0.7 Gallon Pico Cube Experiment.

[reefin'aggie]

Well, after so many requests and nice pms, I decided I might as well start a thread for my complete custom 0.7 gallon pico experiment.

I have tried to take everything I could about a full sized sumped system and shrink it down to miniature.

The display is 1/4 inch glass. The dimensions are 6.25x5.5x5.75 inches and comes out to about 0.7 gallons.

The back will be cut out and have an external calfo overflow complete with a custom Stockman standpipe.

The standpipe and overflow without the Stockman cap.

Thanx again everyone for the compliments,
Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

The stand is made out of 1/2 inch Birchboard and bonded to be seamless.

I was able to carve the rope trim so that it appears to be seamless and rap around the tank.

Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

Here is the sump.

It is made out of 1/8 inch acrylic and measures 5x5x5 inches cubed. Inside it has a 3x3x3 inch cubed chamber for the little microjet pump.

Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

Thanx everyone for watching. I should also mention that these pictures are a little old. I have actually plumbed the tank, begun building the canopy, and finished the stand.

I will post updated pics as soon as possible.

Jacob

 

[NanoClown]

umm is that the lighting??? LED?

 

[reefin'aggie]

Yes and no. For now it will do, but I actually have plans to do something even more outrageous. Ever heard of CCFL?

The leds are a mixture of 8000mcd blues(455nm) and actinic leds(410nm). It gives a spectrum that is very close to a 20k halide. I have actually had excellent results with growth and color using this combination of leds over a small sump tank.

Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

Alright, here it is as of right now.

The toothbrush in there for scale might actually end up being my glass scraper.

A shot in the dark for fun.

Jacob

 

[Grunt]

Did you pull those LED's out of something? if so, what?
nice looking setup so far, what are your plans for stocking?
Cheers

 

[reefin'aggie]

Thank you for the compliment. I actually like to build led boards for fun every once in a while...moonlights for buddies etc...

The actinic leds I use are "true" actinic, they make corals photofluoresce(sp?) exactly like VHOs.

Stocking. I have no idea. I'm thinking a shrimp pair maybe. I have a small rockstack curing and populating in my friends 180 right now.

Thanx again,
Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

The sump again.

I was able to find 1/2 inch quick disconnect fittings for the downspout.

Everything is quick disconnect now and dismantles very easily. This is the 1/2 inch return from the microjet. And you can also see the Stockman standpipe in the overflow.

The 1/4 inch quick disconnect returns.

Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

One last one for the night before I turn in of the 1/4 inch Birchboard canopy.

The led lighting that will be replaced by an array of CCFLs.

Jacob

 

[reefman13]

Looking good

Let us know when you have some live 'stuff' in there.

 

[StunnaShadez]

are the CCFL's similar to what is used in the solaris lighting?

 

[reefin'aggie]

If I recall the Solaris fixtures use high power leds that are quite a bit more powerful than the 3/4 watt leds I use.

CCFLs are Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lights that are only about 3 millimeters in diameter and available in lengths up to about 15 inches. LCD screens are actually lit by them. They put out about the same amount of light as a compact fluorescent light but at a fraction of the size.

Thanx for comments and I will keep updating pics as I finish it.

Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

Here is a pic of two 4 inch blue CCFLs.

The 3mm CCFL runs through a 10mm acrylic tube and is sealed at either end by acrylic cubes.

Jacob

 

[obsled]

Wow! Very nice, I'll be watching!

 

[Danyal]

so whats the ouput of CCFLs like? love this idea, can't wait to see how it goes.

 

[Kengaroo131]

looking good so far! what are your plans for it? what will you put in it just some rock and maby small coral?

 

[reefin'aggie]

Thanx everybody. I can't find the specs list that I was looking at before, but I remember comparing them to Compact Fluorescents and the output was about the same for a CCFL of the same length.

The estimated lifetime of a CCFL is up to 100,000 hours.

I have a miniature rock stack curing in my friends 180 right now. I think the tank will start out as a pod farm, then maybe a shrimp pair tank(Sexy shrimp?) I am in the process of designing a mini 2" protein skimmer that will fit in the sump. If I can get it to work then I may put a small pseudo or something in there.

I am also figuring out a small float valve so that I can add a top off chamber.

What does everyone think of running the little thing off of a ACJr?

Jacob

 

[reefin'aggie]

Here's another CCFL called a Hyperlight that I will use as the primary source of light b/c it is very directional and extremely intense. They also put out absolutely no heat.

The one shown is a light blue Hyperlight similiar to a 14k halide. There is also a bright 6500k white Hyperlight available.

These things are only about 2.5 inches square.

Jacob