2.8 pico with overflow DIY - Page 2

Patio · 02/11/2006, 02:51 PM

the nice thing about the pumps is you can control the flow. I actually use a coat hanger to ajust it because I have hands to big to fit down the overflow

Patio · 02/11/2006, 07:15 PM

Surfzup2k4 · 02/11/2006, 09:58 PM

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Agu · 02/12/2006, 05:21 PM

Nice job

How's the evaporation? Seems like you'd really have to top off pretty often.

vanmo92 · 02/12/2006, 07:22 PM

kool

Patio · 02/13/2006, 12:09 AM

This is my second pico and yes day one the evapo is about the same which is at least a cup and a half. I think this week i will get to my 70wmh and next week work on the auto top off, then stock it.

Patio · 02/13/2006, 11:35 AM

my temp is staying lower than my previous 2.5
under my 20w
77.8 lights off
79.9 lights on
old tank
82.6 off
85.8 on
Probably because of the over flow
I hope I can keep these temps with the halide and fan

kaserpick · 02/13/2006, 01:13 PM

really awesome setup! Keep up the good work.

Thumbs up!
Kaserpick

petergordet · 02/13/2006, 02:30 PM

tank looks good man. i cant wait to see it under some good lights. shimmer yo!!

louist · 02/13/2006, 04:19 PM

Very cool Patio, I like what you have done with this tank, especially the DIY overflow with the two little cute pumps. I worry myself sometimes calling pumps "cute"

Watch the evaporation though, salinity swing could be outside of acceptable range with small volume of water. This is especially true when your halides are on and you have fans blowing. Good on you for having planned an ATO.

Patio · 02/13/2006, 04:23 PM

the diy stuff is as much a hobby for me as the reef keeping.
thanks.

Patio · 02/14/2006, 09:18 PM

So my light is set up and ready to mount! Tomorrow I am cutting the top of my desk to make hinged opening for tank access from above. Here is a pic of my old set up which is being replaced by this project. You can see I will be mounting everything so it fits in a cubie in my desk shelf. The second pic is the 70W MH 20K that I will mount tomorrow. My auto top off will sit on the shelf to the right of the tank.

Agu · 02/14/2006, 10:12 PM

That's pretty radical

. What happened to the old tank ?

Patio · 02/15/2006, 01:40 AM

It's still running. Something to look at while the new tank cycles. I didn't like the lack of surface skimming or the look of anything visable. The old tank had 20w 50/50 runs to hot and I dont like the look of the black tank framing.

I met one of the guys who runs http://www.catalinaaquarium.com// today and they might help make a custom tank that will fit the demensions of my desk cubie perfectly. I bought the current tank I am working on from them.

chocolateblnt · 02/15/2006, 01:46 AM

that's cute

Patio · 02/15/2006, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chocolateblnt
that's cute

we are talking about the light, right?

Patio · 02/16/2006, 11:28 AM

Today after work I am starting to mount the light into my desk. I will post some picks tonight. I am excited to see the 20K over all the flow of the tank, should shimmer nicely.

Patio · 02/17/2006, 12:28 AM

For some reason my 70W MH is not fully turning on, just flickering and sounding like its going to blow up.

Agu · 02/17/2006, 06:47 PM

Take pics of the explosion

!!!

Sounds like a bad connection (hopefully), or a ballast that can't generate the power to get it started (hopefully not ).

Also is the reflector grounded ?

Patio · 02/18/2006, 01:06 AM

I got it. The connection was a hair to far apart so I tightened it up a little bit.

Patio · 02/19/2006, 08:18 PM

so I got the light to work and installed it and a 4 inch fan. I monitored the temp for two days low of
76 without light and fan
102 with light only
78-80 with light and fan
I am going to install a second fan and watch temp with both on. I figure I would hate to lose my livestock because a fan stopped and the tank turned to a spa.
Hopefully two fans wont be to cold, but i doubt it.

I will have some new pics of the lighting. It looks awsome.
I dont own a cemera, so I am at the mercy of my friends camera.

petergordet · 02/23/2006, 02:48 PM

bump

Patio · 02/25/2006, 02:22 AM

Here are some new pics. I got my american dj power strip so I will never have to unplug anything again. The new tank shot with halide. The other tank is where i'll keep all my hermit crabs for the mantis shrimp.

Patio · 02/25/2006, 08:46 PM

I just finished building a cabinet for the switch bar. Camera is charging now. I will post pics asap

samtall · 02/26/2006, 08:56 PM

You are straight up unreal player.

