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View Full Version : Nick's custom 75g build from scratch


nicknguyen
07/07/2010, 09:30 AM
Hi everyone,

I thought I share my build with everyone, cuz I have lots of time now since am unemployed. I've been in this hobby off and on for about 15 years now. My current tank is a 45 gal I built using 1/2 acrylic which can be view on both of the long side. I like it very much so I did the same with the new tank but now in glass since I was tired of the scratches.

this is my current tank, 45 gal, just live rock, skimmer, gfo through reactor, bag carbon and floss, powered by 2 150wt de radium driven with lumatek select a wattage, with 2 uv actinic driven by ice cap ballast.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17742

A while back I made some led for a nano tank. trying to sell the tank but keeping the led to run my refugium for the new tank.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1564&pictureid=9979

Now for the new tank.

I was given a new 90 gal with the bottom broken. I didn't like the dimension of the 90 so I took it apart, clean all the glass, purchase some additional glass and made my new tank being 40 x 24 x 18. with black silicone. I drilled 4 holes, 2 on each end. made an overflow box for one end which will be for 1 drain and the other for power chord. On the other side, have 2 3/4 return driven by a mag 9.5 through a OM squirt. I made the stand out of 3/4 blond and birch blywood. 40 x 24 x 40 . I made my sump/refugium out of 3/8 acrylic 30 x 16 x16. and a 7 gal top off container through a kent float valve. I plan on keeping the 150 radium with 4 60wt t-5 ( overdriven with 660 icecap.). more to come.. pics below.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17736
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17737
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17738
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17741
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17740
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17739

ERICinFL
07/07/2010, 09:34 AM
Very nice.

silentscream
07/07/2010, 10:05 AM
whoa, tons of custom work there, I like the slide out top-off container.

nicknguyen
07/07/2010, 10:44 AM
whoa, tons of custom work there, I like the slide out top-off container.

thanks, I wanted to be able to fill it up without having to take it out. working on the canopy now.

tydtran
07/07/2010, 11:44 AM
You have some serious DIY skills. Everything looks great. How about changing the slide out top off container to a display refugium?

nicknguyen
07/07/2010, 11:50 AM
You have some serious DIY skills. Everything looks great. How about changing the slide out top off container to a display refugium?

I can't. I have to make this system as least work as possible. My wife :uzi:complains that I spend too much time on keeping my existing tank. 7 gals of top off and a calcium reactor ( working on building ) should hold me off for about a week. nice thought though.

chimmike
07/07/2010, 12:03 PM
are you sure those drawer slides can handle the weight they'll be supporting?

nicknguyen
07/07/2010, 02:17 PM
are you sure those drawer slides can handle the weight they'll be supporting?

the draw them self said they can support 100lbs. I built the frame, then the slides inside the frame and is glued and screwed with 3 1/2 screws to the stand. it should hold :eek2:

nicknguyen
07/08/2010, 11:13 AM
just got done with my canopy. I know it's not the nicest compare to some that I've seen here. But with a limited budget ( not working at the moment) , I used what wood I had laying around.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17784
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17785
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17786
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=17787

now it's time to sand and paint, then start working on my calcium reactor.

nicknguyen
08/04/2010, 09:30 PM
Time for an update. Well, my wife is in japan for the next month and it's been a week since she's gone. It gave me enough time to finish up with the new tank. it's been set up now for 4 days and coral are little stress but seem ok. I decided to go with the 250 radium with the lumenbright mini wide on a lumatek ballast, 2 overdriven t-5 actinics = 60wt each. mag 9.5 return through a OM 2way with it tee off for the gfo and carbon. 45wt led ( home made) for the refugium and possible frag section. used my old PM redline 150. Oh, tank is viewed on 2 sides.
one side
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18907

other side
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18908

sump
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18959

lights
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18957

led
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18964

top off container under the stand
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18963

OM 2way
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2559&pictureid=18958

gona start working on the cal reactor.

theaquareef
08/05/2010, 12:13 AM
I must say that diy looks so nice. Looks amazing! I love the aquascape also.

jeff209
08/05/2010, 12:18 AM
nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you do great work

pnavarro170
08/06/2010, 12:47 AM
worlds fastest build thread, haha, very nice though, im still amazed by people handy work. which i have none really.