Journal " The Creek" 75g tank and stand build

[artandsoul]

Santa came early this year with a new 75g tank. I've never owned a 4' tank ever been stuck on the normal 30" wide 29g and 20g's forever. I wanted the uns 90u 36x22x22 but 750.00 is nuts to me I don't have that much in all tanks and equip I own so went cheap route.
Saw the 75g at PetSmart the imagitarium brand for 150 on sale. Those cheapos have bad reviews on leaking and I believe it as I actually picked up a free leaky 75g imagitarium at petco last week and sold it for snake terrarium for 40.00. Went to petco they also have the 50% off sale on marineland and aqueon. The tank was 159.00 out the door. Got lucky the manager said take this set of new glass tops for free, were a return they cant sell it.I assume the made in USA marineland is a better tank than the other cheapos and I actually don't mind the black silicone.

Went to Lowes today for some wood 4- 2x4x8 and 2- 2x4x10 and sheet if 1/2 osb for top and bottom shelf and for extra strength. When I get done I'm sure it would hold a 300g tank. Will wrap the tank in either bead board wood paneling or 1/4" plywood with some nice moulding on corners. Def gotta make a lip to hide the bottom plastic rim as well so its not so ugly. probably build a hood to why not hide some rims! Just gotta build or find a pair of doors on something else I can steal and use for this stand. I don't plan on getting it setup for few weeks but want stand base 1/2 done now so I can try some diff dry scapes with wood and rocks in it. This will be replacing my 20long I was scaping in other journal its now a plant farm full of ludwigia and plants for sale.
Still not sure on the name on this tank, Whipple landing is where I took some pics I want to copy for the tank. Its feed by the great pee dee river here so name may change later.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Nice size, I like the black silicone too. So much room for activities!

 

[NC AL]

Barn doors are easy to make if you done find the doors you are looking for.

Look forward to seeing everything when you are done.

 

[artandsoul]

Barn doors are easy to make if you done find the doors you are looking for.

Look forward to seeing everything when you are done.

Yeah I made barn house shutters on the house im in now I'm not paying 50.00 a pair for plastic lol. If I don't find some freebie doors I'll make something simple and wrap it with moulding. I want a piece of furniture not the normal uns / ada doctors office stand. I got the base 1/2 done tonight maybe 14" of scrap 2x4 left. A framing gun makes it pretty fast to bang wood together. Stand already has about 80 3.5" nails in it not counting some screws and its all glued as well its not gonna fall over for sure. Maybe a little overbuilt but I trust it 10x over the mdf trash they sell at petco or amazon crap. Hopefully stand will get done by next week, might stay away from a hood my hand in tank so much probably not worth the time or money.

 

[artandsoul]

Nice size, I like the black silicone too. So much room for activities!

The black silicon hides green dot algae pretty good! Its a monster for me I looked at it last night thinking its to dam big lol makes my large wood look small but im gonna build a big tree line in there or go big lava rocks and light on wood. To many ideas/choices on such a wide tank compared to my 30" wide tanks. I see lots of $$$ being thrown in there for sure esp with substrate gees! Im gonna use 25-30lbs of lava rock in bags for sure to save on some substrate but its gonna be the most expensive tank I've ever done.

 

[NC AL]

Yeah I made barn house shutters on the house im in now I'm not paying 50.00 a pair for plastic lol. If I don't find some freebie doors I'll make something simple and wrap it with moulding. I want a piece of furniture not the normal uns / ada doctors office stand. I got the base 1/2 done tonight maybe 14" of scrap 2x4 left. A framing gun makes it pretty fast to bang wood together. Stand already has about 80 3.5" nails in it not counting some screws and its all glued as well its not gonna fall over for sure. Maybe a little overbuilt but I trust it 10x over the trash they well at petco or amazon crap. Hopefully stand will get done by next week, might stay away from a hood my hand in tank so much probably not worth the time or money.

I feel the same way as you. I can stand on my stand. This has come in handy a bunch. I made a smaller hood/canopy on my 4’ tank. It’s easy enough to take on and off for my weekly maintenance. On a rimmed tank I think it would be easier.

 

[artandsoul]

I feel the same way as you. I can stand on my stand. This has come in handy a bunch.

