45g rimless cube, 11g rimless "glass shoebox", DIY LEDs and stands galore!

[redfishsc]

Current full-tank shot, updated 10/20/11!
FRONT:


RIGHT:


LEFT:



11g rimless, converted to a reef in early October 2011: (yes that is an encrusted beer bottle that was taken from a reef in the Pacific)








For shots of the LED array and crazy color stuff on the 45g cube, here:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1429256




.

[redfishsc]

Okay, here's the official build!!

First, the 45g cube (23") was originally a "70g tall" (23X23X31), but I took a diamond saw to it and lopped off the top. So, now it's a rimless cube .

Here's proof . Cheezy phone pic, but you get the point.



All woodworking here is made from birch 3/4 plywood, birch and ash hardwood (trim), and some 2X4 for the main frame. Stain is a custom color I mixed myself, and the finish is catalyzed conversion varnish.

Here is the stand, custom build. Notice, first, my lil prowler. That's Isaac, Daddy's little helper.... or something like that .

Notice the stand is designed to "engulf" the tank--- this hides the gravel totally. [EDIT: due to a couple of miscalculations (that's what I'm calling it!) the gravel isn't hidden in the least lol) The plywood outer is just a shell. The actual stand is the 2X4 frame, and they are totally removable. Doors to come soon, I just have a bit more work to do on them. Doors will be on all three sides!




Here is the stand for the 11g rimless, which is 36X9X9, like a long glass shoebox. This is basically a bookshelf with a beefier top than I'd normally do.

Ignore the dust



A closeup of the top. Again, ignore the dust.


Here is the big pendant that will hold the LEDs.

It's 3/4 plywood and will be attached to a hinged arm (you'll see in a day or two )

The front is sheet steel, sprayed with hammered-look rustoleum, and will hold the digital amp (current) meters for the LEDs. Three drivers, three meters, and three dimmer knobs. I'll make custom wood knobs on my lathe in the coming weeks.

[roni]

Very nice! I wouldn't have the cuts to even think about "chopping" off the top of a tank

[redfishsc]

Originally Posted by roni

Very nice! I wouldn't have the cuts to even think about "chopping" off the top of a tank

Lol. I was nervous, but I've cut enough tile to know how to use the diamond saw. I only paid $50 for the tank, believe it or not, so it made the risk more tolerable.


For the record, the cut wasn't clean enough to leave, so I spent about an hour with a belt sander, followed by a random orbit sander, to polish the glass back to a bit of a satin/matte finish. It's not glossy on the cut area, but doesn't need to be. It's smooth, that's all that matters.

[labgeek]

I like the recessed top idea on the stand. I'm Interested in seeing how it turns out.

[sqtran]

Oh!!! I can't wait to see the next updated pictures.

[redfishsc]

Whew.

Both tanks are 80% done. Both have water in them (the 11g rimless was already established).

The 11g kept all it's inhabitants intact since it just got a new stand, but the 45g only has a few panda tetras in it. The water was aged RO water and the Filstar was fully established.

Tomorrow--- finish planting the big boy, add the rest of the fish, and assemble the LED canopy for both tanks.


Pics to come soon.... but for right now, the big tank looks like a big box of chocolate milk from the Flourite, even though I rinsed it a LOT.

[redfishsc]

OK everyone, PROGRESS!

I still have a lot of wrinkles to iron out (not the least of which, is the horridly crooked light canopy lol, but it's functional so I can take a breather for a couple days ).


Here is a full shot. My recliner, in between. Bookshelf (and soda shelf ) to the left, with the 11g rimless shrimp tank. The big boy to the right. I can still see them quite well even though they are so tall. Plus, all that light makes reading nice and easy .

Cabinet doors coming soon. They are already stained/clear coated, just need hardware added.




The LED array is done. I didn't do moonlights yet, maybe in the future (I have a few LEDs unused up there I could give a power supply once I find an appropriate one). Three channels of light. TOP--- white. MID-- Blue. BOTTOM--- Dawn/Dusk (white, red, and cyan LEDs).






45g rimless with canopy. It will be adjusted soon.... I know it's crooked .




The plants are in the big tank, along with the driftwood (that's actually a shrub root ball that I baked for 4 hours at 275, and then soaked for 6 months).





Top shot. The overflow thingy in the back is not a true overflow (it's not drilled). This is just a false back to hide heaters, CO2 reactor, etc..... It's made from 1/4" acrylic and covered with 12" square floor tile.





The 11g rimless. This one has all colors on 1 channel, and it's a mix of warm white, cool white, neutral white, and royal blue. I took a risk on it because I had no real idea what it would look like, but it's gorgeous to me! I love it!

More blue than some people like on a planted tank, but the warm whites and neutral whites really balance it out. Very lovely, looks a lot like some of the cooler color T5 combos.

[redfishsc]

By the way, I made a miscalculation on the depth of the gravel... the inset obviously didn't hide it well. I forgot about the 1/2" thick bottom, plus the 3/8" the bottom rim adds, plus the fact that I had more gravel than I realized.

It's about 3.5" deep total. That's about right since I have all those root feeders, esp. that tiger lotus.

[TwoStrokeKing]

Damn nice! keep the pics coming! u do a good job

[redfishsc]

I can't wait until the dwarf sag starts turfing in the 45g. I got a lot of room for it to fill.

[redfishsc]

Here are the newest inhabitants, two stunning angels that are a mated pair. A very good friend of mine housed these while I built this current build (which were given to me by another good friend a couple months ago). During the time in a bare 20g, with only gravel and a sword plant, they spawned repeatedly, the last batch producing about 40-50 viable wigglers.

These two are now in my tank. I do not plan to spawn them and raise the fry, but I know they will spawn. I'll have to watch them to make sure they don't make a mess of the place when they do (aggresiveness).

Female- the red/green glimmer in the background is real, it's from the few red and cyan LEDs in my canopy I'm experimenting with. More on that to come later.


Couple together, they definitely are "close knit". And eating healthy.

[redfishsc]

And by the way, I dug up the prototype image I made nearly a year ago that was my "ultimate goal" and I'm pretty sure I pulled off what I wanted. Only the canopy is different.




Tomorrow I'll get a FTS including the stand w/ doors on it, they are on and done!

[MartyD]

I took a diamond saw to it and lopped off the top. So, now it's a rimless cube

That takes balls

[redfishsc]

Originally Posted by MartyD

That takes balls

And safety glasses..... and.... willingness to call it all "education" if something went really wrong . Being a cabinet maker, I've had more than my share of "expensive education".