USCG CWO

Thank you CCR. For being two burros:eek: who didn't know what they were doing, we are really happy with it. A couple of things I learned on this build: 1) I can't measure to save my (censored)!!!! (laugh) Mike is the math whiz and; 2) Do not skimp on the lights and skimmer. They will make or break a tank. IMO Shane

I am on a xenia kick. What can I say. [/img] [/img]

Nice find Jason. Matt is going to be all over this when he logs on!!! Shane

Cool I'll ask Brandy if she can throw the member switch to the "on" postion for Albertareef and myself. Thanks And I support being able to name yourself after a certain number of posts. Shane

Dennis, I am a paying member and I don't have a cool logo and I have never seen the members only section. Who do I need to bring this to the attention of? Shane Sorry I didn't mean to hi-jack the thread.

What!!! What's up highjacker!!! Your pics are not showing up, you might have to use photobucket. This thread is yours until the misses gives you permission to begin the build of your 40 gallon. Dennis our office tank looks amazing. All those corals you gave us are growing by leaps and bounds. It's insane! Even my home system isn't responding like this. Shane

Thank you. The skin is poplar. I don't have a table saw so I had to make do with the board sizes that Lowes had available.

Yes I am using reflector material. I plan on insulating the bulb from the wood. Is depth from water critical? I heard 8-12 inchs is standard.

Thank you Eric. Actually it is only chair rail around the top and the thingy in the front is pre-made in a package. The light drawer is made from 1x2's, 1/2in plywood, and 10in drawer slides I picked up from Rockler. Shane

How far over from the ends do you mount your metal halides? I need some advice please. Here is a pic to give you and idea of what I am looking at. Thanks Shane [/img]

Update More pics of my equipment and shots of the canopy. Now I need to start on the prepping for primer and paint. Enjoy. In this you can see where I am going to mount the fans in the sides. I will be running four 120mm fans. Two on each end. [/img] Build up of the corners for moulding to be added. [/img] Canopy is spilt at about 3/4 of the length of the canopy. The front will lift up on a panio hinge. [/img] I added the drawer slides to mount the lights on. That way I can push them back out of my way when I have to maintance the tank. [/img] And a freshly constucted canopy!!! [/img]

I have built numerous PC's over the years and as everyone has already stated if your a gamer PC's are the way to go, but for music, video editing, graphic design, Mac is where it is at. I want a new Macbook Pro so bad I can taste it, but whew they are pricey. Household currently has one desktop and two laptops. Shane

Thank you all. Miniwhinny I must give credit where credit is due. I modeled mine after Will16's build on RC. If you haven't seen that thread then I highly encourge you to give it a peruse. I will be working on finishing the rough construction of the stand this weekend. I need to post up the in the middle construction pics and give you an idea of what I am thinking about on the canopy. Of course I need to take a break today to run over to Seahorse and partake of some BBQ and an adult beverage or two. (rock2) See you there. Shane

Excellant!! That is what I plan on doing then, use my 1 inch as the drain and the 3/4" will take over in an emergency. Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. I would have capped the 3/4" drain and never even thought about having an emergency backup. I love this forum!!! (rock2) Shane

Miles from the front view it looks as though one of your Durso's is higher then the other. Is this the way you designed it or am I just seeing things? Thanks Shane

Snowpunk/Impur do either one of you have photos by chance? (whistle) And I don't care you you are that is just funny!!!(laugh)(laugh) My LT finally broke down and purchased a 40b. That first picture was from his new tank. SHane

(laugh)(laugh) Yes Jason I am missing a few pics. I don't have all of them loaded over on photobucket and they are divided between my laptop and my desktop at home. I will include the middle pics this weekend. I was just so happy with the end result I just had to jump ahead. Thank you.

RO/DI Unit [/img] Mostly completed stand I will post more pics of the equipment, and the construction phase as I go. I am currently working on the canopy and figuring out how I want to do the doors. Thanks for looking. Shane

For a couple of months now I have been working on two aquarium projects and it looks like I am about to pick up a third as my boss and friend just bought a 40b for a home tank, but that will be another thread for him to write about. This is my home system. I currently have a 55gal, but it was just slightly too small for my taste so I purchased BioMechanic's 75 gal. I have so far purchased a RO/DI unit, lumber for stand and canopy, Galaxy 250W Dual Ballast, Radium 20,000K bulbs, sump, Blueline30 HD return pump, and Bubble plate skimmer from Isaac. I have been constructing this in my garage with only a Skil saw, Compund Mitre Saw, Craftsman drill, and some wood glue. The plans for base of the stand most of you will recognize are from RC and employ the design of RocketEngineer. So here are some pics: The tank The plans [/img] My floor is not level so I used the aquarium [/img] Stand build up [/img] Completed base [/img]

Sweet!! Now I understand. Try to do a modified, what do they call that thing, a hofer gurgle buster, but instead of a three pipe overflow I would have two. With that idea in mind, I don't think I have enough room for two Durso's in there. I might be able to fit two Stockman type overflows. Would I keep them the same height or one slightly taller than the other one?? I am definatley going to explore this a lot more. Thanks for the ideas!!! John, in the custom sump that is being built for me I have refugium already built in, though one can never have enough Cheato. I would worry that it might stop up stop important in the drain section and send the water pouring over the sides onto my hard wood floors. Shane

Are you saying to split the plumbing and use both for returns?

Is there any reason why I can not cap the return hole in my corner overflow, and then drill the back of my 75g and use that for the return. I believe this would give me better flow. I want to cap the return here [/img] And drill for something like this [/img] Thanks Shane

I'd seen you tube videos, but I just had no idea. Being a newbie to this hobby, this was one of the coolest things. My freshwater systems were never like this. They were easy and not much maintenance or as expensive, but no where near as much fun!!!!!! (clap)

Tonight is a new moon right??

I never would have believed it had I not seen it. The Stomatella snails in my tank just spawned. (rock2) Heck I didn't even know what it was, and I never would have seen it had I not been looking directly at the tank. They must have come in as hitchhikers as I know I didn't purchase them. It happened so fast I couldn't get to the camera in time. So sorry no pics, but it was the coolest thing. I felt like I was watching National Geographic. Anyways coral will eat good tonight. My question is I thought snails spawned at night not 4 o'clock in the afternoon?!?