Contest #1 Nano - New Rock Work

[superduperwesman]

So here are a few pictures of the completed stand. I just have the fans on a switch so I can turn them on if it seems like things are going to be hot. Not super loud because I only have 5.5v running through them. The top of each compartment opens which should make for easy access to the lights, tank and sump. I just decided to spray it with some tremclad I had lying around which is why the inside of the compartments is flat black and the rest is gloss. Probably should have primmed it first but whatever. The T5s are overdriven because I only used 2 bulbs from the 24" fixture. The lights sit about 5" of the surface of the water so hopefully they'll be bright enough but at least heat shouldn't be a problem.

Enjoy













Sorry the place is a little messy and nothing like some classy Styrofoam over the window for winter... ps for anyone who seen my 42" Sharp LCD TV in my old posts next to my 2 foot cube... someone broke in a stole it.. along with a ton of other stuff

[ElGuappo]

Very Nice cant wait to see it with the tank. so have you retofit t5's? what did you use as reflectors? looks like polished tin?

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by ElGuappo

Very Nice cant wait to see it with the tank. so have you retofit t5's? what did you use as reflectors? looks like polished tin?

Thanks, me too. I should get the tank Saturday

I don't really know what classifies as "retrofit"? I just ripped the old fixture apart and shoved everything in the lid... I think the reflectors are aluminum?? But again just whatever comes in those fixtures. The reason the reflector looks kinda crappy is because I was being lazy when I cut the old one in half and it got a little bent by shutting the lid because it hit the back of the stand.. but it's bent to clear now.. I mean... I custom fit it everything

[Scythanith]

Looking cool Wes. I give bonus points for building in useable storage into you stand design! But I take away point for the back ally lighting setup haahaa...jk! I had to run fans as well, too freaking hot under there without them.

Get a tank and some water in that badboy!

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

Looking cool Wes. I give bonus points for building in useable storage into you stand design! But I take away point for the back ally lighting setup haahaa...jk! I had to run fans as well, too freaking hot under there without them.

Get a tank and some water in that badboy!

Sorry... all of us can't afford waterproof end caps and nice little wire holders ahah

Yeah I guess I should have took a little more time cutting the reflector... and I guess I could have made the wiring a little neater... oops... but it's hard when you know that besides 1 little picture you're never really going to see it... and the few times I lift it up to feed and such I don't think the reflectors jagged edge will be my focus and I'm pretty sure it still reflects the light just as good . Plus it's hard when the fiance is hovering and asking why you love your fish tank more than her ahahah kidding... she's good about.

I also cut the fan switch to short so I was kinda limited in where I could put it. How many volts you running through your fans?? At 12 volts it was just WAY to loud for me. at 5.5ish I can barely hear it and I'm sure I wont hear it at all once I get the pump going. Are you overdriving you T5s??

I tried to make the stand as usable as possible... I always see peoples nice fish tanks circled by a cluttered mess of food, additives etc. so I want all that crap hidden so I figured the more cupboards the better. And I want super super easy access to the sump so that I'll actually do water changes and change the filter floss etc.

[superduperwesman]

Here's a bit of an idea of what it should look like with the tank in:

[superduperwesman]

Now all I want to do is go home and re-cut the reflectors edge and wire things a little cleaner ahah

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

Looking cool Wes. I give bonus points for building in useable storage into you stand design! But I take away point for the back ally lighting setup haahaa...jk! I had to run fans as well, too freaking hot under there without them.

Get a tank and some water in that badboy!

Ok so Scott's lil "back alley" comment has been bugging me from the start, probably because I know he's right ahah. But not only was the light installed terribly but it was too high up in the hood to light the tank properly. Especially because the hood is so narrow and close to the back of the tank. So I finally took the time to lower the light down and clean it up a bit.

Basically I disassembled the fixture cut it in half and reassembled it.

So here's what I started with:



and here's how it looked when I first put it in:





UGLY... soo here's how it looks now:





Unfortunately the large plug is still in there to power the fans but it's a lot better than it was... and most important it lights the tank WWWAAAYYY better

[Ryan_Lap]

Looks good. Cant wait to see the tank in there. You got any other big plans you care to let us know about yet?

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by Ryan_Lap

Looks good. Cant wait to see the tank in there. You got any other big plans you care to let us know about yet?

Thanks.. again, me too.

None that I care to share right now ... But thats because I just kinda make it up as I go along...?? ahah