PackLeader's 200 gallon Reef

Can't wait to see it. Fuge display sounds interesting.

 

Not at all. I've slept with tanks in my bedrooms for most of my life, though not as big as this. But I actually find the water sounds quite relaxing. And noise doesn't affect me at all. I have fallen asleep in the front row right at the tree of an NHRA race. No joke.

 

The fuge display is going to be pretty easy to do actually. The part I am having trouble with is coming up with a way to easily detach all panels around the stand. I want to be able to get it to the bare skeleton easily to make it as easy as possible to work on all the equipment underneath.

 

I thank god that I live in Miami Fla. every day !!! Nice project !!

 

velcro!

 

I had mine velcroed on but it wasn't enough. I have one of my doors just hanging on a couple of wood screws.

 

That is an awesome idea that I've never heard of. I look forward to seeing how it turns out! As for the easy access underneath, here are some ideas:

Put 2 hinges on one side of the stand and a simple latch on the other. Here is a website that I found with TONS of gate-type stuff. You could get some hinges and a good looking latch so the entire front of the canopy would swing open like a gate.

Make notches in the bottom of the stand (the part against the floor like a 1X) and cut teeth in the bottom of the front panel so that they slide into each other. Then add latches to the top. Or you could do it vice versa. Here is a pic (I got WAAAYYYY too much time on my hands tonight!)



Here is a link to the type of latch I was thinking of. There are a couple other types that would work but I can't find a pic of them! Just a couple ideas but I think it would be awesome to be able to completely remove the front panel of a tank stand. They don't really serve a structural purpose anyways... let me know what you think, and be honest if you think my ideas suck... I only come up with a couple good ones a year!!

 

The latch Idea is excellent. That way the panels would lift right out. I can't really run hinges, because I don't have much room from the front of the stand to my bed to allow things to swing open.
On the latch, I think if I go that route I might replace the "teeth" with some sort of hook/latch type deal on the bottom. Like small brackets with loops they slide into. Would just cut down on the woodwork that way.

 

Also with teeth you would have to worry about possibly breaking one off. As you can tell I'm thinking this through as I write/draw it out! I wish I could find pics of the type of latch I am thinking about but I will try to explain it: the latch swings up to the latch plate and hooks into it. When you push down on the latch it tightens the latch and securely locks the two peices together. Not a good description but I tried!! I will post a pic if I can find one. You could probably get away with 2 on top & bottom, then there wouldn't be any cutting, just some screws.

 

Can't wait to see what you come up with for the stand and everything. Sounds like it's going to be a doozy! I <3 snow. I live in Canada though, so I get lots of it.