Project 30 Gallon

[kbmdale]

This will be a journal of our 30 gallon.

Here is the start of our External Overflow:

I ordered the glass 1/4" sides, 3/8" bottom. The dimension of the overflow box are 12x12x6".

Here is the cut glass:


I'm gonna have 2 3/4" bulkheads, and 1 1" bulkhead in this overflow.
One 3/4" is going to feed the skimmer, and the other 3/4" is going to feed our 20g Long display refugium.
The 1" is gonna feed the 10g sump.

[kbmdale]

To drill the holes I used a Dremel Advantage Roto Tool.
I started out using a 7103 dremel Diamond Point Tip,
but quickly burned through it even though I used a
LOT of water to keep it cool.
The 3/8" glass ate it like it was nothing! So then I put
in a Dremel 9012 Carbide cutting bit and it cut through
it like warm BUTTER!!!
I used a little bit of a sawing motion and water to cool,
not ice water though. Here are some pics of the marked
out holes and drilling process:

Marked Holes


Pilot Hole


1" Hole Cut (took about 5minutes)

[kbmdale]

close up of 1" bulkhead hole and carbide bit:


3/4" bulkhead holes took roughly 3 minutes apiece
and here are some pics of all 3 bulkhead holes:

[kbmdale]

Here is the jig I will use to put the box together:


I will post more as I continue to put things together.

Kris

[kbmdale]

here is the sides and back being siliconed together. I used GE window and door clear silicone.



here is the 3 bulkheads being installed. Thread tape on the threads and silicone on both sides. I didn't use actual bulkheads. I bought male and female couplers at the hardware store. They had a 1/8" lip and the wholes were tight enough it worked. I did have to sand the raised lettering of the female coupler for a good flat seal.

[kbmdale]

I will clean up the silicone after it has cured with a razor blade.

Here is the bottom put on the box and basically what will be siliconed to the tank.







I will be drilling the slots in the back of the tank today so more to come.

[speakeraddict]

Slick!

keep the pics coming.

speakeraddict

[kbmdale]

I still can't believe I got the glass and all the fittings for under 20 bucks...

[kbmdale]

Here is the pic of the wier before I sanded it smooth.



and here is a pic of the overflow attached.





and here is a pic of the removable eggcrate that will keep the critters out of the overflow. The glass peice will just sit on top of the overflow sides and be held in place by my canopy I am going to start tommorrow.




Thats all for now...stay tuned for more to come...WATER TESTING....

[outlawj]

hey yall the tank looks excellent . what type of bit are you using is it an end mill type bit or a std carbide or is it a diamond

[kbmdale]

the bit is a 9012 dremel advantage bit. The dremel advantage is dremels answer to a rotozip. I got the bit at walmart it was in a variety pack with 4 other bits. It will work in a standard dremel. I bought 2 packs cause I figured I would wear it out quick, but after 6 holes in 3/8 and a 10 inch weir I think it still has plenty of life. I will definately never buy the diamond bits agian.

here is a link to a web site I found that has the bit.

http://www.toolsforless.com/cgi-bin/...pl?SKU=9012-01

and here is the dremel advantage tool

http://www.mytoolstore.com/dremel/rotrysaw.html

[Lionfish01]

How long did it take for you to build the overflow?

[yoda]

Sweet. Great job.

[kbmdale]

the actual box was about 2 hours. It took longer to get everything I needed together and set up than it did to put it together. I would say total time so far ont he whole project was about 6 hours. Thats prepping the tank setting up the jig, cutting the holes, measuring twice (I been known to read a tape wrong lol) and everything else.

[outlawj]

look out bob villa kbmdale is coming threw. it all looks great man and ladie

[kbmdale]

hahaha..I wish my projects were as big as bobs...lol...Thanks man

[kbmdale]

And on the seventh day he rested...lol..I didn't really do much to it today. Built some of the canopy. No pics of that yet. Maybe tommorrow.

[Mariner]

Nice! That removable eggcrate overflow guard is unique.
BTW, hate to break it to you man, but Sunday is the first day of the week -- so GET TO WORK!
Mariner

[speakeraddict]

I was wondering if you were going to call him on that!



speakeraddict

[speakeraddict]

The funny thing about cutting the weir is we weren't 100% sure as to whether or not it was tempered until it was cut 1/2" in and I yelled "well, it's not tempered!"

speakeraddict

[kbmdale]

Your right mariner, sunday is the first day. Now I just feel lazy....lol

[kbmdale]

doing some testing now So far so good. I made one durso for one of the 3/4 holes and plugged the other 2 capped the other 2 bulkheads. I also made a spray bar. So far so good, I'm fixin to use some food coloring to adjust my flows.....

[8BALL_99]

Looks good.. Keep it up.. Hehe btw you could have just used 1/4 glass for the bottem No need for 3/8 Glass. Could have saved a lil bit of time on the cutting.. Keep up the good work

[kbmdale]

Originally posted by 8BALL_99
Looks good.. Keep it up.. Hehe btw you could have just used 1/4 glass for the bottem No need for 3/8 Glass. Could have saved a lil bit of time on the cutting.. Keep up the good work

I am king of overkill....lol..I could have made the box 5 inches wide instead of 6 too, but its all part of learning. I have had it flowing now with a second 3/4" durso. One for the sump and one for the display fuge. So far so good.

[Lionfish01]

I can't wait to see it when it's done. Might inspire me to do some projects