It's done!

Ok, time for another update.  It looks as though tax season will yield up all the money we've loaned the feds for zero interest, but I'll still be under budget constraints.  So far, the tank stand is not stained, but is really close to completion.  I've purchased most of the plumbing parts as well.  One thing I've learned from that-

PLUMBING PARTS ARE EXPENSIVE FOR ANYTHING REMOTELY ELABORATE AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED WHEN CONSIDERING THE OVERALL INITIAL SETUP COST...

I think I've spent $150 and I'm still at least $100 away from finishing it!  Of course, due to a obsessive/compulsive desire to be as neat as possible and still keep the total head loss of the plumbing to a minimum could be the problem here.  Or, it could be that $32 for a 2" true-union ball valve seems outrageous!  I'm sure that most of the local plumber's supply are sick of my asking about hard-to-find PVC parts.  Wait 'till they hear about the schedule 80, 40, and 200 plumbing all fitted toegther in order to come under budget and still maintain satisfactory flow. (Did I mention spa-flex as well?) 

The circulation will consist of a basement-housed Sequence pump that will push the water up thru 2" pvc pipe to the tank above.  The sump was custom-built at Marine Aquatics and will do the job.  If you want a nice acrylic sump, Eric and Arjien sure do a good job!

I've even got a room in the basement all planned out for the fish room.  Pictures will come soon.  I also realized the other day that testing the plumbing could result in flooding my living room and acute spouse distress syndrome, but there's no other way to test it right.  I'll have to solicit some fellow reefkeeper help for the testing.

Ok, folks, here is a picture with the doors open.  I haven't decided if I'll enclose the back.  I will be running a basement sump, but if I had to, there's plenty of room here.

You can see the doors, flutes, and other details a bit better.  I'm still learning to use my wife's new camera

Ok, time for an update.  I had some time on Friday to finish assembling the stand and also build most of the canopy.  

The doors still need a center piece installed, and the whole thing will be stained and finished.  I'll post a few more pics soon.

It kinda turned out looking similar to a fireplace mantle, but I sure do like the armrest up top.  The armrest will be coated with finish very heavily to resistthe nasty effects of saltwater.

Jeff

I bought the rough boards from Sierra Hardwood out by the SL Airport, and everything you see was planed and ripped down from there.  I take a woodworking class at night at a high school and the school has all of the tools one may need.  I even used a "shop-bot" (computer-controlled router) to flute the front trim.  The base board and crown molding that will be used was all shaped there at the school.