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So I'm Building Stuff Again. 150g Plus Fish Room. (1 Viewer)

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Cody

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Good looking skimmer. Did you say you were cutting with a CNC? I have a twist lock flange file I made up ill share if you want to venture in that direction.

Brett
What kind of file is it? My cnc accepts svg and g-code. I originally played around with a twist lock design, but decided to just try this and see how it works out. This design is less complex, quicker and easier to make.
 
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Very nice Cody


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Thanks! I'm trying to get @FamrerTy to let me build a six footer for him.
 
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What kind of file is it? My cnc accepts svg and g-code. I originally played around with a twist lock design, but decided to just try this and see how it works out. This design is less complex, quicker and easier to make.
I'll check and see if I can export it to an svg file, I know I can export it to a dxf. Here is one I made a couple years ago, used neoprene for the gasket. If I remember correctly it is four pieces.

I built a lot of skimmers 10-15 years ago using reeflo dart pumps. Some really large, even made the acrylic dome transitions that went under the neck.


f253639d9c6a93833a8cbca2b61dffe7.jpg


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I'll check and see if I can export it to an svg file, I know I can export it to a dxf. Here is one I made a couple years ago, used neoprene for the gasket. If I remember correctly it is four pieces.

I built a lot of skimmers 10-15 years ago using reeflo dart pumps. Some really large, even made the acrylic dome transitions that went under the neck.


f253639d9c6a93833a8cbca2b61dffe7.jpg


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Yeah I have a version of that. It requires layering 1/8" thick acrylic and I eventually just got tired of dealing with it. Just wanted to get things up and running. Plus, when you start layering, it doesn't look as nice from the side. I wanted solid pieces.
 
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First day of skimmate production. I'm running it dry. Very nice sludge being pulled out. I tried to put the light a little to the back to see how dark it is.

C3j1ld0.jpg
 
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Yeah I have a version of that. It requires layering 1/8" thick acrylic and I eventually just got tired of dealing with it. Just wanted to get things up and running. Plus, when you start layering, it doesn't look as nice from the side. I wanted solid pieces.
Another reason that I didn't go with that design was that the keyholes would have to be outside of the skimmer chamber. The keyhole are on the inside with my design. No leaks and it makes it take up a smaller footprint. I'd have to put a measure tape to it but the actual footprint, depending upon the pump size, is roughly around 6.5"x9", which is about 45% smaller than a life reef skimmer. Those parameters are using a mag 18, no less. Not to mention, I built the gate valve into the skimmer body, so it doesn't take up any space. That definitely helped.
 
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Three days of operation. Couldn't be happier. I'm looking at maybe 4" of sludge that light can hardly shine through.





Also, I discovered yesterday that a crab that hitchhiked in on the rock has grown to at least a couple inches across. I had a couple heads of bounce mushroom disappear, and recently introduced zoas that are disappearing. I'm sure he is the culprit. Also, the only sps in my tank that isn't thriving is the aqua SD milli. I know it had been through a lot, and showed plenty signs of recovery, but I've never seen hardly any extended polyps since it started to recover months ago. I have seen these guerilla crabs pick at sps before, and I suspect that he might be grazing on that colony as well, considering his cave is at the base of the rocks where the colony rests. We shall see. I'm hunting him tonight and if I catch him, I'm bashing his skull in.
 
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I double dog dare you to drink it!
I've been using it as a mud mask lately to exfoliate. Skin has never looked better.
 
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How's the tank doing sir.?
Trucking along as usual. I need to take some pictures later to show the progress. For some reason, everything in my tank is doing really well, except my milli colony. It has improved but never bounced back from the trauma it went through in the spring. I think I need to dip it just to see if that helps. Maybe it's sick haha
 
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Trucking along as usual. I need to take some pictures later to show the progress. For some reason, everything in my tank is doing really well, except my milli colony. It has improved but never bounced back from the trauma it went through in the spring. I think I need to dip it just to see if that helps. Maybe it's sick haha

I had a few that were traumatized from the Triton and it took about 3-4 months to recover. I would just keep it stable and wait it out. Target feed them.
 
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Alright, so here are some updates.

I decided that I wanted to change the tile in the living room, kitchen, and dining room. They were all connected and had the same tile. I was ok with it when we bought the house a couple of years ago but I slowly began to hate it. The problem is, I didn't want to move the tank, nor did I want to set up another tank to house everything while we replaced the tiles underneath it. Solution: just replace the tile around it, get plenty of extra tile, then replace the tile under the stand whenever we decide to move.

Original tile
wWViBrI.jpg


Pulling up tile around the tank
wpz9DmF.jpg


My wife and I busted our butts!
jqueBVm.jpg


Had to cover the tank to protect from the dust. I used sheets fo clear acrylic and masking tape to make sure the corals had light while we worked, plus no dust got in. Zero casualties.
UXFF0P4.jpg
 
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Used a dremel, a diamond tipped disc cutter, and a squirt bottle to cut the line that I wanted. I am going to put down some black painted trim to cover what little tile you can still see.
h3E2Jby.jpg


Instead of using the hammer drill, I busted the last parts around the cut tile up by hand. Tappy tappy tappy.
ZMOV4Au.jpg



The tank was dirty when I took this picture, but the wood-like porcelain tile turned out extremely well. We love it!
W0rJLZK.jpg
 
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Now on to the fish room. I built a bench, added a tv, and got some other tanks up and running. I waited until the weather cooled off because heat was a bit of an issue the summer, and with more lights, it was going to be out of control. I have a plan for next summer though so it should be fine.

New work bench!
RIGvz5l.jpg


stPv10b.jpg


Hooked up a firestick to an old monitor that I had sitting around. The tv mount extends, swivels, etc. I'm thinking about hooking a computer up to it so that I can do more, including security system monitor, data entry of tank parameters, etc.
9WrhFHj.jpg


Put an old skimmer that I made on my secondary system. Working like a champ.
VIsqnQt.jpg


Also, got a 4 bulb t5 fixture to add to the top tank. I can only use two of the bulbs because this fixture is too much amperage for that 20 amp breaker. I'm going to have to figure something out, or switch to LEDs.
0xvIZEL.jpg
 
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