Slow as Molasses 40B build

I have had this 40B sitting in my house for over a year now. I have had other non aquarium related hobbies that required my time and hobby budget to maintain. So, it was put on the back shelf for some time.
This was a good thing because I met a bunch of reefers and learned a lot.

This was also good for someone else cause they liked their new bed.


I built the stand and ran into a problem with one corner torquing when I put the skin on top. One side was about 1/4" lower then the rest. This pissed me off and led to me putting the whole thing on the back burner.

4x4 timbers with 3/4" Ply tops. You can see the gap with the shims.


I had originally got a 20H because when I got the 40B they didn't have any 20L in stock. I made the stand big enough for a 20L but I figured the 20H would be fine. After I started making decisions on what I wanted to run in the sump I discovered I couldn't fit everything I wanted in the 20H. When I got a 20L I realized I had gone on the glass dementions. Totally forgot about the frame. So, I need to shave a little off the 4x4's to fit it.


So then it sat for a while. My friends raged on me for not have my tank running while one upgraded 3 times in the same time period. I finally ordered the Glass-Holes 700 kit.

Mmm Candy...


Measuring and determining the location of the box. Also a good Stand shot.


After I found a spot it was time to test out the new drill.





My Fearless assistant


FTS mockup


I then sprayed the back black and went on to mount the overflow. I thought the bulkhead went in way far into the box. Reading the instructions I see they want you to cut it down so less than 1/8" sticks out from the nut. Even though the instructions deny it, the bulkhead is installed backwards from a normal.
I installed the gaskets and tightened it down to make a mark of where to cut.




I then used the nut as a guide to cut it off with a larger saw.



The sticker on the bottom is nice but I was worried it would break loose or leach in the tank so I removed it.



Then I lubed it up and installed it. With about 1/8" when tightened.


Insert back in.


Back shot.


Up next is to put another top on and level it. Then plump up the sump and return. I already designed the refugium. My friend saw the design and had me build him one. Good Practice.
Skimmer section on the right, Refugium on the Left, Return in the center. He is still using the CPR HOB. I made it big enough to run an in sump.


Only thing I don't have planed out is the lighting. I want LEDs no question. The problem is the 36" length of the tank. Most units are designed with about 24" in coverage. Getting 36" in a shallow tank I would have to mount the unit high above the tank. I will probably end up making my own LED unit.

I'll Update as I make progress. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

 

Went to Lowes for some more plumbing parts. Looked at the LED selection for a Refugium light. They had a few. One was on sale.



The one that was on sale wasn't on display. The blue one was.


I picked up both planning on returning the one I didn't like. I stopped by my friends house and we tested them out. The Blue one was a little brighter and yellower(lower K). He liked the Silver one so we put it above his Refugium.

 

Good progress! I'm in the same boat. I've had my empty tank for a year now! Too many expensive hobbies.

 

Yeah, My other problem is trying to pick out the right equipment the first time. Still working on picking out lighting.

Started working on the Drain Pipe tonight.

 

I have a slow build as well. I have a lot of hobbies and projects going, some of which keep pushing my build further out, lucky for me I also have another reef to tide me over, though it's needs aren't helping the 113g build.

Good job so far.

 

Deciding on a return pump. Have 4ft of head height to fight. Want something efficient(low watts, cool) first and quiet second.
Amazon.com: Rio 12HF HyperFlow Water Pump - 750 GPH: Pet Supplies
Danner Mag-Drive Supreme Water Pump
Danner Mag-Drive Supreme Water Pump

Also, working on a stock list.
-3 Bangai Cardinals
-2 clowns(dunno which yet)
- Sand sifting goby(dunno which yet)

 

I don't know much about the Rio pump, but of the two mag drives i would get the mag 7. I don't think the 5 would be adequate. I run the Mag 7 on my 27 gallon and it works great.

 

My friend has the Rio and it out flows his overflow. The only problem with the 7 I see on paper is that it draws 2x the power of the 5 and Rio.

 

Was going to redo the top tonight to make it level. Then I realized I didn't have enough screws to do so. Didn't feel like fighting the rain so, that's on hold till tomorrow.

The bulkhead moves when I put the elbow in. I can only get it so tight with my fingers and my wrench doesn't fit in the box. Any suggestions to get it a little tighter?

I started designing my LED unit.
Decided on this heatsink:
Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 23" Heat Sink for 36 LEDs
24 Royal Blues:
CREE XP-E Royal Blue 3W LED on star
12 XP-G Neutral White:
http://www.rahttp://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-133/CREE-XP-dsh-G-Neutral-White/Detail
Typhon LED controller with 3 Drivers:
Typhon LED Controller Kit by BoostLED

I don't know if I want to swap some of the Blues for UV or not.

 

Took the blue LED fixture back because it appeared to have a scorch mark on the center of the array. Looked at the other units and they had and they all had bad solder joints at this connector. So, I got the same SS unit my friend has.

I also went to compare glass prices. Lowes was about $1 cheaper than HD and they cut it for free. So, I am going to try to find my original drawing with the dimensions or remeasure and have them do all the hard work.

I want to make a glass divider for my canopy I'm building. Have the LEDs on top to protect from saltwater and still have access bellow for feeding maintenance. They have 36x30 sheets so I can have that cut down nicely too.