Luck be a Lady

[LadyMac]

Did you get yourself a 3d printer?


I have read many accounts of people using PLA in their reef, even long term. I would think for a short period, I would use it myself, until I got petg ordered. Pick a plain solid color to minimize ingredients for colorants.

Yes that is what I almost sliced my finger off on

We have black so that should be ok. Working on getting clear for some lid stuffs :)

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Welcome to the club!

I found the creality brand petg to print good for me every time. I do not store it specially, no extra dryers or what nots. My house is regularly over the desired humidity for printing yet I'm still printing fine.

Under 14 bucks right now
Limited-time deal: CREALITY PETG Filament 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament, 1kg (2.2lb) Neatly Wound Spool, Dimensional Accuracy ±0.03mm, 2024 Latest Batch, Fit for Ender, Bambu Lab, Anycubic,ELEGOO FDM Printers, Black https://a.co/d/07NOvUL5

Also have "transparent " for a few $ more Creality PETG 3D Printing Filament 1.75mm, Excellent Toughness High Precision, Odorless Non-Toxic Moistureproof, 1kg(2.2lbs) Glossy PETG Filament for 3D Printer (Transparent) https://a.co/d/03lL2aDX

 

[Projects with Sam]

Today I’m going to hunt down an stl for a skimmer rack lol.

Can I use PLA in the reef until I get a better filament? @Projects with Sam

yes! I just use egg crate for the skimmer racks.

PLASKOLITE 2' x 4' White Egg Crate Louver Light Panel

Egg Crate Louvers provide visual comfort and lighting efficiency. The open cell design allows for free air circulation resulting in lower operating temperatures, which increases ballast life and improves lamp performance.

www.menards.com

 

[tbrown]

Today I’m going to hunt down an stl for a skimmer rack lol.

Can I use PLA in the reef until I get a better filament? @Projects with Sam

Really depends on the brand of PLA they say. Some may have more impurities but I have both PLA and PETG in my tanks and I only have Sunlu which is cheap.

 

[LadyMac]

yes! I just use egg crate for the skimmer racks.

PLASKOLITE 2' x 4' White Egg Crate Louver Light Panel

Egg Crate Louvers provide visual comfort and lighting efficiency. The open cell design allows for free air circulation resulting in lower operating temperatures, which increases ballast life and improves lamp performance.

www.menards.com

Do you print the legs or just stack the crate? It seems that I’m going to need some height.

Also I’ve noticed all the files for the stands are way too large lol. My sump chamber is small I guess.

 

[fishguy242]

build a box w eggcrate, cut with side cutters, put together w zip ties... ;) :)

 

[LadyMac]

build a box w eggcrate, cut with side cutters, put together w zip ties... ;) :)

Don’t ask why I never even thought of that. I’ve made things like that before but for some reason my brain didn’t go there for this XD

Now I have to find a ride to Lowe’s

 

[tbrown]

build a box w eggcrate, cut with side cutters, put together w zip ties... ;) :)

Or heat gun bend the legs.

 

[Projects with Sam]

the bent leg method looks really clean. CA also works on it.
you could also use PVC ceiling tile if you wanted smooth and flat material. they may sell 2'x2' tiles of that.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Genesis-Common-24-in-x-24-in-Actual-23-75-in-x-23-75-in-Smooth-Pro-White-Smooth-15-16-in-Drop-Tile-Ceiling-Tiles/50022198

 

[MrsBugmaster]

the bent leg method looks really clean. CA also works on it.
you could also use PVC ceiling tile if you wanted smooth and flat material. they may sell 2'x2' tiles of that.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Genesis-Common-24-in-x-24-in-Actual-23-75-in-x-23-75-in-Smooth-Pro-White-Smooth-15-16-in-Drop-Tile-Ceiling-Tiles/50022198

Never thought of this. Good idea

 

[tbrown]

Bent leg is how I make the Egg Crate racks and such.

 

[tbrown]

Just don't overheat the plastic or it warps.

 

[LadyMac]

Guys, my YWG is fine! I’ve worried over her as she’s usually popped her little head out of the rock when I feed. However since the calurpa explosion I’ve not seen scale nor fin of her. I’m pleased to say that she perched her happy little self up high enough to say “Hey, cut this grass, I can’t see! Also give me some food.” So I did. Feed her that is. I have a local friend coming I think Thursday to grab a little of the calurpa so she will get her lawn mowed then. I also have the week off-ish. Russ is going to his other grandmas for a visit.

Also, on a side note, some of you may have seen the prayer request. I’m sad to say that she is pretty sure she lost the baby :( She’s trying to keep her mind off it. Her husband has no idea how to offer her support. He wants to make her smile but of course this is hard. I pray that he can find a way to comfort her. I’m here for whatever she needs but I think she’s wanting that marital support. Please keep them in your thoughts. Send good loving prayers/ vibes/ whatnot their way.

I’ve been begging her these past few days to see the dr, to be sure and also cause her health matters too. But she’s stubborn and refusing to do so.

 

[Nano_Man]

So So sorry for her and all involved I am sending prayers from the uk . And yes tell her to get to the doctors her health is very important

 

[LadyMac]

So So sorry for her and all involved I am sending prayers from the uk . And yes tell her to get to the doctors her health is very important

Thank you for the prayers.

