Reefing On A Budget - My 29 Gallon Build - Page 5

zmazza · #**101** 03/03/2007, 12:03 AM

I'm thinking two, but will that be too much flow? I like how small they are and they certainly seem like they may be worth the money.

On a side note:

I forgot to review the Coralife Digital Power Strip.

I'm really impressed with it. Out of the box it was super easy to program and get set up. I programmed it to come on at 10am and go off at 10pm. I then set the time and it's been working like a charm.

It has alternating outlets which are really cool. It has 2 daytime outlets and two nighttime outlets. When the daytime are on, nightime are off and vice versa. It also has 4 constant power outlets.

Great if you don't have a smorgasboard of plugs running everywhere. I was able to hook up both powerheads, my heater, and my lights and still have a daytime outlet, two nighttime outlets, and a constant power outlet.

Really worth the money and I think if I ever set up another tank, I'm going to be purchasing another one.

bstoner · #**102** 03/03/2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kelley_mc
That's great!

If you start I thread, please let me know. I would love to follow the progress.

I am sure I will start a thread once I get started with the build to show how things are going and to ask questions.

zmazza · #**103** 03/03/2007, 11:15 PM

Well just a small update tonight...

I met up with a fellow RC member today. He graciously helped me out by letting me use a spare 30 gallon, a quiet one 3000 and a penguin 330 biowheel filter.

I'm thinking about setting up either a saltwater mixing station, a live rock curing tank, or a quarintine tank. Not completely sure just yet. Finding a place to put it and talking the wife into letting me set it up is going to be the problem.

Time to do some house cleaning to make some room!

I was also recommended to make my own acrylic sump. I'll definitely be giving that a try here in the next month or so. All I need to pick up is a router and I'll be in business. I'll post some pics on that as well.

As soon as I get that built it's time to put that qo 3000 pump to work!

kelley_mc · #**104** 03/04/2007, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zmazza
Well just a small update tonight...

I met up with a fellow RC member today. He graciously helped me out by letting me use a spare 30 gallon, a quiet one 3000 and a penguin 330 biowheel filter.

I'm thinking about setting up either a saltwater mixing station, a live rock curing tank, or a quarintine tank. Not completely sure just yet. Finding a place to put it and talking the wife into letting me set it up is going to be the problem.

Time to do some house cleaning to make some room!

I was also recommended to make my own acrylic sump. I'll definitely be giving that a try here in the next month or so. All I need to pick up is a router and I'll be in business. I'll post some pics on that as well.

As soon as I get that built it's time to put that qo 3000 pump to work!

I thought this was on a budget?

Many times for small sumps, using glass aquariums or other containers are cheaper than the sheet of acrylic used to make the sump. I am interested to see your progress on this as it goes. I thought about going that route but decided the cost was too high to justify it. Even I have my limits.

zmazza · #**105** 03/04/2007, 08:03 AM

The router is a great tool to have, and if I'm lucky, I can find a sheet of acrylic for 40-50 dollars that's 4x8, cut it myself, and build two or three sumps and sell the others to pay for my initial investment.

Believe me, it's on a budget.

Sometimes you just have to spend more of it here and there.

kelley_mc · #**106** 03/04/2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zmazza
I can find a sheet of acrylic for 40-50 dollars that's 4x8,

WOW! That would be an amazing price.

gary faulkner · #**107** 03/04/2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zmazza
The router is a great tool to have, and if I'm lucky, I can find a sheet of acrylic for 40-50 dollars that's 4x8, cut it myself, and build two or three sumps and sell the others to pay for my initial investment.

Believe me, it's on a budget. Sometimes you just have to spend more of it here and there.

Wish I had a budget like that!!

zmazza · #**108** 03/05/2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gary faulkner
Wish I had a budget like that!!

Me too!

I don't know why I've been able to get away with buying so much stuff here lately. It's about to stop soon, though, lol.

BUT, I've gotten enough now that I can really get this tank going like it should be.

Plus I've made some great friends here lately that are local, so that's a big plus as well.

cyslyde · #**109** 03/05/2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zmazza
BUT, I've gotten enough now that I can really get this tank going like it should be.

Plus I've made some great friends here lately that are local, so that's a big plus as well.

Gotta have your priorities

if the tanks not ready how can your helper be of service? LOL

and as for the second part no matter where i go for work I always find the coolest people to talk about reefs with. it's a great hobby that way.

zmazza · #**110** 03/05/2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cyslyde
Gotta have your priorities if the tanks not ready how can your helper be of service? LOL

and as for the second part no matter where i go for work I always find the coolest people to talk about reefs with. it's a great hobby that way.

Exactly.

I've met some really great people on this forum. It's nice to know there are people that are local who enjoy doing what you do.

You're right. I do need the tank ready for my little helper!!!

LOL!

I'm setting up a 30 gallon that I was given right now. I had to order a heater, but that's no biggie. I needed one for my mixing tank and RO water anyway.

