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Post by nebelhund on Apr 27, 2009 11:09:33 GMT -6
Well I got my new(used) 180 yesterday. 6'x2'x'2 with half inch glass and empty weighs over 300 pounds. Yes it was a pain to move. My only surprise was the stand that the previous owner had made, with the tank on the stand the top rim is right at 6' tall! My wife about lost it when she saw it on the stand. Its in the garage for now, I have to paint the kitchen and at least the stand to match. I really need to do something else to make it look nicer, just plain metal stand now. Wifey isn't too into the look of it, or the idea of curtaining it. Any thoughts? (It is very well made, just not sexy looking.)  |
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angel
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Post by angel on Apr 27, 2009 11:27:34 GMT -6
What style is your kitchen? Have you seen the block stands on another thread? I'm wondering if those can be done in red brick as well--to look old-world. Kind of Italian. Or build a plywood surround for it instead of a curtain, and you can decorate it to match the kitchen, maybe even put some doors on it instead of a solid front. Or cut two decorative holes in it to expose the shelving. If you're good with a scroll saw you can cut a decorative bottom instead of straight across. Of course this can all be done with cardboard as well and then painted, but the second it gets dirty or worn you're in the doghouse.
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angel
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Post by angel on Apr 27, 2009 11:42:07 GMT -6
Or!!!!!!! The DIY background idea--but get some styrofoam and cut pieces to glue to the frame of this thing and make it bigger than the frame of course but the same shape. Maybe like 6" wide for the leg pieces. Make your stones and cement them just the same. That could be sexy!
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Post by jon carman on Apr 27, 2009 11:55:49 GMT -6
You might be able to build a wood frame around it, and then add some molding trim from home depot to make it look better. I feel for you having to move it again. Worse case scenario you can build a stand from scratch with some 2x4's. Looks great though, you can hold a ton of fish in there.
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Post by nebelhund on Apr 27, 2009 12:11:54 GMT -6
Good ideas so far! The wood frame is what I was initially thinking. Especially if I could embed big magnets to the reverse of the wood and just stick them up when the stand/tank were in place. I am in no rush, this will be a somewhat extended project as I have to paint the kitchen first as well.
Moving it inside isn't bad as I can lift it and put sliders underneath it.
There is also welding shop in Spring Hill, I thought about seeing if they could shorten the legs with the feet intact. The only bad part of that would be taking the tank off the stand to move it... And I'll still have to work on the exterior.
Lighting will be the next challenge, I'm sure somebody sells 6 foot lighting equipment, just have to do some digging for them.
It was hilarious when I retanked that big boy in the photo, the giraffe. He is 11" long and just huge of body, the 5" cichlids in the tank all hid and had this look on their face of shock. He hasn't eaten any of them yet though.
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angel
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Post by angel on Apr 27, 2009 12:41:21 GMT -6
Two 3' lights would be easier to get. Or just go LED and save tons on electric!
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Post by titansfever83 on Apr 27, 2009 22:08:06 GMT -6
I agree with Jon and Angel on both the stand and the lighting.
Really just depends what you like/want or should I say what the wife wants, lol.
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Post by nebelhund on Apr 28, 2009 12:53:21 GMT -6
She was out when we put it in the garage. She got home and I told her to go look at it on the stand. She was like "Oh Hell no!" from the garage.
Of course I also told her she left the house sometimes and it might be up in the kitchen with water when she got home, ha...
Decisions decisions...
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Post by nebelhund on May 30, 2009 20:09:37 GMT -6
I had a local carpenter make us a fish tank stand for my newish 180 gallon tank. It arrived today. I'm so excited.  I'll take some pictures and post. It wasn't cheap but very much in line with any of the "cheaper" ones I could find online. My wife was very happy with it and that was the reason I had one made rather than go with one I tried to make. |
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Post by nebelhund on May 30, 2009 23:22:41 GMT -6
I'll take pics once its up. I have to paint the kitchen first, fun fun fun... It is slightly larger than the tank, 72"x24". 4"x4" posts on the corners, glued, screwed, and metal bracketed on all the joints inside. 4 doors across the front and 1 on each end (I love all the doors). There are 8 adjustable feet, each rated at 2000 pounds. You can raise or lower them with a hex or allen wrench from the inside, just crank the feet up or down until its level.  |
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angel
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Post by angel on May 31, 2009 7:57:16 GMT -6
That stands rocks!
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fishme
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Post by fishme on May 31, 2009 9:25:21 GMT -6
Beautiful stand. And, knowing the reward at the end of the job, I'm betting painting the kitchen won't be nearly as tough as it would have been otherwise. In fact, you could turn out to be the only man in the history of the world who gets excited about a home paint job, knowing you're going to get your 180 set up when you finish. Can't wait to see the tank set up. Don't forget pics.
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Post by tomtom on May 31, 2009 9:36:09 GMT -6
i have to agree with fishme 100% on everything
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ricoll
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Post by ricoll on Jul 25, 2009 17:15:02 GMT -6
That is a nice tank and the stand does look pretty sturdy.
Rico
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Post by nebelhund on Dec 6, 2009 19:39:22 GMT -6
Well it has only been 5 months since I had the stand built but I finally set it up. The tank is 90 full of water. I'm going to buy 150 or so pounds of sand tomorrow and pickup a 6 foot light. It is in our kitchen so will be somewhat of a show tank.
I'm going to let it cycle a couple weeks then start putting fish in it.
So happy!!!!!
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