I'm Back (27gal build)

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Nuts has my vote....

Hmm... this is comming from some one who is squirting about 5 different solutions into his tank a few times a day for the last couple months and for what?

Steve

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

Hmm... this is comming from some one who is squirting about 5 different solutions into his tank a few times a day for the last couple months and for what?

Steve

No, no, no, it's some every day, some twice a day, others every other day, with shaking in between, so, uh, ya.....point taken

[StirCrazy]

Ok, so on with the build. I wanted a sump system as a 27 gal is kinda small and I want all the space I can get in the tank for rock and critters. On the same line I don't want a overflow taking up some of the space either so I am doing an external overflow. The only problem with this is I have to trip some of the back of the tank away.

So after reading the trials and tribulations of the Calgary crew with cutting glass, I went to pick up the dremmel bit they say is good...

Let me tell you it sucks the big one.. after 10 min I cut about 3mm.. so into the garbage with that idea.

so I decided to do it old school.

this is the prep work, removing the trim and silicone


then I got out the new and improved better than sliced bread glass cutter



Oh almost for got, I first tried to cut the trim with a exacto knife... don't try this.. I spent the next 10 min trying to stop the bleading and trying to decide if I needed to go get stiches or not. I was mad so I grabbed the dremel with the grout bit and bam ready to remove a chunk of trim.

so then i used a felt and drew my cut out area (lot of good this did I didn't stay on the line anyways) and scribed close to the line with the glass cutter.

here is the result befor cleaning up the cut.


I did find something that the diamond dremmel bit I bought was good for, smoothing out the edges.. I got about 10 min of smoothing in and I figure another 10 or 15 min and I will be good to go.

Steve

[StirCrazy]

I am moving on to lighting now, I had already decided to go MH and T5, but what kind of MH. SE throw out a lot more light than DEs do, when both run on a HQI ballast, but I have the problem if a narrow tank. I am thinking of only using one bulb in a pendant and mount it to the top of my hood so there is room for the T5s and to allow the pendant to cool properly. so I have to look at something that will be small enough to fit on the hood in a manor that will give me the best light spread.

so for position I am thinking the bulb should run front to back. now a SE reflector is longer than the hood will be deep so I could go with something like a Lumenmax 2 reflector SE and have 4 inches hanging off the back of the hood, or I could go with a reef optrix 3 DE and have it sit centered perfectly.

I am one who will always pick more intensity, but in this case I am letting looks win. The tank is only 18" tall so the intensity of the DE will be enough and the size will make it simple to mount to the hood.

I was going to put two pendants in the hood, but never got a reply about some questions from the guy who is selling them, so I will buy new ones so I get exactly what I am looking for.

Steve

[Canadian]

If you're willing to go with DE then take a look at the new Lumenarc Nano pendant (10" square):

http://www.reefbuilders.com/2008/10/...mini-look-fat/

[StirCrazy]

hmm, it isn't released yet, and is only 1" smaller than ther eother ones.. but I will ask about it.

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Ok, so another day another few hundred bucks

I ordered a tunze nano, some silicone (black and clear) some 3/4" bulkheads, a filter sock, and a fragging kit (needed to get over that 150 for the free calender

I also picked up a used tunze 6060 tonight.

I ordered the glass to build my overflow, thats probably going to come to about 30 bucks as it is getting 3 holes drilled in the bottom.

so new running total
1) two 27 gal tanks 75.00
2) Vertex 100 skimmer 244.00
3) water proof endcap sets for T5s 28.00
4) 3, 3/4" bulhead kits, tunze nano, two tubes of silicone, fragging kit, and filter sock 220.00
5)used 6060 tunze with magnetic holderr 80.00
6) glass for sump 30.00ish
7) calander FREE
8 Dremmel bit 11.00

I did look at some lights today, still not sure which way I am going to go.. weather it be DE or SE.

Steve