Jamie's 13.3G Custom

[yellowworld]

I've got a new project that I'm going to be sinking myself into and doing a lot of "custom" work with. I'm really missing my last not-so-nano tank, so its time to once again start over, just smaller. So without further a due let me introduce you to the four-walled beauty that will house the masterpiece and bring to life the inner working and creations of my imagination.

This is my new Mr. Aqua 13.3 gallon bowfront. She measures in at 23'1/2" long by 11'3/8" tall, by 9'1/2" at the outside edge and 11'1/2" at the middle of the bowfront

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2473.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2474.jpg



My plans for this tank are fairly extensive so ill break it all up like this.

The Display Tank
- Cut and drilled to accommodate an external overflow and single return
- Drilled for a second addition to the back wall of the tank that will house a tunze pump and controller

The Sump
- 4 chambers, 1st will be the inflow and bubble trap to the filter sock, 2nd skimmer and reactor, 3rd Macro algea / live rock rubble, 4th return pump.
- Separate ATO box and pump

The Scape
- The scape will be dry rock and foam creating a bunch of negative space in the front of the tank, it won't cover the full back of the tank just create more space by using up the un-used debris catching areas thats usually don't get flow

The Equipment

Lights
-DT, Kessil A150w
-Sump, Panorama Strips

Pumps
-Return, Tunze Silence 1073.xxx
-Tunze 6202.200 Massacred Nano Wavebox
-DT, if needed EcoTech MP10

Skimmer
-SWC 120 or BubbleMagus NAC 3.5

Reactors
-BRS Deluxe Reactors

Controller
-Neptune Systems APEX
-PM2 Salinity Monitor/Control
-WEM Wireless Expansion Module (For EcoTech if needed)
-Breakout Box (DIY Breakout Box)

Auto Top Off
-DIY 2 Float Switches, and Pump to APEX Breakout Box


So thats all I've got for you guys right now, I have a bunch of figuring, measuring, cutting and constructing to do, so stay tuned for the updates and don't worry I love my camera as much as I love my fish!

[yellowworld]

Look what I picked up today! along with a few diamond hole saws. Ill be starting to cut and drill the tank this afternoon! ill post more pictures of how it all went, stay tuned!!


http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2488.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2486.jpg

[yellowworld]

So i finally got the hole cut and the bulkhead in, man oh man was it nerve racking but its done and now its time to put the box on it then water test it this after noon!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2491.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2493.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2495.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2499.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2503.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2507.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2510.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2513.jpg

[yellowworld]

The wave box is on now, i water tested it and it looks solid to me, im going to let it sit over night with the wave running just to see if it builds slowly on itself and causes it to spill over the sides, if im all good then ill start to cut and drill the overflow, but i need to know the height of the water that i can get in the tank and still have a wave

Heres the progress so far!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2519.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2518.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2520.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2522.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2524.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2525.jpg

[Coralgurl]

Wow, very cool build! I love these little tanks.

[FishyFishy!]

That frikin wave looks huge!

[Nano]

Looks great, but didn't I already see thus on nanoreef? ;) did you post the link to the YouTube vid if the wave? Or am I just having flash from the past here? :lol:

[yellowworld]

That frikin wave looks huge!

hahaha thats cus its a bowfront, its really only about an inch or so

[yellowworld]

Looks great, but didn't I already see thus on nanoreef? ;) did you post the link to the YouTube vid if the wave? Or am I just having flash from the past here? :lol:

yes this is the tank that is on nanoreef, i just decided to start posting the build on here too, I can also link the video to the wave!

[yellowworld]

Here is a video of the tank right now, enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWhgEZJQ6cQ...eature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWhgEZJQ6cQ&feature=youtu.be)

[yellowworld]

I got the return line drilled and the overflow weir is cut into the tank so here you go!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2562.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2568.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2570.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2575.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2576.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2583.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2589.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2593.jpg

[HaZRaTTy]

Hey how did you cut out your overflow, I see you drilled 2 holes then did you just use a glass etch to go between or did you use the drem with a bit to cut it out? Details as I'm in the process of building a Nano and I am scratching my head how I'm going to create the overflow.

[yellowworld]

Hey how did you cut out your overflow, I see you drilled 2 holes then did you just use a glass etch to go between or did you use the drem with a bit to cut it out? Details as I'm in the process of building a Nano and I am scratching my head how I'm going to create the overflow.

I drilled two holes with a glass hole saw only because i wanted smooth corners and it think it looks better, then i used my dremel with glass cutting wheel to slowly cut out the over flow from the holes, you can see in one of the pictures im cutting the overflow into the back.

Im going to post the rest of the overflow right now so read on to see what i did

[yellowworld]

So I decided to drill the holes for my overflow and put together the plumbing for it, after some thinking and some cutting to make it all work in a small space, this is what i have so far

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2603.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2608.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2609.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2611.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2616.jpg

[yellowworld]

Today I got quite a bit of stuff done, I got the glass for the overflow cut and put together, I picked up a peice of black acrylic to put inside the tank as a background to cover everyything up and i got the plumbing all together for the backside of the tank

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2617.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2619.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2620.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2621.jpg

More to come as it all goes together tonight

[yellowworld]

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2622.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2623.jpg


Can you spot the snooper??
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2626.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2631.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2632.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2633.jpg

[toytech]

This tanks putting the space shuttle to shame , it is a fancy piece of kit. Looks like youve been thinking about this for a while , its going to be epic.

