33 gal.

Hi George, I'm finishing up the stand for my ADA tank.
I'm getting it from Aqua Forest and it's 60X45X45, semi cube.

I made the stand from nice 3/4" cab ply and painted it thick exteriror white, tehn sanded it, then, shot a couple of coats of clear and then snaded each time, should give a nice white mirror finish.

I spent about 40$, and then had the pain left over from the shed I built.
The design is essentially an ADA style stand, but it's stronger and it's white.

I am drilling two 1/2" bulk head holes and will attach a Xp3 Rena canister filter+ Needle wheel pump loop and a Hydro heater.

There will be not one tube or wire coming in/out of the tank.

Everything will be built in.

I can use a 2X65W Orbit light, they are nice. Or I can use a 150 HQI Aqua Medic light, well it's similar, but cost 135$ total with bulb etc.

This will be my Piranha tank. I plan on 9 of them.

The nice thing about the no hoses/in or out, the glass lids can fit tight.
So it will look very nice outside the tank also.
You might start focusing in on that part as well
Then you can start doing more client work and have more tanks to practice on.
Better their $ than yours

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

2" from the rear corners or 4" apart in the middle rear, 2" away from the edge.
I have this done on the GC's 24" cubes already.

I have drill bits for glass.
Takes a long time, you cannot rush drilling glass.

The ADA glass is thick enough where it's not much or an issue.
Thinner glass=> harder not to break the bottom

You do not see the PVC, they can be covered by plants, and sit high on a mound of ADA AS etc, hidden in the back.

I finished the stand today, have the light(150W HQI), and need to build the light hanger(I have all the parts for this, it's like the ADA DIY that many folks in the By area have done using electrical conduit).

The Copper tubing did not ork as well and was not strong enough for me.
You need a pipe cutter and 1/2" or 3/4" bender for the electrical conduit.
But then you can make any bends you wish with straight 10ft long galvanized pipe, 1/2", 3/4" or 1" etc in diameter.
That's plenty strong for most light weight T5, HQI with external ballast etc.

See here:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/aquascaping/31991-ada-120cm-journal-w-diy-stand-2.html

Preview the other pages.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

Nice slope design George.

Yes, I'll be at the 2009 event.
Hopefully with a PhD by then

You are welcomed to come to the West Coast.
I have a number of folks I'm suppose to head down to the amazon with.
But it'll have to wait till after the job and school stuff is done.

Then I'll have a lot more flexibility.
Tanks looks nice, stick with the RAF. It'll keep you in shape too.

Yes, 9 piranha is not simple, but the tank is. These guys stay small and school fairly well, even as they get older, at least mine are.

I have everything ready almost, I have a filter coming and then I can bend the light bars and hand it up.

I think the 180 will be next followed by the West african 60 cube.
The last ones will be the Cold water marine and then finally that 120 Gal I broke after it's fixed.



Regards,
Tom Barr

 

Do not worry, it will fill in.
As you get better, you can see what is going to grow and how later.

Like a fish community, matching a plant community takes more time and skill than keeping one species.

Regards,
Tom Barr