320g build/journey/experiment DIY :-)

[hillegom]

I can't take it any longer. I have to know how you soldered copper to aluminum.

[Greenmaster]

Originally Posted by Snaz

I love a good build thread and this one is great. Have put any thought yet into livestock?

Here are the fish in no particular order:

Bartletts Anthias
Yellow Spotted Anthias
Bicolor Psudochromis
Diadema/Purpleback Pseudochromis
Neon Dottyback
Orchid Dottyback
Flame Cardinal
Bangaii Cardinal
Spotted Cardinal
Ochre Striped Cardinal
Sankeyi Dottyback
Australian Black Percula Clownfish
False Percula Clownfish
Sunshine Chromis
Blue Mandarin
Target Mandarin
Flaming Prawn Goby
Orange Firefish Goby
Purple Firefish Goby
Yellow Clown Goby
Long Nose Hawk
Geometric Pygmy Hawk
Blue Hippo Tang
Hawiian Yellow Tang
Six Line Wrasse
Flasher Wrasse

I know this is a long list... This is my long, short-list... I will probably not be getting all of these.

[Greenmaster]

Originally Posted by hillegom

I can't take it any longer. I have to know how you soldered copper to aluminum.

It's not perfectly soldered but it's pretty good and it's filled in most of the cracks... I used a tiger torch http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...070#post535070

[mseepman]

Wow, this gives DIY a whole new meaning!! Looking good.

[hillegom]

Originally Posted by Greenmaster

It's not perfectly soldered but it's pretty good and it's filled in most of the cracks... I used a tiger torch http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...070#post535070

Yes, I saw the pic of you working with the tiger torch. The solder will move the heat efficiently to the aluminum.
Are you using a special type of solder? It sticks to aluminum?

[Greenmaster]

Originally Posted by hillegom

Yes, I saw the pic of you working with the tiger torch. The solder will move the heat efficiently to the aluminum.
Are you using a special type of solder? It sticks to aluminum?

It sticks to the copper and the copper is screwed onto the aluminum so it is held against the aluminum... if you took out all the screws it would still hold but if you gave it a little tap with a hammer it would release... so it is kinda sticking to the aluminum but not a very strong bond.

[hillegom]

yeah ok, I see. Thanks.
For where there isn't any solder, you could put on some of that thermal compound,,the type they use on cpu's (sparingly of course) But just by being in contact with the aluminum, heat will migrate from the Al to the Cu pipe.

I thought that maybe they finally invented some new solder.

[Greenmaster]

Originally Posted by hillegom

yeah ok, I see. Thanks.
For where there isn't any solder, you could put on some of that thermal compound,,the type they use on cpu's (sparingly of course) But just by being in contact with the aluminum, heat will migrate from the Al to the Cu pipe.

I thought that maybe they finally invented some new solder.

I was going to use thermal paste to "connect" my pipe to the aluminum but then I did some math and I do not believe it is needed or will make more then 1-5 degrees difference. But to attach the LED's to the aluminum you bet I will be using thermal compound.

[Greenmaster]

This is a cool acrylic top I saw on someone's set-up so I got some mesh from a guy in the states (if your watching this feel free to post a link to your thread).
I ordered my acrylic... and like my glass nobody wants to give me what I want (they say it's too hard/too much work/they can't do it cause it shatters at that width)... so I buy a saw and an 80 dollar blade and cut it myself (at 1/2" in width there was not even a chip). Then I put it all together.
The saw and the pieces I cut.


The first step is to make the bottom rectangle. If you notice the piece that I put on top of the box is the full width. Making the boxes staggered like that helps to avoid weak spots.


Then you stretch the mesh on the one side and glue/clamp the top piece on.


Then you pull the mesh tight to the other side and stretch it width wise at the same time (difficult to do solo without the right tools).


The you do either side pulling it tight (you may get some mild warping) then put the tabs on to make sure it doesn't fall into your tank.

[fishytime]

have to agree......great build thread and a great job on all the DIY stuff!