Shallow Reef Build

[Joeb1983]

One more.

 

[Joeb1983]

On the tank.

 

[Joeb1983]

Light mounted. Came out just like I planned.

 

[Joeb1983]

More pics- only allowing one... Sorry

 

[thedon986]

That looks really good. Great DIY skills.

 

[Cdodge1]

Mmmmhmm! Excellent man, great job. Looks professional made. When are you gonna get some water in that sucker?

 

[Joeb1983]

It's 11" above where the warterline will be.

 

[Joeb1983]

Used clear rubber bumpers and painted them black to fill the screw holes... Before pic.

 

[Joeb1983]

After pic... Smooth!

 

[Joeb1983]

Other side.

 

[Joeb1983]

Front view with "caps".

 

[Joeb1983]

One last lit pic. Oh, and I added a bag of sand for some weight.

 

[Joeb1983]

Ended up spending a little time at ACE. Kept finding better things for the spacers. I eventually settled on some black nylon spacers. I looked high and low for black nylon 10-32 x 2" screws, but had no luck. Didn't have stainless either... Settled on zinc...

 

[Joeb1983]

Tank will be wet hopefully in the next few weeks. This is the mortgage pay check and I'm broke as a joke.

On the 15th I'll grab a sump and pic up a return pump.

I have all the plumbing stuff here at the house.

 

[Joeb1983]

That looks really good. Great DIY skills.

Thank you! I try... lol!

Love designing and building things. Always have. To go from an idea in your head, onto a scratch piece of paper to reality is a great feeling. Especially when it turns out like you envisioned or better!

I know this stuff is simple in most aspects, but it is just a fish tank.

There's nothing worse than paying someone to do something you could do and have it turn out like crap. Had that happen way too many times... :facepalm:

Doesn't hurt I came from a heavily blue collar family either.

 

[Joeb1983]

Haha at one point I was considering a DIY sump and did some extensive research before I chickened out! Lol. But yes I understand exactly what you mean. I'd have probably messed up royally.

Honestly, acrylic is expensive compared to glass...

The best thing I ever did was buy a 20 gallon long when they had the $1 a gallon sale. $20 + tax.

Picked up some aquarium safe silicone from Home Depot. ~$5

Went to glass shop and had baffles cut to spec. $26

Use something to hold the baffle(s) in place, lay your beads of silicone and wipe with your finger. Just like caulking a sink or tub.

If the seams aren't perfect its no big deal, unless your OCD like me. lol!

24 hours later your ready to rock. :thumbsup:

Obviously you don't need the egg crate or foam. (I get the foam pre-cut from Modular Marine).

 

[awdjosh]

Awesome man! Glad the light arrived safe and everything is turning out perfect. This is gonna turn out great man.

 

[Joeb1983]

Awesome man! Glad the light arrived safe and everything is turning out perfect. This is gonna turn out great man.

^ Yessir! Thanks dude; I'm pretty excited about how its coming along. Appreciate the deal on the light. Have to add it to the director. :thumbsup:

 

[gavinsepanik]

Looking awesome, gonna be a great build, cant wait to see some rock and water in her

 

[Joeb1983]

^ Me too! lol!

My buddy has a few hundred pounds of live rock in his garage. Ill hand pick some choice pieces.

I want to keep it open, but have a unique look to it as well. I personally do not care for the "pile of rocks" look.

I did add this tank to my director and set up the intensities and schedule. Obviously I will make adjustments as needed when its wet with inhabitants.

The red channel was causing noticeable spotting in the sand bed at fixture height, so its dialed down to 10%.

Sump will most likely just be a 10 gallon standard for the time being to get it up and running.

Hopefully I will make some headway this weekend.