ReefWaters' 220 Sun Room Reef

Normally we would prod you along with requests for updates & pictures, but you've already exceeded the 14 day set up standard set by some guy years ago, and at this point we really don't care anymore.

In the future, please make the effort to get your projects completed in a timely fashion. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day. Buh-bye. :wave:
































Just kidding, of course! I can't wait to see what's next. Get 'er dun!

Regarding the sticky baseboard, if it won't stick to the surface, then you may need the kind that doesn't have a sticky backing, and apply it with the bonding agent sold by the can. You trowel it on, and apply the baseboard.

A nice trick Weatherson used was to apply silicone around the entire perimeter so that any water leaks would be contained in the room and not be able to get under the baseboard to wet neighboring carpeting.
 
I originally bought the base rubber base board with the adhesive already on it. I did half the room and worked okay. A few very small spots popped off and I was able to super glue them back down with good luck. I left the rest of it out in my garage for many many months before trying to put it on the other day. The glue had obviously deteriorated because almost all of it is now on laying on the floor next to the wall. :rolleyes: So now I do have the adhesive, but its the kind in the glue gun. I will try this on a couple of feet and see how it works.

I'm off to HD to buy a bunch of crap for the light rack. If you're lucky, you might get some pics tonight.

RW
 
That stuff is a PITA to deal with. There is an adapter for the cartridge that will apply it in several beads as well.
 
Luckily I only have about 12 feet to glue up.

And I probably will silicone around the bottom as Weatherson did. I had thought about it but was worried about the mess. But using black, 100% silicone, should make for a pretty clean application dont you think?
 
Well, it can work but there is a problem. Silicone doesn't attach to some materials very well, like cement. One thing you might consider is doing what I did:

I applied a very large bead of silicone to the joint/gap between the sheet rock and the floor. Then I applied the rubber wall base over it and pressed it in. As you examine the wall base molding, you will see that the bottom edge is angled out a bit, So I basically filled the gap behind it with silicone.

Then I ran a thin bead of clear silicone along the top of the cured wall base molding and pressed it in with my finger. I did this because if there is any condensation on the walls, it will drip down to this edge and possibly wick behind the molding.

The wall base glue can be a hassle as I stated so go slow and make sure to fit the corners very well prior to gluing.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11851260#post11851260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kingsland
How goes the build?
Click to expand...

I got some work done on the light rack last week. It's taking a LOT longer to finish than I was expecting. But I'm really excited now about the results. I've come up with an interesting means of adjusting the position of the Luminarc reflectors within the rack. I'll try to post some pics later on tomorrow and explain it then. I know you'll just hound me for pictures anyway. :lol:

Work and my 50 cube have been taking up all my time. I've REALLY neglected that tank for the past year and now I've been struggling for the past few weeks to get the parameters back in line.
 
The light rack is going to be pretty simple. Its just 1" x 1/8" aluminum angle iron from Home Depot, riveted together at right angles. Here is the frame laid out on my work table.

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/?action=view&current=P1014410.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/P1014410.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/?action=view&current=P1014412.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/P1014412.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My original plan was to just rivet the reflectors to the frame. But I couldn't decide how I wanted to orient them. With the bulbs front to back or left to right? Or how much space to leave between them? And what if I ever wanted to add another Luminarc? Or some pendants? I just hated the idea of limiting my lighting options.

So I brain stormed for a while and came up with this idea.

I cut guides for the reflectors from some starboard and siliconed them to the frame.

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/?action=view&current=P1014418.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/P1014418.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The horizontal piece keeps the reflectors from falling in the tank and the vertical piece guides the reflectors left and right. I can orient the reflectors in any combination and move them left and right according to my needs. And there is enough room to either add a third Luminarc or add some pendant style bulbs at a later date.

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/?action=view&current=P1014417.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/P1014417.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/?action=view&current=P1014419.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/ReefWaters/P1014419.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I still have to attach 6 sets of VHO endcaps to the overhangs on the corners of the frame. I'll have three, 60", 140 watt VHO bulbs on each side of the Luminarcs. Each set of three bulbs will be running on its own IceCap 660 ballast. Then all I have to do is attach the hangers that came with the rails to the frame and I can hang the whole thing.
 
Last edited:
Very nice. Good idea on the starboard. Have you decided how to suspend the rack from the pocket door track?

I'm paranoid about electricity and water so I looped a piece of suspended ceiling wire through the bottom rivit holes on the reflectors and tied off around the frame. It is a larger diameter than needed but I had it laying around. That way they were not mounted permanently, but were still secured to the frame in case one was accidently disloged.
 
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I did the same on my 210 but I used Lumenarc A3 Minis. I actually wound up using 4 of them. It worked out pretty well for me.
How do the full sized ones fit with the VHOs on the sides? Are they trim or do they overlap the sides of the tank?

6-16-06066-1.jpg
 
Thanks Guys!

tanya72806.... You can get VHO bulbs in actinic, white, or 50/50. I'm starting out with 4 actinics and 2 whites. The actinics will be placed on the inside, closest to the MHs. The whites will start out on the outsides to hopefully even out the color through the tank and put a little white light on the outside edges.

kingsland.... The pocket door track came with a quick release bracket to connect the door to the trollies. I'm going to extend the length of the brackets with some thread stock. I think that's what its called. Its just a rod that is threaded over its entire length. I've got some small L brackets to connect the bracket to the rack with. I'm hoping I wont have to secure the reflectors like you did, but I may do it if I feel there is a chance of the reflectors becoming derailed.

WetSleeves.... the tank is 48 inches deep (front to back) and only 6 inches of it is hidden in the wall. The rack is 36 inches wide. So the lights will not hang over the sides at all.
 
lol I know what color bulbs VHO's come in asked are you using them or t5's lol ;)


how are you connecting the VHO on to the light rack ?
 
:lol: I figured you knew.

Im just bolting standard waterproof VHO end caps and mounts to the angle iron.

I'll keep posting pictures as I get done with different parts of the project. You know what they say.... "A picture is worth a thousand words."
 
Hey reefwaters, I'm already subscribed to this thread for a while :D I like your setup very much, and to be honest, I stole your idea for the Light-rack ;) I would like to see pictures of the finished light-setup when you're done!

Leonardo
 
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