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TJ's Reef - The death of the...


TJ_Burton

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I love this build! and those paintings :happy:

:P Just need to find the energy to freaking hang them already! lol

 

I can't wait to see this thing up and running!

You and me both!

 

Where's mah powder @!!!??

My bottom b!tch didn't give it to you? I'ma have to lay the pimp hand across that pretty little face'a hers.

hahahaha.

 

You have done exceptionally well here my friend!

 

DSC_0345.jpg

 

Thank you kind sir!

 

 

 

 

Ok, so I got the overflow panel and had to send it back because they burned they acrylic when they heated it to bend it... It was pretty badly bubbled and a couple of the prongs were melted and warped. Really disappointed in craftsmanship. First time I ever saw a piece of crap come out of that place so I guess they got a new guy to try and make it, and rather than trying again he just wrapped it up and told his boss it was done and forgot to mention it was FUBAR.

 

I am going to have to get another one made up. Might change the style of how I am making it a bit just to allow some more space on either side of the box. as much as I don't want a square sticking out in the middle of my tank I think it might work best overall.

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So the overflow box is being redone for me. I was right about some new guy at the company doing it and messing it up and "forgetting" to mention the defects lol. The owner of the company apologized and was very happy to make me a new one with different dimensions. Hopefully I will recieve it before the new year.

 

I am going to be building my sump this week, possibly drilling the aquarium and plumbing it up as well! Will keep you folks posted as progress is made.

 

Here are some 3D examples of the sump design:

post-7376-1261523319_thumb.jpg

post-7376-1261523328_thumb.jpg

post-7376-1261523334_thumb.jpg

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man you are so meticulous! I just make sure I have a powerhead, a temp controller and an auto top off, and I just wing the rest....well done sir. I aspire to one day actually plan out a reef tank in this detail.

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man you are so meticulous! I just make sure I have a powerhead, a temp controller and an auto top off, and I just wing the rest....well done sir. I aspire to one day actually plan out a reef tank in this detail.

 

No you don't; don't Lie! That's a Pho Phuc Lai! hahahah. You love the simplicity of your systems man, you advocate that shizzat to me all the time ;)

 

 

 

That aside,

I got my overflow panel rebuilt and it arived today in perfect condition. My sump is being constructed as we speak, and I should have the plumbing done by the new year!

 

This thing might actually be cycling by the second week of January!

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I'm curious to see if the Solaris will be able to grow sps..

 

I'm sure it can. I'm going to start with some montis and a deepwater acro to test the waters; that thing is one hell of a sun gun and the tank is shallow so I doubt there will be any issues with having enough light.

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I'm sure it can. I'm going to start with some montis and a deepwater acro to test the waters; that thing is one hell of a sun gun and the tank is shallow so I doubt there will be any issues with having enough light.

 

lol sun gun. Did you get that overflow installed yet?

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lol sun gun. Did you get that overflow installed yet?

 

It's sitting in place but not installed yet. I am going to install it after the holes are drilled and plumbing is in place. It is easier to work with it that way.

 

I am just waiting for the sump to be finished and my gate valve to come in and I will go nuts one night and plumb the damn thing. Soon as I have it all plumbed up I will take some photos and run a wet test for leaks.

 

Hopefully this will happen real soon!

Also in the process of putting together a refugium light. Thinking I might do a little LED retrofit into a small fixture housing.

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Did up a simple and questionably sufficient LED fuge light.

 

Basically it is an old 12" dual coralife PC housing, with 3 biocube moonlights, and 18 cool white LEDs of unknown wattage. All I know is that each bank of 9 cool white LEDs is supposed to run off a 9V DC adapter, and I have both banks (18 LEDs) running off a single 12V DC adapter which (from what I can tell) has made them quite a bit brighter.

 

Took me all of 30min to rig together. We will see how well it performs a little later. I will test it out on a small tank with some macro in it before I actually put it to use.

 

Here are some pics of the fixture:

 

IMG_0173.jpg

 

IMG_0178.jpg

 

IMG_0179.jpg

 

Adjusted shutter speed for this shot:

IMG_0180-1.jpg

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Did up a simple and questionably sufficient LED fuge light.

