Styxnpicks Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 its about countless top offs Link to comment
thebrian Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Yeah...too bad you couldn't build an auto-top-off without equipment showing...You'd have to have some kind of water level detector showing... Also, I was curious as to where you got your starphire (I hear it's hard to find) ~Brian Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 I keep a water bottle of RO/DI water in the desk drawer. So far it looks like I lose about 8oz of water a day to evaporation. Inter American put the tank together for me. I had to go with 6mm glass because that is the thinnest size they had in starfire. - Chad Link to comment
Travis Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hey man, nice looking tank you have there you probly already said this, but what are your lighting specs? Also, do you have any pics of the inlet / outlets for your plumbing? BTW, I would suggest a small floatswitch for an auto top off system. PM SaltyDawg for some good prices and stuff. He makes a Snail Guard for the floatswitch and it's nice and SMALL. Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 Thanks Travis. For lighting I just chose a desk lamp with a 13w power compact in the 6700K range. It seems to be great for the softies that I chose to keep in the nano. I think I will try a 10000K bulb as a replacement. Granted, its a far cry from the 300W of MH and VHO I have over my 20gal at home but there is only so much I could do in an office... my goal was for the tank to be understated and look "simple" like there was nothing to it. An auto topoff would be cool but it would definitely detract from the look. First I will try adding a little water each day I work and deputizing my coworkers to top it off for me on the days that I'm not working. (My office is staffed 24/7). I wish I would have taken a pic of the undergravel filter before I burried it. I cut the bottom half inch off of a fluvel cannister filter compartment and turned it upside down so the perforrated surface is the top. I then cut a media bag (like for putting carbon in) and stretched it over the plate and siliconed the edges in place. I cut a round hole in the plate right above the return bulkhead and inserted a sort length of 3/4" pvc through the hole and siliconed it. The pvc sits directly on the return bulkhead and prevents the inlet bulkhead from stealing the filtered water. It also ensures that 100% of the return current moves water in the tank and not under the plate. The top of the pvc is almost even with the top of the sandbed and I glued some effi substrat filter media around the rim in order to camoflage it better. I cut a little circle of wide plastic mesh off of a furnace filter and glued it over the top of the return pipe to prevent anyone from swimming down the line if I turned the filter off. Sorry for the long explaination - one picture would have done the trick... - Chad Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 The one option for an auto topoff would be to add a hole to the bottom of the tank and run a length of airline tubeing up from a dosing pump. The dosing pump would have to be on a timer or set to only add as much water as I lose (or a little less to be safe). I would probably drill directly through the rock in the tank and run the line to the top of the rock so that if the pump ever failed and water began flowing the wrong way, it could only drain my tank to the top of the rock as opposed to the bottom. Anyways, I will try the old fashioned way first. - Chad Link to comment
Travis Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Haha, sounds good. I have found a 13w 50/50 light that would work in your desk lamp. Here's the link http://www.hellolights.com/13w5010dayac.html HTH Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 Travis, thanks for the link man! I knew there had to be something like that out there. If I went to a 50/50 bulb do you think I would lose too much par? (feels silly talking about par with only 13watts :*( ) I don't think we'll see a 13w pc bulb comparison on reef central any time soon... - Chad Link to comment
Travis Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 I think that it will make the take look better. It will take away that nasty yellow look and give it a good blue hue Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 True enough. It looks like Hellolights wont ship to Canada... oh well I'll find it somewhere else and buy a couple! Link to comment
Travis Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 haha, sounds good. You should get another desk lamp like that and have 2 13 watters but your Evaperation might me a little crazzy Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 Update: The anemone crab molted last night and is now looking brand new! Also, I put a baby perc clown in the tank. I hope it doesn't grow too fast. (and I have a 20/20gal at home for when it does). - Chad Link to comment
ngericke Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 here is what ya want http://www.ahsupply.com/bulbs.htm Link to comment
Pinchy Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 put a mantis shrimp in there! that would be HIS tank! lol! Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 30, 2005 Author Share Posted January 30, 2005 Originally posted by ngericke here is what ya want http://www.ahsupply.com/bulbs.htm Thanks for the link. I just ordered two! - Chad Link to comment
ngericke Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 I ordered 2 for myself for an upcoming project Link to comment
ravenmore7 Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 VERY NICE! I love the look. I may have to begin a project like this myself. Link to comment
ninjafish Posted January 30, 2005 Author Share Posted January 30, 2005 Do it! Everyone who does will help the rest of us come up with new ideas and tricks. In my opinion this technique is the BEST way to make an ultra-clean, professional looking nano that is also completely bulletproof and healthy. The only comprimise that I made was in my lighting which is too dim for many corals. The only reason I did this is because I didn't want to have a bulky canopy obstructing the view. I'm sure that someone on the board will be able to come up with a HQI MH retrofit that will fit right in my desk lamp.... Anyone? .... - Chad Link to comment
AndyL Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Can't help you with a MH retrofit... But have you looked at the Dual 13w PC trouble lights at home depot, rona, walmart et al. ? Could probably rig up a way to squeeze another 13w pc into that desk lamp... As I said before - looks great! Andy Link to comment
Carinya Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 I am intrigued by the unobtrusive filtration. Need to go back & read your explanation again & also find your thread on the cannister mod. I must say, visually the results are amazing. I'll be following to see what kind of success you have with the system inhabitants. Best of luck & keep up the good work. C Link to comment
ninjafish Posted February 1, 2005 Author Share Posted February 1, 2005 Carinya, Thank you. Here are a couple threads on RC that I posted. I haven't put anything very formal together just because, there is not a lot to the project: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p...25&pagenumber=1 http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p...887#post4225887 Also, I have added a small perc clown to the tank as well. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask. Cheers, - Chad Link to comment
lgoins Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 can we see a pic of the clown? Link to comment
embryoguy Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 are you worried the perc might jump out of your tank? Link to comment
ninjafish Posted February 1, 2005 Author Share Posted February 1, 2005 Originally posted by lgoins can we see a pic of the clown? You bet... I don't have a camera today but as soon as i get a shot i'll post it! - Chad Link to comment
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