dhogan

My sump design: http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?s=&a...st&p=134281

Probe Holder Since I had some acrylic left over from the overflow peice, I decided to try and make a DIY probe holder. I didn't have a heat gun so I had to use a propane torch but everything went well. Here are some pictures. Now all I have to do is cut some holes/slots in it to hold my probes. It will hold the pH probe, the temperature probe (both from ACJr.) and a grounding probe. I don't think I will have anything else but I will leave some room for future additions.

Thanks for the comments, I've been watching the 125 build thread too. Thanks! Believe me, I can't wait to get this thing setup either. Worst part is I'm going out of town tomorrow so I'll have to wait a little longer! :(

From Hellolights.com

Hood Construction cont. So today I worked more on the hood, I also ran the drawer runners. Here are some updated pics.... So after taking the board posted above and running it through the table saw to get some more edges on it this is what you get: Then cut to length and miter: Then create a piece to go on top of that for more molding Put it all together: What's left to do as far as woodworking: 1) Mount Doors 2) Build a mini control panel for electronic gadgets 3) Sanding, sanding, and more sanding 4) Stain and Seal Comments, suggestions, questions?

I would never buy a stand, its pretty easy to build something that is equivalent quality of petco stands. You also have more customization options, and DIY stands are often much stronger as mentioned above. That's what planars and joiners are for, to mill wood so that it is straight.

Sump Completed I finished the sump today, I decided to add two baffles. I also added some egg create to keep the big things in my fuge. The crown molding has been cut to size, now it just has to be attached to the hood. I am ready to have this project filled with water - almost there!

Pics of what?

It was cut using the table saw, running the board in at an angle, took about 3 passes (raising the blade on each pass).

PM Sent! :D Thanks for the comments - I am going to go with a dark stain. The one problem in my design is if there is no water in the pump then it doesn't work. I will lower the pipes on the mixing split to allow water to come in through there so the pump can work. I've decided to go with baffles and filter socks.

It's been a while since I last updated, I've been busy and out of town here and there. But here's what I've recently done... Hood Construction Construction of the hood has begun, it is going ot be a frame and panel just like the rest of the stand. I have made the sides and door for the hood. I did not take a picture of the door because it looks like the sides, just longer. I also created this side piece that wraps around the tank to hide the overflow box. It can be easily removed, it is held in at the bottom between a board and at the top a dowl was used. I really like how it came out and it can be taken off if I have an issue, just lift the hood slightly and it slides out. I also glued up the drawer, nothing exciting Finally, I am in the process of making some crown molding for the top Another but with my soda can sander...

New Toys I've got two new toys that I can't wait to start using. First off a moonlight kit from Fishbowl Innovations. I plugged it in, it is pretty cool and I like the adjustment feature. I will plug this into my ACJr to control when it comes on. Should be fun. And my other great toy, a ACJr with lab grade pH probe that I got from the WAMAS groupbuy. No other updates to show. I built a stand to hold my brute trashcan on, I'll post pictures once I get the floatvalve and everything setup. I also decided to add two more baffles on my sump, which I'm in the process of doing. I really want to get the stand done asap, then this project will really get going.

Sump Construction Instead of purchasing some precut class I decided that I would use my previously cracked 29 gal tank to make some baffles. I took it apart, removed the silicone. I purchased the glass cutter and oil from Hope Depot for around 10 dollars. The tools you need: -Safety Goggles and Gloves -Straight Edge -Tape Measure -Oil -Glass Cutter -Razor Blade -Clamps -Scrap Piece of Glass I took the scrap piece of glass and ran the cutter over it several times until I could hear a cutting noise, you'll have to do this for the first time only. I set up my straightedge using the clamps (don't clamp too hard!). I dipped the cutter in oil and ran it once through, you do not want to retrace your score marks. Once I did this I let the glass hang over the bench and pressed down firmly And presto, a nice clean cut piece of glass: Taped my new baffles in the sump, and the silicone is drying right now I decided NOT to go with any type of O/U setup. I plan to rely on my filtersocks and rock rubble to take care of any microbubbles. If this doesn't work then I will add an O/U type setup. Of course I'm not totally close minded so if you guys talk me into it I may still add it.

