Custom Cabinet for 90g Reef (Build Thread)

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14042742#post14042742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
Well I just bought a new 10.1 megapixel Casio Exilim camera over the holidays but I can't get it to take good pictures of the tank. My old camera's flash went out, so for now an up-to-date full tank shot will have to wait. Let me play with the macro mode settings and see what I can come up with.

How are you doing with the new camera? Are these last shots taken with it? I have the same one and have a hard time getting good tank shots or any good pics with it. I am not much of a photographer so that is the first problem .

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14107100#post14107100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hoosier daddy
How are you doing with the new camera? Are these last shots taken with it? I have the same one and have a hard time getting good tank shots or any good pics with it. I am not much of a photographer so that is the first problem .

Those last two shots were taken with a Nikon D60 SLR, actually. It is easier to take pictures of the tank since those cameras have manual lenses and all that good stuff. But, I still suck as a photographer. Not bad for a first try though I think!

For the record, the Nikon D60 is $229 without lens and the Casio Exilim point & shoot is also $229. I imagine a good macro lens runs $300 or so....but I'm learning you definitely get what you pay for (again).

 

[sbs5950]

I just spent the past 2+ hours reading this thread and I must say you have definitely inspired me to do something very similar to what you have done. I am very impressed with your craftsmanship and attention to detail. It has most definitely showed how much time and work you put into your tank and stand.

BTW - even though I am a Texas A&M graduate, Auburn has always been my 2nd favorite college.

I am hoping Coach Sherman brings in TT to replace Kines (when he retires) to bring back the wrecking crew...

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14107430#post14107430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sbs5950
I just spent the past 2+ hours reading this thread and I must say you have definitely inspired me to do something very similar to what you have done. I am very impressed with your craftsmanship and attention to detail. It has most definitely showed how much time and work you put into your tank and stand.

BTW - even though I am a Texas A&M graduate, Auburn has always been my 2nd favorite college.

I am hoping Coach Sherman brings in TT to replace Kines (when he retires) to bring back the wrecking crew...

The biggest thing I learned throughout this tank build has been that planning definitely pays off. I'm glad I didn't have the money to start buying & building right away, it forced me to plan between paychecks. In the end it probably saved me tons of money, since there was less mistakes and more importantly less impulse buying.

The single best thing was the SketchUp software. It saved the most time & money and allowed me to completely design the cabinet before I ever touched a piece of wood. Then, when it came time to build, all I had to do was copy dimensions from the model and cut the plywood pieces and put them together.

It really was much easier that it may seem from reading through this thread.

I've had fun and continue to have fun.

Take care,
Dustin

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

Recently I bought this frag rack from "Captain Salty's" on eBay for about $12. I love it, it's much more attractive than eggcrate and is held in place with N52 (I think thats the right number) magnets. I also bought 25 coral plugs and some stainless steel bone cutters & tweezers.

I fragged a couple of my SPS colonies and put the frags on the Atlanta Reef Club forums and within 2 weeks I sold $150 worth of 1" frags. I'm happy about it because I can't really notice a difference in my colonies and I was able to get some money back out of the tank. Of course, I'm about to put that money back in when I buy new metal halide bulbs.

That being said, I'm about to switch to 20k bulbs. I just don't like the look of my lights after seeing a 20k tank in person. They are not as monochromatic and blue as I expected them to be....and they make the coral colors look SO much nicer. I have done some research and am heavily leaning towards the Helios 20k bulbs, which happen to be the same ones I saw at the LFS.

Here are some pictures of my coral growth thus far, sorry for the bad quality as I am no photographer:

Green Acropora "Starry Night"

Green Millepora (started as a 1" frag from YourReef.com in Jan '08)

Orange Montipora Digitata (started as a 2" frag from YourReef.com in Jan '08)

Tri-Color

Pink Birdsnest

Green Birdsnest (started as a 1" frag from YourReef.com in Jan '08)

Green Purple Polyp Birdsnest

Green Acropora (started as a 1" frag from YourReef.com in Jan '08)

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

I replaced my Aqualine Bushke 10k bulbs with the new Reeflux 20k bulbs today, and I'm really pleased with the new look. I wouldn't compare these to other 20k bulbs, because they're not dramatically blue like most 20k's. These bulbs are completely bluish white. My corals look SO much better underneath these bulbs vs. the old yellowish white AB 10k's.

