240 Inwall Construction (Image Intense)
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Todesengel
In Memoriam
Your tank and plastic skills are incredible. I used to take plastics courses in college. I wish I still had access to their tools! Your tank my friend, is my vision! One of these years! If you dont mind me asking, how much $$ did you spend. A lot of your stuff is DIY so I am curious if you saved quite a considerable amount.
jnarowe
New member
Todesengel: That's a little crass don't you think? Most of what Joseph builds is not to save money, but to create things that don't exist. And as any honest DIYer will tell you, it doesn't usually save money. It's just the personal growth and satisfaction that you can build it yourself, and in cases like Mr. Weatherson, build it a whole lot better.
Todesengel
In Memoriam
I am only asking because I plan on doing a 240g in wall sometime within the next 2 years. I am already saving for it, it was an honest question. Most people DIY because IT DOES save money. And If I can get a 2year head start and building what I need, I can save money and time. I dont know about you, but my time is valuable. If I can buy a pre-made product, I will. But it really needs to be worth it to me, can I make a really nice skimmer in 20+ hours? Thats equivalent to $1500+ skimmer, you better bet I will give it an attempt. I am just curious if my school will let me use their shop now that I am no longer a student.
kslick
New member
But I think the point jnarowe is trying to make is.....it is kind of personal to ask someone what they spent on anything. People have asked weatherson before and he would rather not share that kind of info. Which I don't blame him, sometimes I don't want to hear what I've spent. 
Todesengel
In Memoriam
I don't think its personal at all, its a hobby that we all share. We all have similar expenses. I plan on doing a 240g, and with the cost of ripping down half a wall and all the equipment, its gonna be pretty close to the same. Wouldent you want to know ballpark of what something is going to cost if you plan on doing a similar project? If you don't want to hear what you have spent, maybe you shouldent have spent it in the first place...
kslick
New member
Yes it is a personal question, how much someone spends, ask around. I was just trying to put it in a polite way. As for what I've spent, I was just trying to be funny, notice the. If you do your own research, you will be able to find out what things cost, it seems to work for everyone else.
. If you do your own research, you will be able to find out what things cost, it seems to work for everyone else.chris wright
In Memoriam
Also considering weatherson has built up to this system from other systems. The cost will vary on the exact same build depending on how much of the work you can do yourself. I mean like the demo, frame work, drywall, construction of the stand etc. Unless you plan to copy the exact way this build was done, it would be hard to estimate.
Pm weatherson if you really want to know, you may get an anwser, or an explanation of the stages that you may unclear of the costs. But I doubt any estimate will not be close enough for a budget considering prices of materials, labour and your access to equipment.
Also keep in mind, materials and labour prices will increase in 2 years, rises they may shock you.
HTH
Cheers
Chris
Pm weatherson if you really want to know, you may get an anwser, or an explanation of the stages that you may unclear of the costs. But I doubt any estimate will not be close enough for a budget considering prices of materials, labour and your access to equipment.
Also keep in mind, materials and labour prices will increase in 2 years, rises they may shock you.
HTH
Cheers
Chris
Todesengel
In Memoriam
Well I plan on doing all the work myself... I could prob get a social security number on this thread before I can get a rough cost of what he saved with all the DIY work. So let me rephrase my question...
Do you think you saved any money by building all the DIY equipment, vs the equipment you could of purchased? If you did save money, what would be the percentage that you believed you saved by DIY on most of your equipment? And obviously the quality on the DIY is a lot better than anything that could be purchased, but are you getting the same effectiveness? Or do you think its better?
