Fish building/man cave build!

[That Crusso Kid]

Ok keeping with tradition of me taking horrible photos.

Purty, like me. Not you.

I hope they settle in nicely for you.

 

[tharbin]

I know that you and Chris have been discussing backlit aquariums. I don't know if you've seen them yet or not (I had not) but when I was at an LFS yesterday there were four backlit UNS tanks. A largish and small with white panels and a largish and small with pale blue panels. The panels just clipped on the back of the tank and were sized to match. It seems it is a option for their tanks because the panels were UNS logoed. They looked nice but it occured to me that by attaching it to the tank, it precluded using magnetic anything on the back of the tank. Anyway I hadn't seen a backlit tank as an actual factory product offering before.

The main takeaway though is that it was much nicer than the standard clear, black, or medium blue backgrounds usually offered. Even turned off it was a more diffuse background.

 

[dantimdad]

I know that you and Chris have been discussing backlit aquariums. I don't know if you've seen them yet or not (I had not) but when I was at an LFS yesterday there were four backlit UNS tanks. A largish and small with white panels and a largish and small with pale blue panels. The panels just clipped on the back of the tank and were sized to match. It seems it is a option for their tanks because the panels were UNS logoed. They looked nice but it occured to me that by attaching it to the tank, it precluded using magnetic anything on the back of the tank. Anyway I hadn't seen a backlit tank as an actual factory product offering before.

The main takeaway though is that it was much nicer than the standard clear, black, or medium blue backgrounds usually offered. Even turned off it was a more diffuse background.

I will take a look. I am sure I can replicate it if I can get a good view of it.
Thanks!

 

[dantimdad]

OK, @tharbin , I figured it out. Man! UNS is proud of those things!

So basically, I ordered:
frosted acrylic bigger that I need for $49 with tax and free shipping
cob led waterproof light with dimmer on sale for $7 including shipping and tax
I have the aluminum channel for the bottom edge $0
I will 3d print some kind of clip for mounting it. Basically, $0

Total $56 and stuff left over.

Unfortunately, my laser won't cut it large enough so I will have to use the table saw with a plastic blade and then polish the bottom edge. Light doesn't like the cut edge at all.

This will be a fun DIY.

 

[dantimdad]

This setup will stretch my DIY skills to their limit.

From drilling glass to acrylic fabrication to wood work.

About the only thing I won't use is plasma cutting and welding. (although I have the stuff to do it)

BTW, my room is getting a 40% increase in size as soon as the shed, deck and redo of the ceiling in Sherry's office is done. We are closing in the breezeway and putting a door at either end. It will basically cost nothing but time, an out swing exterior door for the back and some paint. I can reuse everything from the wall that's there already.

The trick will be moving the 12 foot planted tank. But, my buddies and I have a plan.

Will also finally have the ability to put in a drain for a utility sink so no more washing the protein skimmer and power heads inside the house. (Truth be told, I believe this is what sold the whole idea lol)

 

[tharbin]

OK, @tharbin , I figured it out. Man! UNS is proud of those things!

So basically, I ordered:
frosted acrylic bigger that I need for $49 with tax and free shipping
cob led waterproof light with dimmer on sale for $7 including shipping and tax
I have the aluminum channel for the bottom edge $0
I will 3d print some kind of clip for mounting it. Basically, $0

Total $56 and stuff left over.

Unfortunately, my laser won't cut it large enough so I will have to use the table saw with a plastic blade and then polish the bottom edge. Light doesn't like the cut edge at all.

This will be a fun DIY.

I had to go look them up to see what they get for them. Yikes. The panel was nice but the cable looked like a generic two-wire switched extension cord and the hangers were thin, hopefully stainless, hooks that kind of distracted from the overall look. I did like the way the tanks looked though, a lot. Looking forward to seeing this.

 

[tharbin]

This setup will stretch my DIY skills to their limit.

From drilling glass to acrylic fabrication to wood work.

About the only thing I won't use is plasma cutting and welding. (although I have the stuff to do it)

BTW, my room is getting a 40% increase in size as soon as the shed, deck and redo of the ceiling in Sherry's office is done. We are closing in the breezeway and putting a door at either end. It will basically cost nothing but time, an out swing exterior door for the back and some paint. I can reuse everything from the wall that's there already.

The trick will be moving the 12 foot planted tank. But, my buddies and I have a plan.

Will also finally have the ability to put in a drain for a utility sink so no more washing the protein skimmer and power heads inside the house. (Truth be told, I believe this is what sold the whole idea lol)

One of the things I miss most in our current, and probably final, house is a utility sink. Don't forget to post a photo once in a while, we all live vicariously through others, especially with DIY projects.

 

[dantimdad]

One of the things I miss most in our current, and probably final, house is a utility sink. Don't forget to post a photo once in a while, we all live vicariously through others, especially with DIY projects.

Will do. Right now, it's going slow due to the honey-do list.

It will ramp up really fast once the shed and cabinets are done. We agreed that I can build the deck at the same time as the other stuff because I have to wait for concrete footings to dry, help for parts of it, etc.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I know that you and Chris have been discussing backlit aquariums. I don't know if you've seen them yet or not (I had not) but when I was at an LFS yesterday there were four backlit UNS tanks. A largish and small with white panels and a largish and small with pale blue panels. The panels just clipped on the back of the tank and were sized to match. It seems it is a option for their tanks because the panels were UNS logoed. They looked nice but it occured to me that by attaching it to the tank, it precluded using magnetic anything on the back of the tank. Anyway I hadn't seen a backlit tank as an actual factory product offering before.

The main takeaway though is that it was much nicer than the standard clear, black, or medium blue backgrounds usually offered. Even turned off it was a more diffuse background.

It might help to take pics next time you see something cool. And I'm not talking about a selfie.

Also, I did make the post below which included links to a backlit tank. I see how it is not, Tom. Skipping my posts. It's okay as I do the same for some other members too.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-building-man-cave-build.856751/post-14365389

 

[tharbin]

It might help to take pics next time you see something cool. And I'm not talking about a selfie.

Also, I did make the post below which included links to a backlit tank. I see how it is not, Tom. Skipping my posts. It's okay as I do the same for some other members too.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-building-man-cave-build.856751/post-14365389

It was cool but I didn't think about the discussion, which I did read here, and how photos of said cool application would be germain to the discussion while I was at the LFS. I will try to do better in the future.

In the meantime @dantimdad did look up said cool devices and reverse engineer their technology. Thus, the mission was accomplished and if anyone cares enough to further pursue their application I'm sure that somewhere on the internet there exists a photo, probably taken with something more compelling than my Galaxy S9.

I also followed your links to the tank thread you posted and viewed both of the links you posted and several surrounding posts.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I will try to do better in the future.

I read and reread your whole post. Oddly, this is the only thing I took away.

 

[dantimdad]

Not much happening with the build. The frosted panel for the back showed up today and I designed and printed the channel to holt the strip light to the bottom of it.

Added 5 julii Cory cats to the planted tank.

Did some tank maintenance