I've done that
Ghetto Rig
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Sciencing Daily
so much ghetto, so little time. I feel I am among friends.
Moebuis
New member
My wife left on a business trip so I took advantage by taking care of things that were annoying me about my tank. This way, I could clean up when I was done instead of as I worked.
First up was an issue that I had with my overflow box. When I drilled my tank and the box, I drilled too low so I could see the waterline just below the tank trim. I bought another box with intentions of fixing it, but it's a pain in the neck to swap out so I did this instead:
I got a piece of 8x10 acrylic from Lowes, cut off a 2x10 strip and used a heat gun to bend the acrylic in the shape of the box so I could cover up some of the teeth. Yes, that is a feeding clip to prevent it from falling off. It stayed up by itself, but I didn't want to worry about it falling. I'm hoping that coralline will grow over to hold it better.
Next up was to raise my filter sock higher. I was having trouble getting a sock to last a full 24 hours without overflowing since it was only out of the water by 2". I figured if I raised it up higher there'd be more pressure allowing it to last longer (still change them daily). I used a 4x20" piece of acrylic to make a new corner for the sump and glued it in place with aquastick along the inside edge of the trim.
This is one that I did a while back. For some reason, the folks at IceCap thought it'd be cool if they made the function LED on the Voretch so bright that you could see it from the next zipcode. This drove me nuts since I was too lazy to build a stand and too cheap to buy a stand better than an AGA pine to for this tank and all the light was visible. I took a stip of electric tape and covered up all but a sliver of the LED.
Note: I finished up hours ago and still haven't gotten around t cleaning up my mess
First up was an issue that I had with my overflow box. When I drilled my tank and the box, I drilled too low so I could see the waterline just below the tank trim. I bought another box with intentions of fixing it, but it's a pain in the neck to swap out so I did this instead:
I got a piece of 8x10 acrylic from Lowes, cut off a 2x10 strip and used a heat gun to bend the acrylic in the shape of the box so I could cover up some of the teeth. Yes, that is a feeding clip to prevent it from falling off. It stayed up by itself, but I didn't want to worry about it falling. I'm hoping that coralline will grow over to hold it better.
Next up was to raise my filter sock higher. I was having trouble getting a sock to last a full 24 hours without overflowing since it was only out of the water by 2". I figured if I raised it up higher there'd be more pressure allowing it to last longer (still change them daily). I used a 4x20" piece of acrylic to make a new corner for the sump and glued it in place with aquastick along the inside edge of the trim.
This is one that I did a while back. For some reason, the folks at IceCap thought it'd be cool if they made the function LED on the Voretch so bright that you could see it from the next zipcode. This drove me nuts since I was too lazy to build a stand and too cheap to buy a stand better than an AGA pine to for this tank and all the light was visible. I took a stip of electric tape and covered up all but a sliver of the LED.
Note: I finished up hours ago and still haven't gotten around t cleaning up my mess
UnlcleLuke
New member
I hope I qualify.
I modded everything on my tank and made it an AIO (sumpless).
I run a modded Marineland Emperor 280 HOB with the first insert to hold filter floss, the second insert I made a media rack for GFO and Carbon. I took out the bio-wheel and sanded off the fins on the bio-wheel impeller. I blocked off access to the return so ALL the water HAS to flow threw the filter floss first (hard to explain)
I modded and old AC70 HOB into a refuge, I modded the impeller for reduced GPH. I put up some mesh to keep everything in. I put a stealth heater and modded Oceanic skimmer in the fuge along with some cheato and other macro. I took a single gang box and put a CFL 6500k bulb in there on a reverse light cycle to grow macro/keep PH more stable. The Oceanic skimmer has the return grate cut open larger and gets more flow from the power of the AC70 current returning to the tank. Also the skimmer cup is drilled and I put airline tube to drain into a jar.
The hood is made from .020 aluminum bent to a slight curve (I unclosed the sides since this picture) with 2 VHO endcaps/24" bulbs.
I took an old 80mm PC fan and hooked it up to and old cell phone charger that runs during the day to keep my endcaps cool.
I built the stand out for $23 for the 2x4s outdoor screws and walnut stain.
I modded everything on my tank and made it an AIO (sumpless).
