Travis L. Stevens
New member
Thanks Kevin. You should come by and check it out. BTW, what is that metal sander thing called?
Reefing on a Budget: 75g Tank Build
- Thread starter Travis L. Stevens
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Travis L. Stevens
New member
Next phase will probably be tonight. I'll be splitting the return, adding the LocLine, fixing the skimmer, fixing the refugium baffles, and doing some water changes on the other tanks so I can free up some buckets to take water out into 
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Well jeeze, no one told me I posted links to the same video! Here's the long one that runs a little over a minute.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Alright, last night was used to finish up the little kinks in Sunday night's events. I started out by splitting the return line and adding the LocLine at the end for manuverability.
A couple pieces after that picture was taken, and a lot of tweaking, we have a finished product.
A couple pieces after that picture was taken, and a lot of tweaking, we have a finished product.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Then, it was time to dig under the sump and work on the refugium baffles and the skimmer.
First, I drained out the sump, and managed to barely get the skimmer out. Of course, this type of skimmer isn't meant to be taken out, and I almost made sure it didn't. I then drilled a series of holes around the outlet of the skimmer. I got a little creative with the hole design.
The best part of all is that the skimmer works now. It's got just enough holes that the water can flow out without overflowing the skimmer. The water comes right up to the top of the PVC Neck. Here is a shot of the bubbles in action, and a video clip (you'll have to turn your head a little to see it as upright)
I then drilled holes in the refugium teeth to try to increase the amount of water that can flow over. I added two 1/4" holes to each tooth. In the process, I broke off a tooth, but that's okay. After plumbing it back up and running it, I found out it still wasn't enough. But instead of messing with it more, I'm going to leave it.
First, I drained out the sump, and managed to barely get the skimmer out. Of course, this type of skimmer isn't meant to be taken out, and I almost made sure it didn't. I then drilled a series of holes around the outlet of the skimmer. I got a little creative with the hole design.
The best part of all is that the skimmer works now. It's got just enough holes that the water can flow out without overflowing the skimmer. The water comes right up to the top of the PVC Neck. Here is a shot of the bubbles in action, and a video clip (you'll have to turn your head a little to see it as upright)
I then drilled holes in the refugium teeth to try to increase the amount of water that can flow over. I added two 1/4" holes to each tooth. In the process, I broke off a tooth, but that's okay. After plumbing it back up and running it, I found out it still wasn't enough. But instead of messing with it more, I'm going to leave it.
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Travis L. Stevens
New member
After all of that was finished, I had a little extra time to toy around trying to drill a rock. I've had some DIY Rock that has sat dry for over a week. When I drilled it, it still had water in it! I managed to get through it with a masonry bit, but it's not wide enough for putting a rock over a piece of PVC. I scrounged around and saw an old 1/2" hole saw for wood. Since I don't do wood work, I figured I can afford to ruin it. I ended up wearing the teeth down pretty good, but not too bad. It was a lot of effort for just one rock, so I stopped there. Here's the beginnings of the rock and pillars in my tank.
As I finished up and started cleaning for the night, I took one last shot with the thing entirely running. All I have left to do is make the rock, put it in place, and let the entire thing Kure.
As I finished up and started cleaning for the night, I took one last shot with the thing entirely running. All I have left to do is make the rock, put it in place, and let the entire thing Kure.
zachtos
Active member
Well I subscribed to yer thread months ago hoping to see some more ideas on your background. I made a custom background as well.
I also made my own LR like you did, I have no idea how well it's working because it comprimises maybe only 10-15% of my total LR. Make your DIY LR very small in size so it cures faster. It took me around 2 months to cure mine w/ larger pieces.
You worry me with only only one overflow drain, but the tank is quite small. You can see how I plumbed dual overflows in my 75G spare tank as well if you like. My 240G in the other room has 4 to be safe.
*click the lil red house to skim my major DIY setup, I did many things that you are doing obviously.
- In regards to your avatar... I can barely wait.
I also made my own LR like you did, I have no idea how well it's working because it comprimises maybe only 10-15% of my total LR. Make your DIY LR very small in size so it cures faster. It took me around 2 months to cure mine w/ larger pieces.
You worry me with only only one overflow drain, but the tank is quite small. You can see how I plumbed dual overflows in my 75G spare tank as well if you like. My 240G in the other room has 4 to be safe.
*click the lil red house to skim my major DIY setup, I did many things that you are doing obviously.
- In regards to your avatar... I can barely wait.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Sorry it had been so long with updates. Just so many other things can take hold at times. I'll check out your tank here in just a second.
I agree that second overflow would be nice and also make it look a little more symetrical, but I'm confident that this single overflow will work fine.
I agree that second overflow would be nice and also make it look a little more symetrical, but I'm confident that this single overflow will work fine.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Looks like you and Jess need to come stay another weekend. Sonya out did herself cooking a Strawberry cake for me and Kylie's birthday. It was even better than the lemon cake you had.
papagimp
COMAS Rocks!
While I can't say for certain since I didn't have any of the strawberry cake....I find it hard to believe that anything could be better than a lemon cake.....Lemon is after all the best flavor on the planet.
Either way, Sonya's awesome in the kitchen, those burgers and even breakfast was sooooooo good! Took me a week to be able to fit a belt on again :lol:
Travis L. Stevens
New member
And people wonder how I got so big... 
Serra
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10452081#post10452081 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
Lemon is after all the best flavor on the planet.
Adam- Are you sure you are not my son? Lemon is the best!
Travis- I thought you got so big cause you are so filled with goodness. So that goodness is mostly Sonya's cooking? She's pretty sweet so not surprised she can cook. All of us sweeties can cook.
Nick- Where are my angels?!
