100% DIY Nano

[Tron87]

My hunt for material has become pretty acrylic focused now. I think it will work better with the design I am thinking of.

I've been putting a 3D together in my Chief Architect program so I'll hopefully be able to convert the files into something postable.

Then this thread will have a picture and be legit.

 

[Tron87]

Woohoo just found a big plastix place that sell for $4 a pound out of their scrap bin.
And another that sells by piece form the scrap bin.

 

[FishyBiz]

Ive been thinking and think that if you want to be truly 100% DIY you should make your own glass. :lol:

http://www.publicbookshelf.com/publ...edia_of_General_Information/howtomak_cge.html

 

[Tron87]

I'm glad my thread warrants some out of the box thoutght but I'll pass.


Anyhow, I spent some time with Sketchup and decied that program is not so good. I use Chief Architect X1 gut it looked like SKup would be easier to import pictures to here.

So, after way too much time I have this little design made up.

Its just a 12"x10"x10" display with a 8"x6"x10" filter box. And a scale XX Amber bottle for reference. (Beer will be included in final product)

I will probably end up lenghtening the filter box to the full tank length. Then I would have room for a little fuge t go with my nao skimmer. Maybe

 

[Tron87]

Here is another design.

Full length filter box

 

[AwkwardParrot]

do the full length box, it is a lot easier to light and build; there is only 8 corners to make water tight instead of 12....

 

[FishyBiz]

I also vote full length.
Why give up water volume if you don't have to.

 

[AwkwardParrot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14970229#post14970229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishyBiz
I also vote full length.
Why give up water volume if you don't have to. [/QUOTE

+1!!!!!!!

 

[Tron87]

OK guys the craze is really getting a hold of me so I will probably have the acrylic by the end of the weekend.

Also i'm pricing out an LED fixture right now.

 

[Tron87]

So I didn't go get any acrylic yet but I found 20"x32"x1/4" sheets at Home depot for like $11.50 so thats whats going to happen. I'll only need two.

To keep you guys going I played around with Sketchup a little more. Here is a little slid on/off cover for the filter box.

But I have cats so something like this (though ugly) would be safer. And its so high because I figure I need room for the ligh fixture.

I really would like the first design and just a pendant light but I am afraid of cat paws. I'll have to think of some way to keep the open viewing angles.

 

[Tron87]

OK folks. The 100% DIY Nano is probably a no go. I just can't seem to get things moving so I'll be making a few concessions and shortcuts.

I'm probably going to get a generic 5.5 gallon tank and partition about 1.5 gallons of it into filter space. My first question of everyone is this.
Should I go with a nano skimmer (DIY of Course) or a refugium?
I will only have room for two chambers and one's got to be return so . . . . which one do you guys think I need more?

 

[AwkwardParrot]

refugium, the bio-cube skimmer should fit too.

 

[Tron87]

I should have known the first answer would be both.