Do you think you saved any money by building all the DIY equipment, vs the equipment you could of purchased? If you did save money, what would be the percentage that you believed you saved by DIY on most of your equipment? And obviously the quality on the DIY is a lot better than anything that could be purchased, but are you getting the same effectiveness? Or do you think its better?
weatherson
Premium Member
What is personal or not is by no means standardized and therefore should be based on and respected of the person's level of disclosure. In my case, I prefer not to discuss financial aspects in a public forum or in general, publicly. This is just my personal preference but there have been others who have asked privately and I have answered to the best of my recollection. You need to keep in mind that I haven't kept records of the ongoing costs so estimations are the best I can do. In addition, I prefer not to gather this information in an attempt to come to a grand total. I'm wise enough to know this is not healthy and I am completely comfortable in the ignorance derived bliss. 
As to whether I feel I saved money doing the DIY projects... I would say yes to most when you consider my time doing so I consider to be therapeutic and enjoyible. I find great pleasure in resolving issues by means of creative design. I also enjoy making devises that are commercially availible but perhaps not to my desired design goal. For instance, my skimmer was made for the cost of material and surely would have cost more to have purchased something similar from any of the known skimmer suppliers. But again... this only if you factor in material cost only and not the sometimes great amount of time to bring these projects to fruition. Also, many of the devices I have made were not readily availible, if at all. These I consider priceless so savings is inevitable.
I do feel the quality of the devices I've made are at least equal to and mostly better than what is commercially availible. I base this on observing the build quality of what I have seen and is limited to those only. The difference here is mostly determined by the quality of and the level of robustness of the material used as well as the sometimes tedious, time consuming attention to detail. I also find interest in design and give great importance to getting it as right as possible before starting a project, whether in my mind or on paper/computer. This often ensures the design is as effective as possible but I am also a tweaker, always looking for the most efficient process via alterations if needed.
So... in closing and in an attempt to answer your question, it's money saving but you have to include material, tool and energy costs as well as and perhaps most importantly, the value of your time. This later will greatly vary according to the individual. You will have to come to that conclusion on your own.
Joseph.
As to whether I feel I saved money doing the DIY projects... I would say yes to most when you consider my time doing so I consider to be therapeutic and enjoyible. I find great pleasure in resolving issues by means of creative design. I also enjoy making devises that are commercially availible but perhaps not to my desired design goal. For instance, my skimmer was made for the cost of material and surely would have cost more to have purchased something similar from any of the known skimmer suppliers. But again... this only if you factor in material cost only and not the sometimes great amount of time to bring these projects to fruition. Also, many of the devices I have made were not readily availible, if at all. These I consider priceless so savings is inevitable.
I do feel the quality of the devices I've made are at least equal to and mostly better than what is commercially availible. I base this on observing the build quality of what I have seen and is limited to those only. The difference here is mostly determined by the quality of and the level of robustness of the material used as well as the sometimes tedious, time consuming attention to detail. I also find interest in design and give great importance to getting it as right as possible before starting a project, whether in my mind or on paper/computer. This often ensures the design is as effective as possible but I am also a tweaker, always looking for the most efficient process via alterations if needed.
So... in closing and in an attempt to answer your question, it's money saving but you have to include material, tool and energy costs as well as and perhaps most importantly, the value of your time. This later will greatly vary according to the individual. You will have to come to that conclusion on your own.
Joseph.
jnarowe
New member
Ok, so I am going to try and post this again... 
Joseph, I have a slightly technical question that I think you may be able to help with. I have a carbon polisher on the outflow from my skimmer collection cup to keep the odor down. It is basically an acrylic tube mounted with a bulkhead to the collection cup. The carbon sits on a diffuser plate, and the lid is a second diffuser plate.
What appears to be happening is that the condesation from the skimmer output is sort of caking the carbon and producing some back pressure on the skimmer. It's not a lot, but enough that when I notice it and pull off the collection cup lid, the foam head will rise. I guess in some way it is reducing my skimming power, and I am wondering if you have this issue, and if so, how you deal with it?
Thanks!
Joseph, I have a slightly technical question that I think you may be able to help with. I have a carbon polisher on the outflow from my skimmer collection cup to keep the odor down. It is basically an acrylic tube mounted with a bulkhead to the collection cup. The carbon sits on a diffuser plate, and the lid is a second diffuser plate.
