Is it bad I would want the stained ones? You know me, so you know lol.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
@Lowell Lemon I have postponed cutting down the frag tanks since there. Are so many projects to be done. I think I’ll wait until the room has been done about a month and build the tanks, get them online and then start fragging.
leave it to me to by a $100+ blade and then not use it for months.
leave it to me to by a $100+ blade and then not use it for months.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
dang recon guys. lol
if you want some when we meet up lemme know I will give you a few dozen.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
Going today to get the acrylic all in one for the discus and a bunch of apex stuff. The trident I am selling. The apex and dos will be setup just for auto water changes
hehe, yeah, we ain’t right.
Kristy got me a ton, literally a ton of towels and microfiber cloths a while back, so I am good but thanks.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
Can’t wait to see it and bring ya some crap to stock it lol.
Lowell Lemon
2500 Club Member
Well if you never use it you can sell it to me and I might use it!
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
I am going to build the stand for the AIO discus tank out of extrusions.
I found this calculator: https://faztek.net/technical.html (it doesn't do 2040 on edge only flat) I had a chat with them.
If I support in the middle and both ends, according to the chat I had with them, I should have .0026 or less deflection. IOW, negligible. So, for about half the cost of 4040, I am going to use 2040 and 2020. The total should be about $250 including shipping from Zyltech. BTW, the deflection on 3030 was .0027 and 4040 was .0020 so really no difference to amount to anything except a big savings on materials.
The top cross rails and legs are 2040 since they bear the most weight. The rest will be 2020. The deflection on 2020 over a 24" span holding the same amount of weight (wich it won't be as much due to span length) is .0080. Still not enough for concern.
The top will be a sheet of 1/2" plywood painted to seal it and a layer of 1/8" yoga mat for imperfections and cushion.
I already have the 1/2" plywood and The mat was about $15 with tax on amazon.
This project also gives me more storage under the tank since it's an AIO and no equipment will be underneath it. I plan on drilling a spot in the back filter section for a bulkhead fitting for water changes. I will pump water from a freshwater barrel a couple times a week into the tank and let it overflow into the bulkhead fitting and out into the yard through the wall. Since it's freshwater it will actually help the grass.
I will take pics once the materials arrive and I assemble it.
I found this calculator: https://faztek.net/technical.html (it doesn't do 2040 on edge only flat) I had a chat with them.
If I support in the middle and both ends, according to the chat I had with them, I should have .0026 or less deflection. IOW, negligible. So, for about half the cost of 4040, I am going to use 2040 and 2020. The total should be about $250 including shipping from Zyltech. BTW, the deflection on 3030 was .0027 and 4040 was .0020 so really no difference to amount to anything except a big savings on materials.
The top cross rails and legs are 2040 since they bear the most weight. The rest will be 2020. The deflection on 2020 over a 24" span holding the same amount of weight (wich it won't be as much due to span length) is .0080. Still not enough for concern.
The top will be a sheet of 1/2" plywood painted to seal it and a layer of 1/8" yoga mat for imperfections and cushion.
I already have the 1/2" plywood and The mat was about $15 with tax on amazon.
This project also gives me more storage under the tank since it's an AIO and no equipment will be underneath it. I plan on drilling a spot in the back filter section for a bulkhead fitting for water changes. I will pump water from a freshwater barrel a couple times a week into the tank and let it overflow into the bulkhead fitting and out into the yard through the wall. Since it's freshwater it will actually help the grass.
I will take pics once the materials arrive and I assemble it.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
As I always do in builds, I post what it costs so people can get a realistic view of how much you can get away with spending and still do quality work. I most definitely don't do it to brag or look good. Lord knows I have nothing to brag about. 
I have no idea why people avoid answering the question: How much did that cost?
I think it's a great help for someone to be able to look at a project and think "I can afford that' OR "I better wait until I can afford it" Also, I am not hiding anything from my wife since she's paying for the building as a gift.
The other thing is, people need to realize that I am only able to afford this because I don't have to pay to have anything done. I do about 90% this by myself. The rest is help from my boys and a buddy who is going to help me install the mini split and the breaker box. Labor on this would be upwards of $10K not counting building all the aquarium stuff.