[yellowworld]

This tanks putting the space shuttle to shame , it is a fancy piece of kit. Looks like youve been thinking about this for a while , its going to be epic.

hahaha thank you very much! I have been mauling it over now for about 5 months as to how im going to do things, the wave box was a big stumper for how i was going to get it to work and work well

[Trocar70]

That's pretty cool, good luck with the rest of the build!

[yellowworld]

I did some more work today and got the wavebox covered up

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2636.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2637.jpg



Then i couldnt wait any longer and the minute i had finished my overflow I get it all wet to see how it would work and let me tell you, it went just swimmingly!! take a look


http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2639.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2641.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2642.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2643.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2645.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2646.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2647.jpg


and last but not least...VIDEO PROOF (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d28d7SK5pW8&feature=youtu.be) THAT IS REALLY HAPPENED

[JDigital]

Very cool tank! Nice work on the DIY too. :biggrin:

[yellowworld]

Very cool tank! Nice work on the DIY too. :biggrin:

Thanks very much, I think i like building and designing the tank and seeing it all come together and work more haha

[Ginu]

Awesome setup so far and that wave is crazy in that little tank.

The wave box is awesome (what kind of pump did you use for that) and do you find that it gets noisy with the water flowing into overflow as the wave hits it?

[FishyFishy!]

do you find that it gets noisy with the water flowing into overflow as the wave hits it?


Yeah thats what I was wondering too. Do you hear a water trickle every time the water overflows into the overflow section?

(Don't have sound on my comp at work, so not sure if the video you posted had sound lol)

[yellowworld]

Yeah thats what I was wondering too. Do you hear a water trickle every time the water overflows into the overflow section?

(Don't have sound on my comp at work, so not sure if the video you posted had sound lol)

Not really actually, becuase the water level in the tank is above the top of the overflow when the wave comes it just sends a little extra out, there really isn't any noise at all, plus the height of the water in the overflow box is high enough to keep it from spashing or gurgling or anything, the only noise i can hear in that tank is the hum or the pumps


also i used a tunze nano wavebox that i pulled apart to make my wavebox, its just a 6206.200 turnbell pump

[yellowworld]

Update!

ok so today was pretty good all around however I had a hickup and its set me back some cash and some time but id rather have it happen now then later. It was my own fault I wasnt quite thinking and I went to put the pluming together with the bulkhead tightened up and on the last joint of the last drain this happened

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2649.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2648.jpg


But after a long moment of staring with a blank look of derision and disappointment at my stupidity, i pulled it off the tank and and started to do something I couldnt break haha

I covered the white tube inside my wavebox with some black ORCA marine glue, I used it because that stuff is like tar it sticks to everything in one coat, i put some on my finger and began to smear it around, then i covered the white impeller of the pump too! everything is black now!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2651.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2652.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2655.jpg


Then after I had gotten over my newly found irrational fear of plumbing and armed with me new found knowledge of tightened bulkhead is finished up my return line

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2650.jpg

[nerdz]

Wow, great build!

That is the smallest bean animal overflow I've ever seen!

[yellowworld]

Wow, great build!

That is the smallest bean animal overflow I've ever seen!

hahaha yeah it took a little thinking to make sure it would all fit, i also had to try it out just to see if it was possible with only 1/2" pipe haha but it all works perfectly...now

[yellowworld]

Alright so I managed to save as much as i could and as a result the ball valves sit just slightly lower but its all good everything is back on track, and i got a thicker piece of glass this time and i think I'm becoming very proficient at drilling glass i knocked out those three holes in 10 minutes haha

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2662.jpg

[Ginu]

Sorry to hear about the mishap of the overflow box, although it looks like you're right back on track with the new one.

I also would like to suggest some sort of reinforcement for the three pipes coming down to the sump as those pipes will become something very similar to a crow bar once they are long enough and any tap or accidental light hit might either break the box again or blow out the back glass wall. I find that the easiest way to fix this by cutting a wooden block and attaching it to the back of the stand with the pipes resting and anchored to this block.

I really like that wave maker...

[Beano1169]

That thing is awesome looking! I might have to hire you to build me something like that in the near future! hahah brilliant work!

[yellowworld]

Sorry to hear about the mishap of the overflow box, although it looks like you're right back on track with the new one.

I also would like to suggest some sort of reinforcement for the three pipes coming down to the sump as those pipes will become something very similar to a crow bar once they are long enough and any tap or accidental light hit might either break the box again or blow out the back glass wall. I find that the easiest way to fix this by cutting a wooden block and attaching it to the back of the stand with the pipes resting and anchored to this block.

I really like that wave maker...

Thanks for that Ginu! I was thinking much the same thing about them being a problem but didnt really know how to tackle it! Thanks for the idea Ill have to look into it, im not to sure how I can do it just yet becuase the tank with be sitting on my desk but the wood block sounds great! thanks very much its greatly appreciated

[Ginu]

Np, thats why the tank journals are good to document :) (i should start my own thread as well)

I think you have a few options here:
1. if you would like the tank to sit flush with the desk then you need a wood block of the same width as the overflow box and you rest the pipes against it and also you can fabricate a bracket of some sort holding each tube in place taking the possible tension off the overflow box
2. you can bracket the tubes directly to the desk if the tank comes out the length of the desk
3. I've seen people bracket the tubes against the wall which in my opinion is not advisable as maintenance is always required and not being able to move the desk is not a good option.

Thanks for that Ginu! I was thinking much the same thing about them being a problem but didnt really know how to tackle it! Thanks for the idea Ill have to look into it, im not to sure how I can do it just yet becuase the tank with be sitting on my desk but the wood block sounds great! thanks very much its greatly appreciated

[yellowworld]

HELLLLLLOOOOO LABOUR DAY LONG WEEKEND! time to get serious now, i got a bunch of stuff I want to get done and ill start if off with a trip to the hardware store.

