sifuentes31 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Sorry guys had an emergency back home and had to leave for a few days. But i'm ready to reveal my little project. First things First pic of my empty tank So i wanted to try something different with the tank so everything in this build is DIY. The tank, the light, the stand and tank holder. I drilled the back of the glass for two 1/2" bulk heads for the supply and the return. Then a frame i made at work with scrap metal. It's nice to have a manufacturing plant at your disposal. I had never used a mig welder before and it shows but all the welds are strong and i grounded them down to look better anyway. Next i used a very cheap clip on light and took out all the guts and removed the clip. I used a piece of all thread and drilled and tapped the 1" block of aluminum and attached the LED's to it. The lights are Hybrid blue/white (20000k white/ 450nm blue) and the other all 10000k cool white, 10 watts apiece. The driver is a cheap China made constant current 12v-5A that i had from another project. It was just sitting there so i made use of it. At first it ran fine but started to flicker and got hot since there is no air movement. So i tied in a small CPU fan and that did the trick. Forgot to take a picture but i will get one later today. My stand is a generic stero console stand. I bought it for $15 dollars at the Thrift Store. It works great for what my needs. This is how mounted the light. I broke off the clipp leaving the screw on part of the bendible shaft. I made a small mounting bracket and welded it on the back of the steal tank holder. Thats where i had globs of welding wire. LOL but oh well it worked out fine though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I've been waiting for this to show up!! Obviously the saw worked and no breaks. I can't wait to see you fill it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 And here is the tank with everything put together and lit up in the garage. Not bad for the first time. I hooked up the tank using my XP2 Rena filter. It's about 2 gallons so it worked out for me and i have GFO and Carbon in the last tray. I ran all the hose through the wooden stand cutting through with a 1" hole saw. Looks cleaner and neater IMO. Also straighted out the hose. Here is a pic with the sand and rock. I guess i got excited putting in the water and turning on the whole thing that i forgot to take a pic with the water in it. I will update that as soon as possible. Hope you guys like it. I'll start making a list of the stuff i spent and all the money i saved. I'm sure i saved quite a bit on the tank so that should go to my slush fund. Will get back very soon. Break down of equipment and livestock: TANK: Tank= free (DIY tank, 5.25 gallons, had sheets of glass in my garage) Rock= 7lbs $2.24lb/ $15.68lbs from BRS Sand= 6lbs $6.68 (10lb bag from PetCo) Stand $15.00 Stereo cabinet from Thrift Center Tank Stand free from scrap at work --------------------------------------------------------------- Livestock: 1=Yellow tail Damsel $4.99 from Aquatek 1=Ocelleris Clown $17.45 from PetCo 1=Flower Anemone $8.00 from Aquadome ----------------------------------------------------------------- Coral: Green Palys $5.00 (4 palys from my main tank prices from RCA) GSP $5.00 (from my main tank prices from RCA) Red Mushroom $5.00 from AquaDome Candy Cane $10.00 from RCA Purple Digi $5.00 from Mitch Devils hand free Anthelia $5.00 from boognish ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Equipment: Rena XP2 $45.00 clearance item from PetCo Bulk heads qty=2 $12.50 from RCA Light DIY lamp $5.00 from Walmart cpu fan $4.25 EBAY LED Hybrid $7.99 qty=1 EBAY 10k LED $4.25 qty=1 EBAY 1"alu block Free scrap from work 2"x2"x1" block Timer $5.65 from Sears Plumbing $14.00 from Lowes (silicone,barbed nipples, hose) Power strip qty=2 total $6.00 from IKEA ($3 each) DIY ATO $1.00 float switch from EBAY $19.00 Toms Aqualifter from RCA free Acrylic brkt from work $1.00 liter bottle from Dollar Tree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 LOL yeah it worked but Totally cracked my first panel. I was almost all the way through and it caught and shattered my glass. But it worked great the second time. The seams are a little sloppy because that opening is pretty small for my big hands. All in all i think it came out good.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Wow, that's very original! I can't wait to see what you do with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Thanks Kim still don't know what direction i want to go with it but i'll just leave that up to what i can buy on the cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Ohh yeah, this is rockin! Cool design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 That's awesome. Amazingly, I've never seen a tank using that design. Do you have any specific plans for stocking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 holy crap, amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 That's really sweet. You must really want that Tunze mug and catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Capt. Obvious Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Amazing...simply amazing. ...but ...I'd paint the back glass... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Thanks guys. If i can keep my parameters going good i'm thinking going predominant LPS with maybe an sps or two. Havn't done Sps yet so why not here. AND HECK YEAH I WANT THAT MUG!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 very awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I have an 8 gal that is mostly lps and I love that tank! I think you'll be very happy with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 I'll be happier if my tank would finish cycling. Been looking at some duncans and some blastos, If i can pull if off i want a bubble coral in there, only if it can survive... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 What are you using to cycle it? Did you use live rock and/or sand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 One large dead rock and one live rock. Sand was i guess live from my other tank. Just letting it run for awhile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Completed a DIY ATO yesterday using an extension cord, Toms aqualifter, float switch, and a liter bottle from Dollar Tree. just a few pic of my tank. Going to get more coral this Friday. I've updated my Purchase list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Looking good! You going to try and grow the GSP on the sides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 I thought about doing that but won't get it to grow that quickly in 6 months. You know what i'm going to try it anyway on both sides but my intentions where to make a gsp ball on the rock. I had also thought about doing it on the back glass like a mat but might glue a monti back there. Not sure yet.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Wow, that looks SO COOL! I love the shape of the tank and how you placed the rock. Awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Thanks Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Capt. Obvious Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 ...one question, how hard is it to clean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 good question!! I haven't cleaned it yet but looks like i'm going to need some type of filter wrapped on a stick. I can reach around and wipe the glass but it's when i'll have the coral that i'll run out of room. For now it doesn't seem that hard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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