A salesperson at my LFs offered me 250 dollars when I showed them my new DIY tank.

[alphaferret]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-OK STOP - YOU DIY PEOPLE ARE FREAKING ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO GOOOOOOD!-(nice job)-sincerly alphaferret

[Saltz Creep]

Originally posted by Anemone
Great looking design, but how so you replace the heater when it goes bad (or change the temperature setting)?

Lift off the canopy, turn the trickle pipe straight up, remove the filter tray, remove the bag containing Bio-Balls, remove the eggrate peice, pull the heater up by it's cord. It's easier than it sounds. Takes maybe 10 seconds.

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

nice j-o-b

[PSLSNOOKMAN]

Originally posted by Saltz Creep


Ballast was 6 dollars from Wallymart.

To power one of these PCs:

I would like to know more about the ballast from wallymart. I am trying to find some cheap PC lighting setups.

[Saltz Creep]

Originally posted by PSLSNOOKMAN
I would like to know more about the ballast from wallymart. I am trying to find some cheap PC lighting setups.

The electronic ballast came out of one of those 18-inch strip lights they sell at WallyMart for $6.95. When I bought it, I opened it up to yank out the expected magnetic ballast. To my surprise it was electronic. I hooked it up to an endcap I got from Hellolights:
http://www.hellolights.com/pcentypbas.html


and an 18W PC bulb from Foster and Smith
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...&N=2004+113346


And it was nice and bright! I plan on hooking up two more in a day or two when I have some time off.

[phergus_25]

watch out tho, I read about people using the guts out of those shop light thing and them going out after a week or so. great lookin tank too by the way.

[Saltz Creep]

Thanks for the warning. I'll let everyone know how long these little electronic ballasts last me.

[GorillaReefer]

nice setup creep. good work

[trmiv]

Very nice.

I think it needs a school of yellow tangs. Oh and a Queen Angel.

[guitar_lord]

Questoin for ya Saltzcreep

Did you just silicone in that seperate panel??
Is it just a piece of acrylic? or is it glass?
And what did you put on the back panel to make it look like that?

Thanks

[bngowe]

yea. that's a niceee tank.

[Saltz Creep]

Originally posted by guitar_lord
Questoin for ya Saltzcreep

Did you just silicone in that seperate panel??
Is it just a piece of acrylic? or is it glass?
And what did you put on the back panel to make it look like that?

Thanks

The back panel is made from 1/4" acrylic. Of course you can't use silicone to attach it to glass for a watertight seal, so I used this underwater glue from F&S.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

The back panel is covered in a non-toxic epoxy called Aves Fix-It Paste
http://www.avesstudio.com/Products/F...xit_paste.html
But because this paste epoxy is only available in white. I mixed it with the contents of several activated charcoal capsules (available at your local drugstore's flatulence aisle) to tone it a darker gray (mix paste parts first then add charcoal). I didn't think about it until afterwards, but I could have used the Fix-It Paste instead of Mr. Sticky's glue to cement the back panel. Before I slathered the back panel with the gray Fix-It Paste finish, I masked off the borders with tape for neatness.

If I could do the back panel again, I think I would have done it differently. Maybe just black acrylic. I think it would have looked better. Or maybe I would have given the back panel a rock wall look by crushing and pulverizing some base rock and putting it on the freshly applied Fix-It Paste (like tar and graveling a road).

[melev]

That is sweet! I love the lighting, fans, the whole thing is great. Excellent use of many resources.

I'm trying to find a light for my 2g Pico right now, and would love to copy your design provided that little ballast can keep up.

[greencardgraphics]

thats sweet.....I'll take one for $200! lol

[melev]

Got an update for us?

[MeuserReef]

Awesome design there creep. My idea theft continues...

10 points for creativity.

(P.S) GO AWAY RITA.....we dont want any! (pleeeeeze)

[Saltz Creep]

Originally posted by melev
Got an update for us?

I'll try to remember to bring my camera to work tomorrow.

[Jamnman]

That setup is sweet.

[MoonGlow]

Very nice!

[lil_fishey]

wow you have inspired me to have start a diy tank now that is by far one of the best 5.5s i have ever seen post one the lr and stuff is in

[mightymouse]

WOW i want it can i have one? no how bout if i say please? maybe even pretty please? ok i get the point no is no amazing job really amazing i might use one of those ballasts to add some light to my 12 gal

[mightymouse]

if it were me thatd be a mantis tank or a goby pistol shrimp combo since it is on ur desk and ud be close to it and able to watch it

[Saltz Creep]

I thought of that. But since I work in retail store with sometimes sketchy customers, the sounds from a mantis or pistol shrimp tank might send some of the emoloyees ducking for cover.

[Micki]

Originally posted by Saltz Creep
I thought of that. But since I work in retail store with sometimes sketchy customers, the sounds from a mantis or pistol shrimp tank might send some of the emoloyees ducking for cover.

LOL...

[Precious Roy]

That is one hell of a tank. I wish I was creative... and not so lazy. Then I'd try a DIY tank. I agree that the black acrylic would have looked better. Good luck with anything that you got at walmart as it tends to be crap. Why not try some rainsford gobies, or a type of Dottyback (oblique lined), or (my favorite) a falco's hawkfish?