Fish building/man cave build!

[dantimdad]

So whilst waiting for assistance getting my tank from storage, I have been messing around with ideas for the lights.


I have settled on two a360x that a friend had in the box still. However, I wanted to be able to aim them and, being a cheapskate, I didn’t want to pay $40+ each to do that so I came up with these from amazon

It’s three parts and the pair cost a total of 21.54 and can thread right into hammer nuts on a 2020 or 3030 rail. So they can swivel and slide back and forth and side to side if need be.


I’m pretty impressed that it actually will work out.

 

[dantimdad]

Here’s one on a scrap of 2040 at a ridiculous angle just to show how much it can articulate.

 

[dantimdad]

2:36pm

2:38pm

3:00pm

The problem is they made the bottom two pieces

However. I will clean this up real nice like and put in a piece of glass all the way across and about 8-10” wide. I was going to plug the holes anyway.

No worries it’ll be strong enough. But I will set it outside full of water for a couple weeks once it’s done to be sure.

 

[dantimdad]

Btw you notice all the filth in the bottom of the filter section? Thats why I’ll never own another aio tank taller than 16”. It’s just too hard to keep that clean.

 

[dantimdad]

4:14 pm

Little more scraping and then an acetone wipe down and she’s ready for glass.

7”x34-1/2 patch and the front glass 35-1/2” x 21-3/4” from @Joe Glass Cages

I’ll have go pick them up. The patch will just be 1/4” like in the 625xxl. It’s held up for nearly 2 years just fine.

I’ll go ahead and drill it for the Fijicube overflow now. By then the mess will all be cleaned up in time for assembly.

 

[dantimdad]

ok gang. major shift in this plan (yes I know, I know). I was presented with a deal I couldn't pass up. I am getting back a 60x24x13 that I sold when the store closed and wanted it back.

This is going to have a lagoon and mangroves in it. I will move the planted rimless across the room and lose the TV. Then the rebuild tank from this thread will go at the end of the lagoon and be all stony corals.

Going to share a sump and use the big reef octo skimmer and tunze chaeto reactor.

I will also have room (in the future) for a custom made frag tank I have the parts for, under one of the tanks.

I have to do some mods to the lagoon tank because I don't like where the overflow is and it has a rim that it definiely doesn't need. I will clean all that up and build a stand that matches the 36" reef tank.

I need to figure out what fish are going in the lagoon. I thought about a school of bangaii's or maybe springeri damsels. I will figure that out when the time comes. I need to find a source of red mangroves, preferably already rooted.

I will take pics when I pick up the lagoon. Hopefully, Sunday.

I will be so glad to have it back.

 

[dantimdad]

What do you think of making the tops of the tanks level to each other so it looks like a drop off?

 

[dantimdad]

Well guys, some bad news and good news.

First, the bad: There are more chips in the tank that were hidden by vinyl backing and seams guards. Meaning, the tank is not work fixing. Really sucks because it was the perfect size for what I wanted to do.

No funds to buy a custom replacement until the master suite is done on the house.

Good news is, I got a really great deal on cabinet grade plywood from the local cabinet supplier. I am going to start from square one and build a stand that looks like the rimless planted but with a removable panel instead of doors. I am not going to move the rimless planted.

I moved my shelves apart a smidge and took the TV down since I don't watch it, and the shallow reef will go there.

I just need to get one more a360x to go with the two I have (maybe, I really believe if I put them up kinda high I can still grow just about anything in such a shallow tank with just two)

I am going to use the sump and skimmer from the failed build.

 

[dantimdad]

got a bunch of nail/screw holes patched and painted in prep for the shallow reef.

I have been perusing the web looking at shallow reefs and found on almost identical to what I am wanting to do. Even close to the same measurements. He is running his with a single ap9x almost 24" off the water and the spread is amazing and he's been growing coral for 3 years.

I see no reason why I can use two a360x since they are basically half of the ap9x each. I don't think I will put it that high up because I plan on most of the reef being concentrated on the right hand 2/3 of the tank with lots of open area and I want a few sps he has none in his.

