Jakes look down cube build

Aquattro · #1 07-10-2012, 05:47 AM

Ya, I think you'll get better color out of the corals, and with a single pendant LED, I think you'll get rippling on the plating pieces. Stop by next time you're around and look at my purple cap under the LED.
And with that range of color, I think the white/blue won't extract all the tones you'll have, whereas the T5 can be tuned better for colors.
It's probable that you can get around that with a DIY unit if you consider those things in your build.

windcoast reefs · #2 07-10-2012, 05:50 AM

Good point, i do find that my montiporas don't look as good under the LED's as they did under the t5's. Hmm well I like the price of the t5 fixture as well!

claymax · #3 07-10-2012, 06:08 PM

why not try diy leds with tight optics, and mount them really high so you can stick your head right overtop of the tank without worry. plus if you go diy you could add any colour you want.

Borderjumper · #4 07-10-2012, 06:47 PM

You will need to play with your over the tank return idea. The top of the water surface needs to be as still as possible in a look down tank. Thats why the one I'm putting together has the waterfall and return holes near the bottom of the tank. it wouldn't be hard to make a taller overflow box and use it as a return.
You need to come and look at this one for ideas.
S

windcoast reefs · #5 07-17-2012, 06:15 AM

Okay so there has been some progress on the tank!

I wasn't expecting to have a tank until august at the earliest, but it looks like I have one now!

I came across a shallow 40 gallon tank that was the exact same width as my current sump. My sump is a shallow seastar tank (26" by 19" by 12" high). It is only a year old and is pretty much the dimensions that I was looking for! SO I popped the baffles out and put them into my new sump.

Old Sump

New sump

I siliconed the baffles in with aquarium sealant and am currently waiting for it to dry. I plan on leaving it until Wednesday and then using it. I figure that will be enough time for it to cure, since it says only 24 hours.

windcoast reefs · #6 07-17-2012, 06:17 AM

Now I am unsure if I will remove the rim on this tank. It is made of 3/8" glass and is pretty new. Anyone have an opinion on this?

Oh and here is the tank almost all cleaned up!

Aquattro · #7 07-17-2012, 01:39 PM

I'd remove the trim. Over time it will collect salt and crust, which will detract from the top down design.

windcoast reefs · #8 07-27-2012, 12:31 AM

Okay So here is a little update.

I made the stand out of eastern maple trimmed with yellow cedar and mahogany.

Here is the frame being made

Here is the overflow. It is a single standpipe (3/4") which may sound a little small, but I have decided to go for a very small return pump so that it does not make the surface to turbulent. The overflow is made of 1/4" frosted acrylic.

Here is the stand a little closer to completion, with the tank being filled for an overflow test!

And here is the tank mostly full and starting the cycling process. I have not installed the sump yet because the silicone is still drying. SO for the next couple of days it will be running sump less. I will be running the system with around 40 pounds of live rock, and crushed coral substrate.