Stephensx04 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Ok so I started a pico a month or so ago and wanted a place to grow some macro and add axtra LR rubble. Didnt like the idea of converting a ac70 into a fuge. Didnt look good to me. I started out with a 4 gal finnex tank Love the look of the tank and wanted to make something equally attractive. So I bought myself some cast acrylic, weld-on 3 and had some weld-on 16 from a previouse build. Cut the 4 sides and bottom. Took a scrap piece to practice making the output spout. Think it worked out pretty well So I cut the slots and formed the output for the fuge. Taped it together and test fitted it. It sat a little high so I cut about an inch 1/2 off the top to lower its profile and started glueing together. Had to make little side for the output to keep water in its place. Main body all glued together. Test fit it on the tank. Still have to glue in the tabs to seperate the chambers. Going to glue in little tabs to make the dividers removalable for easy cleaning. More to come. Link to comment
aquaman888 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Ok so I started a pico a month or so ago and wanted a place to grow some macro and add axtra LR rubble. Didnt like the idea of converting a ac70 into a fuge. Didnt look good to me. I started out with a 4 gal finnex tank Love the look of the tank and wanted to make something equally attractive. So I bought myself some cast acrylic, weld-on 3 and had some weld-on 16 from a previouse build. Cut the 4 sides and bottom. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1147.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1147.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Took a scrap piece to practice making the output spout. Think it worked out pretty well <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1146.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1146.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> So I cut the slots and formed the output for the fuge. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1149.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1149.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1148.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1148.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Taped it together and test fitted it. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1150.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1155-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1155-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1156-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1156-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> It sat a little high so I cut about an inch 1/2 off the top to lower its profile and started glueing together. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1158.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Had to make little side for the output to keep water in its place. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1159.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1159.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Main body all glued together. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1161.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1161.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1163.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Test fit it on the tank. <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1164.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1164.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/?action=view¤t=IMG_1165.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/DragSX04/IMG_1165.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Still have to glue in the tabs to seperate the chambers. Going to glue in little tabs to make the dividers removalable for easy cleaning. More to come. I cannot see your pictures, Just a bunch of code linking to photobucket? Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 I see that. is linking pictures not allowed? It works fine this way on RC Link to comment
blibo Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 that is so friggin sexy. Great job Link to comment
c_k_kuehne Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Nice build -- can't wait to see it finished Link to comment
fishieCJ Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 wow nice. how much have you spent on materials so far? Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 wow nice. how much have you spent on materials so far? Bought the acrylic online for like 25 shipped. That was 5 12x12" sheets Bought the weld on for $12 at mcmaster Got a free pump that Im going to use. Have the Egg crate from a previous project. Need to buy a small a small tube and elbow for the pump feed. So all in all its a cheap project. Need to finish the honey-do list first before going back to this project. Link to comment
bradisfun Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 looks good cant wait to see it finished! Link to comment
phorensic Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 That thing has almost as much volume as the display, lol. Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 Ok so got a chance to work on the fuge tonight. Need to wait till daughtter goes to sleep to work on it as I dont get to see her much during the week. Today I drilled the input fitting. Didnt go as planned. Being that it is so close to the edge it cracked the acrylic. Damn. But it was a clean break so I was able to weld it back together. Also cut the little tabs to hold the divider and egg crate in the bottom. I did it this way to make them removable for easy cleaning. This is what the egg crate and divider will look like once installed. Did not cut the divider tonight as didnt feel like dragging out the table saw for one cut tonight. Will try and get to it tomorrow night. Hope to finish it tomorrow night and get it on the tank. That thing has almost as much volume as the display, lol. Yeah I havent got a chance to see how much it holds but it will probably hold about a gallon and half. its only a 4 gal display. Link to comment
opipe73 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 looking good Nice DIY Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 Thanks so far its coming out pretty good I think. Getting anxious to get it up and running. But taking my time because then I will rush it and it wont come out right. I thought about incorperating a skimmer in the design but put that on the side. There is enough room to the side where the hob filter is at. Once I start that project the filter will go to the wayside. I want to do a DIY skimmer for the tank. Link to comment
ReefDreamz Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 looking good...love it!!!! Link to comment
scubasteve Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Cool build. I hope it doesn't leak... Link to comment
tyty22 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Very nice. looks clean and profesional. i made something very similar for a 5.5gallon tank. what are the overall dimensions? Also what kind of light do you plan on using for it? Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 It is 8"x5"x11" do you have any pics of yours? Im going to use a small Jebo CP fuge light. Going to try and do a water test on it tonight. I dont see any problems with it leaking. If it does I will put a small bead of weld-on 16 on the seam. That will take care of the leaks with no problem. Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Well did the water test. In an effort to keep the hight down the water level is very close to the top. It does not overflow but any little movement of the cabinet its on will cause it to splash out. So now I need to figure out a way to prevent that. Dont want to extend the hight but I think I have no choice. Link to comment
cruiZe Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 this is the nicest thing i've ever seen. I'd hate to see ya start over just to add a bit to the height, are you going to paint it once its done? that will cover up any addition of height. great job on the overflow lip tho. Link to comment
Llamaguy Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Euro brace to catch sloshing! How are you getting water in, pump in the aquarium or a pump in the fuge sucking it out of the tank? Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 I just build a euobrace that sits on top and hangs to the outside. i needed to do this so I can get the divider out to clean it. Im also going to cut a top for it to fit the new extended height. This will help with sloshing I hope. Uploading pics now. Have them posted in a few. Cruize thanks for the nice post. No way I wanted to start over. But not to say in the future I will build another updated model if this works well. Oh and to answer the question where is the pump going? I wil have the pump in the tank hidden behind a wall of rock. I think this will help with flow behind the rock as well. Link to comment
ReefDreamz Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Im interested to see how you will pump the water into the fuge as well.... great build... Link to comment
Stephensx04 Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Im interested to see how you will pump the water into the fuge as well.... great build... Thanks answered question in edited post above. But it will be in the tank pumping to fuge. Link to comment
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