I picked up an ikea Gallant rolling filing cabinet that im going to gut and use as my sump stand, its going to match the rest of the desk and blend perfectly take a look

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2675.jpg

Then I gutted it and started to make all the drawer faces one solid door

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2673.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2672.jpg

After that was done I used my dremel to recess the hinges so that the door would be centred again, then i put a magnet lock on it and voila!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2674.jpg

I still need to paint and seal the inside of the cabinet to make the wood water tight but its getting closer!



Then I moved my attention to the desk and how I was going to run my plumbing and this was my solution

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2665.jpg

I think it worked out really well, kept everything nice and clean i think.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2667.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2670.jpg


Then my ADD kicked in and i put some felt pads on the bottom of my tank cus it wasnt to fun to move around it liked to scratch the table haha

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2669.jpg



More to come tonight!

[yellowworld]

So the labours of the labour day long weekend are over and here is what i have to show for it!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2676.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2677.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2678.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2680.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2683.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2684.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2685.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2686.jpg


Still more work to be done, I have to go pick up a 15g long tomorrow and start to plumb and baffle the sump, once that is done i need to paint and seal the inside of the cabinet and run wire for a separate GFI plug that will power the cabinet and the whole tank. Then its on to the wet stuff and aquascaping!

[DCDN]

Looks great so far. With the effort you've put in so far I'm looking forward to what the tank will look like stocked

[Ginu]

Looks really good, looking forward to the next steps. The stand looks awesome and blends in completely.

[daplatapus]

Awesome build man, keep up the good work!

[riceboy]

I really like this build very detailed and straight up diy, what are you going to use for lights? oh yeah you might wnat to put some egg crate at the overflow, or most of your fish will end up in there lol

[nerdz]

Hi

l have a question about your acrylic background. Did you put the bulkhead gasket behind it against the glass or in front of acrylic? I guess siliconing the two layers should make a seal, lm just worried about leaks at the bulkhead with it going through 2 separate layers.

Also, can you recommend where to buy a 20"x20" sheet?

Thanks for any help

[nerdz]

Any more progress updates on this cool build?

[gregzz4]

Nicely done build so far, lots of details and such

Keep the pics comin' :smile:

[nerdz]

This is a neat little DIY build.

If anyone is interested in his current updates you can see them on Nano-reef.com

[Ryan]

Can you post a link

[nerdz]

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/308250-jamies-133g-custom/page-7 Can you post a link

[lastlight]

no need to leave canreef he keeps his contest thread updated =)

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=90166

[nerdz]

no need to leave canreef he keeps his contest thread updated =)

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=90166

Thanks, this just seemed to die out... thanks for the "local" link!

[yellowworld]

Thanks, this just seemed to die out... thanks for the "local" link!

Hey guys haha yeah this thread did kinda die out, updating three threads was just to much plus my nano contest thread and this one would have been the exact same haha

But yeah my nano contest thread is here (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=90166)

and my Nano-reef thread is here (http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/308250-jamies-133g-custom/)

Thanks everyone for following along and Merry Christmas to everyone!

[yellowworld]

Hey everyone! first off let me say I'm so incredibly sorry not posting anything in a very long time - at least in this thread! but in an effort to consolidate two threads into one, ill be grabbing the stuff from my nano contest thread and stuffing it into here along with a lot of updated stuff too! so if you don't mind holding on and bearing with me ill get everything sorted out and updated!

[yellowworld]

alright so here we go! ill try and make this thread look seamless from start to finish!

this is when i started working on the filing cabinet turned sump stand here is the progress so far,

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2930.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2931.jpg

Then I took out all the hardware and the drawers
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2673.jpg

After gutting the cabinet i took all the fronts off the drawers and used them to make the door so that it still looked like the original cabinet
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2672.jpg

Then I added a magnet lock
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2674.jpg

Then I drilled 4 holes in the top of the stand for the overflow and return plumbing to go though
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2680.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2937.jpg

Then it was off to paint!
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2933.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2935.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2939.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2938.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2936.jpg

The next thing for me to is wait until its all try then run a seam of caulking around the bottom edge to make it water tight and then most likely cut one or two more holes in the back to add computer fans for a little air movement and circulation.

[yellowworld]

The stand is all dry now and i think its time to introduce the tank behind the tank the reason why ill be able to keep the display tank so clean and unhindered with equipment and clutter…MY SUMP!!

its a standard 15g tank that when all is said and done will hold an aditional 7 gallons bringing my total to 20g

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2942.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2940.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF2941.jpg

[yellowworld]

So earlier on i broke the back of my tank when i ran all of the plumbing in hard line with zero room to move…yes I'm a dumby somedays

but i got that all sorted out and this what i used

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3544.jpg

[yellowworld]

Next i was off to get the overflow and glass fixed and the fans all wired up and put into the sump stand



http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3545.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3548.jpg

Then i got to putting the whole thing together and i was trying to match the seams to the tank, very minimalistic, and considering its not going to have much volume in the overflow i think ill do just fine

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3549.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3551.jpg



Now do you guys remember the fans and the heater vent that i had on the desk in the previous picture? well this is what I plan on doing with those. (A big thanks to Enigma for the idea on the heater vent!)