What appears to be happening is that the condesation from the skimmer output is sort of caking the carbon and producing some back pressure on the skimmer. It's not a lot, but enough that when I notice it and pull off the collection cup lid, the foam head will rise. I guess in some way it is reducing my skimming power, and I am wondering if you have this issue, and if so, how you deal with it?
Thanks!
weatherson
Premium Member
Dan: Thanks and glad to hear you are returning to this obsessive "hobby" of ours. Like a crack user relapse but substitute SPS pretty sticks instead. Either way... it's good to have you back.
Jonathan: A photo would be worth a thousand words in this case. In general though, I'd suggest a larger surface area where the air passes through to the carbon. Another option would be to add a hose between the collection cup and the carbon filter to remotely locate the filter. In my system, the hose between the collection cup and the skimmate reservoir as well as the hose between the skimmate reservoir and the carbon filter, help to accumulate moisture on the hose inside walls. This then drips back into the reservoir where it falls to the bottom. This system might work to lesson your issue. Maybe.
Joseph.
Either way... it's good to have you back.Jonathan: A photo would be worth a thousand words in this case. In general though, I'd suggest a larger surface area where the air passes through to the carbon. Another option would be to add a hose between the collection cup and the carbon filter to remotely locate the filter. In my system, the hose between the collection cup and the skimmate reservoir as well as the hose between the skimmate reservoir and the carbon filter, help to accumulate moisture on the hose inside walls. This then drips back into the reservoir where it falls to the bottom. This system might work to lesson your issue. Maybe.
Joseph.
new_world_disor
Active member
wow. i dont know what to say. ur tank is utterly amazing. the DIY work is incredible. most profesional companies dont produce producsts to the standard you do. well done. and the tank looks amazing. will be following this 
jnarowe
New member
You asked for it!
You can see by the first photo that this is actually a fairly large canister, and I did mount it on a tube, but perhaps extending it will help? Last photo shows the 5+ feet of hose from the collection cup to the bucket. The volume of carbon is about 1.5 qt.
Do you rinse your carbon before putting it in your unit?
You can see by the first photo that this is actually a fairly large canister, and I did mount it on a tube, but perhaps extending it will help? Last photo shows the 5+ feet of hose from the collection cup to the bucket. The volume of carbon is about 1.5 qt.
Do you rinse your carbon before putting it in your unit?
lhoy
Premium Member
Joseph,
I regular return and reread your thread. Shoot, I have used it to get two other people into the hobby.
I have a simple question. In the recap of pictures on page 1 after the split. There is a picture of your UV Filter and DIY Carbon Housing. In the background is some pvc and there is a PVC with John Guest "T". I am wanting to build in a drip acclimation in my plumbing under my new 215. I can't seem to find one of those because I don't know what it is called. Please don't tell me it is something obvious I have just not thought of.
Thanks for the inspiration. What I really enjoy about you and your tank is that most people who are so good at engineering don't have a great artistic eye. Yet, you have both and it shows in everything you do. Good grief, I am even overwhelmed at the sheer beauty of the things you build, much less the beauty of the tank's inhabitants and how they are placed.
Thanks,
Lee
I regular return and reread your thread. Shoot, I have used it to get two other people into the hobby.
I have a simple question. In the recap of pictures on page 1 after the split. There is a picture of your UV Filter and DIY Carbon Housing. In the background is some pvc and there is a PVC with John Guest "T". I am wanting to build in a drip acclimation in my plumbing under my new 215. I can't seem to find one of those because I don't know what it is called. Please don't tell me it is something obvious I have just not thought of.
Thanks for the inspiration. What I really enjoy about you and your tank is that most people who are so good at engineering don't have a great artistic eye. Yet, you have both and it shows in everything you do. Good grief, I am even overwhelmed at the sheer beauty of the things you build, much less the beauty of the tank's inhabitants and how they are placed.
Thanks,
Lee
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