[marc]

I plan to have a new stand built.

What do you guys think of this?

I want it to be darker, thinking espresso color.

What about wood? I was thinking about OAK? I want something that going to last years and hard wood that will stand up to 2 young kids. Open to options on this. We don't really care about the grain OAK as, just the espresso color.

Also plan to have the canopy made taller, the top lid on this one flips up, but I also plan to have doors going across the front for easy access/feeding so I don't always have to flip the top lid up. I assume I would mount my lights to the lid or better to mount to side of the canopy? I was thinking I should make it around 12 inches?

Open to suggestions, as my wife giving me a budget and I have one chance to get this right, it will be long time before I get another tank/stand

The stand alone picture without canopy I really like, thinking about canopy in the first picture.
thanks for advise.

 

[Regalblue41]

That looks like a great set up.What I would recommend on the canopy,For ease of use or maintainance would be.Think of a car trunk how it opens,the sides are stationary while the front moves up on hinges out of the way,So you would not have to reach in a little cubby whole,or bend or reach way down to work on the tank..Also the lights would be attached to the top of the canopy so when you open the hood they are also out of the way,It also makes it wife friendly,You can also use an acrylic lens on the inside to protect from salt spray[ I don`t mean glass tops on the tank],and it also helps when you vent the hood so to get rid of heat generated by the lights "I mean it is a small long 3 sided box that covers the bulbs,that will allow you to blow air with an axial fans down the length of the hood.....I have designed several hoods like that,and never had any problems with heat and the bulbs last longer,depending on what type you use.....I also did a couple with a light mover,and made them low profile,so the canopy does not have to be huge,and you would only have the expence,heat and the elecrical use of one halide,and the funny thing is what I have noticed is the corals actually branch out more,They don`t reach up for the light "so to speak".........If I could load up pictures,I could show you exactly what I am talking about..Tanks are my thing computers are not

 

[marc]

Thanks for the info. Yeah I am very undecided what to do with the canopy. I wish I could see some pictures of yours, as not sure I understanding.

 

[DBreefs]

Sounds like you have a pretty good idea of which way to go. I am a fan of the doors on the front of the canopy. It gives quick easy access and I think they look nice. What type of lighting are you going to be running?

 

[marc]

Sounds like you have a pretty good idea of which way to go. I am a fan of the doors on the front of the canopy. It gives quick easy access and I think they look nice. What type of lighting are you going to be running?

Thanks,
Right now I plan to go with the unfinished stand, along with the canopy shown, but I think with doors added to the front, maybe 4 total, as you said will give me easy access when I don't need to be in the entire tank.

As for the lights I was thinking T5, but to be honst not 100% sure yet.

What do you guys think about wood type? I am thinking OAK, want something that will stand up sell to kids. Not big fan of the grain, but with going with dark color I think it will be OK, unless you guys have some other ideas, don't want pine for sure.

Thanks

 

[Regalblue41]

What are the different dimentions on the tank you are doing,What type of tank are you going to be doing...Oak over the years,properly sealed has been a proven winner,as far as price and longevity ,depending on the type or grade of oak,some shows more or less grain,

 

[marc]

What are the different dimentions on the tank you are doing,What type of tank are you going to be doing...Oak over the years,properly sealed has been a proven winner,as far as price and longevity ,depending on the type or grade of oak,some shows more or less grain,

The tank is going to be 84x24x24, some have suggested maple or cherry, but I worry the maple won't stain very well as we want to use dark stain.

I plan to go 15" for the canopy and 35" for the stand with a 18" inch sump

 

[Regalblue41]

I can see why you wouldn`t want a canopy like the one I was talking about,The stands that I have seen that are made of maple or cherry look,,fake or have an unnatural tone to me that is..........There are plenty of stands that are made of oak that have been done in dark stain that have been finished in a satin finish that look pretty clean,That can stand up to the abuse of children and the bumps and bruises that come with them...From what I have seen and experianced stay away from anything gloss,It might look pretty,but the finish never lasts,and try to spot repair it,It stands out,rather than blends in..........Sorry that I couldn`t help you out

 

[marc]

I can see why you wouldn`t want a canopy like the one I was talking about,The stands that I have seen that are made of maple or cherry look,,fake or have an unnatural tone to me that is..........There are plenty of stands that are made of oak that have been done in dark stain that have been finished in a satin finish that look pretty clean,That can stand up to the abuse of children and the bumps and bruises that come with them...From what I have seen and experianced stay away from anything gloss,It might look pretty,but the finish never lasts,and try to spot repair it,It stands out,rather than blends in..........Sorry that I couldn`t help you out

Thank you for the advise, your info was very helpful. I think I am going to go with OAK. I guess I want to go with all solid OAK. Now I only have 20 other things to decide. ha ha