nanoreefnate Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 nice tank!!! i love how your making a lot of your equipment by yourself! i also like what you did with the reefkeeper....preeeettttyyyyy slick... Link to comment
IMaNoob Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 i am trying to make this canopy.....not easy for me! Link to comment
Boomboy Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 best. haha i dont think you ever put more than 1 or 2 words down at a time. Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 How stable is the light pendant? Think it would work at 12' long? Is the top a ply mahogany or solid? How thick? Link to comment
IMaNoob Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 i am pretty sure you could make it work....not too many could build a tank like yours Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 How stable is the light pendant? Think it would work at 12' long? Is the top a ply mahogany or solid? How thick? 12' ? I know that's not a typo... man. It probably could work. The construction is VERY LIGHT weight. The trick is finding 12' pieces of wood that arn't warped to hell to build the frame on. I used 1/8" mahogany ply. The pendent is pretty light even WITH the ballasts in there. I would definetly hang it from more then 2 points. Why don't you commision a custom di and get a one-off aluminum extrusion. Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 12' ? I know that's not a typo... man. It probably could work. The construction is VERY LIGHT weight. The trick is finding 12' pieces of wood that arn't warped to hell to build the frame on. I used 1/8" mahogany ply. The pendent is pretty light even WITH the ballasts in there. I would definetly hang it from more then 2 points. Why don't you commision a custom di and get a one-off aluminum extrusion. I already have a couple of poplar 1x4x144's that are nice and straight (for now) I could chop to build the frame. The ply I figured would have to be doubled up (2 8' sections and 2 4' sections) to get to 12' but was worried about rigidity... It would be hung from 4 points but connected to only 2 cables. The ballasts are out of the pendant, so it only has to support the lights but I don't want it to twist on me. I guess, I'm just asking for your thoughts. I could build it as 3 pieces (not literally but supported in the middle as if) to help support it, but just nervous if it would be a waste of money to attempt. As for the custom, I'm out of money on the project. My wife kindly reminded me of that again tonight. Link to comment
PoopCola Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Ha Ha After seeing the sketch up drawings I thought to myself "Maeda should really how this to calvin" Lulz also EPIC!!!! Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 I'm out of money on the project. My wife kindly reminded me of that again tonight. I hate when they do that. I THINK you could do multiple pieces if you supported them... Hmm. I would also the upolstry would help hold it together. What dimension were you thinking? 12'x?x5" ? Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I hate when they do that. I THINK you could do multiple pieces if you supported them... Hmm. I would also the upolstry would help hold it together. What dimension were you thinking? 12'x?x5" ? Probably be about 12" wide... Just has to hold 4 bulbs wide. Did you find the upholstry at a local fabric store or did you get it through a specialty shop? Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 Probably be about 12" wide... Just has to hold 4 bulbs wide. Did you find the upholstry at a local fabric store or did you get it through a specialty shop? That's going tobe another problem... Getting a12ft piece of fabric without any creases is going to a pain. what about 3 lights? that would simplify things... It's vinyl for boat furniture. You can get it at just about anywhere, and i used some good 3m spray upholstery adhesive. Link to comment
calvin415 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I guess I just have to hope I can stretch it smooth, or drape it to get any creases out of it. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and advice. Guess I'll try to build the structure this weekend. Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 I guess I just have to hope I can stretch it smooth, or drape it to get any creases out of it. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and advice. Guess I'll try to build the structure this weekend. If you use vinyl, try and iron it with a piece of parchment paper between the vinyl and the iron. Do this before you stretch it. And make sure you drape the vinyl with a lot hanging over. PULL and staple to the frame. Cut after a few days. The vinyl has a tendency to shrink. :| I have about 1/8" or just under on one of my sides showing a bit of wood on my light due to shrinkage. and NP. I wanna see that tank finished! It's been in process around as long as my white whale of a project. Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Look. 80$ sitting on the table. After unsuccessfully using the pins method, I got this. :\ I suck doing this acrylic stuff. Playing with the router, to fit pipes, as well as smooth edges. Super anal silicone work. Dry fit. Link to comment
shookbrad Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 What pump are you using for your DIY skimmer? Do you have any more details on how you built it? Nice Setup!! Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 The skimmer is all diy with some help from AA in socal. Its run by a modded sicce psk2500(enlarged volute, revise venturi, mesh modded, and a inlet restrictor). I still need to build the new vac-formed 4" neck. I hope people will actually read this instead of ask me the question over and over and over. Link to comment
Hungriee Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 this is sick looking diy project. im tagging . Link to comment
wzhang Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 looking good M, I'll try to get on chat tonight. Link to comment
Boomboy Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 great setup. Your DIY skills are great. i can tell every detail was thought of for this tank. i hope it turns out to everything you wanted it to be. Link to comment
DrCooper Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 This is an AMAZING build, seriously. Link to comment
Maeda Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 Thanks for the support everyone! I'm slowly but surely working along. Right not im stuck designing and building peripheral systems (ato things, waterchanging reservoirs, etc.) I also kind of blew my budget for the month. and I have to save up for the impending government rodeo on my ass that is tax time. Damn 1099s, and damn me for not being able to save my money for a year. Link to comment
Maeda Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 'ALLLLLLLLLLLLMOST there...' Link to comment
JDigital Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 No reflectors? or am I just blind? Link to comment
lakshwadeep Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 No reflectors? or am I just blind? They're on the bulbs; you can see the clips near the end caps. Link to comment
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