I run a modded Marineland Emperor 280 HOB with the first insert to hold filter floss, the second insert I made a media rack for GFO and Carbon. I took out the bio-wheel and sanded off the fins on the bio-wheel impeller. I blocked off access to the return so ALL the water HAS to flow threw the filter floss first (hard to explain)
I modded and old AC70 HOB into a refuge, I modded the impeller for reduced GPH. I put up some mesh to keep everything in. I put a stealth heater and modded Oceanic skimmer in the fuge along with some cheato and other macro. I took a single gang box and put a CFL 6500k bulb in there on a reverse light cycle to grow macro/keep PH more stable. The Oceanic skimmer has the return grate cut open larger and gets more flow from the power of the AC70 current returning to the tank. Also the skimmer cup is drilled and I put airline tube to drain into a jar.
The hood is made from .020 aluminum bent to a slight curve (I unclosed the sides since this picture) with 2 VHO endcaps/24" bulbs.
I took an old 80mm PC fan and hooked it up to and old cell phone charger that runs during the day to keep my endcaps cool.
I built the stand out for $23 for the 2x4s outdoor screws and walnut stain.
username in use
Sciencing Daily
Love the sock riser with the entire stick of epoxy.
username in use
Sciencing Daily
I think the silver metal hood is hot (maybe literally haha), it has a masculine flair.
UnlcleLuke
New member
Thanks User! Is my tank ghetto enough for this thread?
I think your tank definitely qualifies.
It takes Ghetto and makes something awesome out of it, showing how things should be done!
Little Lucy 27
New member
Ok a 15 page thread that makes you wanna read every word...GREAT!!!
jbird69
New member
OK, I'll play
10 gal POS tank - $5 at a yard sale
3x60 LED Christmas lights - $18 at Target
pegboard - $3 at Lowes
Rock sand and water going in tonight
Okay, we may just have a winner here!!!
THE most frustrating day of the entire year for me is getting out and hanging christmas lights (not too far off...uuuugh) Every single string has burnt out lights or is not working period. I cant help but think what a hassle it will be to redo that rig when it burns out, and it wont take long from my experience.
Classic tho!
phurst
Richmond Reefer
Oh I totally don't care. I'm more interested in seeing if it will support some zoas and softies. if so, I'll get a sheet of acrylic CNCd so the LEDs will friction fit into the holes. Then, it'll be easy to replace individual bulbs or an entire string. Hell a replacement is only $6, how can you loose
Phurst,
Every year after Christmas I mean to go get some lights to try exactly what you are doing yet I decide that I do not want to face the crowds so I guess I will have to see things through your tank.
I don't think they will be enough for corals but give it a shot who knows.
Do me one favor though please, buy some flashing LCD bulbs and put them on too and see if you get any type of shimmer.
I want to try this for a small FOWLR tank.
Thanks reef guninea pig/monkey.
I also think this is great because you are taking a POS tank, Christmas lights and then you are going to take the time to CNC the sheet to hold everything together.
Every year after Christmas I mean to go get some lights to try exactly what you are doing yet I decide that I do not want to face the crowds so I guess I will have to see things through your tank.
I don't think they will be enough for corals but give it a shot who knows.
Do me one favor though please, buy some flashing LCD bulbs and put them on too and see if you get any type of shimmer.
I want to try this for a small FOWLR tank.
Thanks reef guninea pig/monkey.
I also think this is great because you are taking a POS tank, Christmas lights and then you are going to take the time to CNC the sheet to hold everything together.
phurst
Richmond Reefer
I can tell you they do produce a nice shimmer. I sat the board on top of my 55 after lights out for a little while last night and there was most definitely a shimmer even at the bottom of a 55.
Definitely iffy on if it will support some zoas or softies, but there's only one way to find out.
Definitely iffy on if it will support some zoas or softies, but there's only one way to find out.
coralnut99
New member
Oh there's definitely softies that board of LEDs will support just fine. Shrooms of just about any variety, Anthelia will grow in the dark I found out, and xenia isn't overly demanding either, etc, etc. From the pic I think you can go even further up the light requirement ladder. Zoas might wash out or colors shift, but there's plenty others that will do just fine. In a bigger tank I can see them being used as cheap moon lights.
username in use
Sciencing Daily
Im really into this, cant wait to see it up and running. Youll definitely get some softies growing in there. If they start to go downhill, just put it near a window.
