pjmattford Posted January 9, 2020 Report Share Posted January 9, 2020 So I wanted to share my experience building a stand for a new 150 gallon tank I'm working on. I used the same method to build the one for my 80 gallon tank as well! First step was to measure the new tank and decide what I wanted the dimensions of the stand to be. From here it was just a matter of playing around in Google SketchUp to design the new stand. Great tool that's free and easy to learn, make your mistakes in there before ordering anything! In my experience 45 series 10mm slot extrusion is a great fit for stands from a price to performance standpoint. The website https://www.tnutz.com/ is where I have sourced the aluminum and accessories for my different projects. They cut everything to your specs exactly and ship in a timely manner. It's somewhat time consuming to used the "inside corner gussets" and hammer bolts to connect everything, but it gives the stand great rigidity! I recommend buying additional hammer nuts and bolts off Amazon for attaching other accessories like the power strip pictured as they will be less expensive. I'll update this post as I make progress on the build, and feel free to share any questions or feedback if you have experience building with aluminum extrusions as well! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorgi Posted January 19, 2020 Report Share Posted January 19, 2020 I have seen other frames built this way online. Looks great. Thanks for sharing as this gives me an idea for a light mount to hold an 8 bulb ati t5 unit. It weighs about 40 lbs and not fond of suspending from the ceiling. The company will cut product to order which is less work for me. Thought about conduit but i refuse to buy a bender for 45.00. I like the looks of their product better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted January 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 I'm also considering building a light mount with the aluminum as well! They carry the smaller sizes in black which makes for a clean look, and you can find cable management clips made specifically for T-Slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted January 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 Progress Update: Panels painted and installed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBugmaster Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 Looks great! Nice work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted February 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 Progress Update: Stand came together perfectly with space for the 75gal sump & 23gal rubbermaid ATO reservoir, and is rock solid with the tank in place! Plumbing is next 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted February 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 This post is not so much about the stand any more, the build is progressing and all the plumbing is done! Schedule 80 from Menards, minus the gate valve, for a clean uniform look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefNewby82 Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Looking good sir! Really nice job on the stand and the plumbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Thanks! That small amount of plumbing was probably 4 hours of measurements and figuring for me before it all come together lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBugmaster Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Very clean looking plumbing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanknovice Posted February 24, 2020 Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 Very nice design and layout I had the aluminum extrusion on a fag tank and never felt comfortable with it seeing your design would have made it more stable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted February 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 17 hours ago, tanknovice said: Very nice design and layout I had the aluminum extrusion on a frag tank and never felt comfortable with it seeing your design would have made it more stable Thank you! I think if I were to go any larger than 150 gallons, the 45 degree corner braces like Tidal Gardens used on their new tank stands would be worth while for extra rigidity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmrun Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 Very nice! Continue the updates please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted March 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 Doing some cleaning this weekend so decided it was a good time for an update! Sump is wired up with skimmer, refugium area, auto top off, and carbon reactor running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted March 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 Tank is cycled and I've moved my "Nemo" inhabitants from their old 80 gallon over so far and a few frags from the other systems. Need to pick up a blue light filter that will work with my new phone so sorry if things are a bit washed out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted March 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 Built a light mount out of extruded aluminum from the same site, mix of different profiles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmattford Posted March 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 One full res shot of the tank* 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted July 25, 2021 Report Share Posted July 25, 2021 I’m finishing up my 150 build and yours looks great!! I’m going to borrow your stand wood covers idea and aquascape. Hows your tank doing now it’s been up over a year? You got some new pictures? Thanks John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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