Ldogg's 3g Office Pico

Nano-Newb1983 · May 20, 2009

ok cool. when will you be adding rock/sand?

Ldogg · May 20, 2009

I am going to mod the AC tonight, make 2.5g of fresh salt water tonight, then run home tomorrow at lunch. I have a few small pieces of Live rock and sand in my fuge just waiting... so I will grab about 3 cups of water from my display, some rock and a little bit of sand from the fuge, then head back to work. I can get the AC running, minus the cheato for now, and use the stock light till the retro comes in. that's the plan at the moment, unless I get busy at work tomorrow.

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

photo documented my AC70 mod.

ok here we go....

I pulled the media basket out of the filter and broke it into 3 parts, 2 sides and the bottom.

here you can see where the heater will be located

next I notched the bottom so that I could attach one of the side.

I cut the top off the side, and notched it for the light fixture

here you can see the divider. I used super glue gel here, so if it doesn't hold I will have to get sealant, but I think it will be fine.

shot of the return

next up, I ripped down the other side to close off the heater compartment.

next I cut off the tab restricting the movement of the intake. I want to be able to move it all the way over. the AC70 is a 300gph filter, so I need to be able to slow it down.

next I taped up the intake tub, and cut it with the dremel to make it shorter.

and were done!

here we have the mechanical filtration side, where I can run floss, and carbon, next is the heater compartment, and finally the big section on the right is my Fuge.

Nano-Newb1983 · May 21, 2009

very nice dude, keep the pics comin

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

thanks. I had to notch the back out a little more for the light to fit, but it looks great. now if that second light and retro kit would just get here already......

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

current FTS. the stock light is on the back, just to confirm the notch is big enough now. once the extra arms are here it should be centered.

bannshy · May 21, 2009

That is sweet, nice work.

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

thanks!

My RKL showed up today. took me about 15 minutes to configure it. setup the light cycle, and the heater functions.... I kinda cheated, since I own an RKE, I am familar with the logic of these controllers...

Nano-Newb1983 · May 21, 2009

very very nice.. this is the most high tech pico i love it... man i want one

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

thanks. my 120 @ home has an RKE, and it emails me when there's a problem....

i love DA's stuff.

Nano-Newb1983 · May 21, 2009

Ldogg said:
thanks. my 120 @ home has an RKE, and it emails me when there's a problem.... i love DA's stuff.

very cool, i should get one for my nanocube. where can i find one?

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

Marine depot, digital Aquatics sells direct, all the major dry goods guys sell them, and many R2R sponsors sell them too.

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

my extra light just showed up! just extended the stock light, and holy cow! it's awesome. pics to come!

Ldogg · May 21, 2009

ok, here's the extended light fixture. as you can see, the first set of arms rests on top of the AC70 return grate, then they pitch up and out over the center of the tank, just like normal. I am hoping the LED retro doesn't add too much more wieght, but I am pretty confident at this point that this will work just as planned.

here looking at the tank. at my eye level you cant even see the bars. i might need to put a bead of sealent on the grate, but only if the weight is too much.

from above

here you can see where I moved the first divider over closer to the fuge.

Ldogg · May 22, 2009

I am going to pick up some ocean direct this afternoon. I plan on seeding it with a cup of OD from my fuge at home. filling on tuesday!

Ldogg · May 26, 2009

tank is filled.... I bought a small bag of livesand, added 3g of fresh saltwater, plus 3 cups from my display, and let that sit in a bucket wit ha heater and powerhead last night with live rock rubble from my sump. then I filled it up this morning.