Better to overkill than worry for sure, im mr overkill on most any diy builds. I'm 99% sure im gonna build a stand for my freebie 36g bowfront mdf / trash stand. Hell cant even get a 5g bucket under it door to small lol ! These trash stands sold at pet stores for 3-400 are a total joke but i know people have no skills or tools to make something. The public thinks I can buy it now and its done riiight!. Well we will see u in 3 years when your petsmart stand is turning to oatmeal . My 20l stand is almost 20 years old still like new its all cabinet grade plywood but plywood not cheap anymore.

 

[artandsoul]

Didn't work on stand fri or sat went to bobs tropical fish in Augusta ga. Got 10 gold neon tetras for 27.00, 4 bags of eco planted 20lb and 25lb more lava rocks and some more wood. Bobs also had val corkscrew or spiral Val's 5-6 leaves for 0.99 a plant 14-16" tall ! Got 20 vals then asked bob about the long fin albino plecos. He said 5.00 each lol! got 3 females and 1 male 2.5" and they threw in 3 free albino Cory cats all 4 plecos and 3 or 15.00. Cant beat free and even cheaper than he said great deals as always. He has the cheapest uns tank prices in USA hands down. He has 60u 195.00 iat buse plants for 124.99! He cant advertise prices online but easily 50-100 cheaper than anywhere else! If your local to augusta ga and want a deal on uns he's getting another shipment next week! Can get any size u want save some $$$.

The 75 stand is 85% done will post plenty of how I did the build pics tom for sure, Its getting heavy lol. I got diy door frames 85% done today and the rest of the moulding done. Its looking nice imo way better than I expected as its been 8+ years since I cut some 45 angles or built a stand. So far have 110.00 in stand but still gotta paint it that's 30-40 easily. Ready to build 2 more with same look and have some nice sturdy stands that all match and last. NO partial board oatmeal legs in 2 years here!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Sounds like it’s worth a visit. Have you been to fishy business in St Andrew’s, Columbia area. They have a nice sized store, I bought my tank there.

 

[Koan]

the long fin albino plecos. He said 5.00 each lol! got 3 females and 1 male 2.5"

You will soon have more

Post in thread 'Ways to make money from the aquarium hobby'

Sep 25, 2025

I had a pair of albino bristlenose plecos that were constantly having babies, but there was no market in my area for the type I had. If they were longfinned or blue eyed, maybe, or super red, green, calico etc. etc. The fry were easy to catch, as well because they just attached to the glass. I could pick them off with my fingers! So, check around for how much you could get for some species of pleco and get a pair or trio of them. They are easy keepers even in a barebottomed breeding tank with just some caves.

• *Ci*

• 

 

[artandsoul]

Sounds like it’s worth a visit. Have you been to fishy business in St Andrew’s, Columbia area. They have a nice sized store, I bought my tank there.

Did 1x never will again overpriced and staff is pathetic wont even get into why they need to close down! Bobs is way cheaper and not liars I call them fishy bs wouldn't go there for free fish lol.

 

[Pepere]

Def gotta make a lip to hide the bottom plastic rim as well so its not so ugly. probably build a hood to why not hide some rims!

I added some crown moulding around the base of my tank to my diy tank stand. And I think iy really dressed it up quite a bit.

Cutting miters on crown moulding is a bit tricky, but the look of it was worth the effort to me.

I also really like the canopy on the tank. Eliminating the glare of light from over the tank greatly improves the viewing experience. There is a hinge to the top and access through the canopy is excellent. The canopy is easy enough to remove, but I am never tempted to as acess is good enough just with the top flipped back..

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

They were the closest place I could source the tank I wanted. I’ve been in a handful of times to look around because there’s really zero options in this state. The closest to me is Tideline in Hanahan and they suck worse, insane pricing and just as useless staff/owner.

 

[artandsoul]

They were the closest place I could source the tank I wanted. I’ve been in a handful of times to look around because there’s really zero options in this state. The closest to me is Tideline in Hanahan and they suck worse, insane pricing and just as useless staff/owner.