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3553.jpg

Then i wired them up rather crudely to a USB to make sure everything worked and was blowing the right way

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3552.jpg

Then i got them all secured and wire tucked away, now they are ready for the transplant into the sump cabinet

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3556.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3555.jpg

[yellowworld]

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3557.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3558.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3559.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3560.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3561.jpg

[yellowworld]

Then i got started on the glass that needs to be drilled and cut for an overflow and wave box, then the plumbing!

The hole for the wave box

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3562.jpg

Next is my return line

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3567.jpg

Then the overflow, untill i realized that i needed a new dremel bit to cut the glass

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3568.jpg

soooooo then i moved on to the plumbing!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3563.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3565.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3564.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3566.jpg

[yellowworld]

Hey guys, heres an update on the tank! ITS ACTUALLY A TANK NOW!!!

i spend the last day cutting and setting and being stupidly anal about the silicone but its all done now! i just have to clean it up a bit and then its ready for the last stages of plumbing and then water!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3643.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3645.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3644.jpg


I also got my sump plumbed to the bottom of the desk, i used flex line to make sure that if anything shifted it would have the room to move and not break things and stress stuff. I also plan on putting in hard wood in the house in the next 4 months so im not sure if that will effect it in anyway but i thought i would be safe rather then sorry

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3648.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3647.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3646.jpg

[yellowworld]

This morning presented itself with a perfect oppertunity to get outside and not freeze! so here is the final product in all its tanky glory!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3655.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3656.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3652.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3650.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3651.jpg

And here is my shop foreman!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3658.jpg

[yellowworld]

I finally was able to the the finishing touches on the plumbing and got the tank fully setup and wet today!!! I still have the baffle the sump and get to Edmonton to pick up my new Apex, then get it installed and setup, then its on to the foam and rock wall!!!!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3692.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3691.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3690.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3689.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3688.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3687.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3686.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3685.jpg

[yellowworld]

Hey everyone so here is an update for you! I went and picked up some aluminum today to make a mount for all my controllers and switches, I modified the tracks that the original drawers for the filing cabinet were on to make a sliding pannel that will pull out of the cabinet to let me have access to everything on the panel, its not done yet. I still have to mout the last apex box and the netgear wnce2001 i just ordered to get it all online and then run all the wires and plug it all in but so far its looking good everything fits snug as a bug, and when its slid in i miss the return line by only a fraction of an inch haha weeeeoooo for measuring haha

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3711.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3713.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3714.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3715.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3716.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3718.jpg

But thats all for tonight folks, I have to run. I have a date with my gorgeous girlfriend!!

[yellowworld]

So i got a bunch of stuff done last night, and there is a lot more to come today and the next day. I got the rest of my electronics mounted and ready to be wired up, my apex is online now and waiting to be programmed

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3732.jpg

I also got my probes plumbed into my return line on the downside that will feed my fuge, i also finished that line as well too. believe it or not getting them to fit took me close to an hour and a half!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3733.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3734.jpg

today ill be finishing the baffling in the sump and then wiring the cabinet with a GFCI plug to run everything!!

[yellowworld]

Alright guys! today has been a good start so far, I got all the glass for the sump ready and siliconed in place

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3738.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3739.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3740.jpg

Then i got it put inside the cabinet and started putting my equipment in and sizing things up

1. Back right corner is the Tunze ATO

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3743.jpg

2. Right infront of the ATO chamber is the return pump, and to the right of the return and ATO is the fuge

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3745.jpg

3. Next came the skimmer

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3746.jpg

4. Then right at the front is the down pipes that feed the whole sump

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3747.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3748.jpg

5. the only thing left to do is to cut a piece of acrylic to sit just on the otherside of the tubes to hold my filter sock, then its water time!!


While i had the sump out i took the chance to wire in my GFCI plug and then cut up an extension cord to wire the whole box to one single plug that i can plug into an existing outlet under my desk

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3736.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3742.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3749.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3751.jpg

[yellowworld]

Hey everyone, time for an update!! over the last day or so i have been slowly turning this

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3913.jpg

into this!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3919.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3920.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3921.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3922.jpg

I still have a ton more work to do on it to make it look perfect and fit the same way, i also need to try out a few things to make the foam look identical to the rocks then epoxy it all and cover it in sand but its getting there!

ohh and yesterday this showed up in the mail! its 10 feet of 3/4 inch braided cable wrap! now i can clean up my wiring and make it look pretty too!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3914.jpg

All clean!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3917.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3918.jpg

[yellowworld]

So for all of you guys out there that just cant resist seeing what the rock wall is turning out like, here is a little sneak peak!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3940.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3939.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3938.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3937.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3936.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3935.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3934.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3933.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3932.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3931.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3930.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3929.jpg

okay so i took more then a few haha but i should be getting epoxy and sand on it in the next week and then ill let it sit in a bucket of saltwater for a week or so to make sure that all the dust is off the rock and that the epoxy did its job, then its on the Light and water!!!

[yellowworld]

Alright so here is the finished product, in its final resting place

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3968_zps57ca921b.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3973_zps579a0166.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3974_zps28cb19ce.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3975_zps2e5290df.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3976_zps47c82f58.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3977_zps97819fd3.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3978_zpse135868a.jpg

So now that that project is knocked off the list I have a few things left to go before splash down can commence!!

I still have to build an acrylic shield that will house my 90 degree cords for everything to get plugged into, and will also fully encapsulate the rest of my electronics so they don't end up with water damage from being in the sump cabinet,

and then i need to pick up, a two little fishies phosban reactor to run GFO and carbon

and then i need to pick up a 150w heater

and last but certainly not least i need to pick up a tunze 1073.050 silence pump to feed the reactor, the return to the tank, the refugium and the water fall

Then i can start to cycle the tank as i build the LED's to light it all up!!

