45 Gallon Reef - first FTS shot with scape and a FISH!!

[phi delt reefer]

got the light used someone in Toronto was getting rid of one. Gonna order bulbs from ReefGeek. As for the plumbing - you pretty much stole my idea after i sat and stared at the stand for hours (wife isnt too happy). I am trying to sketch something in google sketchup right now. just spent the last hour downloading and watching some movies so I do my best to show you all very soon

Going to have the left side of the tank have a rim thats half an inch shorter than the other sides than an external overflow box in the supplies area. I have to adjust the shelf slightly but i want to see what the extra cost will be. Options cost money

[phi delt reefer]

so after about 3 hours this is what i came up with. I dunno how people get all the plumbing into the drawings so i just used some 1.5" cylinders. Feel free to help me figure out how to make the drawing better

[phi delt reefer]

now i need an MP40

tank is twice the size of what i had originally planned (23 long) so the two Korila nano's are going to be useless.

[MrGoodbytes]

You're going to have so much room to 'scape in that; it'll be great. Any ideas on rockwork yet? As for the overflow, are you considering some sort of grating/guard so you don't get any critters in there?

As for SketchUp: if you go to File-->3D Warehouse, you can do a search for models that you can import. A search for PVC plumbing yielded some promising results.

Graeme

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by MrGoodbytes

You're going to have so much room to 'scape in that; it'll be great. Any ideas on rockwork yet? As for the overflow, are you considering some sort of grating/guard so you don't get any critters in there?

As for SketchUp: if you go to File-->3D Warehouse, you can do a search for models that you can import. A search for PVC plumbing yielded some promising results.

Graeme

might throw up some quarter inch clear fish netting (as opposed to ugly starboard everyone in reefing seems to love )

I saw the drawing but how do you "Assemble" the pieces? I only watched the beginner movies so far. I only have the free version so i dunno if i can still do an align via centre points.

[phi delt reefer]

This is the dry scape i have had in my 23long for some time now. I want to epoxy it together then transfer it;



another angle

[MrGoodbytes]

I spent about 10 minutes or so messing around in the free version of SketchUp but I was using prefab'ed straight PVC and couldn't separate the one I wanted from the other sizes to show you how they assembled. In any case, you should be able to get them to fit them together if you use the tape measure to set a guide point. Then, you should be able to drag the corresponding point on the other piece so that it lines up with the guide point and they fit. There may be a clearer method to do this but I taught myself without the videos :P. Hope this helps.

Graeme

[phi delt reefer]

Thanksgiving was productive - ate a ton and worked on the stand some more. Painted and caulked the frame with some outdoor paint. Also made some adjustments and added a couple more finishing panels. I have three more panels to cut (right sump door is cut but we are going to mount with a piano hinge - which i still have to buy :angry



the left side is made of two panels, i still have to sand that filler - i am already $300 into this build so i cant keep buying full sheets of plywood for each side, lol. Plus you wont be able to see that side head on due the layout of my living room - AND its going to be stained satin black - maybe 5-6 coats. I like my black


door open - my goofy three year old saying CHEEEEEEESEEEEEEE to give a size perspective



had to fully notch the 2x4 to get this euro hinge to sit right. Used a 2x2 to re-brace it. The top portion of the stand will only hold electronics and test kits so its not a big deal. Plus the entire box has two 1/2" panels (left and back) holding things square. Theres also a 1/4" panel up top.


hood panel closed


hood panel open


heres the "holding" mechanism i used - ten bucks at HD as opposed to $30 for a mini shock



and pose...

[Rbacchiega]

looking great!!!!

[phi delt reefer]

[quote=phi delt reefer;17913893]Alright so here is the final design that i need some help with...

Some background on my tank design - its approx 40-45 gallons made of 10mm glass. The overflow will be made of 6mm glass. This will run to a 20long sump and the return will be a Eheim 1250. Should get about 200-250gph given my head loss (used the RC HL calculator)



I have a couple questions about implementing the I am going to have built soon if you don't mind assisting;

How should I place my bulkhead holes in my overflowbox so it fits all three pipes with regular tees (they dont make 1" sanitary tees from what i understand) and down turned 90s? I am planning on running 1 inch piping. So what I really need to know is how wide each overflow pipe with a tee and a 90?

I want it to look like this (but have tees and 90's on all three pipes)


I went to my local Home depot and they didnt have any one inch pvc so I am going to have to find it online or check another HD (they seem to have it at HD Canada online...)


Is the weir/notch i made deep enough? My tank is only 12" tall so I don't want to loose a lot of water volume or have very obvious water line 3/4 up the tank for I am going for that rimless look.

Thank you all in advance - your help is greatly appreciated.

Vince