Just getting ready to fire up and post some pictures my CADLights 12g and 5g tanks. I am taking down my 75g - I love that tank but it is in the basement and I don't see it enough. The two smaller ones are in the kitchen and study, so I will see them a lot!

First of all, I need to thank Evil for putting up with a million and one questions from an electronics newbie. Without him this project would not have been possible - or it would have taken a lot longer and I would have eloctrocuted myself. Same goes for Waterproof and Minadin for their great posts, materials list and links which saved hours of shopping time.

Anyway, I ordered the CADlights 12g and was looking at the JBJ Picotope, when I decided to ask Eddie at CADlights if he could make a 5g model like they used to produce. Sure enough, he was able to make it - a great little set-up!

I have 18 LEDs (9 CW + 9 RB) on a 13x6 heatsink on the 12g. The 5g has 10 LEDs (5 CW + 5 RB) on a 10x3.5 heatsink. The heatsinks were cut to size by Heatsink USA and they did a super job of finishing them off. Each of the LED fixtures has 2 power supplies for dawn/dusk effect. The 12g has 4 buckpucks, and the 5g has 2 buckpucks. The Buckpucks are in project boxes which I drilled a number of 3/8" ventiliation holes into so they do not overheat. All wires from the power supplies and light fixtures to the project box are connected with molex multi-pin connectors.

I made two fixtures to hold the heatsinks out of oak molding available at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. The fixtures are a gloss black to go with the black/white aragonite sand (and it matches our decor so my wife would agree to have the tanks upstairs!). Each fixture has a Silenx 80x15mm 11db fan that is controlled by a variable voltage (1.5 to 12) power supply, and it is blowing down onto the heatsink. I did not want to have a bunch of wire connectors showing on the outside of the fixture, so I ran the wires as a bundle into the light fixture, and connected the wires with quick disconnects on the inside. It may take a little more time to connect/disconnect when I need to, but I thought it looked cleaner on the outside. I put a black aluminum meshed cover on top of the fans and heatsink to finish it off.

I had a glass top made for each of the tanks at the local glass shop. I used 1/8 glass, cut to the exact dimensions/curves of the CADlights, except for the back. I cut that about 1.5" shorter to leave some room for the heater, pump, etc. wires. To mount each top on the tank (since it is rimless), I cut four 1/2" long pieces of a 1/8" plastic backstrip for a glass canopy. I insert the glass top into the 1/8 openings, and the channels on the top side of the plastic piece fit right over the edge of the tank. This allows me to slide the lid forward and backward to easily add water, etc. without taking the light fixture off.

I ordered the Reef Saver rock from Bulk Reef Supply. It is just as they said it would be. Forms rockwork that looks like a continguous piece, as in nature, rather than a pile of different rocks.

Hope this helps somebody. If you have any questions please ask.

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Looking forward to seeing what you do with this.

I really wanna see some pics of this, it will help me with ideas for what I'm working on right now.
C'mon, quick, take some pics!!!

Damn Weetie. You really are getting the itch for this.

Looking forward to some pics!

BTW... This is sounding alot like my CAD12g

It should. I liked your set up and asked you a few questions. Not sure how the saying goes exactly, but copying is a form of flattery. Will post some pics soon. I had trouble with some wiring which is now resolved, but I appear to have gotten a bad shipment of LEDs - 7 of 18 are not working. I'll try to take some pictures, but will not have much in the way of lights

Finally was able to get some pictures uploaded. I did not take shots of the heatsink, drilling process, wiring of LEDs as there are enough of them on the forum. Just tried to take pictures of what I thought might be a little different and which might be of interest to others for a few new ideas.