[yellowworld]

Hey guys, i hope you all had a great christmas!! I got some more stuff done over the holidays. were getting close to getting saltwater into it now!! I drained all the fresh water out of the tank and the sump, I also plumed a Phosban 150 Reactor into my return line and cleaned up the extra wireing on the back side of my tank! Enjoy!!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3984_zps9a3f4e44.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3985_zps0c61b9fa.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3986_zpscefb328e.jpg

[yellowworld]

Hey everyone, so as promised I'm back with pictures for you guys. I spend the last 24 hours cutting and reworking my rock wall and when i finally stood back and looked at my new creation this is what I saw. Ill take you though everything from start to finish.

So i used:
A Hammer
A Chisel
A Hack-saw with a masonry blade
A Can of "Touch n' Foam" Landscape from Lowe's
and a lot of time haha

This is where i started with the old wall that you've all seen before

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3954_zps4076d67b.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF3955_zpsbfeb2730.jpg

Then came the destruction of the wall, i cut off the upper rock that was out of the water and the moved it over to determine where i wanted it to sit

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4436_zpse2adcade.jpg

Once i figured that out i had to cut some off the back of the rock so that it sat flush with my wall - thats where the hack saw came into play

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4435_zpsc52cd3d2.jpg

After a few hours of cutting dow the rock i was finally ready to start putting it back into place, but I knew that i wasn't happy with the size of the pond so out came the chisel and hammer and away i went until i had chunked out a very substantial portion of the work i had previously done

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4441_zps961cd429.jpg

Then out came the foam and it was time to start rebuilding...

This is the new pond

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4446_zps8b1ffd21.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4447_zpsa228c3ab.jpg

This what i ended up doing to the rock that was in the middle of the tank - I hammer out quite a bit of it and moved it around until i found a place for it

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4449_zps116665fc.jpg

I added a leg to the ledge just for looks

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4443_zps833ff68c.jpg

And finally this is the new scape from the front

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF4442_zps4500f86c.jpg

[yellowworld]

Alright so now that I have something to update you on Ill update you haha I came home from work last night and found a lovely big brown box at my front door! It had all kinds of goodies in it

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5223_zps40b54c7b.jpg

[yellowworld]

So I got the RO/DI system done and installed and its now making some sweet pure water!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5229_zps19645f64.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5230_zps84a8dad6.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5231_zpsb160d331.jpg

On the way in...

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5234_zps5f514dcc.jpg

On the way out…

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5233_zps8057d04d.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5235_zpseb46b6b8.jpg

[yellowworld]

Now that that is out of the way I turned my attention to protecting all the electronics inside my sump cabinet. I started out by rearranging the panel a little bit then planning out the back plate.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5240_zps843a82c0.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5241_zps2eaae59a.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/13G%20Bowfront/DSCF5242_zps791846ae.jpg

[yellowworld]

Today i spent most of the day taking everything I have built apart!


But dont worry it was all for a very good reason haha, so before some of you go and have a heart attack this is why I did it. Im getting pretty dam close to the last few things that need to be done and one of those final things is to clean up everything and tie it all together really nice and pretty like. So i started with a little paint

First on the return manifold

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5251_zps54ae3256.jpg

Then on all three of the overflow drains

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5252_zpsa50446c3.jpg

They arent done yet tomorrow i have to mask them off and paint the exposed(still white parts) flat black then I have to paint all of the conduit hangers red to match. Then they get put back into a freshly painted sump cabinet where the white and red with stainless steel screws are going to look pretty spiffy i think

heres the newly painted cabinet - no more missing paint or scratches from hundreds of bumps putting in and taking out that sump haha

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5253_zps599193be.jpg

Then once I was done that I started into the wiring again, I had some wires that were bugging me and it just didn't quite look perfect so i went ahead and started to hack apart the wiring and then once i had a big mess of copper and plastic insulation i pulled out the soldering iron and got to work making it all function again

This is the UBS that connects the APEX to the Energy Bar 8 - shhhh dont tell apex i think its a warranty issue :)

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5247_zpsde127a88.jpg

then i tossed some shrink wrap on it to make it look pretty and then put it back in. You can see i also did that with the internet cable between the APEX and the Netgear Wireless receiver

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5248_zpse2e8ae82.jpg

Then i thought hey! lets get some light inside this box! so i started wiring up some LED strips that i picked up, the only problem is there is only one output on the controller box and i don't want to run one continuous strip all over the place, so im going to have to do some fancy wiring to get about 3-4 separate strips wired the way i want them to and all controlled with a magnetic on/off switch connected to the door of the cabinet :) as i said pretty spiffy

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5243_zps9754f361.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5244_zpsf134b6f6.jpg

I still have to finish building the acrylic box and get some weather stripping to makeusre that its got a pretty dam close to air tight seal as i can get but thats for another day!

[yellowworld]

So today i got a few things done, the paint is all dried and its time for final assembly to begin!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5259_zps5d90f2cd.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5261_zpscd00b04a.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5262_zpse9c71fcd.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5260_zps254a5d87.jpg

Tomorrow I start the last of the wiring! I gotta get the fans up and running and finish the enclosure around the electronics and that should be all! everything else is just plug and play

[yellowworld]

Progress!!!! but it comes just intime for me to have to go back up north for work...however Im going to be leaving it on a good note!!

