My Coral Propagation System

[maxwellwhothunk]

Ok, so I started yet another DIY project (it is so like me to start another project before completely finishing another...).

My purpose is to design, build and implement a coral propagation system. It will be a satellite off of my current 75gal reef tank, and will plumb into my 20L sump.

I am calling it a coral propagation system, because it's not just one tank, it is comprised of enough space for up to about 5 - ~14gal tanks.

I will be building 3 acrylic tanks with the dimensions of 10x24x14 (HxWxD), the space where the other 2 tanks could go, will be used to store my Ca Reactor and Misc. supplies, and down the road will probably used for another large refuge/sump... which would allow me to easily isolate the propagation system from my display tank.

The dimensions of the system are 5'9" tall, 15.5" deep and 27.5 inches wide. The system will be fed by a Mag 7. The tanks will be stacked above each other with about 5-6" between them for lights and plumbing. Each of the tanks will be able to slide out about 6-7" for maintenance and coral placement. Some plumbing would have to be removed for the complete removal of the tanks, but this is all minor adjustments.

The top tank is meant for SPS, and will have the most light (I am thinking 54w of T5 actinic and a metal halide) and water flow (it will have a Maxi-Jet 1200 for added water flow). The next tank down will house LPS, and will have the light that makes it through from the tank SPS tank above as well as another 54w T5 actinic light retro. The third tank down will have another actinic retro with Overdriven NO Fluorescents; this tank will be for softies.

After the third tank the water will return to my displays sump.

I have already begun building the wooden frame of the system; I will be ordering the acrylic and other materials on Monday.

If you have any suggestions, questions or comments please post 'em!

[Sefu]

Just wanna give you a thumbs up, and good luck :o

[maxwellwhothunk]

Well I have already made some changes since my last post. I figured that 10" high tanks would be sufficient for SPS and LPS, but then I decided that it would be overkill for what I wanted/needed for the softies. As a result I have reduced the size of the Softies tank to 6" tall.

[icereefer]

LOL,LOL,LOL,Someones got the reef bug...LOL.
Good luck Max.
Jim

[maxwellwhothunk]

LOL... I really do! I am still figuring out if that is a good thing or a bad thing...

Thanks Jim, I need it!

[FishinInTheDark]

I guess it's keeping you off the streets, eh Max?!

Nice ideas. I'll be looking forward to seeing them progress.

[Condiman]

Sounds like an excellent setup I hope that one of these days I can come down to see it

[maxwellwhothunk]

I guess it's keeping you off the streets, eh Max?!
Ahhh yes, us Jets and our rival gang the Sharks are always starting something in the streets... I figured I had to get away. LOL... Ahhh West Side Story

Condiman, sometime after it's finished if you are going to be in the area you will have to let me know.

[maxwellwhothunk]

Here is an image of the wooden frame as it is now. I am letting some wood putty dry which covers large gaps in the rabbit joints. I am also covering up the screw holes with wood putty. I will be painting it soon, probably just with normal white latex paint.

I looked into building the actual tanks with wood (like the plywood tanks that garf has the article on) but I figured in this situation the cost would not be justified since another substitute for the epoxy paint is pool liner paint, and a LPSS (local pool supply store) quoted me in excess of $80 per gallon. So I will be using all acrylic. It makes the manufacturing process easier too. I will be calling in for the acrylic tomorrow. I will be buying just about 3/4 of a full sheet of 1/4" acrylic for this job. I will also be having the company do all my cuts, its worth the extra money because their cuts will glue together easily but my cuts are always really chipped, so they dont work together... my workshop is not that well equipped.

[Gryz]

Looking foward to seeing this project come together!
Keep the pics coming!

[maxwellwhothunk]

You don't have to tell me twice! LOL, as you know I can be very liberal with my pictures!

If anything I might start painting today, but I have a Dance concert that I am currently designing and my design deadline for the master electrician is tonight, so I am adding final touches onto my design. Of course if I do get any further tonight, I will post an update. If anything I will be adding on the 2x4 braces that the tanks will rest on, then I should be ready to paint.

Thanks for your interest!

[maxwellwhothunk]

Here is the design if anyone is interested in the kind of stuff I do.

This design was created using a program called WYSIWYG, this pdf is much lower quality than something I would turn in for a final revision, but I just wanted to share, if anyone is interested. I'll give you some of my history:
I started in the theater enjoying the technical aspects of it when I was very young, I would say 10 or 11, but I was fasinated by light for as long as I can remember. I got a lot of training, by going to the library and reading, but that only got me so far, and most books were highly outdated. When I was about 12 or 13 I knew lighting fixtures like the back of my hand, but I had still never gotten any hands on experience, until my 8th grade year in Middle school when I was accepted into the Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts Stage crew! From then I moved on to a lot of community theater voulenteer work, and then I started in the theater program at my high school Milwaukee High School of the Arts. I designed my first design for the show Critics Choice, at a nearby community theater (which is a place where I met many people who taught me a lot) I was 14, and turned 15 during the 4 week run of the show.

Since then I have designed many more shows (I have never kept count, but I save all my designs so I could if I wanted to).

During the summer I work for a company Clearwing Productions Inc. www.clearwing.com where I work with automated fixtures like the Vari-Lite series www.vari-lite.com at Clearwing we do large scale venues like Milwaukee's infamous Summerfest, we also do a variety of tours, corporate gigs (including the HUGE playstation confrence in LA this past summer).

Ok... now you know my background... back to the DIY project :)

[maxwellwhothunk]

Well hello,
I am facing some setbacks. Since the last time I updated you I have done a lot of wood putty work trying to make everything nice and smooth. I will start to apply primer tonight, hopefully I will get 2 coats on it. Then I will be doing at least another coat of mildew proof white paint.

I am still waiting on the Acrylic I will call the place again tomorrow. I am also facing a slight setback since the lights and pump have not arrived yet either. I am expecting the pump tomorrow, and the lights as well. I should have my lights sometime this week and I should have the acrylic on Tuesday.

This project should be done by the end of this week, but no promises, I have a ton of homework to do and this week is Tech week for the show I am designing.

Well I am going to put a coat of paint on it. I will check in with the forums later :)

[Gryz]

You know what this post needs more of?





Pics! :lol:

[maxwellwhothunk]

LOL, honestly its pretty boring, imagine the photo above and add a slightly see through coat of paint on it. LOL

I will snap some when I get the chance.

[Gryz]

That's OK

Can't wait to see the end product though!

[maxwellwhothunk]

Hi all, it's been a busy week, so I got almost nothing done... I have painted many coats of paint all over the frame. I will post pictures soon. I will also start on the plumbing soon. soon this thread will be flooding with pictures!

[Sefu]

Welcome back Max, can't wait for them pictures :o

[specsgirl]

Oooo..I want picts too! I'm blond but just noticed that you're from WI...me too.