OT - Rickztah's Low Iron 22g SW Tank Update 11/28

[Debow]

Ya I watched all his videos on his DIY lights with rain gutter and pvc pipe and the flexible strip lights. Id say $20-$30 per shelf.

[rickztahone]

Ya I watched all his videos on his DIY lights with rain gutter and pvc pipe and the flexible strip lights. Id say $20-$30 per shelf.

Sounds about right to me. Let me know how it goes.

[Discus-n00b]

Yeah the strips are really cheap on Amazon/Ebay. Can go RGB for extra visuals if you wanted to lol. Make the stand glow.

[Altum Nut]

These come in various sizes and are submersible. I actually have them on the underside of my glass lids inside with suction cups out of site.
You can't beat the price and two years in still working great.
https://www.amazon.ca/Aquarium-Fish-...7082853&sr=1-1

...Ralph

[rickztahone]

Well after a big break from this build, I started back up.

Two tone Paint and installed the magnets for doors and sump lights. Still need a few other things like plumbing which is the main part and after that I should be good to go.

On to the pictures:

1
DSC00333 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Added the frost tint from HD

2
DSC00334 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Prepped overflow side for painting. I wasn't overly satisfied with the way this turned out. I initially started painting it with a roller and didn't like the lumps it was leaving behind. Ended up spray painting it but some of the lumps still show throw which is really aggravating my OCD, lol.

3
DSC00336 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Before Paint

4
DSC00337 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
After 1 coat of primer.

5
DSC00437 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
forstner bit used for recessed magnets.

6
DSC00439 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
More magnet holes

7
DSC00466 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
This is the template for the recessed lights in the sump.

8
DSC00467 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Tools used for this

9
DSC00468 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Not the cleanest circle but it will do.

10
DSC00472 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Recessed lights for the sump installed. Still waiting on the wiring for these to hook them up.

11
DSC00483 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
I cleaned the sump area a little to represent more of how it will look like

12
DSC00476 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Right side view

13
DSC00477 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Left

14
DSC00481 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Solo tank shot

15
DSC00492 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
You can see the 2 tone paint job a little better here.

16
DSC00497 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Side panel. This is still in progress. I still need to drill that bottom plug port and I need to buy smaller screws to hang up some other accessories in there. I didn't do the greatest job in painting this are which is kind of driving me nuts but you can't see that part anyways.

17
DSC00507 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr
Finally, doors are on.

I would have shown the side shot as well with the doors on but the side of the large doors doesn't have paint on the sides and it is an eye sore. I will paint the sides and reshoot when the wiring for the sump lights come in.

Thanks for stopping by

[Phillydubs]

Looks amazing my man. Such a nice clean look and feel. Very Miami!! Haha

[Discus-n00b]

In all my time in the hobby I've never considered frosting the glass, and I have to say that looks incredible. That'd be killer for photography I would think too, it's like built in artificial bokeh. Such a clean build, really impressive Ricardo! Inspiration for me whenever I finally decide to upgrade.

[Second Hand Pat]

Wow Ricardo, what a nice clean design
Pat

[rickztahone]

Thanks all.

What I failed to mention is that the reason I had actually lagged on this project is the fact I had to paint the living room for my vision of the tank. I added the trim in the middle of the walls, but I set the trim at the exact height where I knew I wanted my stand height to be.

It was a lot of planning, a lot of painting and a whole lot of money invested. I spent $600 on paint and trim because when I was going to paint the living room, the boss (wife) said, "since you are painting already, you should just paint the kids room too"..."ok honey. .."

[rickztahone]

Wired the sump lights. They look a little more yellow than they do here in the pics. I really like how bright they are considering they are LED's though. This will toggle via the Reef Angel controller from the wifi module via my phone just as everything else will

I'm still in the process of organizing the rats nest. I had to get some low profile extensions for the outlets or else my door wouldn't close. That ran me $40 and that is just for 8. I still need another 8. Truth be told, I am not even sure I need the other 8 plug relay. Seems like overkill. However, when I got the controller, the guy just threw that in. I wasn't going to say no to a $120 relay.

DSC00517 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr

DSC00519 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr

DSC00526 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr

DSC00528 by Rick Vasquez, on Flickr

[SidJones]

Very impressive!

[Discus-n00b]

I see what seem to be magnets on the controller side of the stand, is it a solid wood panel or does it have a window?

[Clawhammer]

Beautifully designed, organized, and constructed. Part science, part art... Can't wait to see it stocked!

[rickztahone]

Very impressive!

Thank you!

I see what seem to be magnets on the controller side of the stand, is it a solid wood panel or does it have a window?

There are magnets on the door, yes. The doors are made out of 1/4" plywood. There is no viewable window on the panels. I thought about it but in the end I thought it might be too distracting. Truthfully I am not sure how I am going to hide all these wires. The space is much more restrictive than I first imagined it would be.

Beautifully designed, organized, and constructed. Part science, part art... Can't wait to see it stocked!

Thank you. I hope I can do the build justice with the tank itself.

[Altum Nut]

I would put your build on the scale of 11 out of 10 Ricardo. Well thought out but way to complicated for me.
Pat yourself on the back my friend.

...Ralph