[Jeremy0322]

I really have nothing better to do right now so i guess I will start a build thread for the 55 that is finally getting underway. I was able to get the stand last night because it was finally finished, i still talk to my moms ex-boyfriend and he was nice enough to volunteer to make me the stand as an early birthday present. It is alot bigger than i need but I wanted it to be able to support something larger in the future without me having to buy another stand. Then I took the tank to my grandpas today and he helped me drill it(and for anyone reading this and wondering if they should drill their tank, it is really really simple). That went really smoothly and then i redid the bottom to give me more room down there. The stand is no where near done yet but I have everything that i need for the doors and i wanted to make sure that i did them so i knew they would fit next to my bed. I also picked up my Lexan overflow and sump baffles today which i will be gluing into the sump and tank as soon as i get my bulkheads and pump and make sure that everything is nice and spaces out. That is really all at this time, the rock is curing and i will be ordering more sand sometime over the next few days. Here are a few pics so far.


The tank, the sump, the stand, and my awesome space heater for my room because I HATE cold weather.


Close up of under the stand.


The holes that we drilled in the back of the tank, I was worried all this time for nothing.


The overflow that my grandfather machined for me at his job. It will actually be clear but there is that white sticky sheet crap over it to make sure that it does not scratch.


My work space, with some of the tools and such that i have been using.

I am more than likely just going to throw some temporary laminate over the stand sometime but for not my biggest concern is getting the tank full of water and cycling. Everything else is second. Well, that is all there is for now, question of comments are welcome, and let me know if anything looks wrong to you guys, it is better to catch it now that after it is too late.

[Mr. Tang]

Looking good buddy. A 55 with my first SW tank!! Great tank to start with. And the size is just right to help you learn what good quailty water parameters are and how to keep them

[dfurbee]

Looks good, wish I would have had my 55 drilled, it would have been much easier and cheaper to set up.

[Jeremy0322]

Yea, that was the impression i got from reading a bunch of threads on here. It is quite simple too, the bit was 13 dollars from SaltyDepot on eBay, and we had the power drill. We just used sawhorses to set the tank on and then used a hose with just a small stream of water to keep the bit cold. Just make sure if you ever do it that you tape the bottom with DUCK tape, we used masking tape because that was all that we had and one of the holes ended up chipping, just a really small piece though so the bulkhead will cover it up and then some. I was so scared though and it was very very easy.

[Jeremy0322]

Just a little update, i ordered two 200watt heaters, the visi-therm stealths, as well as 2 more bags of CaribSea Aragamax sugar sized sand, bringing the sand total up to 90 pounds which should be plenty for the tank and fuge seeing as there will be no sand in the overflow for obvious reasons and the rock is going in first. The bulkheads should be here tomorrow, so i will finally be able to start putting water in the tank...

[Fishhead Junkie]

so is your tank glass tempered? everyone on this forum has always stated DONT DRILL A TEMPERED GLASS TANK!! guess you proved them wrong with great results.

i like the stand, that puppy looks pretty sturdy...keep the pics coming and good luck.

[Jeremy0322]

The bottom is tempered but the sides are not. Tempered glass is really really hard to drill through because the glass is like pressurized making it alot harder, and if you look on Youtube there are a few people that try to drill tempered glass and when it breaks it is really, there is just this huge spider web that instantly forms on the side they are drilling. The stand it ugly right now but really sturdy, i wanted something that would support a larger tank down the line. I am probably just going to go by some oak laminate and stick it on the stand so it matches the trim of the tank.

[pogodzib]

Looking nice Jeremy

Originally Posted by Fishhead Junkie

so is your tank glass tempered? everyone on this forum has always stated DONT DRILL A TEMPERED GLASS TANK!! guess you proved them wrong with great results.

You can't drill through tempered glass or it will crack and look like a spider web. Most tanks nowadays have tempered bottoms, but not tempered sides, so it is usually safe to drill the sides. Key note here is usually, once in a while someone will have a tank that has tempered side panels or bottoms that are not tempered.

[Jeremy0322]

I went to the LFS in greenville today and they had a perfecto 55 with tempered glass everywhere and it was the first time i had ever seen it. And on a side note, are cleaner wrasses rare, because the lady had about 4 of them today and it was the first time i had ever seen one.

[Jeremy0322]

Quick question, would it be better to leave the back and side of the stand open or close them up. I am going to try and keep this system as quiet as i can make it, and was wondering which was my best move?

