Fish building/man cave build!

[dantimdad]

quick update

I didn't like the way the kessils hung way down from the hybrid fixture with the standard strap mounts. So, I whipped up a design in TinkerCAD and voila!

(ignore the threaded insert. I ran out of 1/4-20 nuts. Will pick some up later today)

They only protrude 5/8" below the hybrid and with the arch design they are incredibly strong and maintain the full aiming capacity of the swivels I made up from parts.

I am going to do an acrylic surround to hide every thing and only run one cord up to the canopy. It only adds 2.5 pounds over the weight of the lights alone. The hangars are rated at 60 pounds and the total weight with acrylic surround should come in under 25.

It will look very tidy after I hide the cord in a wall color track.

I am really gonna like this I think.

 

[dantimdad]

Hangers done and tested with the lights on to see. I have them as far down as they will hang and they are 18" above what the water level will be. I am hoping this works, if not, I gotta buy more coated cable because those are the longest pieces I have.

 

[dantimdad]

Last one for today.

Somehow, I got the fish off center on the wall. I will have to correct that and move it up about 6 or 8".

Here is the scape I settled on. Going to use the tidal gardens method of building the structures. I got two bottles of the recommended glue. Not happy about there being white sand in the joints, but it won't last and I think I can hide most of them.

Couple of really nice cave rocks and the rest are nice shaped.

 

[Mschmidt]

What's the TG method?

 

[dantimdad]

I haven't cleaned off the loose stuff yet so it looks like there will be a lot more aragonite than there will be.

So far, it seems pretty strong. I wish I would have used oolitic sand though.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

You do nice work sir!

 

[dantimdad]

You do nice work sir!

Thanks!

I am hoping to be able to show off some acrylic work by Sunday.

 

[dantimdad]

First useable part off the new laser!

 

[dantimdad]

So we had a shower faucet start leaking. No access panel and no shutoffs. Good thing my buddy is a plumber. He put a bandaid fix until tomorrow and we are replacing the whole thing and putting shutoffs and converting to pex.

Also, the hanging kit for the light setup broke while I was standing there looking at it thinking it was in level. I caught it right before it hit. One in a million shot. My son and I replaced the setup with a heavy duty coated cable setup.

 

[dantimdad]

It didn’t go as planned and wound up having to rip out all the water lines in the bathroom and replace with pex and put in a new faucet and shower head. What a disaster.

The good news is the new laser came in handy by cutting out a white acrylic trim plate to hide the old holes for the three handle faucet.

Looks like it actually belongs there. Took $6 worth of acrylic and 7 minute from blank page in lightburn to final product.

Now I have a bunch of drywall work in the living room to do.

Obviously hardly anything got done on the new tank.

 

[dantimdad]

The ToDo list is done for the week.

Should have water, sand rock and cycle started in the display by end of day Saturday.

I am going to use the biome method from BRS to avoid as much of the uglies as possible. We shall see...

Still left to do:

Paint stand and light it.
Mount power center in stand.
Baffles in sump.
Finish silicone residue clean up from brace removal.
Plumbing.
Decide on which power head/wavemaker combination I am going to use.
setup new RODI and booster and start making water.
Wire management.
Center metal fish on wall.

Seems like a lot but most of those tasks are 30min or less.

If this goes to plan, pods will be in next friday along with phyto. Fish a couple days later. Then the cleanup from all of this will commence. I will make the doors and the appliques for the doors and the cover for the light fixture later down the line. That's purely cosmetic and I am not in any hurry for them.

Cross your fingers!

 

[dantimdad]

I started a thread about pics and settings for the lighting setup I am using:

A360X T5 hybrid pics and settings

I am setting up an Aquaticlife T5 hybrid 4 bulb with two a360x. I would like to see photos of your tank if you have a similar setup and know your settings/hours of operation. It would be a great help getting a starting point. I have several T5 bulbs waiting to be used so I can mix and match...

www.reef2reef.com

Feel free to chime in.

 

[dantimdad]

@Lowell Lemon I got a white scuff mark (?) in the acrylic sump I built years ago. It's on the outside. How do I get rid of it? Just polish it out?

Pics coming in little bit gang.

 

[dantimdad]

There’s some runs in the paint I didn’t notice. I have to get more paint and I will take care of them later.

Tank is in the stand, controller boards mounted and lights installed in the stand.

Will get it cleaned up rest of the way tomorrow and run the plumbing.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

@Lowell Lemon I got a white scuff mark (?) in the acrylic sump I built years ago. It's on the outside. How do I get rid of it? Just polish it out?

Pics coming in little bit gang.

Yep polish. Try a polish like Novis or some other plastic polish first before using abrasives.

 

[dantimdad]

Yep polish. Try a polish like Novis or some other plastic polish first before using abrasives.

Will do. Thanks!

 

[dantimdad]

Finished removing the silicone residue and temporarily set the sump in place for fitment.

Have to turn it in its side to get it in and out but that’s ok with me.

I am still trying to get water in it this weekend. I am missing two plumbing fittings. I’ll get them tomorrow.

 

[dantimdad]

Well, tragedy struck the build over the weekend. Someone went in my room and kicked the plug out of the holding tank. I didn't see it until the next morning. lost everything. I took a day off of the project to contemplate even keeping going.

The project will keep going, however. I got a phone call the next morning and I am I trading some plants to get a Kole tang and a pair of picasso clowns that I sold when I had the store! He is also giving me some frags when ready.

The new laser requires a bigger chiller than I bought so I have paused cutting most stuff so it doesn't overheat. I ordered a bigger chiller and it will be here Thursday. I am just about done with the sump and will put water in soon.

So it was a setback to be sure. But, when one door closes...

I promise to get back on track with photos this week as well.

 

[Devaji]

oh no! so sorry to hear that man.
keep on keeping on brother.

 

[dantimdad]

Chiller arrived early! I had to do some test cuts so...

I have to get on the paying stuff now. I am backed way up on orders. 14 tank dividers, two led signs, 50 aluminum business cards and some 3d printed stuff as well.

Plumbing done tonight and sand, rock and water should go in tomorrow. I will just temporarily setup the rodi unit and booster until after the room is cleaned up and I decide on a permanent home for it.

No rest for the weary...