Ultimate 20G Setup Journal - Pic Intense

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8612928#post8612928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DSparks
Hi Hammer. Hadn't heard from ya in a while. Actually, I saw the bar at Lowes while rummaging through the metal section and worked up the plan while standing in the isle. I debated using the "C" shaped channel, but went with the flat instead (which, believe it or not, was more expensive).

I haven't been over to your thread lately. I'll swing over and see how you are progressing. Are you also using a PFO pendant?
Click to expand...

Hey DSparks...yeah, I have been away form the board for a bit, fine tuning my system. workiing on an ATO and also the dursos. I am using the retro fit system from hellolights. I dont think it is the PFO pendant.

Keep the updates coming and Ill let ya know when i get some new additions to my tank.
 
No real progress over the last couple of days. I did order two 4" IceCap fans over the weekend. I'm hoping to receive them this week and get them installed next weekend.

At PureBullet's request, here's a full tank shot:

fulltankshot20061127.jpg


And here's an overhead shot of the rockwork:

OverheadAquascape1.jpg


And to finish off tonights update, a short video of the rockwork with the new lighting (dial-up beware, it's 15MB):

Rockwork Video

That's all for now. Off to bed!
 
wow...with all this nice assembly, you will be thanking yourself you did it right the first time rather than constantly fixing and upgrading. Good luck
 
The setup looks great so far...I really like that tank/stand especially since it was all DIY...

One question though...the sump looks like it has a lot of water and not a lot of emtpy space left over...have you tested it yet to see how much water drains in to the sump when the system is off?
 
Hopeful Reefer, I have tested the sump level with the system turned off and both standpipes removed from the overflow box. It holds the extra water with about 3 inches left to go.
 
The whole family has been battling a cold which has kept us all wiped out. Now that we are getting over this thing I should be able to make some progress.

I'll be tied up with work through the weekend. I hope to get fans installed and my lighting on a timer by the end of the weekend.

I've noticed that my rock is still going through a lot of die off. It's probably a good thing that I haven't moved forward with stocking just yet. I haven't even tested any params other than specific gravity (I have test kits on order for Christmas).

I guess one small development is that my brother-in-law brought over an extra hermit crab from his tank. My son thinks he's pretty cool. It's neat to finally see some life running around.

I'll post a more detailed update with some pics after I get the fans installed and lighting squared away.
 
You mention work thru the weekend...btw, what line of work are you in? Are you a carpenter? DIY canopy, stand, etc look great.

Keep the updates comin' -
 
Thanks Ocean. No, not a carpenter. I'd have a long way to go before I could do it for a living. Actually, I'm an I/T Manager. I manage a team of software developers.
 
Well very nice nonetheless. I will be starting a stand/canopy for one of my cubes soon. It's great to get ideas for things here @ RC and your thread in particular has kept me interested in following along w/ your progress. Just think how nice it will be once you actually having something alive in there...
 
wow truely amazing

wow truely amazing

Just found your thread, I wanted to come up with an original awe struck comment of amazment but alas... everyone has already said it. Good job you really know how to do your research. Would it be possible to see the pics of your wiring setup behind the switches where the extension cord comes in? aswell as the task light install? I read through the thread so hope i didn't miss it, direct me there if i did pls.

ohh can you post the measurements for your stand....not that i want to build a similar one or anything...ya ya.. that's right....<hehe> :)

thanks
 
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Thanks Brewen/Nano/Amber. Nano, I'll try to get you some pics. You won't be able to tell much from them because its a tangled mess under there...

I had to work more this weekend than orginally planned. That's one of the few downsides of working in I/T. Needless to say I didn't make any progress on the tank. I'm still getting plenty of die-off from the rock, so it's probably good that things have slowed down a bit.

I'm expecting a bunch of tank goodies from Santa, so expect things to pick back up after the holidays. Until then, Merry Christmas!
 
Hi all. Long time no post...

I must have been good this year because Santa left me a bunch of goodies that will help me get my tank moving forward again. Here's the rundown:

1) Two Tunze Nanostreams
2) R2 Moonlight Kit
3) Kent Media Reactor
4) Test Kits Galore
5) Great Book on Marine Fish
6) Great Book on Marine Inverts
7) Kent Carbon
8) Kent Phosphate Media
9) Thermometer/Mag Cleaner Combo Thingy (Pretty Cool)
10) Add'l odds and ends

Today I installed one of the Ice Cap fans, the R2 Moonlight, and one of the Nanostreams.

I had to buy a 4 1/2" hole saw to make the cutout for the fan. These things aren't cheap, but well worth it if you aren't very steady with a jigsaw. Overall I'm happy with how the fan install went. One little irritation came from the fact that Ice Cap only includes 2 bolts to install the fan. I had to steal the two from the other Ice Cap fan in order to complete the install.

IceCapFan1.jpg


IceCapFan2.jpg



The R2 Moonlight is slick! It's a snap to install, and it provides excellent converage. You can swivel the unit 360 degrees to dial in just the right look.

Moonlight1.jpg


Moonlight2.jpg


Moonlight Video


I really like the Tunze Nanostream. I had some concerns about the amount of flow in my 20. After I installed the unit I realized there was nothing to worry about. This thing does generate a ton of flow, but the beauty is that it's not all moving in a small jet stream of water like with most powerheads. I'm even considering adding the second Nanostream to see what happens.

Nanostream1.jpg


Nanostream2.jpg


Next up:
1) Pick up a few good timers for the lighting.
2) Finalize plumbing (Replace SCWD with 2nd Nanostream?).
3) Work out some sort of lighting for the fuge.
4) "Officially" start cycling the tank!!!
 
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