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by Jeremy0322

Quick question, would it be better to leave the back and side of the stand open or close them up. I am going to try and keep this system as quiet as i can make it, and was wondering which was my best move?

You can close it up and it will be quieter but good ventilation is very important too. Usually we have several pumps and other equipment that creates heat which needs a way to escape. Also a larger opening in the back of the stand makes it easier to run plumbing and wires. I have a 4" slot across the back of my stand and keep a 5" fan running 24/7.

[Jeremy0322]

The 5 inch fan that you are using, is it a computer fan. I have been contemplating enclosing the stand and using a few computer fans, but i would not know how to power them. I could use a computer power supply but that would be overkill and bulky.

[Jeremy0322]

And another questions, what is the best kind of PVC glue out there, and is there any that is not aquarium safe. I know you probably will not get glue in the pipes, but just incase it happens, what have others before me used?

[Jeremy0322]

Alright, i have been making some progress. Got the overflow in and the sump baffles, and then received the sand and heaters in the mail. So, water went in it tonight. I am going to start testing the water tomorrow so i can keep track of the cycle, and i will be able to finish the plumbing by sunday which is why it is not completely full, as you can tell in the pictures.


Sump baffles. The Fuge on left, return pump area in center, and skimmer section on right.


My Durso Standpipe, all of the plumbing will be 1" and i made this 1 1/4" because that is what i was told to do, lol.


Top of the overflow.


Full tank shot, the water is really foggy though because the sand has not completely settled yet

[Jeremy0322]

Right side of the tank, the big hole leads to a cave that i set up, it is about 3 inches deep and 7 inches long, something will call it home eventually I am assuming.


And finally, the left side of my tank, with the overhand for my fire shrimp so that he can set up a little cleaning station.

There is also a few flat spots for when some corals make their way into my tank, but for now it is cycle time, so i get to sit here and wait...YAY

[Tonz of fun]

Hey jer I noticed your low water line is that because you are letting glue dry? Is that black bulk head going to be used as a return?

[Jeremy0322]

Yea, the reason the water is low is because there is no plumbing going from the return bulkhead, so if i filled it up anymore it would instantly drain out of the back, and that would be bad. This way the rock can start curing but i can still finish the plumbing when i get to it over the next day or two. The glue all got to sit for 47 hours, i figured the last hour would not hurt anything..lol

[Tonz of fun]

It says 48 for a reason jer lol. Just kidding. If you have a skimmer im a fan of using it during curing. Water movement is advised too. Its looking good and custom always gives more reasons to be proud of the end result. Good job. See you on COD4

[ozzy_200769]

VERY NICE JOB,
I am going to attempt to drill and plumb a 30g frag tank soon.
I hope mine will turn out as well as yours did

[Jeremy0322]

It is really easy if you just take your time and do everything they tell you to do. Make sure there is plenty of cold water hitting the bit as you are drilling, tape the back of the glass that you are drilling, WITH DUCK TAPE, because it helps make sure there is no chipping, put a towel on the bottom so the glass that falls does not break the other side of the tank, and just take your time and let the bit do the drilling, do not force it or you will probably be buying another tank.

[map95003]

Jeremy, looking good so far man! keep up the good work and keep the pics coming as you progress.

Quick question: I know you DIY the overflow, nice job, did you also DIY the plumbing inside the overflow or did you buy that? I was planning on just attaching a piece of PVC to the overflow bulk head inside my overflow, do I really need that "U" looking tube you have?...just checking before I start gluing.

thanks.

[Jeremy0322]

I actually made that, it was really easy to make though. It is called a durso standpipe and the main reason for having one is because they are really quiet i think. Here is the link for it.
Durso Standpipes Portal > Home

[e_baer]

Looks good. I would get as much flow as possibly going onto your rockwork. you want to get all the debris out from the cravaces of the rock. The more flow the better IMO.

[map95003]

Hey Jeremy, thanks for the info on the Durso Standpipe. I'm glad I asked, you just save me the trouble of dealing with noise issues... I couldn't see the top view from the link you recommended but based on your picture it looks like you capped the top, but it also looks like you drilled a small hole at the top..did I see that right?
I googled it and found some other info, saw some versions where an adjustable valve was attached to the top of the pipe, I'm assuming that's to control air.

thanx.

[Jeremy0322]

Yea, you just drill a small hole in the top and i guess that is supposed to control alot of the gurgling that you would get without it. I am just doing what people have told me to do or what i have seen online. Maybe someday it will all make sense to me..lol