80 gallon build up

[qwuintus]

Also I am wondering where I should drill holes in my ceiling to hang my light?

Do I need to find a stud or can I do it anywhere?

 

[thanew]

i like this... DIY everything.. how much has this ran you so far.. if you dont want to answer i understand.

I want to do something like this summer, this is quite the inspiration, can't wait to see the finish product.

 

[qwuintus]

i like this... DIY everything.. how much has this ran you so far.. if you dont want to answer i understand.

I want to do something like this summer, this is quite the inspiration, can't wait to see the finish product.

I listed some stuff out on page 1, but Ill do a recap of everything once Im done. Althought it still is costing me a little money, I am saving too.

Thanks for your words. I really appreciate them and I hope it helps.

 

[spamin76]

Have you ever done something like this before? Or is this your first time? I really like the spillway thingy for the overflow.

I would so love to have an overflow like that.

 

[qwuintus]

I tried doing slots on a 55gallon with no brace- the back literally fell out.

I also had internal overflows in each corner of my 80, but it was taking too much room.

 

[gatohoser]

Have you thought about cutting a small piece of glass with teeth on it to glue over your runway to keep critters from getting sucked out?

 

[qwuintus]

Have you thought about cutting a small piece of glass with teeth on it to glue over your runway to keep critters from getting sucked out?

I have, but Im taking it step by step.

Right now Im having problems with leaks spouting up.
(they think they have me, but i think theyre wrong!!)

besides that im trying to get my pump to shut the fu** up
and also mount my lights from the ceiling.

my metal halide box also needs to be cut down... guess i get to play with the handsaw again

after that im going to focus on details such as silencing my drains, adding rock/sand and adjusting my skimmer.

so the slotted piece is later. im not sure if im going to add snails/shrimp as i want to keep a black lionfish, frogfish, and possibly a puffer or trigger.

puffer/trigger i want to have because the other two fish arent as active. and im not about to get rid of my lion idea.

but then again im skeptical of the puffer/trigger nipping my lions fins and eatting the few coral i plan to put in. (just some softies or something pretty.)

 

[qwuintus]

Well project is on hold because Im getting activated for Iraq in June.

 

[qwuintus]

Hey RC I'm back. I made a thread searching for items. No live stock as I have other hobbies that take the majority of my money (Car/Bike) so I don't plan to start this until later.

I am looking for a quiet pump 1000+gph @ 3ft head and lights. I have sourced out dual 175w MH but if that falls through I will let you know.

After months of being back from Iraq I had plans to sell all my stuff, buy a 180+ for freshwater preds, start my reef or a planted tank but I was indecisive.

Anyway, to cut a long story short I have decided on a reef/salt preds. I will save larger tanks for my future home and opt with a tank that suits the size of my room.


So the tank is basically where I left it. I will be using my 250w DIY MH and dual 175w MH for this setup. I wish to leave the top of the tank open some how so until I get into it more I will leave it at that and worry about it later.

Oh, I will also use "party" incandescents and maybe some LEDs I found while searching around for car stuff. The leds are on a square pad of somesort, maybe 6x15 of them bunched up. I will probably use a couple of them in assorted colors as well as the "party" lights for some night-time Vegas/Hollywood bling.

Other plans are a 2 level aquascape w/ black sand and thats pretty much it. I dont plan to house many corals because of $$$ and they just arent my main interest.

I want maybe a frogfish/puffer and just a handful of coral to create a zen like garden that flows in which I can stare at and day dream...

Thanks for reading if you did, chime in and leave some motivating comments.

 

[qwuintus]

I got my MH's today. It came with 20k, 14k, and 10k bulbs used for about 4months each all for $140. They are powered by a hamilton ballast. Not bad... I will cut up the reflector so I can use it for my 250w as well. I think I will use the 20k and 14k as they look nicer. My 250w is running a 6500k iwaki so hopefully the blues will mellow blend it in nicely since I plan to put the 250 in the middle.

 

[Cody Ray]

Wait so what happend in Iraq???

 

[qwuintus]

I did my part and now I'm home.