LoJack's 144 Gallon Reef Build

..somebody need a hug? ..LOL : ) ;D

 

Some have inquired about the cost of the stand and canopy.

I'm currently sitting at about $500 total for the stand and the canopy. Canopy seeming considerably cheaper but only because I could use lots of the scraps from the stand to build the canopy.

Also, I had a lot of the materials on hand such as screws, wood glue, sponges, rags and paintbrushes. I also had all the tools necessary.

I haven't finished the doors for the stand yet, and I'll need to run and grab about $30 more worth of wood and that should finish off this component of the build.

 

Looking amazing really nice job congrats on the new tank

 

Thanks

 

Update Time!!!!!


So I was busy as a worker bee on my days off, and made progress by:

1. Finishing my lighting
2. Fixing my emergency standpipe
3. Fixing the plumbing length to remove unnecessary bracing
4. Rebuilt Skimmer stand so more stable
5. Added two snails, two hermits, a toadstool leather and one clown since cycle is complete (and thats what was in my buddies sump that he was willing to give away lol)
6. Drilled hole and re-attached airline for Beananimal overflow failsafe
7. Attached handles to doors
8. Wired up lighting controller for LED's

Picture Time!

Laying out my LED's on the heatsink to make sure I have the whites and blues in alternating order:



Attached with thermal epoxy and set screws (I wish I had more photos of the LED build ... but there is lots of builds online so didn't go crazy with mine)



Testing Whites:



Testing Blues



Driver Wiring (next time I'm buying a fixture ... lol screw the money ... this was extremely overwhelming for a guy with no solder skill, and no wiring experience lol)







I wish I took photos of the canopy on the ground after I finished cleaning up the wiring. It looks so good and clean now with the split loom wrapping it all.
But here are some shots as best I could get from behind of the drivers, the wiring, and the dimming controller for the LED's

 

I also fixed up the plumbing:





And drilled the hole through the canopy for the 1/4" airline for the beananimal secondary standpipe:





Some shots of the LED units hung in the canopy, about 14" from the waters surface with 60 degree optics

 

And the finished canopy and tank lit up!







And my first inhabitant

 

Looks awesome man! I dont think your gonna need a new fixture anytime soon so dont worry lol.

 

Looks good indeed! Congrats on the huge progress as well!!

 

wow so cool!