75g Hex Build (Super cool)

[Lofty]

This is going to be the coolest build ever!!
I was going to build a 40 tall, acrylic but it was found on the side of the road and had a few too many scratches to use as a display. I will now be using it for a sump in a 75 gallon acrylic Hex. I got it super cheap and it has no stand and a few scratches.
I have decided to use the sump to practice on scratch removal and it has been working pretty well. It is still a bit distorted. Ok so I will show you some pics and then detail my plan.
First Stages of scratch removal on sump. Using rubbing compound, then acrylic finish sanding disc, then Novus #3, Then #2, Then #2. I’ve been over it a few times with the #2.

Some Progress


As it sits now… Need to finish sides and maybe some more #2 and #1 all around


And here is the new project… The lights are some left over PC’s I had from my 90. I am going to need at least a 400w MH to do a reef in this I’ll probably run my other PC with 96 watt quad 50/50’s on each side.


The Top


Back


Drain and inlet


Some Ideas that I have…. I am open to suggestions. This is going to take a while… but it will be fun!!


Please let me know what you think. I will keep everyone posted as I progress. The next steps are taking scratches out of the display and building the stand. Meanwhile if anyone has some of the pieces to the puzzle up for sale or trade PM me.
Dan, AKA Lofty

[PaulieWalnuts]

i like you drawing...did you scan it or what...and the om 4way sounds like a nice move. i am going to find a link of a local guy that has a hex...might give you some ideas.

[PaulieWalnuts]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1388840

[PaulieWalnuts]

how tall is it...i do not think you would need more then a 400w...maybe a 250 with a one of those hex reflectors and the PC or t5 along the side.

[Lofty]

Yes I scanned it in. 34 Inches tall. Thanks for the link.. I'll check him out.

[Lofty]

Here are some more details on overflow and rock structure

I'm having an overflow built for the back so that the seam on the back left angle is less visible as I am not very happy with a drain pipe in the bottom of the tank in case of failure. The box will be black acrylic and be set at 45 degree angles and span the 14 inch back wall. I will run the drain line into a bulkhead in the front, bottom of the overflow.

Sort of like this:




The rock structure will be built around the PVC stand. I am using one of the DIY AC Filters from Home Depot which come with a screen to cover it to keep fish from swimming under and never returning.

[Lofty]

This will be later on in the thread as The stand is one of my first concerns and the $160 for the overflow is not available yet. My Wife is out of town for 10 days after t-day and the grandparents are watching the little one so I plan to get a jump start on the stand.

I hope my neighbors don't call the cops for me using a skill saw at 3AM :0

[Lofty]

I am picking up 80lb of cured rock on Monday and will be dumping it all in the proposed sump

I am starting to think that my idea of using my 40g tall as the sump is not going to happen due to clearance in the stand and the framing. I think that I might find a smaller hex tank and do some off the wall sum design with a hex.... Anyone who has a 30+ galon hex acrylic I would be willing to take it off your hands. I could use a glass one but then I am limited in drilling options.


I found a pic of a frame for a hex which I will be using as a guide.

I am going to take measurments tonight and draft a plan to take to the hardware store and get lumber.

So for now, until I get the display stand built and all the other intricate details the 40 tall will be my current project. It will be stuffed to the gills with LR and I want to get one of those aptaisia eating fish can anoyone enlighten me as to what they are called again?

I've got most of the major scratches out of the 40 and have gotten pretty good at acrylic scratch removal so I will probably try to do the display pretty soon.

I will post up some pics when I get the 40 filled with LR.. Nothing too exciting but i want to keep this thread going.

[Lofty]

I decided to clean and organize the garage and set up a shift work bench instead of getting started on the build right away for safety and sanity reasons. I mounted the router under the work bench and mounted the miter saw and work light as well. Pretty proud of the work so I took some shots.




And some shots of the near finished 40g scratch removal… just need to run some #1 Novus polish and buff it out.



And lastly a shot of the monster… not looking forward to scratch removal on this but I have learned a lot from the work done on the 40g.



I am picking up the LR tomorrow and will post some shots of the booty later on in the evening.
The suspense is killing me…

[PaulieWalnuts]

very nice getting there...that 40g is pretty cool also.

[Lofty]

Originally posted by PaulieWalnuts
very nice getting there...that 40g is pretty cool also.

Thank you... My sneaky little plan is that I will not be able to use the 40g for a sump because of clearance so the I can talk my wife into using it for a frag tank

[Lofty]

ROCK ON!!!

I picked up the rock today, also asked to get some sand as I wasn’t keen about bare bottoming 40g.

Here are some pics of the rock pile, some choice pieces (got a couple of 12-15 LB shelves) I think it is a mix of Tonga and Marshall Island… and a piece or two from Pet Co ACK!! (That’s like getting mega blocs in your legos!!!) But they are good base. I am just real happy with the aquascape… the tank is stuffed but it is only till the 75 gets ready.

I will check the params in the morning and build a temp light canopy for my 2x65 10k and actinic pcs.
Have a look…

[Lofty]

I built a DIY canopy out of half of a 48� 4x65 reflector, 1 jbj 2x 65 pc, some MDF (paited with blck semi gloss latex paint and some acrylic that I got from some sale signs bought at the going out of business sale at Mervyns.

Here it is Last night at 1 am after I finished it.



Here it is tonight after changing power heads and adding some clear plastic shelf nubbins that I drilled holes for and super glued because the acrylic sides kept slipping off… it almost looks like the light is floating in the fts.





And other then the load of aptaisia here is the sole hitch hiker (so far) A blue legged hermit crab



A shot of the cavernous area behind the aquascape.



I will update on the 75 Hex as I make progress, however with the holidays it make be till next year before I get started on it. Until then I will keep up on the 40 g here.

[Lofty]

All my levels were good this morning which prompted my first stocking purchase. I needed a cleaner crew so I picked up 3 turbo snails and 5 blue leg hermits. 2 peppermint shrimp are charged with mowing down the aptaisia.
I wasn’t going to buy ay fish but I talked myself into 3 blue green Chromis.
I also picked up some fans from Radio shack and it turned out they had blue LEDs in them (can’t separate to run as moon lights), I really didn’t care much about the LEDS but the fact that they were clear had me sold. I rigged them up to a 1.5 amp ac/dc converter and have them running on the same timer as the power compacts.
I did, however turn of the PCs to see what the tank looks like under moon lighting.

Here are some shots: