55G FOLR Build DIY ATS

[TomStav]

Ah man,,that stinks..I'm pretty sure only the bottom is tempered ...Did you see the tank.They would know if it was tempered or not .A tempered piece of glass will shatter into tiny bits of glass,,normal glass will just crack and break into big chunks ..

Yea they "said" it shattered so I just told them to throw it away and got off the phone quick before they had a chance to try and charge me for breaking my tank!

Oh well, I have read some posts that the newer models tend to have tempered glass on all panels. So I am scanning Craigslist for an older one in good condition. I also heard that you can test to see if they are tempered by wearing polarized glasses, not sure if its true but its sounds plausible.

I will continue posting to this thread once I find one.

 

[TomStav]

Still waiting for the right tank at the right price to appear on CL, meanwhile I've installed the rocker switch into the stand, it will control the return pump (easy on / off for feeding, cleaning etc). I have also build the canopy to house the LED flood lights (I have another thread on these LEDs) just waiting for the paint to dry then I'm going to hang it up (above nothing because I'm tankless!). I have also made a DIY auto top off, with a Tom Aquatics aqua lifter pump. All I need now is the **** tank and I'm good to go.

 

[TomStav]

Here's the DIY canopy, haven't inserted the LEDs yet...

I made it on a pulley system do I can raise it for maintenance.

 

[TomStav]

Guess what's missing in this picture!

 

[Hillage]

... No tank... But that setup looks nice. I'll be following this, interested to see what's coming next Good luck finding another tank.

 

[EriksFish315]

Looks good. I can't see the tank!

 

[Hillage]

Looks good. I can't see the tank!

Obviously it's just really clean...

 

[SeanMonster]

I like the pulley system. How hard will it be to raise/lower once the tank is in place? Looks hard to reach or is that just the camera angle?

 

[TomStav]

I like the pulley system. How hard will it be to raise/lower once the tank is in place? Looks hard to reach or is that just the camera angle?

I plan on unhooking the canopy, placing it on the tank, switch the clip onto the next peg and hang the canopy back. Only takes 30 seconds but it's only for when I'm doing cleaning really. There's a 4" gap on the regular setting do its easy enough to feed them without raising it.

 

[TomStav]

Update:::

I have modified the drain pipe so it has an emergency overflow pipe should the ATS slot pipe ever get clogged, simply drains straight to the sump with a siphon break (need to get an end cap with a hole in it just for looks).







I have added a power strip across the back, plugged everything in and tidied the cables.





Installed the ATO.



It's getting there, it's a lot of pipe work and although it's all really compact I've made it all very accessible. Need a tank!

 

[SeanMonster]

It's looking really nice. Can't wait to see the finished product, as I'm sure you can't either.

 

[TomStav]

It's looking really nice. Can't wait to see the finished product, as I'm sure you can't either.

It's sooo annoying, I would be half way through my cycle by now! But at least I have had the time to set it all up how I want it without rushing to get it up and running.

 

[TomStav]

I have finally purchased a brand new 55g that is not tempered! I pick it up Tuesday and will get it drilled ASAP. The build is back!

 

[SeanMonster]

I have finally purchased a brand new 55g that is not tempered! I pick it up Tuesday and will get it drilled ASAP. The build is back!

Nice!!! I will continue to follow for sure.

 

[EriksFish315]

Awesome good to hear.

 

[shrimpman 749]

Nice job looks well thought out enjoy.

 

[TomStav]

I have ordered all of the lighting to fit in the canopy. I am using LED flood lights that I have tested for a few months on some coral frags.

I am going to have two 20w 12000k lights with a 10w 12000k in the middle. I have also got two 10w blue lights that I'm putting between. I may also get a strip or two blue LEDs for moonlights.

The two red 10w floodlights should arrive any day now, I'll be using these on the ATS.

I have another thread with more detail on these LED floodlights should you want to know more.

 

[TomStav]

Here is the ATS with the two red 10w LED flood lights...

 

[My Little Ocean]

Can't tell from the pics but the ats needs to be roughed up for more surface area and less algae loss, just in case as I said not clear from the pics

 

[TomStav]

Can't tell from the pics but the ats needs to be roughed up for more surface area and less algae loss, just in case as I said not clear from the pics

Yea the screen is roughed up a bit, my phone camera struggled with the bright red lights so it's not really visible.

Is this rough enough? All I could find to do it was a wood saw that I dragged across it in random directions, I stopped when I thought I might go through the screen!