Ghetto Rig

actually eagle, there's nothing there I wouldn't do myself!
loving that hood detail; my first mini reef had all the fluorescent starters mounted on a panel of chipboard, through the wall, in the kitchen; why? well I used to say it was to dissipate the heat, but it was actually so no-one knew I'd raped the skip at work (supermarket) when we replaced all the fridge lights, and I was using rusty old 30 watters to start 18 wt tubes.
believe it or not I ran it like that for about five years... Never blew a tube, never failed to start, and softies grew without a clue of what was going on!
 
A lot of my fellow reefers aren't too bright...the number of fire hazards in this thread is astounding. I applaud your intuitive designs and willingness to save money guys, but please be safe. It's not worth risking the home you live in and the life of your loved ones to save a few bucks on a cheap DIY setup.

Safe reefing to you all ;)
 
Just an update. I know it's not ghetto but it started that way... Did not like the LQQK of the first light and the wife really hated it and the wires hanging down from the 2nd light. Well the 3rd light LQQKs better but I need smaller fans and need to adjust the thermostat on them.


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here is a couple of pics of one of mine that works very well for being able to see on top of the water while trying to do maintenance or such I took an old hat and an old overflow plus a strap to hold it into place.and this is what I got it looks stupid but works great.View attachment 169089

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here is a couple of pics of one of mine that works very well for being able to see on top of the water while trying to do maintenance or such I took an old hat and an old overflow plus a strap to hold it into place.and this is what I got it looks stupid but works great.View attachment 169089

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Oh my god I'm laughing so hard right now, thank god my office door is closed.
 
saltbitten wins! OMG, I was laughing so hard my guts hurt!
eagle9252. Please tell us you are eventually going to place a nice wood facade over the top of that aquarium equipment. Very nice ideas for the inner workings of a light system, just please tell us your gonna cover it. LOL Clearly, someone in that house has good taste. The couch and other furnishing are lovely, and just clash with your "ghetto rig" This thread has had been so fun, I can't stop reading it. I think I have a picture of a "shark cage" I made to protect a coral from a coral munching angel. I'll find it and post it later.
 
saltbitten wins! OMG, I was laughing so hard my guts hurt!
eagle9252. Please tell us you are eventually going to place a nice wood facade over the top of that aquarium equipment. Very nice ideas for the inner workings of a light system, just please tell us your gonna cover it. LOL Clearly, someone in that house has good taste. The couch and other furnishing are lovely, and just clash with your "ghetto rig" This thread has had been so fun, I can't stop reading it. I think I have a picture of a "shark cage" I made to protect a coral from a coral munching angel. I'll find it and post it later.

Actually the below picture is a temporary canopy. It was made out of some scraps I had at the house because I did not like the LQQKs of the other one. The sump was to go in the bottom but the wife decided after I started building it that she wanted a shelf inside instead. So I closed it in some and at the moment it LQQKs like a fireplace without the logs and the sump is on the other side on the floor in the kitchen. Still not finished and it does need trim and paint.

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This is the most interesting thread I have ever viewed. I cant wait to go to lowes tomorrow....imagine what we can rig together!
 
I don't like having to continuously swirl my test tubes while doing water tests & the lab grade shakers are too expensive. So I made my own.

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Parts list:
-Small styrofoam box
-Knife
-A umm... "retired toy"

-Make a small hole in the box that the innards of the "toy" will fit into.
-Make an indent in the top of the box that will provide a tight fit for a test tube.
-Done

I can't find my soldering iron right now, but I eventually plan to put a switch on the side & clean things up a little bit. But for now this will suffice.
 
The last two entries are pretty innovative! I like the magnetic stirrer for kalk idea, and the test tube swirler made out of the umm... old toy.
 
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