diy pico build

[belgian_waffleman]

hew! that took a while...

I found that this thread has a lot of info.

Zachtos nano
Enjoy the reading...

Waffleman

 

[inkmates]

thanks waffleman have to check that out

 

[Newreeflady]

This is AWESOME!!! I wish I was THAT handy Of course, I don't have scrap glass and such hanging around, so you've got a much better avail parts list.

Interested to hear about the LEDs as well...

-A

 

[inkmates]

I'll post pics of the led array build as soon as the come in. Check with any of your local hardware stores that cut glass most of them just throw out the scraps some will save them for you and just give them to you if you ask. for small builds like this one you could just go to a dollar store and pick up some picture frames with glass for cheap. Most everything else is just trial and error and alot of reading and improviseing.

 

[Newreeflady]

I love the skimmer... I can't wait to see this thing in action!

I already bought an aga 2.5g and sand. I've got powerheads and heaters galore, but am considering a non-reef for this one. Perhaps a little swamp tank, haha.

GL! Looking forward to more pix!
-A

 

[inkmates]

started this yesterday

Ran a test on the skimmer lol it needs help so back to the drawing board for mods. Also thinking about adding a few colored leds reds and purples above the fuge area and maybe a green one or two above the display. happy reefing everyone. Ohh waffleman thanks again for the link read the whole article (wow was that alot of reading) hopefully I won't be haveing that many issues as I'll be retro fitting most of my lights from existing fixtures. Thanks again

 

[nate82]

rocks kinda cool you're gonna change the color though right?

 

[inkmates]

yeah that pics right after I shot the foam on still gotta epoxy and add some sand to it will post pics of it as soon as I get it done

 

[dreaminmel]

Did you do a float/sink test on that yet? You may want to make sure it will sink before doing the epoxy and sand as I know some people have had issues when using a lot of foam. That way you could trim some foam off if necessary without having to redo any epoxy/sand.

Looks great so far!

 

[inkmates]

I was waiting for the foam to finish curing b4 I did the sink/float test. I can't wait for the leds to get here. I'm itching to get it all up and running, can't wait to see it finished.

 

[inkmates]

I got my white leds in today. I'll post pics later tonight. Happy Reefing everyone

 

[inkmates]

more pics

fixture I bought to tear apart

after some dimantling

chopped the rings into these 6 led bars had to light this one up to see how bright it was. I think these will be nice on the tank but because of a cracked case on the original fixture I may be getting a replacement for free so I might be adding more. I must say that this supplier has been really nice to deal with. They offered to file a claim with fed-ex even after I told them that the cracked case wasn't an issue as I was just dismantleing the light fixture anyways. Still waiting for the blue leds to come in from Hong Kong. More pics to follow, Happy Reefing everyone.

 

[disaster999]

you thinking of using these LED for primary lighting? i dont think its going to be enough to keep anything happy.

 

[inkmates]

pics don't do them justice. If its not enough I'll just add more, no worries

 

[inkmates]

Just finished soldering up about 1/3rd of the led array. I salvaged 3 more white leds (came from a conversion kit for my mini maglite). I'm also going to be adding 48 more white leds as the company that I got the white led fixture from was kind enough to send me a 2nd fixture do to a cracked case on the first(even after I explained several times that it was not a problem and even told them what I was doing to the lights). I tested each section of the light after soldering it to make sure that I hadn't fried any of the leds and all tested good. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to link them all up and see what it's going to look like (1/3rd of it any ways)

 

[oceanparadise1]

coming along nicely ralph nice job bro

 

[tmz]

Really nice work. Looking forward to seeing it work for you.

 

[inkmates]

thanks guys, last time I did any soldering on a board was like '97. It took me a minute but I figured it out again.

 

[JimKelly12203]

I swear some of you people should be working at area 51 IMO. Some of the unique stuff you guys work on blows my mind.

 

[inkmates]

lol I was telling my wife I feel like a mad scientist sometimes working on this stuff