 

Basically it is an old 12" dual coralife PC housing, with 3 biocube moonlights, and 18 cool white LEDs of unknown wattage. All I know is that each bank of 9 cool white LEDs is supposed to run off a 9V DC adapter, and I have both banks (18 LEDs) running off a single 12V DC adapter which (from what I can tell) has made them quite a bit brighter.

 

Took me all of 30min to rig together. We will see how well it performs a little later. I will test it out on a small tank with some macro in it before I actually put it to use.

 

Here are some pics of the fixture:

 

IMG_0173.jpg

 

IMG_0178.jpg

 

IMG_0179.jpg

 

Adjusted shutter speed for this shot:

IMG_0180-1.jpg

 

Yeah thats cool.

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Thanks guys - we will have to see how it actually performs lol... I made it out of boredom without much thought so I don't really know what to expect from it.

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Quick update

 

I am picking up the sump and having the tank drilled tomorrow, and that means I can finally plumb this sucker and get it going!

 

I am currently in the market for an RKL3 as well as a couple MP10/MP20s. Once I have those components my dosing system, ATO, heating/cooling and flow will all be accounted for and I will be comfortable getting what I am keeping from the Solana into this tank and under the Solaris.

 

This is going to be a fun way to kick off the new year!!!

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So things are finally getting a little more interesting!!!

 

I picked up the sump today (my buddy Calvin constructed it for me), also had the tank drilled. Sooo the two most important pieces of the puzzle that were holding up the project are completed. This means I can plumb this baby up this week and get the thing running!!!

 

I am just slightly pumped lol...

 

I took some photos of my sump and tank with the new holes drilled. Also took a shot of the fuge light over top of a 5g. There is almost no spread due to a lack of optics, but the sump is taller and the light will be on the legs so I am sure it will spread a little more. They may not be enough light though - time will tell. Also Frankensteined a 5 stage RO unit. Basically it is MICRON -> ACB -> MEMBRANE -> GAC -> DI and it should certainly clean up my tap water enough to make it reef safe.

 

Anyways, I'll shut up and post the pictures since that's what you people care about ;)

 

Sump:

 

SumpFront.jpg

 

SumpAngleTop.jpg

 

SumpTop.jpg

 

SumpBaffles.jpg

 

SumpEquipChamber.jpg

 

Tank:

 

TankDrilled.jpg

 

TankDrilledOverflow.jpg

 

RO Unit:

 

ROSystem.jpg

 

Fuge Light:

 

FugeLightdesk.jpg

 

Hope that was an update worth looking at lol...

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NorthCoralNewB
What's going on in here? Shenanigans, I say.

Now You Must Teach Me The Ways TJ MIYAGI!

 

I wirr Need Your Herp Pho My Firteress Reef!

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Really looks like things are starting to pick up TJ. Glad to hear and see that all went with the drilling the tank and the sump. I really wish that there were more local folks with DIY acrylic or glass skills that could build something like that. Looks like everything is right where it needs to be and super clean.

 

Are those custom hangers for the Aqualifters or can you buy them somewhere? Love how much better it looks....nice and professional.

 

-Adam

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What's going on in here? Shenanigans, I say.

 

Shenanigans of the grandest kind!

 

Now You Must Teach Me The Ways TJ MIYAGI!

 

I wirr Need Your Herp Pho My Firteress Reef!

 

Anytime you need help just ask!

 

I want to make babies with your sump.

 

Thankfully all the edges of the baffles are ground down smooth so you can't cut yourself while fornicating with my sump!

 

Really looks like things are starting to pick up TJ. Glad to hear and see that all went with the drilling the tank and the sump. I really wish that there were more local folks with DIY acrylic or glass skills that could build something like that. Looks like everything is right where it needs to be and super clean.

 

Are those custom hangers for the Aqualifters or can you buy them somewhere? Love how much better it looks....nice and professional.

 

-Adam

 

Thanks Adam!

 

The aqualifters came with those brackets. I bought them for cheap from a store who had some of those Tom Rapids Pro PS3 wet dry filters returned and credited. Those brackets come with them so they can sit right near the overflow box they prime.

 

I lucked out getting them with the brackets. I am sure you can purchase them separately though.

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