Clint's gone crazy build (1 Viewer)

[mattb]

its actually only 8 t5 bulbs retroed into the canopy... no fixtures... and 6 led fixtures... ive already talked to my power company and gotten approx energy costs for the equipment ill be running... and it truely isnt nearly as much as i was expecting.. i thank you for you optimism though lol.... as far as monthly and yearly costs for everything else im not concerned.. i know what my budget is and im staying with in thoes means....

One thing you are going to need to deal with is cooling those T5. They do get damn hot, it'll be interesting to see how the LEDs hold up with all that heat. Since it seems you are going LED as a primary source though cooling the T5s won't likely be as important were they the primary source. I'd definitely plan on having some air movement though, the way that LED cooling works is that they have their own heat sink which works well, but the heat from the T5 may heat the LEDs, not sure whether the LED heat sinks will help there.....

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

If your going to make the stand out of wood dont use 4x4's. Use LVL's and engineered lumber. Way stronger and straight and true. LVL's would hold alot more weight since they are rated for that. Otherwise you might wanna price out some options for steel stand. Having it made out of tubular steel, I had a guy give me a price a while back and would be cheaper than building it outta wood.

Call around to welding shops and see what they say.

 

[Chris88]

tubs are purchased along with a few standard floresents for lighting the fuges... i do have a few questions regarding stand building...
is it possible that i could use 4x4s to make this stand or is a metal fabricated stand the only way to ensure it wouldnt colapse? im thinking 4x4s every 12 inches around the sides and back... im just alittle concerned with the front having the nps display in the stand... so structurally is this possible?

you could always continue the 4x4 stand around the nps tank

 

[Chris88]

One thing you are going to need to deal with is cooling those T5. They do get damn hot, it'll be interesting to see how the LEDs hold up with all that heat. Since it seems you are going LED as a primary source though cooling the T5s won't likely be as important were they the primary source. I'd definitely plan on having some air movement though, the way that LED cooling works is that they have their own heat sink which works well, but the heat from the T5 may heat the LEDs, not sure whether the LED heat sinks will help there.....

to save some money you could talk to people on here for some high powered diy leds like the 1s ray used at the swap

 

[cubetankguy]

Make sure you got one that is a current model... RE had some issues with the 400 and put bigger RDs on them... check the RE website and confirm with who you bought it from.....

RE also is experimenting with a titanium alloy mesh for this (and in the future all) model, you should ask about that, it may be worth the upgrade....

it is the current model. website needs to be updated, i asked about the titanium mesh and will be charged alittle more but will be getting that... thank you for the info!

 

[cubetankguy]

just thought id let everyone know, tank is ordered... due to holidays im looking at 8-10 weeks for delivery... :beerchug::greenguy:

 

[benihana]

:biggthumpup:

 

[cubetankguy]

:biggthumpup:

hehe thx, the last 3 months of talk, i figured it was time to piss or get off the pot so to speak

 

[rihanssu]

what size tank did you go with?

 

[benihana]

6x6x2 - three sides starfire

 

[Jonty]

Good luck reaching in the middle LOL

 

[cubetankguy]

the lights are going on a light rack, and there is going to be a 1 ft ledge around the tank for me to stand on to reach the middle

 

[Jonty]

Nice, I have a great picture in my mind of the first slip and fall into the tank

 

[cubetankguy]

Nice, I have a great picture in my mind of the first slip and fall into the tank

I will set up a cam when i do maintence so it will be recorded and posted.... the first time it happens

 

[benihana]

I will set up a cam when i do maintence so it will be recorded and posted.... the first time it happens

What is the over/under? You should set up some betting:biggthumpup:

 

[Jonty]

thats risk when you have a tank that's as big as a Jacuzzi

 

[benihana]

thats risk when you have a tank that's as big as a Jacuzzi

Some may say that the reward outweighs that risk:biggrin:

 

[cubetankguy]

Some may say that the reward outweighs that risk:biggrin:

this.... ftw

 

[Alunai]

You may as well just buy a wet suit or those awesome rubber pants and hop on in to do your maintenance, then you wouldn't have to worry about falling in!!

 

[cubetankguy]

the way its going to be aquascaped the "middle" will be more of a channel... throw some clams in there and call it a day lol