The Routemaster - slow build ...

[castiel]

Ordered:

[Sailfish]

This project is looking good!

Thread subscribed.

 

I agree with the change to real wood for the stand. I would still paint it.

 

Can't wait to see the continuation

[JR!]

that overflow box is sick as hell. id love to have one

[chippwalters]

Hey Pete,

 

Glad to have found this thread. Best decision is to drill vs HOB for about a thousand reasons. I recently drilled my 3.5 gal as I'm converting it to a display fuge. For a tank like yours, you might want to consider two overflow bulkheads, with the first doing the 100% of the overflow water, and the second drain a bit higher which kicks in in case the first gets obstructed. You just never know when a snail or crab will clog things up.

 

Use a min of 1" bulkhead, bigger if you can. You can also drill a return, or not. Take your time when drilling. Try and clamp a pre-drilled board the exact right size which will keep your diamond bit from walking, then once you have a start, remove it and put a ring of putty around the who,e and fill it with water and a tad bit of drilling oil. You probably know all this stuff.

 

Looking forward to seeing your new tank up and running!

[chippwalters]

Also, my suggestion is if you're using wood, go dark and matte for the stand unless you plan on putting a very smooth finish on it. Dark and matte helps hide imperfections and visually recedes, allowing the tank to be frontmost. If you do put a smooth finish on it, then I would still recommend dark so as to not conflict with the tank. But a glossy finish would show nicely-- though it takes a lot of work!

[siwelk]

Did you order the oceanlife?

[castiel]

Chip, definitely drilling ... I have the drill bits and overflow, just need to get around to it.

 

Did you order the oceanlife?

I did - ordered directly from Oceanlife, which was a bit of a hassle ... they had to produce an invoice for me, direct bank transfer, 20 emails about shipping costs (50 euros) ... but it arrived yesterday!!

 

Then I forgot to take it home from work ... haha. So the unveiling will come tonight =0)

 

I am still short a skimmer, return, light and plumbing.

 

Had to rethink my plans for skimmer and return after Reef Octopus products would be 6 weeks for delivery ... (then again given build time so far, maybe I should just order them!).

 

And thinking a kessil for light, trying to decide on between the a150w and the a350w (if and when it is finally available). Will need to order that from the US somewhere as I can't get on in Australia. Can't get #### all LED-wise in Australia ...

[siwelk]

[castiel]

Well #### me sideways.

 

I decided I would do the 'siwelk' unboxing ... spot the issue.

 

So small 'issue' 1 - the full piping is attached, whereas siwelk got small threaded attachments to put his own plumbing to. Not a big issue, I actually kind of like the straight black piping.

 

Issue 2 - check out the final photo. Now compare to siwelk's photo of the unit.

 

 

Yep, two pieces missing. Both of the internal attachments.

 

 

Just emailed them now ... who knows how long it is going to take to resend them.

 

I did also get a couple of other items from them for what it's worth, coral food and micro pellets. Haven't opened them yet, only really got them because hte shipping was a fixed fee so thought I would check them out.

[castiel]

To their credit, they already got back to me and admitted they forgot the parts. This is a new version and apparently mine was the first one ever sent! haha. Said they'd get the delivery to me by Tuesday, but as I am on hols next week said by next weekend is fine.

[siwelk]

wow@newdesign

But I wonder why they changed it.

 

That box is like 3 times the size of the one I received.

I've only see one other overflow in the UK and it shared the early design.

 

Now mine is worth MOAR!!

 

[siwelk]

 

You on some exclusive #### son.

 

http://reefbuilders.com/2012/06/07/oceanlife-food-line/

[castiel]

Haha so I am. They had the coral food at least a month ago when I was talking to them, maybe they just announced the line or something.

 

I'm going to ask them about the redesign of the overflow too, they didn't even tell me they were shipping a new version.

[castiel]

Purchased:

(2000+)

 

Also on the verge of ordering 2x Kessil a150w ... trying to decide on 10k vs 15k, or whether I buy one of each as they will be pretty close together, within 3-6 inches of each other - but not sure htey would blend or not.

 

Oh and the missing overflow pieces arrived today too.

 

Starting to finally come together.

[siwelk]

Oh and the missing overflow pieces arrived today too.

Sweeeet.

[castiel]

Now I need to decide whether to go for the 10k Kessil look, or the 15k. Already decided to purchase 2x a150w but can't make my mind up on the 'k'.

 

I am leaning towards 10k.

[castiel]

I had to re-order my drill bits for two reasons - 1) the ones I had purchased weren't quite the exact size required, and 2) I lost them! haha. Sure they are in the house somewhere, but cbf finding them.

 

So I pilfered siwelk's thread and ordered the same as he got - two drill bits and the guide.

 

Which means I should be drilling this weekend! As long as my hangover(s) aren't too bad.

 

I also ordered a Hydor Theo 300W heater.

 

 

Next steps will be:

- Measure up and go to a glass shop to get the baffles for the sump

- Silicon that baby up

- Decide on my lighting. Changed my mind yet again and now I think I am going to get a Radion. Someone here locally is upgrading and will be selling three in a month or two, and I can hopefully get 'mates rates' on one of them. Which should be good timing, even if I cycle with no light.

- If I do go Radion, I'll have to rethink the fixture slightly ... might use the same kit I have x2, so two rails.

 

Finally I can estimate a 'get wet' date - August 2012.

[castiel]

So I have committed to buying a Radion from a local reefer who has used it for just under a year.

 

Drilling didn't happen yet (as it pissed with rain all weekend), but will be this weekend rain or shine.

 

I need to work out the plumbing setup ... particularly given this:

So I have a 43mm (1.7") drain, and a 27mm (1.1") return ... finding suitable fittings might well be a pain in the ass. Would be easier if my sump was 6" longer so they could just go directly in, but I'll need to factor a bit of a bend.

[castiel]

 

And bonus video (I was cocky at this point, phone in one hand drill in the other, haha)

 

[siwelk]

[JR!]

god i want that over flow.

[castiel]

I was advised not to ... but used the diamond glass saws to drill my wood too. Worked like a charm!

 

 

 

 

[nickjqz]

Now THAT! Looks clean.

[castiel]

So after buying $80 worth of plumbing and finding out none of it fit these stupid pipes, I almost lost it. Then I returned the plumbing stuff and bought this in its place (the black pieces are the bits of pipe I hacked off to make sure I got something that fit this time.

 

 

I also got a piece of 16mm joining tube, which fits nicely inside the 25mm pipe and will sit snug on my return pump. So all should be good. The only slight downside I see is the width of the return pipe blocking return flow slightly, but imagine that is negligible.

[MGDMIRAGE]

Looks awesome thus far! I too used my diamond bit to drill some holes on my stand lol.