Saltwater Mixer Since my RO/DI setup is in another room I cannot have it setup the way I originally wanted to. I would have liked to have my tank plumbed to a drain, and saltwater/RO/DI water plumbed to my tank, to make water changes easy. That's not possible, so I decided I would make a 5 gallon bucket mixing system, since that's about all I'll need for a waterchange. Rather than picking up buckets and pouring them in I decided to implement a way to make it easier. That is the "beta" and I plan to have it even better. Most of it isn't glued since I don't have an empty bucket at the moment, but I'm working on that. I am thinking about running the setup externally, and attaching a base to the bucket to make it all inclusive, along with a mini powerpanel with a switch, so that the heater could be plugged in too, but I haven't gotten that far. Right now, one valve recirculates the water in the bucket, and the other would have an extentsion that would hang over into the tank. I could then keep this in the bucket and not have to worry about getting wet during waterchanges. Here is the test run, recirculating water inside the bucket (or a 20H for test purposes); And here is the water entering the tank (or the ground):

Equipment Shipment Got some new stuff from MD. Extra test kits, MAG2, scraper, grounding probe, foods For my sump to hold filter socks (the ones I ordered from WAMAS GB), I probably could have built it but just decided to purchase it. And a Tunze Osomolator to help with topoffs!

Drawer Construction I have a minor update, worked onthe drawer today. I had a major snafu, when adding the rabbet to the doors I had some major chipout, so I'm likely going to have to rebuild them. I think there was sometihng wrong with the bit, who knows, but its frustrating. I'll knock that out tomorrow hopefully, the nice thing is I don't have to rebuild the whole door, I can keep the panel, but have to rebuild the framing. Still sucks. Anyways Here are the 4 peices: Here are the dovetail joints: And the jig/router used to make them:

That would be good, but are those goign ot leech phosphates?

Whoops, I'm out of it. I mean't rubbermaid.

I'm limited by height, trashcan won't fit.

What are you guys using to store RO/DI water? I want to get a container that isn't going to leech chemicals. I am limited by height, I was originally going to use a ~30 gal tupperware that fit in the space, any thoughts?

Not really a real update, just put in my sump and tank to see how it fit and what it would look like... I'm considering some type of shelf to hold some items in the lower half of the cabinet. I just can't make it too big that it will interfere with the sump.

Stand Building Cont. - Minor Update Just took another picture of the stand without all the clamps. It is done for the most part, need to build the drawer and the framing for the drawer. I will get a shot with it at some point with the tank and sump in, just so you can see.

Equipment Figured I'd take some pictures of some of my equipment I ordered from MD. My AquaC Urchin in a 20H that will be the sump Part of my power panel, this will be used for the things that are always on, I am also getting a ACJr. to control everything else, I'll post pics when I get it. My locline which will be for the return: Two jager heaters My refractometer Misc parts, test kits... Here's my two T5 retrofit kits from HelloLights, hopefully the bulbs work, don't plan on testing it until I set them up Also have my FilterGuys RO/DI hooked up, don't have it totally set up. I will show you updated pictures once i get the resovoir and float kit set up. Cooking some rock so when I'm setup there won't be any cycle (or minimal)

Stand Building cont. Okay I got a good amount of work done. Built the shelves and platform that the tank and sump will sit on. Also built the feet, and added the trim to cover the black AGA trim... Only two pictures... The feet - notice that this shelf is lower than the frame, in a normal cabinet I wouldn't want a lip, but I'm going to caulk the corners so that any water that spills will just sit inside, instead of leaking to the floor. And the trim drying, once it dries i will show you a picture of it with the tank sitting.

Stand Building Continued So today I did the next step, glued together the fronts and sides, and now it is drying. Also completed the doors: Hope to finish base up tomorrow.