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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Thursday, January 5, 2012 10:28 PM
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Isn't "a sense of accomplishment" a wonderful thing? Glad to hear you got a lot done, and that you are pleased with the results, Kathy! Keep up the good work!
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 5:36 AM
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 Originally Posted by EasterEggs
Kathy, since you are now expanding do you think it might be a good idea to run this rack as two systems? Disease outbreak could wipe out 10 tanks of juvies...that's a lot of fishies! I've thought of that. I've had only one disease outbreak in 6 years, and I know that I did not properly quarantine new fish I brought in, and that's what caused it. The outbreak spread to both of my old systems, and it affected only the newly metamorphosized fish. No matter how big the system, if I am letting in pathogens, I will lose fish. I do have another system, so I am not putting all my eggs in one basket, but I feel like if I manage it well, I won't have a problem. I can't limit myself to a bunch of small systems, increasing my work load, for fear that something might happen. In addition, i do not depend on the fish for my income, so if I am out of business for a while, my family won't starve. But thanks for the comment. That's why its good to post these things, to get another brain thinking on it, and not overlook something that could be important. I know I'm taking a risk, but I think I understand what that risk is, so its OK,
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 5:46 AM
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And if I should find that I am having problems, it would be easy to convert the system to 2 sumps and split it up. It will also be easy to make a 5 gallon bucket sump to isolate a single tank should the need arise.
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:27 AM
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Here are your pictures: Two things first. 1. I intend this thread to be helpful, but you are on your own. I take no responsibility if something goes wrong for you and I take no credit if something goes right, as well. 2. My husband really hates it when I wear these glasses around the house, but safety glasses are a must. Mine have bifocals, which I love. One can take a picture of oneself, using a mirror, if you face the mirror and look at the reflection of the screen on the back of the camera: 
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:35 AM
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Here is a dado after the cuts  I have 2 boards clamped together for the cuts. My battery pack circular saw can't handle more than 2 at a time.
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:38 AM
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A chisel can help you excavate the bits out of dado, but a hammer leaves a cleaner finish and is more fun. 
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:40 AM
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What happens when you do it wrong:  and with the test beam: 
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:43 AM
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Measure twice, square twice, cut once.  It is good to clamp all the legs together to mark the cuts so that they will all be identical. Square twice, and make sure the ends of the boards are matching, and square to the side of the clamped block. Make sure the cuts go all the way through. I have a weak saw, so the cuts may not go all the way if I am not careful. 
<message edited by KathyL on Friday, January 6, 2012 7:57 AM>
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:47 AM
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Here we are, assembled in situ.  It's hard to get a picture of such a big thing, in a crowded basement. Here is a dado joint, and the diagonal brace at the end of the stand: 
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:48 AM
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The diagonals that make this thing rock solid.  Also, another important tip. The glass aquariums will rest solely on the two beams. Therefore, one wants the spacer boards that run perpendicular to the beam to be just a little lower than the beam. Maybe an eighth of an inch lower. That way the spacer will not interfere with the tank sitting squarely on the beam.
<message edited by KathyL on Friday, January 6, 2012 8:01 AM>
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 8:05 AM
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So you don't think there's a need for a center brace, just for tank support? I'm sure it's fine, just curious.
RLTW 180 Gallon Mixed Reef Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 1:33 PM
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I don't. The corners need support but not the middle. I could be wrong, but I'm not adding more wood to this.
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Friday, January 6, 2012 7:45 PM
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Thanks for answering Kathy! Makes me think too. When I designed my original growout system to have eighteen 20 gallon tanks people would strongly suggesting I split it into two systems, so I did change my plans, and bought double the stuff. Now, months later I still don't have juvies (or eggs) and haven't bothered to build it! Bah! I'm going to build it smaller now anyway...
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Sunday, January 8, 2012 11:57 AM
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You've done more in a week than I've done in two months, I'm still disassembling!  I have $300 worth of commercial; racks, and I'm trying to reuse them to some extent. But I'm building a wood stand for four 40 gallon breeder tanks and they just don't make commercial shelving in 3 foot by 6 foot sections. I'm thinking that custom-sized wood racks are still the best (used them for years until the last fish room redo). You have me rethinking my sump setup under the custom rack now though. I'm also less agile than I might need to be. Looking forward to seeing how the filtration works in your system. And more designs and pictures. Jeff
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Sunday, January 8, 2012 1:10 PM
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Thanks Jeff, I find disassembling to be a hurdle as well. I just did it little by little. 2 months to disassemble, 1 week to build that stand. Someone with skill could have built it in a day, but I only do this once every few years. According to Ted, any 2x4 beam longer than 4 feet needs an extra set of support legs, so you'll be building a 6 leg support system as well as me.
Originally Posted by
I'm also less agile than I might need to be.
Just wait until you get old like me. I can still get under the tanks to access the sump, but as I get older, I have less desire to do so. Since I'm remodelling, I'm trying to design changes to make management of the system easier, in the hopes that I'll manage it better than last time. Using my scraps and mistakes from the 10 tank stand build, I built a little two level table to sit alongside the big rack and hold reservoirs for top off water and water change saltwater. I just have to cut the table surfaces out of the old systems table top, and paint everything. My son and I painted the big rack on Thursday.
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Monday, January 9, 2012 7:32 AM
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Kathy-- I tend to make my uprights out of doubled 2 x 4s. That way I can set it up so that any dado is a full 2 x 4 thick. And, I just make a square cut all the way across the 2x4, lay the crossbeam on top of the short board, then start over with a new 2 x 4 on top of that. _So_ much easier.
--Andy, the bucket man. "Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Monday, January 9, 2012 8:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Umm_fish?
Kathy-- I tend to make my uprights out of doubled 2 x 4s.
Same here. Though it does double some of the wood cost. Also, a 2x4 with the 4" dimension vertical can support about 4,000 pounds in a six foot span. I don't use vertical supports at less than six foot lengths. Lastly, I don't paint the racks anymore. Wood doesn't rot quickly with salt water, and even fresh water will take 20 years to be structurally significant. By that time I'll have rearranged several more times. Or died from the frustration. Jeff
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Monday, January 9, 2012 10:35 AM
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Yeah, but paint makes them look nicer. I find if the fish room is pleasing to look at I'm more likely to spend time in there! I am surprised how "weeny" some of you make your stands. I over-built the crap out of mine!
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Monday, January 9, 2012 5:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Umm_fish?
Kathy-- I tend to make my uprights out of doubled 2 x 4s. That way I can set it up so that any dado is a full 2 x 4 thick. And, I just make a square cut all the way across the 2x4, lay the crossbeam on top of the short board, then start over with a new 2 x 4 on top of that. _So_ much easier.
That works too. I've done it. It's a choice.
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Re:Kathy's new growout system build.
Monday, January 9, 2012 5:56 PM
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Saltwater doesn't rot the wood, but humidity causes mildew. Our basement is a wet one in the rainy season, and these wooden legs are sitting on concrete. It is amazing what a coat of paint will do to prevent mildew. It does make the system more attractive as well. I just ordered the same led strip lights that Scott and Linda use. A little pricey, but waterproof, and with a small footprint, energy efficient, and shouldn't need replacement for 6-12 years, so I think it's worth it. I saw a similar thing at home depot, that cost more per foot, and it was a lot more bright than rope lights or under cabinet lights. I am not that thrilled with the UC lights, as the bulbs burn out too soon and they are awkward to install. I think I'm going to like these: http://www.usledsupply.com/shop/12v-white-flex-strip.html
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