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Unread 06/10/2009, 04:48 PM   #1
Giga
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Talking Giga's Return to the DIY(build thread)

So after a long hiatus i'm back. Any of you who followed my doomed thread ( http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1569377 ) It was chalked full of DIY. Well if you thought the DIY in that thread was cool just wait till you see some of the DIY in this thread. I've learned a lot from my previous tank build. This again will be a multiple tank system, BUT will have some twists that I think are really cool. Every single thing in this system is 100% built by me.

Ok now for some specs:

Tank one 20"x20"x12"
Tank two 20"x20"x12"
Tank three 33"x7"x8"
Japanese spotlights
custom sump
custom stand( very artsy-had a professional paint it)
custom electrical(including a dosing system)


There is more stuff but it'll get covered as time goes on. The system is about 85% done but just haven't posted pictures. So this thread will be chalked full of pictures and alot of information about building tanks and other systems.


I'll leave you with some teaser:

10k and 20k




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Unread 06/10/2009, 06:56 PM   #2
nate82
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get those pics up!


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Unread 06/10/2009, 10:23 PM   #3
Felix1021
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I'm in.
good luck on this build.
can't wait to see this up and running.
f.


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Unread 06/11/2009, 07:02 PM   #4
Giga
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So I wanted something a little different for this tank so I built a stand with in a stand. It's built out of 2x4's and then skinned in a 1/4" oak, that is then painted and stained. On with the pics:

Just a inside pic of the stand and a metal pole that will come up again.


This is a pictures of the supports for the stand inside the stand and a canister filter(more on the canister later)



the door is simply hung by these little magnets


And this is why there is a stand inside a stand. This is the 33" nano tank that is tided into the system and will house a mantis and various macro. The tank itself is acrylic(built by me)


door off



close up of the cool paint job



and for some reason My 135lb Great Shepherd thought this was a good spot to rest, while I was taking pictures



and this weekend I'll have a plethora of pictures of the main tanks and info so stay tuned.


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Unread 06/11/2009, 07:56 PM   #5
GaryR1984
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Welcome back!


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Unread 06/11/2009, 10:14 PM   #6
vegita51
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I've subscribed to this thread!! I followed your other thread and was disappointed when you had to sell the tank, so I am eagerly awaiting to see what you will surprise us with this tank and hope to see it all the way through! Good luck!


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Unread 06/12/2009, 09:36 AM   #7
Zoanut
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Lol great shepherd.


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Unread 06/12/2009, 10:23 AM   #8
Giga
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yeah he's a cross between a Great Dane and a German Shepherd


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Unread 06/12/2009, 11:39 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally posted by Giga
yeah he's a cross between a Great Dane and a German Shepherd
Yeah I figured that.


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Unread 06/13/2009, 02:00 PM   #10
Giga
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So if any you followed my last tank thread you know that I build tanks with a floating plane. These tanks are no different BUT this time I have a internal overflow. So The bottom of this tank is 3 pieces of glass(Same way Elos does it.). Here are some very important step to building a glass aquarium.

1) plan everything out(measurements, silicone used, what you need etc.)
2) Tape the glass off for nice seems
3) IMPORTANT Use acetone to clean off edges were silicone is going to be applied. If there is oil(fingerprints) or dust the silicone won't stick that well and could cause a leak.
4) glue things together within 5 mins or else the silicone starts to skin over.


pics

Silicone of choice


Triple piece glass bottom


Overflow slot and drilled holes


Floating plane shot


glass to be used(didn't take any pics of the taped off glass)



And there we go




Bad shot of the good seams, also the final step is to cut off the silicone that gooped out the edges, once it's all cured



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Unread 06/13/2009, 02:04 PM   #11
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after it cures for a few days i'm going to install the overflow as well.


Here's my sump-as you can tell I really didn't bother making it all pretty silicone




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Unread 06/15/2009, 03:38 PM   #12
kovuu86
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Looking very good Gigas. Enjoyed following your last DIY, and sure ill enjoy this one also. BTW, the floating plane shot really shows what a kick *** paint job the stand really is!


