Reef Discussion

[leodb89]

or one of the following

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/25cm-Wat..._Equipment&hash=item3f186d2946#ht_3586wt_1139

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Auto...ccessories&hash=item58940e3ebb#ht_2027wt_1139

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Adhesive...ccessories&hash=item2a1e17d5ac#ht_1926wt_1139

i think some are waterproof some arent...otherwise ill go with what i used as a moonlight on my old aquaone tank but in white

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Worldwid...384725?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item3371d91715

 

[firebird]

When I did this mod I didn't use sand because I was scared it may get into the pump.I used the media baskets cut up and separated for baffles Also use a better type of carbon than the one the hagen comes with-rather use something like rowacarb. Remember also to periodically to check your impeller shaft as it is steel and eventually all steel rusts in saltwater

You do have to cover the side that sits up against the tank so that you don't get light spillage- i used a piece of aquarium background that I had lying around but use whatever you prefer

 

[rockerpeller]

chimaera That 1st link was the tut I used to make my one. I totally forgot about that, and was picking my brains as to where I saw it. :D

 

[leodb89]

thanks firebird ill probably just paint it i dont see a point in preserving it if im already mangling it lol i just dno how well the vinyl would hold on plastic over time.

ive heard a lot of people discourage DSBs and sand at all as it will probably not work properly in this type or application and potentially become a sink for nutrients

i was going to use the media basket for baffles but was thinking id throw the acrylic in a) to b different and b) i have a superstition it may work better.

sorry there hasnt been an update yet im still waiting for the acrylic and still trying to go with a final design.

also is it necessary to raise the LR with egg crate?

 

[firebird]

Not really in the AC-also you'll get debris accumulating in between the egg crate spaces

 

[leodb89]

 

[leodb89]

so the above pic shows the way the flow works and i have my acrylic curtosy of Global Signs - Smithfield, they even let me borrow their scorer.

any ideas on where to place my baffle(s)

 

[aussieant32]

I would say roughly where the 2 red arrows are. I dont think you want one section particularly larger than the other do you? Try make it even?

 

[leodb89]

i seen this thread scroll down to the bottom it will show you someone elses just stumbled across it

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=601201&pp=25&page=7

 

[leodb89]

hey aussie you mean from floor up or one from the top of the filter one from the bottom like a bubble trap?

 

[leodb89]

decided to man up and be my own man lol just decided to go with something worst case i can just change it

so here we go:

CUTTING THE ACRYLIC FOR A BAFFLE

I'm using 3mm clear acrylic


I then choose to use a notch already in the filter as a guide for my baffle where i can rest against it to make it easier also


now i saw the filter on the acrylic for a rough guide, note that the filter is slanted and also rounded as well as it has its own
thickness..im no handyman so took me a while to realise why i kept cutting and it was too big, but must admit it was surprisingly
easy compared to what people were telling me, so if you need help cutting this stuff lol holla atcha boy.



the i scoared it (think thats how you spell it) using the scoarer i borrowed from global signs, but found that it was good to use that for the guide line
but then more effective using a stanley knife to go deeper and deeper (queue zohan quote 'diggin that fragoleh hole deeeper.


and SNAPP - requires a bit of force but then snaps off :)



heres a few pics of my re-measuring and the cutters i used on the first piece to trip the poor cut but then youll see my final piece was perfect so heres a bunch of pics and you see me beat the monster...also where i scratched the filter a bit :( i hate trying to be a perfectionist and slightly impatient







heres me washing my good piece after peeling off the protection on it...i was surprised how pefect all the edges were all dead straight and smooth but the filter beinf rounded i have to rely on a bit more silicone to cover the gaps :)
oh n i was trying to show off my new toy sony tx10 by washing it too lol pics didn't work out though

 

[LEG-IT]

Nice tablecloth ;)

 

[leodb89]

SILICONE THE BAFFLE AND CAGE (to prevent macro flowing into tank)

the baffle in place...the scraper i used to clean up the silicone was an algae scraper had a pack of 6 :)





then i cut down the cage for a nice perfectionate (my new word) fit...not siliconed yet






i need your thoughts on this...you think its necessary or no?



this is it for now until tomorrow when i do the cage and a water hold test :)

 

[firebird]

Will help stop macroalgae going into the pump area so leave it there-presume talking about the bit of basket on the acrylic baffle.
Looking good

 

[leodb89]

yeah...so i should silicone it there?

i did a leak test and most was perfect except one bottom corner where i knew id have an issue :) pretty happy so far more updates tonight

so far just reapplied silicone

 

[firebird]

i used superglue and silicone eventually with mine-little bit of overkill:p

 

[leodb89]

Which superglue is aquarium safe

 

[firebird]

Cyanoacrylate- I use loctite gel when i can get it but worked out that CorAffix is actually cheaper than buying lots of small Loctites -also great to stick corals down

 

[leodb89]

so i havent updated as i still have a slow leak lol i think this is the last one and will be gone by tomorrow then i can continue

 

[leodb89]

So a bit of an update...

heres the sponge i cut to size to fit in the first section to pic up any detrius and help clean the tank



this is me running it on an old school recycle bin i hear you should run it for 24hrs



looks like its gonna be very flow-tatious