Reefman's 20L...

[reefman23]

so were did you order the fixture or the lightning reefman.... and thx for offering your help.....after you tell me were to get it and after i get it ill pm you so we can arrange something (cause ill really apreciate your help cause im to dumm to do it by my self) and remember i have a 12g nano cube dx....

Eddie, this ones for you. You mentioned that you wanted to upgrade somewhere down the line and you have a 12 nano...well when I was helping out another member, I found this new fixture that JBJ offers/is offering. I think that someone may have already posted about it, but i thought i would bring it up again.

http://www.jbjlighting.com/sys_k2_viper.html

It comes in a 70 watt 14,000k model and a 150 watt 14,000k model. Looks very compact and very cool. Just thought i would share.

Jesse

 

[skipm]

That is one sweet light, any idea as to the price for them or who stocks them? The ideas I have in my head now..........

 

[amf82380]

That is a pretty cool little light bet it packs a powerful punch I wish they would hurry up and make it aval. I wouldnt mind getting my hands on one I wonder what their going to go for .

 

[reefman23]

Look like you can preorder the 150 watter on ebay for $199 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=3212

NOT BAD.

Says they will be available late Feb.

Jesse

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

That JBJ light will be killing the Aqualight. Can't beat that price.

 

[reefman23]

My 20L display tank will hopefully be drilled for a Stockman standpipe with a 1" bulkhead with (2) 3/4" returns, one in each upper corner of the display tank. I think I would be shooting for around 200-300 gph in the fuge (?). Im looking at having the standard skimmer--->fuge--->return. In the fuge I plan to keep a ~3" sand bed, cheato, 2-3lbs LR rubble.

My question is first, any improvements/suggestions for the above? Second, which brand/size return pump would you suggest? What brands do you prefer?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Jesse

 

[skipm]

First, how will the two returns be used (together, on a SCWD, etc.). What kind of return rate do you want in the tank? Off the hip I would get a pump with around 500-700 gph which of course you will loose some of due to friction loss and head pressure. I have mainly used MagDrive pumps but have also used Sen, Dolphin, and Gen-X for return or skimmer pumps with no issues with any of them. My recommendation would be to go with a pump that is accessable to you, it would suck if something were to happen and you need a part or a replacement and you have to wait on it to ship from somewhere. Good luck.

 

[reefman23]

Well i would love to run a scwd...that would mean I would have to have a little bit larger pump and the added expense of the scwd. Is that something you would suggest over running straight returns? I dont plan on sps... okay maybe one or two sps...mainly LPS, zoas, things like that.

I was looking into the mags because those seem to be the most popular, which i assume means easier access to parts (I think my LFS carries a larger selection of parts for them).

As far as return rate, I was planing on following anthony calfo's suggestions on flow rates through a refugium, which he says should be roughly 10x-15x the display volume (?).


Thanks again,

jesse

 

[skipm]

A SCWD is kind of nice since it alternates your returns giving some change to your current. Another option since you won't have a crazy amount of flow would be to put a Hydor Deflector on each return to create a kind of random flow. You can also experiment with loc-line and the different nozzles that are available.

 

[reefman23]

I came one step closer to drilling my 20L today. I borrowed a rotozip from a friend at work, and I had purchased a diamond dremel bit hoping that it would fit the rotozip (rotozip doesnt make diamond bits). well it didnt. this sent me on my way to harbor freight tools.

This is what I found...

One dremel bit cost me ~$6. this 20 PIECE kit cost me $8!!! Gotta love that.

Jesse.

 

[skipm]

Harbour Freight is a DIYers toystore!

 

[reefman23]

Harbour Freight is a DIYers toystore!

OH YEAH!!!! Its been a while since ive been there, but I will now be frequenting there much more.

Jesse.

P.S. For all of you who may not familiar with harbour freight tools, or dont have one near you, you gotta check out their site. http://www.harborfreight.com/ .....Now, dont expect craftsman or snap-on quality, but they offer great tools and many other things at prices that cannot be matched. (no, i dont work for them...nothing in it for me...hahaha)

Jesse

 

[reefman23]

What do you all think of an overflow like this one? It looks pretty easy...If i went with something like this i would have two...one in either corner. How large should I make them...3/4", 1"?

 

[skipm]

I would go for 1 inch, 3/4" will handle very little flow and putting your hand in the tank could cause it to overflow.

 

[Dickie52]

I came one step closer to drilling my 20L today. I borrowed a rotozip from a friend at work.

Be very careful with the rotozip.....it will crack the tank in a breath.....Maybe you could get your hands on a dremmel, which you can control much better......

I like to use diamond core bits.....I can control the speed and the pressure. I have drilled 5 tanks with the same bit and it's still going strong...

http://www.technologylk.com/products.as ... drill_bits

 

[reefman23]

i am curius as to why it is easier to crack the tank using a rotozip as opposed to a dremel. The rommended RPM's for drilling tanks is 25,000-30,000. both the dremel and the rotozip are just that. I havent used the rotozip yet, but I have a tank that I am going to practice on. Thanks for the warning...maybe Ill just have to try to get my hands on a dremel then.

 

[reefman23]

I competed the drilling of two holes...one in each upper corner just like the one posted above. Overall it was very easy and pretty quick. I took several pics, but those wont be up until tonight. I would recommend not being afraid of trying this if you have to...just research, get the right bits/tools and take your time.

 

[reefman23]

Here's the pics as promised...

I traced the circle on the inside of the tank, surrounded it with plumbers putty, and filled it with a thin layer of water.

Then I etched the circle with a diamond bit.

After a few passes around the circle with the bit, the water gets cloudy from the glass powder.

This is why I practiced on a tank that I didn't need anymore!! This is also why you don't want to apply ANY pressure to the glass!!

This is my second try on my 20g L display. Presto!!

After repeating it on the other end, I was left with this...

 

[reefman23]

I looked earlier today for the 1" slip bulheads and I found them at my LFS, Tong's. But they were $11 each which I thought was a little expensive. So I just took the measurements for the size hole that I would need and looked elsewhere. On my way home from drilling the tank at my dads house, I stopped by another LFS of mine, Reef Collection. They sold the same 1" slip bulkheads for $6...half as much as Tong's!

The holes are just a little too small, so I will trace the bulkhead and grind away enough glass to make them fit. No big deal.

 

[skipm]

Congratulations on drilling your tank. You bring up a good point for others that may be planning on drilling a tank in the future and that is to use the same bulkhead you plan on using to trace the holes with, different brands may have different diameters.