135g Reef Cube Planning / Build

[raidendex]

Been playing with 3D printer a bit.

Made some tabs to hold mesh screen on the tank, just something simple that fits a bit better than acrylic discs I originally attached.

Next, based on design from DIY: Hydros-Compatible Aquarium Fan with Drive/Force Port! made a little bit different enclosure for a aquarium cooling fan. Mainly I added a bit of angle to the output wall to hopefully help air pass through better, although it is still quite steep to benefit may not be that big.

And final part is a 4 toggle switch box to be used with Hydros. It seem to work, but there might be bit of an issue with how it is wired. Basically what I see is that when all switches are OFF, LEDs on them are dimly lit and reading on all 4 inputs is 2.0v instead of 2.5v (so some is being used by LEDs), once any of the switches is turned ON, that LED is bright and rest do not light up anymore. Also at that point ON input reads 5.0v and others go to normal 2.5v. Not sure if this is due to me wiring ground and 5v lines in series, although seems like 5v would end up just as connected even if I do a split in 4 directions. Ground with resistor maybe is different, and maybe each line should have its own? If anyone can help please chime in

 

[raidendex]

Updated design a bit to make things smaller although inside it's still a mess lol

And had to reprint cooler fan enclosure to make fan fit, but all set now and runs from Hydros drive port

Might update design to snap two sides together, now they just slot and really fan screw make it stay together pretty well as it is.

 

[T Diddy]

Looks pretty sweet!

 

[raidendex]

Still waiting on the sump build unfortunately, so not much progress on setting things in final positions yet, but I've been doing a lot of 3D printing I did redo the sump design in Fusion 360 due to boredom the other day, but to also lay things out a little further and hopefully refine design for the better a bit.

At first I made skirt out of same wood as the doors, but didn't really like the look. Best way would be to buy longer planks and just make doors higher to begin with overlapping the tank's bottom or at least getting to it, but that would mean buying 47" instead of 36" and a lot of it would be wasted. So my next best idea was to 3D print a little skirt that has a 1mm flat piece that can be pushed into the seam between Styrofoam and the tank and then go down covering exposed Styrofoam and plywood.

Next, I decided to keep with 3D printing and designed a hood this way as well. Main reason for it is to just tidy things up and hide return pipes, cords coming in and I guess cover up the two cooling fans that I have also changed up a bit since last time.

 

[griss]

Looks great. I was wondering how your progress was going. Thanks for the update.

 

[Reefing102]

That’s some nice 3D printing work

 

[T Diddy]

Looks sweet!

 

[raidendex]

Well sump and dosing containers are finally here. Didn't quite get what i asked for in my last sketch, but close enough and at this point did not want to delay things any more.

Will just need to figure out a best way to remove that filter sock holder and cut off a bit from the return pump lid so cables can go in.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Cables for the pump can be routed through the round holes.
Drill a hole slightly larger than the cable diameter.
Then with an up & down motion & slight pressure on the bit push or pull it in the direction needed to form a channel.
Sand edges smooth & Wallach!

 

[T Diddy]

Sweet! A delorean powered reef tank!!

 

[raidendex]

Been a while since last update. Still working on things, just been both busy and procrastinating about it So install a sensor one day, route a wire another, etc.

Latest thing was designing and printing a stand for the skimmer to raise it up out of the water a bit. Not much to skim at the moment, but just want all the wires, etc. in there so I can attempt to badly manage the mess lol.

Still need to finish table legs/box on the side that will hide Kraken's power supplies and back up batteries and make and hang mount for XR-15s.

I've ordered 50lbs of sand from the ocean few days ago, should be here around 8/20, so will give me more time to procrastinate about doing things until then

 

[griss]

...but just want all the wires, etc. in there so I can attempt to badly manage the mess lol.

Are we long lost brothers?

Seriously, though, it's looking great.

 

[Reefing102]

Holy hydros!

Looking great!

 

[lvanderbeck]

Looks amazing! switching over to hydros myself. Do you have the STL for the toggle switch box?

 

[raidendex]

https://raiden.fun/models/switch-box-back-plate.stl

https://raiden.fun/models/switch-box-front-plate.stl

 

[raidendex]

A bit more progress on Procrastination Tank '24

Made a walnut donut to hold lights over the tank. still need to run cables to the wall and down. Not sure I love the chunky chains look, but will hold it there for now at least. Also used same walnut wood to add a small shelf around the tank, found those useful on other tanks, so added one here as well.

Rock should be in somewhat final state now. I'm not doing any gluing creating very negative space overhanging stuff, but it does have fair amount of holes through it, so not quite a rock pile

Finally added mesh above the tank and 3D printed an insert for the back of that small hood up top to close off as many escape routes for fish. So will probably go some time soon get some fish, snails, etc.

 

[Reefing102]

That’s creative

 

[lvanderbeck]

Looking good. I think if you're not happy with the chains, spray paint them black to blend them into the background and make them less protruding

 

[raidendex]

Started getting some fish and snails. Will need to get dslr out to get some pics later.

But for now a quick bad cellphone pick of some hitchhiker I guess. Any idea what this crab might be?

Could either be from live sand from Tampa bay or Fl cuc store.

 

[griss]

Hard to tell the color of the crab with the blue tone to the pic. What color is it?