[Ebert]

Hi everyone

I'm finally getting around to my AquaPod build & have made a few changes to my original plans

The tank is a 24 gallon AquaPod by Current.
The plans for the build are to:

Add 2 maxijet 1200's to the existing stock pump
These will be connected to pvc or tubing which will run under the sand bed & also be connected to a Chauvet timer

The tank comes stock with 2-32 watt power compact bulbs...I'll be removing them & be adding 3-40watt pc bulbs...with doing this the original hood only has to be modified by about 5/8 of an inch

I'll also be replacing the stock fans with 2-Stealth fans.

The tank I'll be drilling too so I can add a sump in the stand. The sump is going to be a little small ( about 14 gallons)

Original plan was to use 1x6 cedar for the stand, but the availibility & quality was poor. After looking around I did find some really cheap 1x8 cedar but it was only finished on 3 sides...That becomes a real challenge in building furniture with construction grade lumber. A planer would of been real nice, but it wasnt in the budget...

There will also be a Chauvet 8-switch box to turn everything on & off

Here are a few pictures of the stand being built...more to follow

[spanko]

Very nice so far. Tagging along to watch what looks like it is going to be an amazing build!!!!!

[WILLIAM1]

WOW that looks great keep us posted with the progress.

[pyromaniac398]

NICE stand! Keep up the good DIY

[Ebert]

Thanks everyone

I've finished the stand now & even added a DIY stained glass panel to it

Next I'll be building a sump 15.25" x 18.25"...it is a little small but will still hold my coralife skimmer that I already have.

From there I'll be drilling the tank & then to the lighting upgrade

Here is the finished stand

[mocker]

Wow that is one nice stand

[Ebert]

Thanks everyone

I’m finally getting the sump almost completed.

Now it is my 1st acrylic project so it was a big learning process.
I give big thanks to a fellow reefer from SDIRB (Cjae74) for his advice & donating some scrap acrylic to practice with along with the glues to make this project a success.

Creating a sump to fit was a challenge at 18”x15”x12” with 3 separate chambers.
Then with only advise on how to cut & glue acrylic was another challenge.

Everything was going very good up to the end but I had forgot to route teeth in the chambers so I attempted to do it for the final step.

Mistake #1, while routing the very last teeth the router kicked out & cracked the whole piece.
Mistake #2, as a carpenter first instinct is grab a hammer & knock the piece out…very big mistake…huge crack now appears on the bottom
Acrylic isn’t glued with Weld On #4, it actually bonds itself together so it becomes one piece.

So after adding several patches & a little more sanding it will be complete.


Patches that were added are where the letter A's are

the water flows over the 1st chamber into the 2nd then back up into the 3rd


Next up the drilling & lighting
Feel free to make suggestions at any time...Thanks...

[Ebert]

A few more changes in the plan & now I’m just waiting for the supplies to arrive to finish

The Quiet One 3000 @ 780gph was pushing to much water & the little sump couldn’t handle it.

So a Quiet One 2200 @ 581gph is the current pump in use, its also throttled back some.
Now I guess that it’s pumping right around 350-400gph.

The Maxijets 1200's that will run under the sand bed actually churn the water on the surface, so that plan worked.

One of the new plans are to add a Hydor FLO Rotating Deflector to the stock pump that is on the top of the tank

Plan two is to add two more Maxijets 1200’s about mid level on each side.

Now with the pumps they are all still completely hidden behind the back panel area

With the Chauvet timer testing, each of the Maxijets 1200’s should run approximately 50 seconds, then it will cycle to the next pump.

Having the 4 Maxijets on the timer, along with the stock pump running constantly should create some nice water movement.

The original lighting plan was to use pc's, 2-40watt 10K/460actinic & 1-40 watt 6700K/10K. Now on top of those I’ve got enough room to squeeze 1-32watt pc in the front of the tank, its going to be slightly overdriven.
That light will probably be the stock dual actinic that came with the tank. I’ll just make an acrylic lens & reflector for it.

Lighting totals = approximatly 160watts

Water flow estimate = 900-1000gph

If I decide on only 2 of the Maxijets on the timer I’ll have approximately 1500-1600gph of total water flow.

Pictures coming soon

[Ebert]

Here is a lighting update

The stock hood



The bulb size comparison





Stock end caps removed



Reflector removed to show ballasts & ONE fan, yes I got ripped...some have 2 FANS



Stealth fans & another ballast added...good thing is there were already mounting holes for the additional ballast



Bulbs with plastic shield replaced





The bulbs need modded slightly to fit inside the existing area.
There are small 1/8" plastic pieces on each side of the bulb that needs sanded off.
This gains you 3/4", then there held into place with PC clips.

Simple & cheap DIY light mod...

[e_baer]

Wow, everything is really coming along. Looks great!

[missy88]

amazing....hehe i wish i could do that.