Journal " The Creek" 75g tank and stand build

[artandsoul]

Santa came early this year with a new 75g tank. I've never owned a 4' tank ever been stuck on the normal 30" wide 29g and 20g's forever. I wanted the uns 90u 36x22x22 but 750.00 is nuts to me I don't have that much in all tanks and equip I own so went cheap route.
Saw the 75g at PetSmart the imagitarium brand for 150 on sale. Those cheapos have bad reviews on leaking and I believe it as I actually picked up a free leaky 75g imagitarium at petco last week and sold it for snake terrarium for 40.00. Went to petco they also have the 50% off sale on marineland and aqueon. The tank was 159.00 out the door. Got lucky the manager said take this set of new glass tops for free, were a return they cant sell it.I assume the made in USA marineland is a better tank than the other cheapos and I actually don't mind the black silicone.

Went to Lowes today for some wood 4- 2x4x8 and 2- 2x4x10 and sheet if 1/2 osb for top and bottom shelf and for extra strength. When I get done I'm sure it would hold a 300g tank. Will wrap the tank in either bead board wood paneling or 1/4" plywood with some nice moulding on corners. Def gotta make a lip to hide the bottom plastic rim as well so its not so ugly. probably build a hood to why not hide some rims! Just gotta build or find a pair of doors on something else I can steal and use for this stand. I don't plan on getting it setup for few weeks but want stand base 1/2 done now so I can try some diff dry scapes with wood and rocks in it. This will be replacing my 20long I was scaping in other journal its now a plant farm full of ludwigia and plants for sale.
Still not sure on the name on this tank, Whipple landing is where I took some pics I want to copy for the tank. Its feed by the great pee dee river here so name may change later.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Nice size, I like the black silicone too. So much room for activities!

 

[NC AL]

Barn doors are easy to make if you done find the doors you are looking for.

Look forward to seeing everything when you are done.

 

[artandsoul]

Barn doors are easy to make if you done find the doors you are looking for.

Look forward to seeing everything when you are done.

Yeah I made barn house shutters on the house im in now I'm not paying 50.00 a pair for plastic lol. If I don't find some freebie doors I'll make something simple and wrap it with moulding. I want a piece of furniture not the normal uns / ada doctors office stand. I got the base 1/2 done tonight maybe 14" of scrap 2x4 left. A framing gun makes it pretty fast to bang wood together. Stand already has about 80 3.5" nails in it not counting some screws and its all glued as well its not gonna fall over for sure. Maybe a little overbuilt but I trust it 10x over the mdf trash they sell at petco or amazon crap. Hopefully stand will get done by next week, might stay away from a hood my hand in tank so much probably not worth the time or money.

 

[artandsoul]

Nice size, I like the black silicone too. So much room for activities!

The black silicon hides green dot algae pretty good! Its a monster for me I looked at it last night thinking its to dam big lol makes my large wood look small but im gonna build a big tree line in there or go big lava rocks and light on wood. To many ideas/choices on such a wide tank compared to my 30" wide tanks. I see lots of $$$ being thrown in there for sure esp with substrate gees! Im gonna use 25-30lbs of lava rock in bags for sure to save on some substrate but its gonna be the most expensive tank I've ever done.

 

[NC AL]

Yeah I made barn house shutters on the house im in now I'm not paying 50.00 a pair for plastic lol. If I don't find some freebie doors I'll make something simple and wrap it with moulding. I want a piece of furniture not the normal uns / ada doctors office stand. I got the base 1/2 done tonight maybe 14" of scrap 2x4 left. A framing gun makes it pretty fast to bang wood together. Stand already has about 80 3.5" nails in it not counting some screws and its all glued as well its not gonna fall over for sure. Maybe a little overbuilt but I trust it 10x over the trash they well at petco or amazon crap. Hopefully stand will get done by next week, might stay away from a hood my hand in tank so much probably not worth the time or money.

I feel the same way as you. I can stand on my stand. This has come in handy a bunch. I made a smaller hood/canopy on my 4’ tank. It’s easy enough to take on and off for my weekly maintenance. On a rimmed tank I think it would be easier.

 

[artandsoul]

I feel the same way as you. I can stand on my stand. This has come in handy a bunch.

Better to overkill than worry for sure, im mr overkill on most any diy builds. I'm 99% sure im gonna build a stand for my freebie 36g bowfront mdf / trash stand. Hell cant even get a 5g bucket under it door to small lol ! These trash stands sold at pet stores for 3-400 are a total joke but i know people have no skills or tools to make something. The public thinks I can buy it now and its done riiight!. Well we will see u in 3 years when your petsmart stand is turning to oatmeal . My 20l stand is almost 20 years old still like new its all cabinet grade plywood but plywood not cheap anymore.