for the frames and have the same result :)

LOL oops, this is the drill bit getting stuck in the wood. My dad asked for a new drill ;)
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0640.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0640.jpg)

ANYWAY...
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0648.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0648.jpg)
This is how we attached it.

We then attached the leg to this and screwed it all together
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0650.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0650.jpg)

This piece sticking up is where the top will sit down on and be attached
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0651.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0651.jpg)
(my dad in the background lol)

We stopped for the evening here. Tomorrow we will finish the last of the legs and cut the plywood to put around everything, cut out holes for the doors and the back for cords and the filter. We may also add a shelf or two.

Edit: also I ordered a Rena XP3 canister filter today :)!

[Northernguy]

Looks like fun!:19:
Don't forget the wood glue!
It will add strength to it.
The 1/4" plywood is that for the top?
It will be fine if the supports are close enough together. 5/8" would be better for supporting a tank.
Those legs will definitely be strong enough.thumbs2:

[Owlbehere]

Thanks cliff, this will be the second stand I will have built. Well planned then had my dad build. But this one is going to be done right lol. The last was just thrown together no finishing just to get the tank up and running. I'm taking my time to "finish" this one.

Northernguy the 1/4 is just for around... I didn't have room in the Jeep for anymore wood and need to go back for the rest :) Oh and don't worry my dad has the glue :). The clamps are helping with this too.

I'm trying to decide if I am going to stain it or paint it.

[Owlbehere]

Ok so my Dad and I worked on the stand a little more today...
We didn't finish it today... It was super hot and humid this evening. AND we had 4 horseflies flying around tormenting us.

So we did get most of it finished. I'm going probably tomorrow to purchase the finishing touches. The top 5/8 Plywood and other decor for it :)

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0652.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0652.jpg)
Bottom braces for the thin 1/4 plywood

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/th_IMG_0653.jpg (http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Owlbehere/75G/?action=view&current=IMG_0653.jpg)
With the top on and plywood bottom

[Owlbehere]

So yesterday evening my dad went to jam with his friends and I went to home depot so nothing was done. I did get the trim and the wood for the top. I also got 30.00 off my total balance because we told the cashier about the guy that didn't want to cut the wood and acted all pathetic like he hurt and eventually didn't because my mom got fed up with him complaining (I was just going to let him cut the wood complaining or not) and wanting to hurry up and get out of HD. I ended up getting different wood and the cashier (that I went to high school with) laughed and took 30.00 off the wood. Which actually made the wood free.

Today nothing happened because I spent the whole night looking at lighting options. I really don't want to spend more on the light than the whole set up but I want to keep live plants. My dad could build me the lights if I could find the sockets and ballasts he needs. I am also thinking of buying a shop light.

I am kinda disappointed because I really want Estes Deep River Gravel but to get it online it would cost over 90.00 and no one close sells it.

I also ordered some Amazon swords from Lab_Rat. THANKS!!! :19: They will go in the 75G but for now are going in a smaller tank I have sitting around with a plant light on it. It gives the tank 2.4WPG. I hope they will do well until I can put them in the 75.

So I need to plan on the substrate and lighting to handle plants similar to Amazon's needs. Its sad I have the fish and now I'm getting the plants and I don't have the tank yet :hmm3grin2orange: Oh well. I only work half a day tomorrow and my dad is off so I hope to make some progress on the stand. Maybe even start staining it. Oh yea I purchased some Jocabean stain. We shall see how that looks.

[Owlbehere]

Ok so I have not been able to work on the stand with my dad for a little bit because of work and such.

Today we worked a little and got the plywood sheets up all around. thumbs2: Sorry no photos yet.

Its ready to have the top and trim put up and my dad is going to make some cabinet doors for it as well. Then we will stain it and build the canopy.

Speaking of the canopy, I purchased two shop lights from HD and a strand of blue rope lights. My dad thinks he can make this work and I think the WPG will keep me going until I figure out if the plants are safe with the stock or not. :hmm3grin2orange:

I'm tired and glad I beat everyone else for the shower... I'm ready to crash for the night.

P.S. Canister filter is due to arrive tomorrow and my plants from Lab_Rat are doing well in the temp tank.