Islandoftiki Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 Ok, the 10 gallon build is starting. The tank will be 3-5 weeks before it gets here, so I'm starting to modify an AC70 to be a HOB refugium. I'll be keeping a bag of Chemi-pure in it and a ball of chaeto. Has anyone modded an AC70 before? I've seen several variations on the theme online, some look better than others. I'm curious if anyone has any input in this regard. I'm planning to also have lighting on the chaeto 24/7, probably with LED's of some sort. Maybe a JBJ Nano-Glo. Cheers! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyInside Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 I've done it for my 3 gallon pico I had setup for a while, it's pretty easy and works well. Only thing you have to watch is keeping your chaeto trimmed down in it, I let it grow to thick once and it wasn't letting the water pass through it fast enough back into the tank so it was overflowing off the back of the ac70 lol. Other than that it works awesome. And the jbj picotope light works great for them, clips onto the back off it and bends over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 Haha, I'll keep that in mind. I regularly trim down the chaeto in my 2 gallon tank, so I'm accustomed to that little bit of weekly maintenance. I just picked up a good used JBJ NanoGlo at Rose City Aquarium for 20 bucks! I'll either use it on this or my 2 gallon. I'm just trying to figure out how I want to baffle the AC70 so things like overflows don't happen if said chaeto overgrowth should happen. Question: Did you put a smaller impeller from an AC50 in yours? It looks like a lot of people are doing that to reduce flow. I ordered a Vortech MP10 today, too. This tank is gonna be amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyInside Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 Nope i used the normal impeller.. you can just slide it to the right to adjust the flow down. I did mine like this, put it over the slip so things wouldn't go into the tank, and did a side grate for my heater and some floss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 I just put a piece of gutter guard in there so act as a fence and keep the cheato in the fuge. I didn't have it installed in this pic, nor did i have any cheato in there (laugh) but pics always are good when you are building stuff so here is mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 I'd like people's thoughts on this... I have a JBJ NanoGlo refugium LED light to use in conjunction with the AC70. The plastic of the AC70 is slightly smokey in color. Do you think this would affect chaeto growth if I attach it to the side? The other option would be to drill 4 holes on the top of the AC70's top cover that match the placement of the LEDs in the NanoGlo fixture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badxgillen Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 drill the hole or cut out the top a little or you will loose much light.i turned mine into a mini frag nursery with a 7 watt PC and some blue LEDs after cutting out the top that says aqua clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Yesterday, I found this: http://shop.mediabaskets.com/AquaClear-70-Media-Basket-AC70MR.htm?categoryId=-1 This is EXACTLY what I wanted and I won't have to dink around with building a custom fuge, which I won't have time for before the tank goes live. I ordered it today and I'll let everyone know how it works out. I also got a submersible light to put in there. This should give me the ultra clean look I'm going for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Wow, $44? I mean its cool and all, but I did the same thing with a scrap piece of acrylic, some silicon and some gutter guard. Cost me maybe 5 bucks. Snap some pics of that thing when you get it if you don't mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Yeah, I'm aware that I could build something for a couple bucks, but to me, this is much cleaner and more professional looking than anything I could build at the moment. Being in the middle of moving into my fiance's place leaves me with no time for projects over the next month, and I'm hoping to have the tank up and cycling before that. Plus, that thing is all laser cut and stuff. It's cut with friggin' lasers! On top of that, I'm seriously OCD about how things look, even things that are under the hood that nobody will usually see. It actually cost more than the AC70 did (it was on sale). Anyhow, I'll post pictures and give it a review when I get it. I'm hoping to have the tank by the end of the month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! I just got notification that my tank shipped today! I can't wait to see it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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