Advice on my Stand?

[Sir Alex]

I got a 75 gallon tank with a stand and a 65 gallon sump on craigslist. I'm not very happy with the stand. It doesn't have any doors so the sump is completely visible. Here's some pictures:

So I was wondering what the best way to cover up the sump is? I don't really have the money to add doors right now. Maybe a curtain? I'm okay with this but I would prefer having it covered up.

 

[little_fish]

I think you could do a curtain quite easily, just make sure you can take it off to wash it.

 

[Sir Alex]

I think you could do a curtain quite easily, just make sure you can take it off to wash it.

What do you think would be a good color?

 

[little_fish]

black?

 

[Smitty]

Why don't you turn it into a display fuge...that would look awesome.

 

[Sir Alex]

Why don't you turn it into a display fuge...that would look awesome.

What's that?

And anyway, I need some place to put my skimmer.

 

[AmberSunrise]

Why don't you turn it into a display fuge...that would look awesome.

I agree instead of a dirty old ugly sump make it pretty with lots of macroalgae. I think a curtain is going to look redneck.

 

[Sir Alex]

I agree instead of a dirty old ugly sump make it pretty with lots of macroalgae. I think a curtain is going to look redneck.

Can I have a pretty sump and still have a skimmer?

 

[AmberSunrise]

From the way the stand looks the only thing I could think of is to keep a really nice looking sump or find some inexpensive doors. Try Ikea they have all kinds of stuff and its not expensive.

 

[over my head]

black plexiglass

 

[Sir Alex]

black plexiglass

I bet that would look pretty bad. I think I'll either put curtains or make it a nice sump. I'll also look in to the cheap door idea.

 

[Sir Alex]

I'm really leaning on the door side. I think it's worth the extra money. Can someone give me some idea of how much it might cost to get four cheep cabinet doors?

Also, the closest Ikea is an hour and a half away. So I was wondering if there's some place to get custom cabinet doors online?

 

[Marines_Wife]

Ill be honest with you some of the coolest tanks I have ever seen have displayed their refugiums as well. Its there so why not show case it?

As far as the cabinet doors, you might want to just try a google search for woodworking or door making in your area. That should yield some results. If nothing else call up a contractor and ask them who they suggest.

 

[Smitty]

+1 Marines wife

 

[Sir Alex]

Ill be honest with you some of the coolest tanks I have ever seen have displayed their refugiums as well. Its there so why not show case it?

As far as the cabinet doors, you might want to just try a google search for woodworking or door making in your area. That should yield some results. If nothing else call up a contractor and ask them who they suggest.

I guess I still can make a display fuge, but this is what happened. the sump was 65 gallons, which measured 3'X18"X2'. The interior of stand is 3'X18"X30", so it really filled it up, to much. It wasn't able to get anything through the 6" between the top of the tank and roof. I had a 30 gallon measuring 3'X1'X16", laying around so I tried that out, and it fits much better. But now the interior of stand looks really empty, and I don't really like that. But looks don't really matter if you can't get anything in. :shock:

Another thing, I haven't seen any cool macro algae locally and I don't want to pay $35 shipping for a $10 piece of algae. I guess I could get my LFS to order some?

 

[Sir Alex]

+1 Marines wife

Hmm. What do you suggest in a "display fuge"?

 

[Marines_Wife]

Hmm. What do you suggest in a "display fuge"?

Honestly something along the lines of this
30 Gallon Display Refugium

Obviously yours would be underneath however it would add a very cool look to it.

 

[Sir Alex]

This looks really cool: : : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

It's cheaper than adding doors...

 

[Northstar24]

There are all kinds of cool macro's that you can get for a fuge. Some of the best looking tanks at my LFS arent even the display tanks, its the immaculately kept 'fuges he uses to filter the display that look good.

I say go for a display 'fuge. You don't see too many setups with them. If my stand and setup were more condusive to it, I would totally have a display fuge

I have heard Indo Pacific Sea Farms has great stuff, but it seems kind of expensive to me. I'd sugguest either Tampa Bay Saltwater or Reefcleaners.org for macro's

Your LFS should also be able to get some for you, mine carries all kinds of macros for $4 a plant

 

[Sir Alex]

Wow they have some nice stuff on reef cleaners. This is gonna be really cool. I kinda want to have the whole tank, or at least most of it, the fuge. So where am I going to put the protein skimmer? Maybe get a out of sump one? Also lighting, I don't think this reflector is going to work very well for a nice fuge. Maybe a 150 watt metal halide? Or some kind of florescent that I can hang?

I am completely determined to get a mangrove plant. So this is what I was thinking of as a setup. I'll have 2 koralia nanos for flow, some rock in the middle coming close to the surface, and some sand. I think I'll go with a few different kinds of macros, some mangroves, some Halimedia, some money plant, some ulva, some mermaid's fan. What kind of caulerpa doesn't get hormonal? Omg I don't think I'm going to have room for all this stuff.

Also, how does this look? Should I paint the inside?