I now have water in the tank and i get to go back to work and essentially skip the whole cycling process that kills everyone haha no one likes sitting around and waiting as things slowly get going so i guess you could call that a silver lining but here we got with the pictures

I got the enclosure for the electronics all done and its extremely tight inside the sump cabinet, if you thought it was tight before this is what it looks like now!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5265_zps5dbcc2cd.jpg

there are still a few small details i have to get sorted out and if you look close the reactor needs carbon and the lines connected but I cant do that till i get the parts i orders (two little fishies reactor entender kit to make the output a nice downward tube instead of just a piece of curved hose, and I need to get or make a refugium light and get it hooked up and the fans need a power cord made up but thats all stuff for when i get back, right now its running and functional

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5266_zps11ab617b.jpg

this is the power center all wrapped up and nicely sealed behind the acrylic door

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5267_zpsf80da775.jpg

and with the tray pulled out i can open the door and get to everything i need to adjust or work on and then close back up

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5268_zpsb309cb0a.jpg

WATER!!! as i you can see its all working and getting cycled but when i get back there are some final details i have to work out, unfortunately the plumbing handles all the increased water flow perfectly, i say unfortunately because there isn't enough back pressure in the line to feed the water fall, so im going to have to add a ball valve to the return line to increase the water pressure to get the water up to the waterfall but thats easy enough to do. Lastly i need to take the background out and get all the exposed rock covered in epoxy and sand to make it look like rock again but other then that and the light im pretty much laughing!!

So I head up to work monday morning and until im back november 11th everyone enjoy and leave some comments!! there are new parts and equipment on their way here are you read and as soon as im home this tank is going to have new updates!!

[yellowworld]

And that brings us pretty darn close to up to date!!! go and read what you haven't seen and ill keep going with I'm doing right now!!

[yellowworld]

Hey guys so ive been busy again now that im home! this time I'm doing some work on the exposed rock work

I picked up a bunch of tiny tiny pieces of balsa wood and I'm building this out of it

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5270_zpsca17325c.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5274_zps5b8dec7f.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5275_zps579211ab.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5277_zps1d5fad22.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5279_zps24deb55e.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5278_zps36a9a5fc.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5276_zps2af77835.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5280_zps5c49f0cd.jpg

this is as far as I've got but don't worry there is still a lot more of that to come

[reefwars]

Well freaking done Jamie man love it:)

[canadianbudz604]

Cool build, you should get some type of plants or something on that rock like the mountain.

[Coralgurl]

That's just insanely cool! Nicely done!

[Slyguy00]

Wow thats pretty cool! What an interesting way to look at a reef tank. I love it.

[lastlight]

lol i love the little walkway you're nuts! the fish are going to look like monsters swimming around below that. you should have a person sitting on the walkway with a fishing pole.

[yellowworld]

Cool build, you should get some type of plants or something on that rock like the mountain.

Im trying to find some scale stuff to grow on their right now but I think if i was to go with more of a fake kinda model train type scene but minus the train it would look really good but your right nothing really compares to living plants!

So if anyone has any idea on where to find or what kind of miniature type plants, vines, flowers or greenery there is out there i would love to hear from you!!

That's just insanely cool! Nicely done!
Well freaking done Jamie man love it:)

Thanks guys I love the way it has turned out so far and i still have a long way to go!!

Wow thats pretty cool! What an interesting way to look at a reef tank. I love it.
lol i love the little walkway you're nuts! the fish are going to look like monsters swimming around below that. you should have a person sitting on the walkway with a fishing pole.

Brett your taking the ideas out of my head hahaha I have bought a few little N scale guys from PM hobby craft when i picked up all the balsa wood i just gotta figure out where to put them now.

And i agree its a completely new perspective on the hole tank now that the walkway is on the rocks everything is going to look giant haha its going to be its only little realm!

[Switch Blade]

Wow that is sick! You gotta put a guy fishing at the stairs lol

[FishyFishy!]

Lookin killer Jamie! Like how you're thinking outside the box on this one.

[baker_jeff]

That is so incredibly cool!!

[Seriak]

Well Done!

[Ginu]

Very cool idea... very well done.

[gqlmao]

Talk about a high tech nano! You thought about everything, this is seriously one heck of a build. I love the way the rock work protrudes out with that balsa walk way, so boss. :laluot_02:

[Skimmer Juice]

wow , beautiful set up. Love the little staircase

[Madreefer]

Wow man that is so cool. Great work and imagination.

[yellowworld]

That is so incredibly cool!!
Wow that is sick! You gotta put a guy fishing at the stairs lol
wow , beautiful set up. Love the little staircase
Wow man that is so cool. Great work and imagination.
Well Done!
Very cool idea... very well done.
Lookin killer Jamie! Like how you're thinking outside the box on this one.
haha so far the majority of this tank is outside of the "box" haha, and thanks guys I'm glad to hear that so many people are enjoying it! the main reason behind building this tank was to do something that I haven't seen anywhere else and make something insanely different



Talk about a high tech nano! You thought about everything, this is seriously one heck of a build. I love the way the rock work protrudes out with that balsa walk way, so boss. :laluot_02:

haha i threw pretty much every piece of technology i could at this tank and there is still more to come that i haven't gotten yet, by the time its all done its going to have the systems of a 300g setup haha but only running 20g of water

[yellowworld]

That is so incredibly cool!!
Wow that is sick! You gotta put a guy fishing at the stairs lol
wow , beautiful set up. Love the little staircase
Wow man that is so cool. Great work and imagination.
Well Done!
Very cool idea... very well done.
Lookin killer Jamie! Like how you're thinking outside the box on this one.
haha so far the majority of this tank is outside of the "box" haha, and thanks guys I'm glad to hear that so many people are enjoying it! the main reason behind building this tank was to do something that I haven't seen anywhere else and make something insanely different



Talk about a high tech nano! You thought about everything, this is seriously one heck of a build. I love the way the rock work protrudes out with that balsa walk way, so boss. :laluot_02:

haha i threw pretty much every piece of technology i could at this tank and there is still more to come that i haven't gotten yet, by the time its all done its going to have the systems of a 300g setup haha but only running 20g of water

[Ginu]

I was thinking and I think you should should somehow make a sandy beach area with a mangrove growing out of the sand and a little guy fishing off his boat at the end of the stairs.

