Many DIY Plans & Suppliers

[tfeyrer]

Thanks ACA

[Shaker nemo]

Very helpful!!! But I need help on this one http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2316608

[bdreptiles]

What computer programs do you use to make a computer mockup of what you plan on making? I've seen some people post computer images before they started building but I can't find anything, I know I'm looking in the wrong places so hopefully somebody knows. Thanks much.

[ryan3]

Found this , I think it will help every one ( if some one already post im sorry)

http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?ca...FittingScreens

http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?ca...ittingsEconomy

[jimnchal]

Originally Posted by bdreptiles

What computer programs do you use to make a computer mockup of what you plan on making? I've seen some people post computer images before they started building but I can't find anything, I know I'm looking in the wrong places so hopefully somebody knows. Thanks much.

BDR the program that people have been using is called Google Sketch Up.

[Mark...]

Originally Posted by jimnchal

BDR the program that people have been using is called Google Sketch Up.

I downloaded it yesterday and it was full of Malware...took hours to fix my computer...

[SantaMonica]

Yes, sketchup is about as easy as a 3D program will get. Still took me about 8 months to get "good" at it, and yet I still hire "pro" sketchup users to do the complicated things.

Speaking of plans, I don't think I ever posted the link to the DIY upflow scrubbers:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2234793

[cjcolvin]

Any advice on what thickness of acrylic to use for internal dividers/baffels in a 55 gal tank being converted into a sump. I was thinking of using 1/8 in acrylic but concerned it might be to weak.

[zeebies]

I assume your 55 is a glass tank? It's best to use 1/4" glass baffles. Over time, acrylic will absorb water, expand, and the edges of the baffles will push out against the glass causing your sump to crack. You get the picture... Also, silicone doesn't do the best job of adhering acrylic to glass.

Go with glass and a good silicone and you'll sleep better at night.

[cjcolvin]

The absorption of water and expansion of the acrylic is minimal. Only up to 2% absorption and an expansion of up 2mm in a 1 meter length (obtained via manufacturers webpage). However the advice on thickness is appreciated and I believe I will go with 1/4".

[jesterisdead]

Stand and hood designs would be cool as I know I'm currently looking for one and have come across a few but other DIY'res here may have better links or their own pics. Have a 72x24x30 glass 220G I need to do a stand and canopy for.

[Themonsterisme]

Originally Posted by mojosreef

Here is a link to my DIY page. It has things from stands, canopys, sumps, cheap MH lighting, Has pics and drawings.

Mojo"s Reef DIY page

80% of the links on here don't work like this one

[Shaker nemo]

Whats the best diy pvc Skimmer?

[HoyHoy]

More DYI LED guides please

[trigger 6]

Hello to everyone

I'm new to this

[Onewayne222]

SoCal acrylic diyers These guys are awesome and have lots of scrap to dig thru for cheap! Weldon available also. http://santamonicaplastics.com

[CountryR33fs88]

great links thanks

[noel754g1]

thank you for sharing guys.. very helpful

[cgonzalez]

amazing info here! thanks guys

[sealtea116]

looking to do a DIY Sump Refugium looking to see if anyone has plans or material list or places to get the items need i already have a 20 gallon long tanks
thanks

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by Onewayne222

SoCal acrylic diyers These guys are awesome and have lots of scrap to dig thru for cheap! Weldon available also. http://santamonicaplastics.com

awesome link. I work in Santa Monica

[banthonyb71]

Originally Posted by Themonsterisme

80% of the links on here don't work like this one

and that's why it has a *broken Links* tag indicating that it doesn't work.

also, I just tried 20 links in a row and 19 of them worked. far cry from 80%

...thats pretty damn good considering some of the links are up to 14 years old!

[csantanavaz]

Hi All,

Any advice would be great.

have been battling nitrates for a while now - and i have accepted that despite decreasing feeding, water changes, low levels of fish, and wofting rocks and EVERYTHING else, i 100% need to install a sump, with a skimmer and run a NP bio pellet reactor..

So..background story over & onto the point of the thread..

I currently have a (around about) 100 gal acrylic marine system - been running about 4 months).. i have sourced and plan to install a sump below it (space is a non-issue for now).

So: Sump size is 30 X 18 X 12 inches (28 US Gallons) - big enough? also - are separators within the Sump 100% necessary (please let me know about this as I am planning to not install seperators)?

I plan on having - filter sponges, rowaphos, active carbon (these 3 I already have in the system), Bubble Magus Curve 5 Skimmer, Nutrifix Media Reactor (goodbye nitrates), and pump wise I will use my spare Eheim compact 3000. also I will run filter socks to collect large bits of debris. I will move some live rock from the DT into the sump too once it's all up & running.

So firstly - if anyone thinks my plan of the above is not good enough or is not going to work feel free to criticise - i want to learn!

But mainly, i have the drill i need and the bits... the only thing i am unsure about is the size of bulkheads i need.... i am not great with DIY but my dad is and is happy to help, providing i know what i need to do....

Am i correct in thinking that after drilling the holes, bulkheads are all i need? i've read that you dont even need to use silicon with them? (or is that not true?) What size bulkheads should i use? Based on my reading I think i need 1" for the hole which is going from tank -> sump?.. would the hole be the same size for the return side of the system?

Can anyone recommend what size both holes should be?

Done quite a lot of research into the equipment etc i'll need but this is more to do with my lack of understanding the real difference in hole sizes... the pump i have should easily handle the flow rate i require (or so the LFS told me..)..

If anyone could help that would be much appreciated... cannot wait to get nitrates down to a respectable level and start spending my savings on corals instead of nothing!!

1 - does the sump plan & equipment sound good/able to do the job?
2 - what size bulkhead should I use for the return pipe? what size for the outlet pipe?
3 - do I need to have dividers in the sump? are the 100% necessary?


Thanks in advance guys!

Calvin

[banthonyb71]

Originally Posted by csantanavaz

Hi All,

Any advice would be great.

Not sure if you wondered why you never got a response but, you need to post in the actual forum diy. not on the sticky thread.

[banthonyb71]

For anyone that doesn't know, Microcenter is a great supporter of diy products. For those that are lucky enough to live close to an actual store like myself, they also have a dedicated diy electronics section.

http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...s.aspx?Ntt=diy