Fish building/man cave build!

[Lowell Lemon]

Bigger skimmer is my vote.

 

[dantimdad]

I basically gutted the 36" sump. I only left one baffle and ordered red acrylic to go with the clear I already have and will cnc or laser cut the pieces for the sock/cup holder/input area and the bubble trap and plate.

I was going to do a reactor but decided, for now, just to use a filter bag on the plate in the bubble trap and pinky filter.

Going to dig out the big skimmer from storage so I can be sure of the baffle spacing.

I will keep it simple and use a small pump for the UV separate from the return pump.

All the parts for the stand are ripped. Tonight I will cut to length and pocket hole the parts. Hoping to have it assembled this weekend and at least primed. Going to paint it to match the 12 foot stand since it'll be right by it.

I have something special planned for the artwork on the door of the stand.

If all goes well, I should at least have water, sand and rock in it by 7/28.

 

[dantimdad]

Rock and booster came in today.

Got most of the way done assembling the stand. Should finish tomorrow.

Going to ge the second a360x and sand from a buddy tomorrow and have lunch.

About 75% done with silicone cleanup on the tank.

I am ordering the new laser Monday. I can’t wait. I already have a job lined up for it. Cutting acrylic tank dividers for a cichlid breeder. I am planning on doing some stock items for sale with it as well.

 

[dantimdad]

Went and dug out the skimmer and a few odds and ends from storage.

Spent part of the day visiting with a buddy and going through a ton of aquarium stuff he needs to sell and getting my a360x from him.

Sold more plants as well and rescued 5 gold fish (again) I gotta stop with this. lol

Acrylic for the baffles will be here Wednesday. Gonna wait until the new laser gets here to cut the baffles.

 

[dantimdad]

Sold the small co2 laser.

Baffle material showed up a day early. Of course since I don’t have laser that can cut it. lol

I have the new rodi rig and will figure out where it’s going in the next couple days.

I’m gonna move the livestock and rock from the aio to a 20 gallon container soon so I can break down that tank and get it moved out. That way I can move the shelves out of the corner into that spot so I can setup the water change station in their place. Confusing but it’ll make sense when I take pics.

The plan is to cut the corals from the rock and dip them to avoid taking any nasties with them. After the new rock is cycled that is. I’ll use live sand and microbacter 7.

 

[dantimdad]

Anyone know if this would be ok to cast magnets into and make them reef safe?


Appreciate the input.

 

[dantimdad]

NVM on the previous post. for some reason the link no longer works. However, the resin will work for casting some magnets. I am going to laser cut a custom dual heater holder and cast magnets to hold it in place in the sump.

I am also working on the light rack/canopy design some more and have ordered the acrylic. It should look very nice and hid all the wires well.

All sorts of peripheral stuff for the laser and tank showed up this week. I am now going to stop spending and finish the build. unfortunately, I left the paint from the 12 foot stand in the shed and it must have frozen because it won't stir up properly. I am going to take the code to lowe's and hope for the best so I can get the stand painted this weekend.

I will take pics when I get home of the progress on the stand. only need the door and a couple cross pieces on the bottom.

 

[Solo McReefer]

How much skimmer is too much?

Doesn't exist for me

Just means I can feed more

And the excess comes out faster

 

[Solo McReefer]

for some reason the link no longer works

Link for the epoxy on Amazon?

Worked for me

Anyway, I started doing that, epoxying magnets. Gave up, because there are magnets already available in epoxy

Good luck

 

[dantimdad]

Link for the epoxy on Amazon?

Worked for me

Anyway, I started doing that, epoxying magnets. Gave up, because there are magnets already available in epoxy

Good luck

stupid link still won't work

 

[Solo McReefer]

stupid link still won't work

Goes here for me

/shrug

Anyway, tell us how it went

 

[dantimdad]

ok here is where we are with the stand. Forgive the stuff on it. I had to move things to make way for the new laser coming Monday.

Speaking of the new laser, I have sold the little CO2 and the expanded diode so the new laser is already half paid for! This is where it's going and the powered vent is already in the way and a nice looking cover on the outside of it. It really moves a bunch of air.

Yes, I have a tape measure obsession. lol. you are only seeing some of them on that wall and a fraction of the ones I own. Don't judge.

 

[dantimdad]

Quick update:

The workbench/laptop table is resized and back in place and I have a final (I think) count on tape measures/sticks: If you count the two landscaping reels, I have 23 tape measures, 5 yard sticks and two folding carpenter's rules. I need an intervention because I am eying the new Irwin metric/imperial combo tape.

Also, how in the heck does one wind up with 17 battery chargers in 4 brands? (asking for a friend)

 

[Mschmidt]

To both points: gotta collect them all.

 

[dantimdad]

To both points: gotta collect them all.

Challenge accepted.

 

[dantimdad]

Well, as you know, I have rotten luck. My original CO2 laser took 86 days to come in and it was supposed to take 10-14. Now, ABF freight has literally lost a 380 pound crate. They have thrown their hands up and told me to call the company I bought it from.

How on earth do you lose a crate that big? It's not like someone put it in their pocket and walked off or it got thrown in the trash on accident.

Sorry, just venting. There is literally no way of knowing if and when I will get the laser.

 

[dantimdad]

I just found out they found my laser! It's only 11.7 miles from my house! YAY!

They don't have a liftgate truck in the area until Wednesday. Awwwwww.....

At least I know I am getting it and I work from home wednesday so I will be there to inspect it.

I also had someone contact me willing to pay full requested price for the AIO setup as soon as it's cleaned up. That's a relief. I am going to clean it up tonight and set it out in the breezeway and start the 3d printer move.

I will use the delay to my advantage. Won't be long and I will be searching for a flame tang and corals!

 

[dantimdad]

 

[dantimdad]

OK gang, laser fired up and done. no need for updates on it anymore. LOL

I will have tank build updates this weekend. Should be done with the stand, sump and rock structures. I am going to move the tank inside after the stand is done so I can finish removing the silicone residue, clean it and run the plumbing.

My wife is meeting with a member of a FB group I belong to(it's over an hour away and she will be traveling through there) tomorrow to pickup up a nearly new hybrid T5 fixture. Once it's here, I will work on the floating canopy for it. I just don't like the look of any of the hybrids which is weird because I like my aluminum light racks. Go figure.

Pics soon!

 

[dantimdad]

Got the light. Aquaillumination 36" hybrid with new bulbs for $125. Thing looks brand new. Took measurements for building a surround for it. Gonna end up getting some frags from the guy as soon as the tank is ready.

Spent the whole day saturday organizing so I got zero done on the tank setup.

Sorry no photos. I plan on getting a bunch done in the next couple evenings.

I did finish hats for a local cichlid breeder and he picked them up. Going to do aluminum business cards for him next. Lasers pay for themselves quickly. I got a request to do some disub stuff from a laser customer but I told them they would have to wait until I could get a printer and practice. If I decide to do it at all. I have way too many machines already. They just laughed and said "yeah right. we asked about stickers and you bought a machine and cranked them out in two days." They know me too well...