Stand

[cweber]

Hey all you do it your selfers. Im going to start a build thread here soon, but first i need some advice. I ve got most of my stand together using 2x4s, and it looked crooked. I measured my corners and made adjustments so they are all the same length, but now its kind of bowed. Any suggestions, im not a carpenter by any means. Thanks

Cory

[jojo22]

Break out a square and a tape measure and make sure all boards are the same length, i.e. front and back, sides, legs, braces, then check all corners for square.

[hummer]

is it the floor level ??... thats why i used my pool table

[spookey]

i just measured 2 more times befor i cut ....and lay it all out befor puting it up making sure it is all squared ...


chris

[cweber]

Spookey, I had the lumber yard cut everything to length. The only tools i have are mechanic tools, and i didnt want to buy a bunch of stuff for one project.

Hummer, the floor isnt perfectly level, but the stand is bowed where the tank will sit. I tore it apart last night and am using a big table now, and im also building it different than the first time.

Thanks for the input. I will keep you updated.

Cory

[spookey]

ok ...my floor is not level too i just used some 2x4 under the stand to get it at the right level...

chris

[cweber]

well...sigh... im not good with wood and thats why im a phone man. I cut everything down to fit my two 10s, everything was going great. I got it all put together and its pretty level and square. I put the 10 on top fits great. I moved it to the bottom, and the darn thing dont fit... :( i forgot to include the vertical supports and im about 3 inches to narrow.So now i dont know what to do. Any suggesttions for the sump is it nessesary or can i just hang my skimmer on the tank?

[jojo22]

You can hang the skimmer on the back depending on which one you get.

[cweber]

I already have a hob skimmer.

[Iconz]

I can only think of two possible issues with running sumpless:

- Cosmetic: Your heater, powerheads, skimmer, hotb fuge (if any)... will all be visible...
A tip to help reduce this... Put your heater behind the rock work or in a HOTB fuge.

- Less overall water volume. = less tank stability and more frequent water changes... But its only a 10g, so its not like you're changing out 50+ gals of water.

If you go this route, I have a couple cool DIY things to help keep it looking good.

[cweber]

Thanks Iconz. If you dont mind sharing some of these with me, Im in a strong debate on what im gonna do, i just really dont want to do it over again. But it might affect my overall success, not having a sump/fuge. So with no fuge it will need more water changes? (more than 10% weekly)

[cweber]

WOO HOO! i have mastered my carpentry skills
I turned this
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/cweber_2006/HPIM0397.jpg
Into this
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/cweber_2006/HPIM0398.jpg
It looks much better huh?

[jojo22]

WOW wood into steal!! You must come to my house sometime, if you can change other metals also!!

[cweber]

I wish i could change some stuff into copper.

[jojo22]

EEEEEEWWWWWWWW I HATE COPPER!! Think of the fish man! LOL
But it would be nice to scrap.

[cweber]

I work for a phone company, i dont know if this is everywhere but we have people stealing copper everwhere. I had about a 50lb roll of ground wire stole out of the back of my truck.