I'm thinking the sandy beach area can be irigated by the same stream coming from the top of the rocks. As long as a grainier sans is used, you can use some sort of a strainer type material so it trickles down in the tank. A mini cool looking refugium as it will have at least a mangrove.

[yellowworld]

I was thinking and I think you should should somehow make a sandy beach area with a mangrove growing out of the sand and a little guy fishing off his boat at the end of the stairs.

I'm thinking the sandy beach area can be irigated by the same stream coming from the top of the rocks. As long as a grainier sans is used, you can use some sort of a strainer type material so it trickles down in the tank. A mini cool looking refugium as it will have at least a mangrove.

that sounds like a great idea but i have no clue where i would put all that haha i have a refugium in the sump. I will be putting a little fisherman on the dock somewhere and theres going to be a lighthouse built into the rock at the top, i think I've said to much as is but theres going to be a few more details to go along with it haha :)

[Ginu]

that sounds like a great idea but i have no clue where i would put all that haha i have a refugium in the sump. I will be putting a little fisherman on the dock somewhere and theres going to be a lighthouse built into the rock at the top, i think I've said to much as is but theres going to be a few more details to go along with it haha :)



I think you could easily put it on top of the wave box stretching all the way to the dock. It will take a little bit of construction above the wave box but it can be done.

And yes lighthouse sounds wicked, I actually pictured that before you posted :)

Im sure one day I'll make something like this when I have time and need something to do, kids will eventually get older... Will have to steak a few ideas.

I do have to say this is one of the coolest if not the best ever high tech miniature build I've ever seen.

Thus belongs in a magazine :)

By the way where did you get the short extension cords for eb8 ? That's again a really cool idea.

[yellowworld]

I think you could easily put it on top of the wave box stretching all the way to the dock. It will take a little bit of construction above the wave box but it can be done.

And yes lighthouse sounds wicked, I actually pictured that before you posted :)

In sure one day I'll make something like this when I have time and need something to do, kids will eventually get poker haha.

I do have to say this is one of the coolest if not the best ever high tech miniature build I've ever seen.

Thus belongs in a magazine :)

By the way where did you get the short extension cords for eb8 ? That's again a really cool idea.

Oh yeah! now you've got my head spinning haha there might be a way to incorporate something like that above the wave box haha now I'm starting day dream again haha

I got the cords from here (http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/STELLAR-LABS-28-11104-/28-11104) they worked really well the only thing i had to do was shave down the casing on the second plug from the left on the top row and the same on the bottom row to allow them to fit just because of the way that EB8 spaced out the plugs

Im not to sure if its magazine worthy or not but i do have to say that i haven't found anything else like it haha thanks!!!

[yellowworld]

I've got some more done on the walk way over the last day or so!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5285_zpsd7226f62.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5286_zpsa248bb76.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5288_zps88da4850.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5290_zps73e0108d.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5289_zpsfe687d20.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5287_zps2db99fba.jpg

today I've got to drain the tank and do some work on the plumbing on the return line to increase the back pressure to push the water up to the upper pond, even with the bigger pump the flow isn't strong enough to get the water to the top but thats an easy fix. After that though its going to be my last update for a few weeks as i go back up to work but ill be ordering some more parts that should be here when i get back just begging me to put them to good use!

[Slyguy00]

it was just starting to get good to!

[yellowworld]

it was just starting to get good to!

well haha I'm back home again so we can get back on track with the good stuff!!

i got some more done on the boardwalk so here you go! - its grown!

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5291_zps0c720413.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5292_zps6d5f5dbd.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5293_zps5b6ccf50.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5295_zpse104ea1c.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5296_zps20c55d34.jpg

[yellowworld]

Hey guys, so i think i might have a problem, I get back home from work and I'm starting to notice that some of the silicone in both my tank and my sump are starting to turn yellow, its both the factory silicone as well as the silicone that i did. so i emptied the tank and sump and gave them both a good scrub to see what was up but it didn't come out at all, there is no algae on the glass, there was a few small spots of a dark brown algae on the yellowed out silicone but thats all! so now I'm starting to get conceded I've never seen this before especially seeing that its both the factory and aftermarket silicone, ill get a few pictures up too

any one have any suggestions?

[yellowworld]

This is the factory silicone, it seems to have turned yellow the whole way through

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5297_zpsb7d82b08.jpg

This is the silicone that i did, and it seems to be the same way as well, this is just a few spots

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5298_zps5d90d8ad.jpg

and this is the sump, and well its pretty much its own dam story and it worries me the most…

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t211/Jkamie/DSCF5300_zps152411f0.jpg

[spit.fire]

I find exposure to sunlight will cause that in SOME silicones, it happened to the one corner of my wife's tank that is exposed to sunlight but the rest of the tank is unaffected

No negative affects from what I've noticed on corals or structural integrity of the tank, just an eye sore

[Ginu]

Thats really weird... I don't have an answer to this, but would like to find out what causes that as well and is that silicone reef safe after it turns color?