I will tally everything up after the system is up and running and I have fixed mistakes and breaks for the first couple weeks. My guess is a total of $6K after selling stuff off I don't need and paying for the stuff I do. And that's including buying stuff like a $100 acrylic cutting blade and a $80 aluminum cutting blade and paying for the boys and my buddy's lunch a few times.
For example: The discus tank would have cost upwards of $600. I bought the entire setup for $800. I already have offers of over $700 for stuff that I don't need and I am not even done going through everything. This will probably be a net $200 back to the budget before it's over and done with. Plus the elbow grease to remove the scratches in the acrylic.
I have no idea why people avoid answering the question: How much did that cost?
I think it's a great help for someone to be able to look at a project and think "I can afford that' OR "I better wait until I can afford it" Also, I am not hiding anything from my wife since she's paying for the building as a gift.
The other thing is, people need to realize that I am only able to afford this because I don't have to pay to have anything done. I do about 90% this by myself. The rest is help from my boys and a buddy who is going to help me install the mini split and the breaker box. Labor on this would be upwards of $10K not counting building all the aquarium stuff.
I will tally everything up after the system is up and running and I have fixed mistakes and breaks for the first couple weeks. My guess is a total of $6K after selling stuff off I don't need and paying for the stuff I do. And that's including buying stuff like a $100 acrylic cutting blade and a $80 aluminum cutting blade and paying for the boys and my buddy's lunch a few times.
For example: The discus tank would have cost upwards of $600. I bought the entire setup for $800. I already have offers of over $700 for stuff that I don't need and I am not even done going through everything. This will probably be a net $200 back to the budget before it's over and done with. Plus the elbow grease to remove the scratches in the acrylic.
I agree. Look at what all I have. Some think I am loaded and just throwing money like I am "making it rain". Fish barn, dualing 180s (now a single 180), tons of biocubes, fancy lights, etc. etc.As I always do in builds, I post what it costs so people can get a realistic view of how much you can get away with spending and still do quality work. I most definitely don't do it to brag or look good. Lord knows I have nothing to brag about.
I have no idea why people avoid answering the question: How much did that cost?
I think it's a great help for someone to be able to look at a project and think "I can afford that' OR "I better wait until I can afford it" Also, I am not hiding anything from my wife since she's paying for the building as a gift.
The other thing is, people need to realize that I am only able to afford this because I don't have to pay to have anything done. I do about 90% this by myself. The rest is help from my boys and a buddy who is going to help me install the mini split and the breaker box. Labor on this would be upwards of $10K not counting building all the aquarium stuff.
I will tally everything up after the system is up and running and I have fixed mistakes and breaks for the first couple weeks. My guess is a total of $6K after selling stuff off I don't need and paying for the stuff I do. And that's including buying stuff like a $100 acrylic cutting blade and a $80 aluminum cutting blade and paying for the boys and my buddy's lunch a few times.
For example: The discus tank would have cost upwards of $600. I bought the entire setup for $800. I already have offers of over $700 for stuff that I don't need and I am not even done going through everything. This will probably be a net $200 back to the budget before it's over and done with. Plus the elbow grease to remove the scratches in the acrylic.
Tank buyouts from people getting out of the hobby, trading stuff for stuff, buying broken stuff and fixing, etc.
Heck, I have a fish barn. Repo mini-barn bought for 1200, no delivery fee, as I used my car hauler with a 25k pound winch to move it, ingenuity and the tractor to place it, furnished and insulated with all the crap we would have had to trash (another full dumpster) when we remodeled the house, I can keep going lol.
End of day, some people like others to guess and think they are just loaded to the gills (pun intended) with all that cash. When in reality, it is credit card debt or they are loaded but want to flaunt it. Do not get me wrong, there are some well off people just sharing the experience, and I have no quams about that.
But when asked, in a genuine fashion, to know the cost, I do not see what the big deal is lol. Just list it out so others can dream. Just do it in a way that does not make you look like a money flaunting person lol.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
Exactly! I will be in zero, repeat zero debt from all of this. Neither will my wife be.
And that is exactly the way it should be.
