planBtypeA's slow, DIY journey into the unknown (pic heavy)

1625 Views 15 Replies 3 Participants Last post by planBtypeA, Oct 7, 2012

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · Aug 30, 2012 (Edited)

So I finally decided to start a journal. Its been a slow start but heres where I'm at so far. Doing most of it DIY, like being able to cal things "mine"

-60g Acrylic Tank (drilled on bottom)= FREE! brother in law found someone putting it out with their trash! Still needs more work than I have put into it...
-20g Long for sump
-DIY Stand, not the best but hey, I'm a paramedic not a contractor...
-DIY Hood, same as above...

Please excuse the mess in the garage, washing machine blew up! Literally!

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 30, 2012

3

1) Close up of Sump (flows right to left) Intake=> Foam=>Bio (lava rock/ceramic)=> Chemical (Purigen and whatever else I need at the time)

2) Stupid off set holes (back and bottom painted black)

3) Third different idea for plumbing... Shorted myself a 90* somehow, but there will be one on the end of the drain pipe in the right corner. Deciding on dimensions of overflow box to build around it...

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metallicanick78

· #3 · Aug 30, 2012

good start! That 20L will make a perfect sump for it. Looks like you got the sump all baffled, what return pump are you going to be using? From experience with a sump and especially considering the size of your tank, I would suggest a canister or 2!

Plans for lights? Hardscape? Plants?

*** You posted while I was typing, looks like your going with a return pump!***

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 30, 2012

2

1) Polishing Crew

2) WELD-ON FOR SoCal!!!!! Works great, will even bond PVC to acrylic.....

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planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 30, 2012

As for the rest of the tank equipment, still shooting ideas around.
Lights:
48" T8/T5HO x 5 and LED lights will run in a sequence to simulate sunrise/sunset back to front on tank. 3000k/Rose, 6500k, 10000k, 6500k, 3000k/Rose.
Posted up in Lighting section, will try and link to it.

Substrate:
MGOP topped with ????

Plants:
Havent decided if I want to do a bio-type or just genaral planted tank. Trying to soak some old driftwood right now, not working too well...

CO2:
Probably DIY until I can save up enough for a 10# tank setup. Going to run it through a Cerges Reactor that circulates in the return chamber of the tank

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planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 30, 2012 (Edited)

metallicanick78 said:
good start! That 20L will make a perfect sump for it. Looks like you got the sump all baffled, what return pump are you going to be using? From experience with a sump and especially considering the size of your tank, I would suggest a canister or 2!

Plans for lights? Hardscape? Plants?

*** You posted while I was typing, looks like your going with a return pump!***

Thinking about a Mag7 but might need the 9.5 with the height and turns from the return. 35" Stand and 22" tank...

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 30, 2012

Forgot to add that I'm using 1" PVC/braided drain and return lines

BoxxerBoyDrew

· #8 · Aug 30, 2012

Looks like you are getting close to getting it wet! Great Find too! Have Ya tested the tank out to see of Ya have any leaks yet? Being it was going into the trash i mean.

Can't wait to see it planted!!!
Drew

P.S. I usually always go bigger on the return pump, as it is easier to use a ball valve to throttle it down than it is to try and add flow later!!!

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 30, 2012

BoxxerBoyDrew said:
Looks like you are getting close to getting it wet! Great Find too! Have Ya tested the tank out to see of Ya have any leaks yet? Being it was going into the trash i mean.

Can't wait to see it planted!!!
Drew

P.S. I usually always go bigger on the return pump, as it is easier to use a ball valve to throttle it down than it is to try and add flow later!!!

Water/leak test was the first thing I did after I got it home. It held water with no leaks for a week. Does bow about 1/16-1/8th of an inch dead center on front, but no leaks!

As for the pump, seeing that people don't seem to have a problem throttling down the mags, i will probably go with the 9.5. Like you said better to have to throttle back than need more.

Next on the list is deciding on DIY or outta the box lighting....:icon_conf

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 31, 2012

Any thoughts on the Sun Blaze T5HO 4' Single bulb? I would run 5, on individual timers with the light pattern I posted previously... http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/fluorescent-grow-lights/t5-fixtures/sun-blaze-t5-ho-4-light-strip.html

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 8, 2012

Still trying to polish out all the scratches, outside ifs done, inside is being a problem child. Waiting to build the overflow box until the polishing is done. Going to do a dry start mgop topped with a mix of black fluorite sand and white sand, trying for a black/white speckled look. Lighting is the biggest hang up right now, pondering LED now. Any opinions on the Odyssea WP1000 or WP700? Would prefer a Mag, but if i can get the tank started cycling at least quicker.... I haven't been able to really find any reviews or head loss info.

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 8, 2012

Opinions on return? Can't decide which will be better, across the top-right kind of like a spray bar or as I have in post #2? Pipes still need a paint job...

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planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 10, 2012

So, its been a slow day at work so far (its a good thing when you dony have to call 911) and I decided to begin designing an LED fixture for my tank. Plan on using warm white (5000k-6500k), cool white (10000k) and 460nm moonlights. If I did my math right, its been a while since I had to do any trig, 40 degree optics would give me a 16 inch footprint @23 inches above substrate. So my idea is:

------front of tank------
Row of 5 warm white LED with 40 degree optics (dimming)

Row of 3 cool white LED with no optics, using for mid-day burst lighting (standard)

Row of 5 warm white LED with 40 degree optics(dimming)
-------back of tank------

Planning on mixing some moonlights in there, maybe on the center bar.

"shopping list":
48" 2x2 aluminum bars for heat sink, x3
3w warm white LED, x10
3w or 5w cool white LED, x3
460nm moonlight LED, x4 maybe 6
Dimmable drivers for warm white, x2
Standard driver for cool white
Haven't decided on driver for moonlight dimmable/not
40 degree optics, x10

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planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #14 · Sep 10, 2012

Continuing on (jinxed myself saying it was slow), I want to run the warm LED s on a programmer that will ramp up the leds starting a around 0830 to full power around 1100 and back down/off around 1500 and second bar from 1000, full power at 1230 and down/off about 1900. Cool whites will be mid-day burst from 1200-1400. Moonights from 1 hour before on and 1-2 hours before off until 2200. Thoughts and or suggestions? Will probably post this in the lighting section too.

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 16, 2012

Just incase anyone is following, had a massive algae breakout in my 20g so not much got done on the 60.

I ordered my return pump. Going with the Quiet One 4000, got a good deal on Amazon before the sales tax started for California. Should give me about 670gph with my setup.

Still have a million and a half ideas for lighting. Now considering adding LED to the 48" diamond plate depot dept fixture....:confused1:

Have the lava rock for the sump, going to order a 12"x5"x3.5" course pad for mechanical filtration, cut into two 6"x3.5"x5" pieces so i can clean only one at a time. Still going to do Purigen and ???? for chemical.

Found out that A Lot of plants can't be shipped to California, and my driftwood still isn't water logged...

planBtypeA

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 7, 2012

getting pic heavy, planBtypea's journey continues slowly...

So I got my pump, Rio4000. With the head loss calculations it should put me in the 650-700gph range. Tested the sump with the pump to make sure it could handle it and all looked well. Still need the Purigen and whatever else for 3 rd chamber. Ordering lights next week, building/ordering doors this week. More pics coming soon, at work this weekend

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