Blueworld Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 So I got the RO/DI system done and installed and its now making some sweet pure water! On the way in... On the way out... Now that that is out of the way I turned my attention to protecting all the electronics inside my sump cabinet. I started out by rearranging the panel a little bit then planning out the back plate. Then I put the dremel to it and took it slow to make sure that all the plugs were nice and tight and I have to say now that its coming together it looks freaking sweet!!! Link to comment
Blueworld Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Today i spent most of the day taking everything I have built apart! But dont worry it was all for a very good reason haha, so before some of you go and have a heart attack this is why I did it. Im getting pretty dam close to the last few things that need to be done and one of those final things is to clean up everything and tie it all together really nice and pretty like. So i started with a little paint First on the return manifold Then on all three of the overflow drains They arent done yet tomorrow i have to mask them off and paint the exposed(still white parts) flat black then I have to paint all of the conduit hangers red to match. Then they get put back into a freshly painted sump cabinet where the white and red with stainless steel screws are going to look pretty spiffy i think heres the newly painted cabinet - no more missing paint or scratches from hundreds of bumps putting in and taking out that sump haha Then once I was done that I started into the wiring again, I had some wires that were bugging me and it just didn't quite look perfect so i went ahead and started to hack apart the wiring and then once i had a big mess of copper and plastic insulation i pulled out the soldering iron and got to work making it all function again This is the UBS that connects the APEX to the Energy Bar 8 - shhhh dont tell apex i think its a warranty issue then i tossed some shrink wrap on it to make it look pretty and then put it back in. You can see i also did that with the internet cable between the APEX and the Netgear Wireless receiver Then i thought hey! lets get some light inside this box! so i started wiring up some LED strips that i picked up, the only problem is there is only one output on the controller box and i dont want to run one continuous strip all over the place, so im going to have to do some fancy wiring to get about 3-4 separate strips wired the way i want them to and all controlled with a magnetic on/off switch connected to the door of the cabinet as i said pretty spiffy I still have to finish building the acrylic box and get some weather stripping to makeusre that its got a pretty dam close to air tight seal as i can get but thats for another day! Link to comment
Spencer7 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Hey, I like it, I dunna know about dese other losers but your attention to detail is a good sign. I just screwed all my electronics to the inside of my stand (sump has a cover). With the LED's and everything, your definitely going to want to slap a fan in there, I'm sure you know that though. Firetruck red looks good. Link to comment
Blueworld Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 So today i got a few things done, the paint is all dried and its time for final assembly to begin! Tomorrow I start the last of the wiring! I gotta get the fans up and running and finish the enclosure around the electronics and that should be all! everything else is just plug and play Link to comment
Travis Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 This has the makings of a legendary nano reef for sure. If you pay half as much attention to detail with your husbandry as you did with your set up this is gonna be sweet! Link to comment
Leatherneck3755 Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I just found this gem. Wow, following!!!!!!! Link to comment
RollaJase Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Great work on the stand with the plumbing and the wiring. Really neat and tidy. Link to comment
Blueworld Posted October 26, 2013 Author Share Posted October 26, 2013 Progress!!!! but it comes just intime for me to have to go back up north for work...however Im going to be leaving it on a good note!! I now have water in the tank and i get to go back to work and essentially skip the whole cycling process that kills everyone haha no one likes sitting around and waiting as things slowly get going so i guess you could call that a silver lining but here we got with the pictures I got the enclosure for the electronics all done and its extremely tight inside the sump cabinet, if you thought it was tight before this is what it looks like now! there are still a few small details i have to get sorted out and if you look close the reactor needs carbon and the lines connected but I cant do that till i get the parts i orders (two little fishies reactor entender kit to make the output a nice downward tube instead of just a piece of curved hose, and I need to get or make a refugium light and get it hooked up and the fans need a power cord made up but thats all stuff for when i get back, right now its running and functional this is the power center all wrapped up and nicely sealed behind the acrylic door and with the tray pulled out i can open the door and get to everything i need to adjust or work on and then close back up WATER!!! as i you can see its all working and getting cycled but when i get back there are some final details i have to work out, unfortunately the plumbing handles all the increased water flow perfectly, i say unfortunately because there isn't enough back pressure in the line to feed the water fall, so im going to have to add a ball valve to the return line to increase the water pressure to get the water up to the waterfall but thats easy enough to do. Lastly i need to take the background out and get all the exposed rock covered in epoxy and sand to make it look like rock again but other then that and the light im pretty much laughing!! So I head up to work monday morning and until im back november 11th everyone enjoy and leave some comments!! there are new parts and equipment on their way here are you read and as soon as im home this tank is going to have new updates!! Link to comment
RollaJase Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Really love how you managed to squeeze everything neatly into the stand, the acrylic electronics box turned out really well. The build is looking great so far. Link to comment
aaron1987 Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 This is such a cool setup. I can't wait to see it with living stuff! Link to comment
evo_2679 Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 This is such a cool setup. I can't wait to see it with living stuff! +1 Link to comment
Blueworld Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share Posted November 15, 2013 Hey guys so ive been busy again now that im home! this time I'm doing some work on the exposed rock work I picked up a bunch of tiny tiny pieces of balsa wood and im building this out of it Link to comment
Phoenix0077 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 This has to be one of the most inspirational builds I have seen! It's people like you that make others want to pick up new hobbies and try new things. This is awesome and I too want to see this complete with living critters. Link to comment
Giga Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 That bridge thing looks like something from the first hobbit, also I'd be very careful with wafter flowing over the edge of the tank and water wicking out of the tank with the rock. Has happened to me before. Link to comment
Blueworld Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share Posted November 15, 2013 This has to be one of the most inspirational builds I have seen! It's people like you that make others want to pick up new hobbies and try new things. This is awesome and I too want to see this complete with living critters. Holy wow! that was something i didn't expect to hear, thank you very much for that haha. I know its been a long time coming for a lot of you and i just keep building instead of adding the reef to my tank but its coming i promise hahah That bridge thing looks like something from the first hobbit, also I'd be very careful with wafter flowing over the edge of the tank and water wicking out of the tank with the rock. Has happened to me before. I know hey i love the look of it!! I got more done on it last night too. Alright ill be sure to watch for any run away water as soon as i get the upper rocks filled up but from text runs so far i think its going to be okay but only time will tell hey heres what i got done last night Link to comment
shaner014 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 A balsa wood dock/stairs? Dude. This is freaking amazing. Anyone say TOTM yet? Link to comment
Travis Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 A balsa wood dock/stairs? Dude. This is freaking amazing. Anyone say TOTM yet? +1 Link to comment
Blueworld Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 A balsa wood dock/stairs? Dude. This is freaking amazing. Anyone say TOTM yet? I don't know if id go that far just yet but thanks!! Link to comment
Blueworld Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 Hey!! I'm back well actually i got back late monday night but I've been doing some stuff with the tank and the boardwalk! so here you go everyone - its growing! Link to comment
Spencer7 Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/SpenceDaFence/media/8wxi84_zps603ea665.jpg.html'> Did not see that coming. But I can dig it. Link to comment
RollaJase Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 That is insane work on the boardwalk, looks fantastic!. Link to comment
Maniu Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Boardwalk might come handy for some less fortunate crab while climbing up that rock wall. Love the entire build. Great job! Link to comment
ReeVo Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 WOW! This is not even a tank anymore, it's a piece of art. The level of creativity and imagination in this build blows me away. Great work Blueworld! I envy you Link to comment
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