Amoore311 · #**111** 03/05/2007, 11:22 AM

10 gallon glass aquarium used for my sump --> $10 @ Walmart

1/4" Acrylic used to make 5 baffles --> $36 @ Lowe's >

Looking back on the situation I probably would have just gone with glass baffles or looked into plexiglass or something.

Travis L. Stevens · #**112** 03/05/2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amoore311
10 gallon glass aquarium used for my sump --> $10 @ Walmart

1/4" Acrylic used to make 5 baffles --> $36 @ Lowe's >

Looking back on the situation I probably would have just gone with glass baffles or looked into plexiglass or something.

Same here, but a little different:

http://maddogarts.com/fug.htm
10g Walmart tank - $10
small pane of glass, custom cut to fit from Lowe's - $2/each

zmazza · #**113** 03/05/2007, 11:28 AM

I've got some glass cut for a 20 gallon tall, but they won't fit in my 10 gallon.

Would be an option though. I might have some more cut. I had an overflow and 5 baffles done for 10 dollars. It was that much because I had the edges polished.

Travis L. Stevens · #**114** 03/05/2007, 11:29 AM

You can polish the edges yourself by scraping the corners and edges on smooth, fine cement sidewalks.

kelley_mc · #**115** 03/05/2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zmazza
and if I'm lucky, I can find a sheet of acrylic for 40-50 dollars that's 4x8,

Hey zmazza, did you ever find this?

zmazza · #**116** 03/05/2007, 11:44 AM

Skwirl - a fellow RC member - told me about that when I went over to his house on Saturday. I may meet up with him again on Wednesday, so I'll be sure to ask him where he gets his acrylic.

Travis - Sounds like a really DIY idea! Too bad I live in the country. Concrete? We have gravel roads and dirt out here.

And cows... don't forget the cows.

Reef? What's a reef?

Travis L. Stevens · #**117** 03/05/2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Travis - Sounds like a really DIY idea! Too bad I live in the country. Concrete? We have gravel roads and dirt out here. And cows... don't forget the cows.

You gotta go in town some time to get the glass. Scrape it on the sidewalk outside the store

Plus, if you accidently break it, you can walk in and get another.

zmazza · #**118** 03/05/2007, 12:05 PM

In the most joking manner possible -

Stranger - What are you doing?

Me - Smoothing out my glass. Since I'm doing this on a budget, I can't buy my own concrete.

Strange - Ahh! I see! That IS cheap!

Ad in paper -

Will smooth glass with Lowe's concrete. Cheap prices!

Never knew you could do that. Definitely sounds like a possibility though. That way the baffles will only cost me a few dollars.

How high should baffles be in a 10 gallon sump, anyway?

Travis L. Stevens · #**119** 03/05/2007, 12:10 PM

I learned that trick in High School art class. Of course, the smoother the cement, the better. Rough cement can take little chunks out. Just drag it lightly across the cement, and in time, you'll have smooth edges. They might not be beautiful, but it does the same thing.

Quote:

How high should baffles be in a 10 gallon sump, anyway?

That depends. How many gallons will you drain off of your display tank when the power goes out?

zmazza · #**120** 03/05/2007, 12:13 PM

In the most joking manner possible -

Stranger - What are you doing?

Me - Smoothing out my glass. Since I'm doing this on a budget, I can't buy my own concrete.

Strange - Ahh! I see! That IS cheap!

Ad in paper -

Will smooth glass with Lowe's concrete. Cheap prices!

Never knew you could do that. Definitely sounds like a possibility though. That way the baffles will only cost me a few dollars.

How high should baffles be in a 10 gallon sump, anyway?

I may try and drill that 30 gallon if I can get brave enough to get the drill back out.

I've got a Penguin 200 and Penguin 330 on the tank right now. It's funny seeing all those biowheels but I think it will work until I can get some more liverock. I've only got a 10 lb piece right now and no powerheads. I might try and get some tunze nanos for our anniversary. That would be a cool gift. My wife got me a Lovebird Pygmy Parrot last year.

zmazza · #**121** 03/05/2007, 12:17 PM

Not sure. Never made a sump or had an overflow. What do you think, Travis?

I've got a 1" bulkhead right now. Not sure why it double posted like that. Weird.

I've also got a Quiet One 3000 pump. I definitely want it to drain just enough so that it doesn't overflow.

Travis L. Stevens · #**122** 03/05/2007, 12:44 PM

Refresh my memory, how many GPH does a QO3000 push?

zmazza · #**123** 03/05/2007, 01:27 PM

780?

Travis L. Stevens · #**124** 03/05/2007, 01:31 PM

Not bad. I run a Mag 7 on my 29g, and a 1" drain keeps up fine. My return goes straight up with a single outlet. It has two 45º pieces and a single ball valve.

zmazza · #**125** 03/05/2007, 01:35 PM

Sounds good. I'm wondering if I should go with a rubbermaid sump instead?