Yes tideline is a bigger ripoff went by there last month they wanted 10.00 for an otocinclus and 3x normal prices on other fish looked around for 5 min laughed and left. Heard there's a decent store in goose creek "ocean realms" , never been there so don't know prices or stock. Bobs is the best deals in south east so far no one beating his prices, I always regret not buying more when I go there. He quarantines his fish for a month so die off is very very low.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Yes. They are an absolute joke. They had the audacity like a year or two ago on social media guilting people to buy locally to preserve local businesses and that it’s not all about the pricing.

Ocean realms is a nice little store. She’s relatively newer on the scene, has some decent stock and prices are okay. She sells a lot of the niche supplies you won’t find at petsmart/co. I wouldn’t travel all the way down here to visit though, more of an if you’re in the area pop in. I’m spoiled from having several options when I lived in NY years back.

 

[artandsoul]

Well didn't get any work done today period other than buying a used full 5lb co2 with dual bubble counters with 1 set of tubing ,check valve and diffuser for 75.00 a steal imo! Could use this new tank on 75 and 40 but will see what happens. Santa stopped by again with a new 40g marineland breeder for 75.00 from PetSmart today lol. WIll replace the 36 freebie with the 40 breeder really want the depth over height in end.
Got some more nice moulding today "pics coming" for 3.00 to 5.00 for 8' pieces that are 12-25+ at Lowe's. Also some 1/4" 4x7 mdf for 5.00 a sheet great to skin 2x4 stand with, yeah its mdf but paint and caulk keeps it safe. I use shellac primer it seals great. I used a freebie piece of 1/4" luan on the 75g to skin the ends over 2x4s but not the front. The doors are 23x21 they cover 95% of front so got away cheaper/easier after paint. Pics WILL come tomorrow I gotta get this beast done and painted. Then start the 40g clone stand of 75 gots lots to do for sure busy week.

 

[artandsoul]

so 40g was 78 with tax and they give me a 46.00 credit ... 75g was 159 with 75.00 store credit ! how do they make any money other than expecting me to buy filter, heater and gravel while I'm there?! This applys to marineland only and certain other items. I must be nuts this math don't math for corporate revenue but I see it on my profile credit is there!
So 120.00 in store credit off 2 tank buys I can go buy another 75 for 39.00 out of pocket what? lol whatever I'll take the free credit ton of stock needed for 75g. I will quarantine for a week for sure and I look at my fish with magnifying glass before they ever go into tank. Lots of free Otto's, tetras and nerites for sure. That 14 day guarantee will come in handy thanks suckers I mean PetSmart

 

[artandsoul]

heres a few pics build almost done now its sand,paint, caulk, sand and paint. thinking a light grey color don't want black or white for sure.
Would be better to use 3/4" plywood and no 2x4 frame but plywood to high for me and no table saw just skill saw, slide compound saw and nail guns. I used 15.00 sheet full 1/2" osb on top and bottom floor yes its OSB get wet no good but ill prime paint and caulk it well so no worrys. I haven't put right side floor in yet gonna measure again and again before. As there's and air vent im gonna cut out for and put an angled piece so it shoots out the rear of tank. total so far in the stand Is right about 115.00. Used brick mould for bottom edge and a 1x5 on top edge to kill off rim. Its wide but easier to wipe off when wet than moulding.
For the super simple doors 21x23 I just used 1x3 and 1x5 square cuts glue and some staples and weights to hold it together overnight. Then 1/4" mdf on rear glued and nailed with pin nailer. There strong and light enough so wont sag over time either.

Love that 23 gauge pin nailer no holes to fill! I circled the tiny pinhole in pic on moulding. The 3" fluted on edges is 3.00 for 8' crazy cheap. stand is 49 wide, 19 deep and 29 tall so makes tank and stand around 50" tall. I don't want to tall tanks easier to get into something shorter for me. Ill make the 40 breeder stand same height in end about 49-50 with tank. tons of storage under the stand will put in a shelf after some quick measurements of filter and co2 tank.
Its ugly for now but after some quick primer and caulk the few tiny gaps it will clean up pretty good. paint and finish is the main thing for looking clean,

 

[artandsoul]

1st coat of primer done looks way cleaner already, brushed and mini roller on it went fast after sand down