I have a feeling its the silicone or the light over the silicone, if its aquarium safe then there is not much to worry about although it will most likely drive you insane as that tank is a masterpiece.
Hope you get it all sorted out.

[yellowworld]

I find exposure to sunlight will cause that in SOME silicones, it happened to the one corner of my wife's tank that is exposed to sunlight but the rest of the tank is unaffected

No negative affects from what I've noticed on corals or structural integrity of the tank, just an eye sore

Sunlight might have done it but my sump is closed off the the light all day long and it seems to have got it worse then the rest of the tank so I'm not to sure what is causing it…:cry:

Thats really weird... I don't have an answer to this, but would like to find out what causes that as well and is that silicone reef safe after it turns color?

I have a feeling its the silicone or the light over the silicone, if its aquarium safe then there is not much to worry about although it will most likely drive you insane as that tank is a masterpiece.
Hope you get it all sorted out.

Your dead right about it driving me insane! haha so i think what I'm going to do is cut the entire tank and sump apart and clean it all up then get my hands on a few tubes of the clear aquarium silicone and get rid of those pesky seams haha and then i know for sure 100% that there is nothing going to be effecting this tank, and with all the extra stuff I'm doing and adding to it not having to worry about the silicone will just be one less thing i have to worry about

[yellowworld]

Hey guys I've been pretty busy the last couple days getting more built on the boardwalk and also getting my return plumbing finished and final with the additions of a few valves that allow me to pressure up the line feeding my waterfall/lagoon! its been running for a day now and I'm able to see where the water is wanting to move and how I'm going to have to keep it moving the way i want it too but for now here is a video for you guys!

Click Me! (http://youtu.be/MPcNFz0cfBM)

Don't forget to change it to 1080p either!

[IanWR]

My mind absolutely boggles at the time and effort that you have put into this tank. I can only assume that you will be adding tiny led streetlights for your boardwalk, a working remote control crane for the cargo area, and wee little floodlights to illuminate the rock from beneath, all run by yet another hidden electrical panel that looks like it was assembled by an OCD Swiss watchmaker. :)

- Ian

[yellowworld]

My mind absolutely boggles at the time and effort that you have put into this tank. I can only assume that you will be adding tiny led streetlights for your boardwalk, a working remote control crane for the cargo area, and wee little floodlights to illuminate the rock from beneath, all run by yet another hidden electrical panel that looks like it was assembled by an OCD Swiss watchmaker. :)

- Ian

hahahaha thats awesome!! and pretty bang on too!! I'm going to be building lamps out of model plane hollow brass tube and .75mm fiber optic line - the lights are going to be about 1cm tall at most with, most likely a cast epoxy lamp on top to make it look like an old gas lantern light post

I haven't decided on the cargo crane yet or if I'm going to do something different but the one thing I'm sure of there is going to be a lighthouse built into the rock at the top that will light up as well and conceal the blue tubing that feeds the waterfall - not to sure if I'm going to build it out of wood or stone and wood

also not to give to much away but I think i posted a while back a ship that I had built and then wrecked to make it look like it split in half. I might end up using it as well but only time will tell:wink:

[Ginu]

Update?

[yellowworld]

Hey everyone! I'm sorry for the extended hiatus. Ive been gearing up for a move for the last few months and still working out of town. So Ive made it to my new place and I've unpacked the truck and set up the majority of everything and cracked a fresh bottle of jack and started pouring all the while listening to my tank yell at me to unpack it and get things going again. Unable to resist anymore I start to work on setting up my office and the tank, after about half hour of hunting to find all the desk parts, it finally starts to go together then the big moment as the tank gets unwrapped and placed on the desk. Everything is going fantastically so i headed back out to the kitchen to grab that glass of jack I hadn't even started yet, when I hear a bang and the distinctive sound of glass shattering...

See the way the extendable legs on this desk are set up, they require you to twist them on way to loosen them off so you can lengthen or shorten them but then need to be turned the opposite way to tighten them back up again. I think that after a long day of moving and unpacking i didn't quite tighten one of legs fully. The weight of the tank on the desk with the help of that cruel cold hearted beach known as gravity had conspired against me.

I sat there for a minute or two in shock and disbeliefe before a few big gulps finished my drink and allowed me just the perfect amount of time to go threw the normal grieving process, you know shouting a little at absolutely nothing, swearing that your just going to sell everything a get out of the hobby, thinking you can fix the problem because it's not that bad, and finally realizing that your too invested in the stupid thing to give up, and this time you'll build it better.

So thats all for story time today kids, but don't worry ill be back real soon to show you exactly what a new 13.3g Mr. Aqua Bowfront tank looks like!! (when i find one that is) but if you can't wait that long click on this link right here (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=89070) and see magically into the future :wink:

[Ginu]

Ouch, sorry to hear that... I'm going through a similar process and still unpacking from my move and at the same time making a new stand for my new tank which is still being shipped from Concept in Alberta :)

For now, my temporary fish tank looks like this:

http://oi60.tinypic.com/2wdq6fs.jpg

And took up the entire shed, but they have a ton of swimming space as that's a 150 gallon rubbermaid vs the 75gal they were previously housed into. Needless to say, the shed is extremely tight. i can barely squeeze in there to throw food in.

[FishyFishy!]

Sounds familiar!!! Just toppled my new mr. Aqua 12 gallon long and the sump all in one. Smashed it all!!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/bilmaga/20141012_142414_zpsn4w9rwdy.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/bilmaga/media/20141012_142414_zpsn4w9rwdy.jpg.html)

I feel your pain!!!

[Ginu]

Ouchy, Mr aqua seems to have bad luck...