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Unread 06/15/2009, 05:09 PM   #13
Giga
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Yeah the pictures really don't do it justice. The professional painter is actually my wife!


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Unread 06/19/2009, 11:06 AM   #14
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any updates on the build?
f.


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Unread 06/19/2009, 03:13 PM   #15
Giga
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I have a LOT of updates for tomarrow. stay tuned


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Unread 06/20/2009, 05:18 PM   #16
Giga
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I've got a lot done but still have a lot to do. First off I finished both tanks. Just have to paint the back and side of the SW tank. Here's the overflow with the return and gurgle buster. Still need to paint them with fusion and make a acrylic shield with teeth for the overflow.



here's a shot of both tanks. As you can see the right tank is going to be a fresh water planted tank(ADA style) Not the best picture



Alright member the aluminum tube bolted tot he back of the stand? Well I really like the look of the Zero edge tree but didn't feel like paying the price. So I bought some 1" square tube from HD and then ordered the 100-300 from this site http://eztube.com/connectors/connectors.html and there we go. The next step was to make and install my spot lights. I drilled into the square tube and attached the fresh water spots(simple spiral compacts) and my custom Japanese spots. and this is what you get, mind you that they are in need some touch up paint once things are done.

Fresh water spots




here's a shot inside the tube(need to get end caps still) and splicing all the electrical inside of a 1" square is no ez task



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Last edited by Giga; 06/20/2009 at 05:36 PM.
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Unread 06/20/2009, 05:27 PM   #17
Giga
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on to the Japanese spots. I still need to install my other spot.

Close up

The ballast is just sitting on top for test purpose


off

on


The aqua-scape for the SW tank is going to be very dynamic(less is more). Here's a shot of the 70W 20k bulb on

Really makes this dull blue box a poppin blue


Now these spot have a narrow area of coverage but MAN I'd say they have the same output(if not more) of a 150W MH


shot of all lights coming on





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Unread 06/20/2009, 05:31 PM   #18
Giga
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here's another cool DIY project for this tank. I'm going to make a dosing system for the SW tank. I just got to pumps straight from Japan.








I guess you could say this is going to more like a Japanese set up then anything else since my lights and pumps(and style) come straight from Japan.



More to come......


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Unread 06/21/2009, 10:07 AM   #19
Giga
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anyone know were I can get 1" square end caps, I can't seem to find any


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Unread 06/21/2009, 10:18 AM   #20
kovuu86
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Looking good bro. Cant wait till the japanese spots become readily availible here. Id love to add some! What do you plan on doing with the FW, tetras and shrimp or something else?


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Unread 06/21/2009, 10:38 AM   #21
Giga
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it'll be like this, but right now it's cycling and has tannins in the water

mostly tetras and maybe a German ram



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Unread 06/21/2009, 04:08 PM   #22
kovuu86
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Very nice, i tried a planted tank when i thouht i was too busy for a reef. it turned out to be just as hard and time consuming, if not more! i had mostly neons, some rasboras and amano shrimp. lastly i added some dwarf puffers that were just so damn cool. btw love the lily pipes in that pic.


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Unread 06/21/2009, 05:38 PM   #23
reiko1078
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can you give some info on the spotlight your using for the reef? what kind is it? where did you get it?


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Unread 06/21/2009, 05:53 PM   #24
Giga
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The Japanese spot bulbs are from Japan and they are both 70W, One is 10k(not pictured yet) and the other is 20K. As for the spot light housing them self are DIY by me. There are three different spot lights pieced together to get the one pictured above. I wasn't able to get my hands on the ones you see on the Japanese reefs-just some bulbs. Oh yeah the bulbs are Iwasaki


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Unread 06/21/2009, 09:43 PM   #25
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so where did you buy the bulbs and sockets from?


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