I also took a bunch of stuff to storage today to get it out of the way.

Will be going through and inventorying all of the aquarium stuff soon. Once the build is done and spares are reserved of certain things, I will have a sale on FB and get rid of a bunch of stuff.

 

[dantimdad]

I forgot to take a pic and will in the morning. The tank made it to house fine. I have already removed the plastic trim and am on my way to removing the completely overkill bracing.

Tom always did use too much bracing for my tastes. lol

It’s a bear to remove but with some patience and a ton of razor blades it’ll come off. Luckily the edges of the glass are polished so it should look good after a clean up.

I am seriously considering drilling the bottom instead of the back. I’ll show you what I mean when I take pics tomorrow.

 

[dantimdad]

Ok pics of the tank. It’s filthy and the black trim is peeled off. I have started to work the bracing loose. It’s really on there!

As you can see the holes are in the back. I considered drilling the bottom but have changed my mind.

The fridge that I keep drinks and stuff and my frozen fish food in died today.

So I found a great deal at Lowe’s on a new one.

I had to swap the door swing so it didn’t smack the tank.

I also installed a new steel back door. Took forever because nothing in this dang house is level or plumb.

Hopefully, the bracing will be off the tank tomorrow.

 

[dantimdad]

It’s so stinking hot I may not accomplish anything today.

I did, however, order a new track saw kit for cutting up sheet goods. It has become too difficult to handle full sheets of mdf and cabinet grade plywood by myself on the tablesaw.

This should make it a ton easier. Be here Tuesday. I will get cranking on the stand then.

My buddy gave me a 36” sump with the tank. If I do use it it’ll take some modifying. (Doesn’t everything?)

I’ll take pics of the sump

 

[dantimdad]

Ok before

After removing the trim and baffles that weren’t the right side and a quick cleaning

I have to finish getting the silicone off

Ordered acrylic to laser/cnc cut cup holder and new baffles. Gonna run the water height at 9” to make the curve 7 happy.

 

[dantimdad]

The glass has polished pencil edges. Why they ever put that bracing on is beyond me.

It’ll be beautiful after I finish getting the silicone off of it.

It doesn’t look so shallow now but a 13” deep tank is pretty darn shallow.

80 gallons approximately

 

[dantimdad]

I have a new rodi and booster on the way and a new uv sterilizer coming.

The rest of the plumbing fittings except for a couple reducers will be here this week

I start on the stand Wednesday or possibly tomorrow if the track saw gets here early enough

I also ordered some parts to see if I can make a hybrid t5 fixture since the one I had is crap. I have a plan to make it look nice.

 

[dantimdad]

@fishguy242 when are we all getting together?

Heard anything?

 

[fishguy242]

@fishguy242 when are we all getting together?

Heard anything?

More info coming reeeal soon...

 

[dantimdad]

Track saw showed up too late to be outside cutting stuff. Will work on it today.

If all goes well, I should have the stand done Saturday and ready for stain.

 

[dantimdad]

I have a question for you guys: How much skimmer is too much?

I have a curve 7 that I plan on running on this setup. The total water volume will be around 90-95 gallons. The 7 should handle a heavy bio load at this volume. At least according to BRS.

I have a reefocto regal INT200 that supposedly will handle 400 gallons of a light bio load or 175 of a heavy bio load. I had it on a total volume of 350 gallons before with a pretty heavy bio load and it did well but I did think maybe I needed a bit more. After all, I had 13 tangs plus a lot of other fish.

I have room for the 200 in the sump I am working on now.

At one point, is there a detriment to the system or just hit the law of diminishing returns? Also, if you run too big of a skimmer, will it actually stop working? (I have always wondered that one)

I guess I could run the bigger one and see if things don't go well with it and then swap but I would like to know before I dork something up.

I really appreciate your input.

 

[fishguy242]

IME ,bigger is always better when it comes to a skimmer