It is sad seeing all these "Affirm" or whatever adds to buy it and pay later. Maybe we are old and that is the issue lol. I do have credit cards, but pay off every month. I enjoy the points. Cant blame me for taking part of the % they charge the retailer for processing fee back.
I will say that financing of things is not wrong, it just seems that "todays" society is all about it. Whatever happened to "do not spend more than you have"? House and cars (cars sort of) excluded.
"GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!" said the old fart...
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
Hey, @Lowell Lemon acrylic question: Can I make a template and route out the openings over tank a little longer and wider safely? I am worried about bowing. (ignore how nasty this tank is)
What I really want to do is make it wider towards the back and middle. Since the wall is there, I don't think it'll hurt. It's 3/8" acrylic.
Also, notice the oval filter cup I designed. I don't like sponge filters so I am fabbing an acrylic plate to hold two of them. They will hold layers of pinky filter.
What I really want to do is make it wider towards the back and middle. Since the wall is there, I don't think it'll hurt. It's 3/8" acrylic.
Also, notice the oval filter cup I designed.
I don't like sponge filters so I am fabbing an acrylic plate to hold two of them. They will hold layers of pinky filter.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
So my buddy bought a complete 250 bow front setup and it came with two kessil AP700 lights. Please folks, do basic maintenance on these things. It takes 5 minutes and will save a million headaches later on.
The following pictures are before and after a major cleaning because they literally had not been touched in 4 years.
As you can see probably 10% of the light was getting through the lenses. The fan was barely spinning.
Now, after an hour of work:
The fans are silent on both units I did and move a ton of air. The lights are properly operating and running cool as a cucumber.
If, properly maintained, these lights can last years.
The following pictures are before and after a major cleaning because they literally had not been touched in 4 years.
As you can see probably 10% of the light was getting through the lenses. The fan was barely spinning.
Now, after an hour of work:
The fans are silent on both units I did and move a ton of air. The lights are properly operating and running cool as a cucumber.
If, properly maintained, these lights can last years.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
BTW, I traded some stuff for a third AP700 for the 12 foot reef. Totally overkill for a mixed reef with it's dimensions, but, I will run them on a low intensity and that will make them last even longer.
I have been watching videos on setting up an apex. The only thing I am going to use it for is automatic water changes and maybe the temp and pH. Not even going to control the heaters with it. I already have digital controllers.
It's been years since I used one. Black box days. I had a terrible experience with it and don't want one controlling everything again.
I have been watching videos on setting up an apex. The only thing I am going to use it for is automatic water changes and maybe the temp and pH. Not even going to control the heaters with it. I already have digital controllers.
It's been years since I used one. Black box days. I had a terrible experience with it and don't want one controlling everything again.
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
Got a surface pro 4 from work insanely cheap. Going to set it up dedicated to apex fusion and my maintenance spreadsheet. I am printing a VESA mount for it to sit next to my monitors on my desk but still be easily removable if need be.
Now, I need to print some matching mounts that are missing for some of the apex stuff, power heads, pumps, etc.
Anyone know what filament is good match for the orange and silver?
Now, I need to print some matching mounts that are missing for some of the apex stuff, power heads, pumps, etc.
Anyone know what filament is good match for the orange and silver?
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dantimdad
7500 Club Member
I get given a lot of filament to test. So, I have built up a considerable collection.
I found a roll of orange that is a bit shiny (I will try it later on a textured bed) the is almost a dead on match.
Fulament standard PETG orange.
fulament.com
It doesn't look like it in the photos but in person it's really good.
I am ordering a roll of PLA as well to see if it matches.
To top it off, the guy who owns the place and I have become friends over the last 4 years. He is really a good person.
I found a roll of orange that is a bit shiny (I will try it later on a textured bed) the is almost a dead on match.
Fulament standard PETG orange.
Standard PETG Series - Orange
Designed for practical parts. Our robust PETG formula can stand the test of time with its durability. A perfectly wound spool, tight tolerances, and quality materials to give you those perfect prints at an affordable price. Each spool comes with a resealable airtight bag, built-in filament...
fulament.com
It doesn't look like it in the photos but in person it's really good.
I am ordering a roll of PLA as well to see if it matches.
To top it off, the guy who owns the place and I have become friends over the last 4 years. He is really a good person.
