Kwinter1's 125 new adds pg 24

I also finished my sump today gonna put some pics up tomorrow of it and do a water test tuesday probably. Caulking is not my strong suit. It is probably the worst job you will ever see but cross my fingers it won't leak and is strong. I laugh when i see it but if it works I'm not worried I had never done it b4. Worst case I get out the razor blade and do it again.

 

I look forward to seeing pics of your sump! I'm glad that you set the top of your stand on top of the legs. I have seen multiple people not do this, and it will just place more stress on parts of their tank in the long run. Kudos for doing it right the first time. :O

 

Thanks i figure the more support the better. I would have them more centered but i need room for the sump. Don't get to excited about the sump functionality of aestetics haha.

 

That isn't what I am worried about lol. I just like seeing what people come up with is all. ;D

 

I'd use at least those screws! Actually nails have a much stronger lateral breaking point! Sorry home inspector! Screws hove decent lateral breaking strength, but nails have a ton! if your tank gets knocked in the side, those dowels may be the breaking point! Prob not ever gonna be an issue! But i have a 7 year old hurricane flying around my house!lol

Great build by the way! gonna steal alot of it for my hopeful build this spring! Hoping to save up and be lazy and let reefwerks.com just do it for me! but we will see!

 

Interesting to know about nails always thought screws were stronger.
Well, If you would like the plans I made I can scan them on here they are pretty simple. I color coded them lol keeping it simple. Don't have plans for the outside though, drawn out that is, but know where we are going. I got my quote from reefworks for my lights, sounds fair but I can't afford them just yet. It was $1050 for 72 bulbs total ready to diy with fan kit, heatsinks, and drivers, etc.

 

yeah, they have differnet strengths, screws are def stronger for a vertical/pulling strength, but kinda suck horizontal/sheering strentgh and nails the opposite! Literally prob 4-8 decent sized nails should make that 7 year old proof!

And yes reefwerks ain't real cheap but reasonable! he won't skimp to get a sale, but if you add up what you get and the fact you didn't have to do it, worth it! i gave him a budget, he laughed and said this is what you need! i tried to build what he offerered and he was right! For what i learned from him, i figured out he was right! and that for $100 more, he'd build ad ship, and i wouldn't fry a string of led's

 

Oh and if you have a vertical issue with your tank, it better be a down, cause if your 1100 pound aquarium seperates upwards, we have a much bigger problem!lol

But screws are great! i'll still use them for most my build!

 

I use screws because they are easier to take out while building. For example, I had my stand together, then my wife said it was to tall. I would have been really upset if I had used nails. That is just me though. If you look at every other stand build on here as well, you will see screws as well. I just figured there must be a reason for it lol.

 

Oh I'd definitely use 99% screws! Just saying if u have a 7 year old hurricane like me, ya may wanna a little extra insurance!

If ya wanna avoid nails adding some hurricane ties of roofing truss bracing would help too!