Tote fuge swap out to AGA 29 display fuge

I started the conversion from a Rubbermaid tote fuge to what will be a 29 gallon AGA display fuge with some kind of (undecided) swimming critters to look at in it. Time is a factor, there's not enough of it, and I'll only be able to do a little each day so I decided to mini chronicle the project. Money is another hinder so most of it will be DIY with stuff I already have on hand.
Day 1
The entertainment center that houses my fuge. One door was removed before I decided to record progress.

The light fixtures that will burn 3 6500K cfl-r bulbs.

Doors gone, fixtures in place and beginning of 'light box'. I used the doors and 2x4's to build the box to shield light a little.

The front panel of the box in place. Was pulled away from the project and had to stop for the day..more to come tomorrow...

 

Nice start, well planned out, keep up the good work

 

The Overflow

It's ironic that a google search on DIY overflow's led me to this site in the first place. I'm glad I'm a cheap bastage otherwise I wouldn't never met you cool people!;D
Below is my version of the international known DIY overflow. It is identical in every aspect except I added a 10" long 3/4" pipe with 1/4" deep cuts every 1/4" to create a better way of surface skimming this project.
I've just finished 3+ hours of testing and am proud to say that it works as I planned it. It skims well, it restarted 9 out of 10 "power failure" tests, IT'S QUIET!!, as flow was slowly increased it was capable of compensating and keep up, and by using 3/4" PVC flow (by my calculations) is 165 gph which is perfect for this application.;D
My PVC "junk" box

The cut pieces of the overflow

Detail of the skimmer pipe

Overflow on tank, set up to begin testing

More to come later....

 

awesome, I've always wanted to put something cool into my fuge. it just has a big ball of cheato.

 

If it's remote I say why not do it? I had all of that water and nothing to watch in there but a bunch of plants, some bw's and a colony of mini feather dusters. So I figuired I'd take it out of hiding, make it look nice and put something in there I can enjoy watching. Just got to decide what but that's later...

 

Built the 'mangrove island' support since I can't seem to sleep. Everything including the tank will go down to my store with me tomorrow and get painted w/ Krylon. I'm going to paint the outside back panel of the the tank with a blend of white, navy blue and black. The overflow, inlet and eggcrate stand will all be black.
The stand will hold 25 rooted/leaved mangroves 8" above the sand. The legs will be concealed with LR and macro's.

 

cool, I cant wait to see it completed..

 

neat

 

Looking good!!

 

cool project... i'm following along, I wanna see that mangrove island in action