02/11/2006, 02:51 PM	#26
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	the nice thing about the pumps is you can control the flow. I actually use a coat hanger to ajust it because I have hands to big to fit down the overflow __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/12/2006, 05:21 PM	#29
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Nice job How's the evaporation? Seems like you'd really have to top off pretty often. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/12/2006, 07:22 PM	#30
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	kool __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

02/13/2006, 12:09 AM	#31
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	This is my second pico and yes day one the evapo is about the same which is at least a cup and a half. I think this week i will get to my 70wmh and next week work on the auto top off, then stock it. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/13/2006, 11:35 AM	#32
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	my temp is staying lower than my previous 2.5 under my 20w 77.8 lights off 79.9 lights on old tank 82.6 off 85.8 on Probably because of the over flow I hope I can keep these temps with the halide and fan __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/11/2006, 07:15 PM	#27
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597

02/11/2006, 09:58 PM	#28
Surfzup2k4 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 355	sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

02/13/2006, 01:13 PM	#33
kaserpick Keeping it Simple Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 2,637	really awesome setup! Keep up the good work. Thumbs up! Kaserpick __________________ Kasey Current Tank Info: None

02/13/2006, 02:30 PM	#34
petergordet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 102	tank looks good man. i cant wait to see it under some good lights. shimmer yo!!

02/13/2006, 04:19 PM	#35
louist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 761	Very cool Patio, I like what you have done with this tank, especially the DIY overflow with the two little cute pumps. I worry myself sometimes calling pumps "cute" Watch the evaporation though, salinity swing could be outside of acceptable range with small volume of water. This is especially true when your halides are on and you have fans blowing. Good on you for having planned an ATO. __________________ Louis Tsai- http://www.zengalleria.com http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=20070149 - Louis' Pico Come Back (LED mixed reef) http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/totm/index.php - ReefKeeping 2007 April Tank of the Month Last edited by louist; 02/13/2006 at 04:42 PM.

02/13/2006, 04:23 PM	#36
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	the diy stuff is as much a hobby for me as the reef keeping. thanks. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/14/2006, 09:18 PM	#37
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	So my light is set up and ready to mount! Tomorrow I am cutting the top of my desk to make hinged opening for tank access from above. Here is a pic of my old set up which is being replaced by this project. You can see I will be mounting everything so it fits in a cubie in my desk shelf. The second pic is the 70W MH 20K that I will mount tomorrow. My auto top off will sit on the shelf to the right of the tank.

02/14/2006, 10:12 PM	#38
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	That's pretty radical . What happened to the old tank ? __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/15/2006, 01:40 AM	#39
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	It's still running. Something to look at while the new tank cycles. I didn't like the lack of surface skimming or the look of anything visable. The old tank had 20w 50/50 runs to hot and I dont like the look of the black tank framing. I met one of the guys who runs http://www.catalinaaquarium.com// today and they might help make a custom tank that will fit the demensions of my desk cubie perfectly. I bought the current tank I am working on from them. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/15/2006, 01:46 AM	#40
chocolateblnt Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale, Nor*CAL Posts: 1,736	that's cute

02/16/2006, 11:28 AM	#42
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	Today after work I am starting to mount the light into my desk. I will post some picks tonight. I am excited to see the 20K over all the flow of the tank, should shimmer nicely. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/17/2006, 12:28 AM	#43
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	For some reason my 70W MH is not fully turning on, just flickering and sounding like its going to blow up. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/17/2006, 06:47 PM	#44
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Take pics of the explosion !!! Sounds like a bad connection (hopefully), or a ballast that can't generate the power to get it started (hopefully not ). Also is the reflector grounded ? __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/18/2006, 01:06 AM	#45
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	I got it. The connection was a hair to far apart so I tightened it up a little bit. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/19/2006, 08:18 PM	#46
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	so I got the light to work and installed it and a 4 inch fan. I monitored the temp for two days low of 76 without light and fan 102 with light only 78-80 with light and fan I am going to install a second fan and watch temp with both on. I figure I would hate to lose my livestock because a fan stopped and the tank turned to a spa. Hopefully two fans wont be to cold, but i doubt it. I will have some new pics of the lighting. It looks awsome. I dont own a cemera, so I am at the mercy of my friends camera. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/23/2006, 02:48 PM	#47
petergordet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 102	bump

02/25/2006, 02:22 AM	#48
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	Here are some new pics. I got my american dj power strip so I will never have to unplug anything again. The new tank shot with halide. The other tank is where i'll keep all my hermit crabs for the mantis shrimp. __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/25/2006, 08:46 PM	#49
Patio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pleasanton CA Posts: 597	I just finished building a cabinet for the switch bar. Camera is charging now. I will post pics asap __________________ "I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly." Winston Churchill

02/26/2006, 08:56 PM	#50
samtall Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2	You are straight up unreal player.