Here are some pics, but I have to say these aren't very good representations of the way the color looks to the eye. I just have a point & shoot digital camera and this is the best I could get.

Before: Aqualine Buske 10k, bulbs about 9 months old

After: Reeflux 20k, bulbs are brand new

 

[uncleof6]

Good lookin tank, the "blue" with that white stand is probably outstanding. Just out of curiosity, have you considered going all T5? I "borrowed" your stand design a while ago. You can find it over in the sketchup thread. Never could find your original sketchup that was linked earlier in this thread, so I "winged" it. I am going all T5, so am currently trying to tweak the design, for the lower light position, yet still have the height to a point. And still have it look "proper?" A good sound design you came up with.

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14446238#post14446238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleof6
Just out of curiosity, have you considered going all T5?

Nope, never. To be honest, I have never seen a T5 tank that looks half as good as a MH tank (in person). They can look similar in pictures, but in person the shimmer effect and brightness of metal halides overwhelm any T5 tank, in my opinion.

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

I finally got around to replacing my two actinic T5 bulbs this afternoon, they have never been changed and have been running since October '07. So, they were about 16 months old.

I replaced them with Giesman (sp?) Actinic+ bulbs, which are 60% blue and 40% actinic. What a difference! With the old URI Actinic 03 bulbs, I couldn't even tell they were on when the metal halides turned on. Now, even with my Reeflux 20ks burning, I can notice an obvious blue hue in the tank from these T5s. I'd highly recommend this brand.

Switching gears, I've been having trouble with slime algae and bubble algae lately, I've been siphoning out as much as I can with every water change. Today I decided to try some biological control, so I picked up 10 cerith snails, 20 blue leg hermits, and 3 emerald crabs from my LFS for about $50. Hopefully they will help control the algae populations.

 

[Fig70g]

Amazing tank build, I was looking for "simple" stand design for a 30g mantis tank I will be plumbing next to my DT and stumbled on your build due to the use of plywood on the stand. Here I am 2 hours later, all I can say is great build!!!

 

[Peccavi18]

I have a man crush on that tank and stand! I was looking for ideas for molding/decoration for my stand and ideas on a hood redo, I think I may be starting fresh and trying something like this. I have a lot of the wood already sitting around and no shortage of tools or motivation(this build), now all I need is time.

 

[fish3232]

i love those r2 moonlights

 

[itsdarrow]

for such a beautifully crafted cabinet/stand it sucks to have washed out colored reef like yours. Maybe it just come across in you pictures but it really seems that all you corals are laking colors or are very bland. Maybe its phosphates in your tank as i see you having some algae problems as well

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14623475#post14623475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by itsdarrow
for such a beautifully crafted cabinet/stand it sucks to have washed out colored reef like yours. Maybe it just come across in you pictures but it really seems that all you corals are laking colors or are very bland. Maybe its phosphates in your tank as i see you having some algae problems as well

If you want to buy me a $2,000 camera and lens, feel free.

 

[itsdarrow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14623571#post14623571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
If you want to buy me a $2,000 camera and lens, feel free.

i dont think its the camera as i have seen many pics on here that look great with a point and shoot. It might be the settings your using.

 

[smoovie]

Can someone mirror the Google Sketchup File? All the links are down. Maybe at box.net. http://www.box.net/ Thank you.

 

[smoovie]

↑↑↑↑↑ Anyone? ↑↑↑↑↑ Thanks ↑↑↑↑↑

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

I'll email it to you. PMed

 

[smoovie]

Thanks a ton.

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

Just ordered a 2nd Vortech, should be here 3/27. Hopefully the added flow will help push my corals into another growth spurt. Got a deal at my LFS on a group buy, about 15 of us ordered the MP40w Gen 2 for only $315 each, brand new from Ecotech Marine. Twas a sweet deal.

I'd highly recommend Keen Reef to anyone in the Atlanta area or passers-through. Gotta stop in and see the store.

-Dustin