Habitat - Indoor :: new tank!!!

[octpusgirl8]

I got a new Tank for Turtley today, it's 75 gallons, quite an upgrade from his current 40 gallon home. I'd been looking for a 75 gal on craigslist for a few months with no luck, and everytime i went to Petsmart i would see this gorgeous 75 gallon tank, just screaming "buy me!!!" So today i did, i wasn't really planning on it, but i was stuck in traffic on my way home from work, and thinking about it...so i went and got it, and it really didn't look all that big in the store, but man, now that i got it in the house it looks huge! The guys at Petsmart put it into my car for me, and i was hoping one of my roomates would be home to help me get it out but no luck. Sooo, with the help of a bunch of pieces of carpet, a lot of sweat and a few swear words i finally got it up the steps and into my house. Here's a picture for comparison:

I guess i'll be building a stand for it, i could always get another of the $7 ikea tables i've been using for my current setup, but i don't quite trust it for a tank this big. I don't want to buy a commercially made stand because i like having the tank lower, makes maintinence easier for a shorty like me! So, does anybody have any suggestions for an easily built stand? I don't want to go with the board and cinderblock solution because i don't want to put any more weight on the floor than i have to. I'm fairly handy, but not a master woodworker. My boyfriend is, so he could easily make on for me, but i'd really like to do this on my own.
I'm just so exited! I can't wait to get it all set up, Turtley is going to be in heaven!

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Nice! Turtleys gonna love it!

[WyredHardware]

Take a camera to the pet shop. When you see a stand you like. Peak around back and take some picks of the wood work. Get a few shots of the guts and how everything is laid out.
Then copy Shrink measurements as required

[Smoofish268]

Congrats on the new tank! Turtley will definitely be happy when everything is all set up. I just did a big ugrade for my Rigby, and she's having a blast (so am I, getting everything all set up and playing with tank decorations!).

My mom and I basically did just what WyredHardware suggested. At the pet store that I bought my tank from, they had what they called "knockdown stands" that looked very sturdy, but they didn't have one with the right dimensions for what I bought. So mom and I studied it, and since we didn't have a camera, did a little drawing of it. When we got home we took stock of what lumber we had leftover from various other projects, and started building.

We used 4x4 for the legs, and 2x4's around the top and bottom connecting the legs, and as cross-bracing for the top. We added two 2x4 legs in the middle of the stand for extra support, and had thick pine shelf board for the top. Then we covered the whole thing with what's called "slat wall", of which we had a lot of extra from when we re-did our basement walls, since we didn't want plain plywood and didn't have anything else. We used 2 1/2 inch screws to hold everything together since we couldn't find any bolts like the knockdown stands had.
It's a very sturdy stand and was easy to make. If I can get pictures of the insides I'll post them, but we already have the tank filled so I can't move anything.

Good luck to you and Turtley!

[scripta_elegans]

It looks great! I bet Turtley will be in turtle heaven! I made a stand for my 120 from cinder blocks 2 by 4s and a big sheet of plywood. I covered it with a big piece o velvet, and I think it looks pretty good. Particularly for a stand that cost about 30 bucks to hold a huge aquarium. If you are crafty, the plan above looks great! If you have no tools or craftsperson ability, like me, here's directions for the no tools, must cover as it is really ugly, stand.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diysta ... qstand.htm

[DavidY]

Congrats on the new tank! It looks very nice. Nice job getting it up the stairs by yourself! Good thing neither you or the tank got hurt.

I'm building a stand for my 90gal out of some leftover pressure treated wood I have laying around. It's very similar to Smoofish's stand using 4x4 posts but instead of 2x4's I used 2x6's since that's what I had laying around. I also used galvanized carriage bolts to attach the 2x6's to the posts and lag screws to attach the cross braces. I have a piece of 3/4" plywood that is going to sit on top of the stand to provide a smooth flat surface to set the tank on.

[octpusgirl8]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Hopeflly i'll get started on that soon, seeing it sitting all empty is killing me! I am glad that i didn't break the tank trying to get it in the house, that would have been a terrible dissapointment. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be but at that point i had already got it out of the car and i couldn't just leave it there on the sidewalk. All the kids in the neighborhood were watching and giggling the whole time...little jerks!

[JESUSfreak]

how much does a tank that big cost?

[marisa]

Very, very nice.

[octpusgirl8]

I paid $200 for it, i looked for months to find a cheap one on craigslist, but with no luck. I'm going to build a stand and getit set up (if all goes well) this weekend, i'll be sure to put up some pictures when i get it all done.

[steve]

Can't wait. What are the plans for the 40g?

[octpusgirl8]

I don't know...my first instinct is to get a new pet, but the rational side of me is saying that i don't have the time or money for anything else. My boyfriend is wanting a bearded dragon after he graduates next year, it might end up as a starter home for one of those guys. I could always sell it, but it's always nice to have a spare tank around anyway. It sure is going to be hard to resist getting a new "friend" though!

[industrial_girl_2000]

That new tank is great!!!!

I have seen the metal tank stands at various pet stores & they are never all that expensive. There are no doors/walls underneath the tank (usually just a shelf), but that would be a decent thing to get you started & wouldn't cost too much $$$.

[DavidY]

I don't know...my first instinct is to get a new pet, but the rational side of me is saying that i don't have the time or money for anything else. My boyfriend is wanting a bearded dragon after he graduates next year, it might end up as a starter home for one of those guys. I could always sell it, but it's always nice to have a spare tank around anyway. It sure is going to be hard to resist getting a new "friend" though!

he he, that's how I got all my animals!

[TomGirl]

I don't know why, but I can't seem to find a decent tank anywhere. The ones I've seen are all pretty and odd shaped for fish. I just want a rectangular 75 gallon. Does anyone know where I can get one?

I only have one RES- 8" long. And I plan on building an above tank basking area and buying a XP3 Filter.

How does that sound to you guys?