Lookout's new adventure

[007Bond]

I see. Should hold questions... till you have time to get it all together.---Rick

 

[dguest98]

I would love to know more about your arduino setup, I have been considering adding digipots to my rheosatically controlled dimmable LEDS but am unsure of the process.

 

[lookout888]

I would love to know more about your arduino setup, I have been considering adding digipots to my rheosatically controlled dimmable LEDS but am unsure of the process.

I would love to know more about it to Its all in my head, Still have no clue how it will all come together.. but it will one way or another I will keep updaging on here with the proccess of what and how I do it.

 

[dguest98]

cool, yeah because just seeing the board and the chips is not enough to go on. Need some specs, parts list etc.

 

[lookout888]

Got a good amount done today. Need to get a few 90's to finish the plumbing. I really hope I get the pump seal kit tomarrow. That is really the only thing I am waiting on to water test the plumbing. Will also test power failure. Will finish up plumbing tomarrow morning, then on to some electrical stuff.
(Dont mind the blue tape. It is holding the flex hose in place until I finish the holders.

 

[lookout888]

So I hate the look of sand against the glass, but I like sand in the tank. So I came up with this idea. Let me know what you think. Also do you think 4 x 1'' outlets for my pump is to much? Should I reduce them to 3/4? I was thinking about adding another in the front also but not sure if I will loss to much pressure. Comments welcome!

 

[lookout888]

Forgot, The plumbing is done.

 

[lookout888]

I like the sump layout. I don't think you need that lip before the filter sock. I almost have that same design on my sump that i built. Once again, great attention to detail.

Wish I would have read this before i glued it all together. The lip before the filter socks creates a lot of noise... May end up using a dermal on it.. oh well. Also the lip after the filter socks should have been a little higher. That should not be that hard to fix though.
I have water in the tank now. Lots of room still when power is off,

This is with the snapper propeller on. The dart one is broke so I have to wait till they get the new one to me. The swing check valve works good.. but it sucks in some air during use. This may be solved with the bigger propeller. If no, I need to come up with a new plan.

 

[lookout888]

So I don't think I like the sea swirls. Not sure what to do. Maybe leave the two bottom returns, Add one more bottom return and remove both sea swirls. Then in the back left I could ad a mp40, This that would be enough for the tank. I am not sure where else I could put another vortech. Maybe 2 in the back left? Help me out pleas.e

 

[nightOwl]

Coming along very nicely? Are you planning on putting sand in the tank up to the level of the tile? Also how much flow are you going to have in the tank?

 

[lookout888]

Coming along very nicely? Are you planning on putting sand in the tank up to the level of the tile? Also how much flow are you going to have in the tank?

Yes, The tile area is going to be filled with sand. I am going to put my rock in first then sand. As for flow.. I am not sure yet. Trying to get advice if my return pump and a mp4 would be enough?

 

[007Bond]

Is there a space between the glass and tile without sand?

 

[lookout888]

Is there a space between the glass and tile without sand?

Yes. The space between the tile and glass will have no sand. All sand will be behind the tile.. hopefully!

Going to redo the plumbing and get ride of the seaswirls... I really liked the idea of them, but dont like how they look. I think I am going to get one vortech and hope that is enough. If not, then I will find room for another.

 

[007Bond]

Are you removing the two pipes that go through the tiles? What were they going to do if there was not any sand in the space between the glass and the upright tile?---Rick

 

[lookout888]

Are you removing the two pipes that go through the tiles? What were they going to do if there was not any sand in the space between the glass and the upright tile?---Rick

The pipes that go through the tile are staying. The seaswirls( On top of the tank) are going. The pipes that go through the tile are going to provide flow through the space between the tile and the glass. I may put a bunch of zoe's down there on the tile. Maybe one day they will cover it.

 

[lookout888]

Got one of the lights done, Have not tested it yet as I am still having problems with the pwm circuit. For some reason the UA7810 is not putting out a 10V signal. It may be that I had to solder so close on that circuit board. Going to look into having a etched board made. Anyone have any recommendations? Or is anyone any good at designing them, I have never done it.

 

[lookout888]

All leds have been attached. Broke both my 1/8 drill bits, so I can not do anything else on them until tomarrow.

 

[lookout888]

Well I spent some time playing with expressPCB. Not sure if this is good or bad as it is the first time I have made a layout. Going to try and etch it tomarrow if I can get eveyrthing I need to do it.

 

[lookout888]

Well first one was not bad but a few spots did not work. Going to try to do another one.

 

[lookout888]

Take 2, I went over a lot of it with a marker just to make sure. It made it a little sloppy but all the traces and contacts are there. Tomorrow I get a drill press to drill the 200+ holes. This new board will handle 36 PWM outputs. Really hope it works, Can start setting up my lights this weekend.