She is supposed to have an appt tomorrow. Two weeks ago she had concerns, and tried to see the OB then. They held her off til the second… she doesn’t want to go cause she’s pretty positive she miscarried, and there’s nothing they could do. :(.

 

[Nano_Man]

Thank you for the prayers.

She is supposed to have an appt tomorrow. Two weeks ago she had concerns, and tried to see the OB then. They held her off til the second… she doesn’t want to go cause she’s pretty positive she miscarried, and there’s nothing they could do. :(.

So sad news thinking of you all at this time

 

[LadyMac]

Mornin.

Russy went to his other granny’s for the week so I have nothing to do, sans housework and tank stuff.

The other day I filled the 20 long outside and tossed the pallifina out for now. They lived in a 10 and had done wel but I figure they’d appreciate the space and maybe the fresh air would entice them to spawning. This emptied my 10 gallon up. So I am going to set that one back up (I had planned to sell it off) for my Mac pair. Many keepers have better luck in a bare ten with moss, a hide or two and sponge filter. Zero lights.

I’ll probably hate myself but I think the best spot is under their current tank. It’s low but I can pull the door for now and have ambient lighting. Or leave it on and give them their darkness. I need babies from them.

This will open the 35 up. I have zero fish to go into it. I may just remove the contents of the 70 and move to that one, and work on putting the 60 back together with better rock and whatnot. Think that’s a good idea? Basically I’m losing the sump and five gallons. Would of course be temporary. My skimmer won’t fit in the back so that could be an issue. Or maybe it will lol. Idk.

 

[fishguy242]

... ;) :)

 

[LadyMac]

Progress has been made this week lol.

Yesterday I pulled the macs from the 35 and moved them to a ten gallon, in the hopes they’ll spawn and hold. In the mean time, I’ll be using the 35 as a *temporary* reef. I also re leveled the tank (which was a real pain) because I noticed it was leaning back a bit. Had to place a piece of tile at the back of the floor because that’s how unlevel my floor is. Sheesh. Should be fine as it will have five feetses on it to disperse the weight, and the heavier part won’t even be ON the tile.

(I say it this way cause chances are I’ll have two reefs lol)

So anyhow today I got the tank all cleaned up. Moved the kessil over to it. Man I love this light. Anyhow, I also decided since I won’t have a sump I can use the bottom cabinet space for an ATO. So I cleaned a 5 gallon standard and shoved it under there. Placed the wave pump where I think it’ll go good and have been working on printing a filter cup. I’ll need two, but they’re 12 hour prints. Should be done by 9 lol.

On the ATO, which is a Tunze. The hose I had cut when I used it for the 70, since the chamber is right at the pump. I used a control valve to stick em back together lol. Hopefully it won’t be an issue. Screwed it to the wall where I can see it for my own piece of mind. I have no idea where to put the level of the ATO in the return. I guess once I fill er up I’ll see.

Tomorrow, if I’m feeling up to it I’ll work on moving the stuff over. It’ll be an all day process. I placed the old orbit marine LED over the 70 as a temporary solution for now.



So yeah, pics!

 

[LadyMac]

Yesterday the tank was moved. Pretty painless (for the tank, I’m flaring today) though long and exhausting. My pistol shrimp is MIA. I’ve not heard her for awhile but that’s not uncommon honestly. Sadly I don’t think she’s in the rockwork either.

The goby was out in the open this am. She did go in one of the crevices soon after lights on. So there is that.

I’m always nervous when moving fish, hoping they make it through the night but scared to wake up to jumpers or floaters. I didn’t see the dottyback, and was worried that she bailed on me. Though once the goby when into the rock ( I could still see her) I saw the dottyback poking out begging for breakfast.

My coralline may be dying? The rock was out of the water while I was removing the sand, but didn’t dry completely out. But now it’s pretty vibrant pink. I’m thinking of sticking the SHU box on and having it at just the right level to get my skimmer going. Just as a precaution. Hopefully it’ll work.

All in all everything seems ok. I have tossed the calurpa into the 70 for now, awaiting someone to come grab some. Today regardless of the pain I’m going to have to finish draining it and give it a good scrub. It’s very hard to look at it being so empty but I think I can get it going better than ever.

So now the planning process for the 70! Idk if I want to keep these guys here in the 35 or plan their move back to the 70. I may look into getting some Picasso like I originally wanted. Wrasse?

So I need for the 35:
-Skimmer. It needs a HOB one for the overflow. I’ve read others use an ehopps, so I’ll look into that.

-Corals! I’m confident the kessil can support just about anything, and it’s quite empty lol.

-Pistol shrimp. My goby is lost it seems. I’m wondering if I should dig out a little spot for her. Or just hold off until I can see if I can locate her a buddy.

The 70 needs:
-Sand. I’d say two bags. And going with something not as fine grained as the other?

-Rock. I may go with actual live rock. Give me those hitch hikers. lol. I have a ton of vermintids, and zero bristle worms. Which take that as good or bad idk.

-Light. I’m still hoping to win one of the Noopsyches haha. It seems like a great choice. I’ll work on saving up for one, while hoping my luck will be with me.

-Skimmer. No idea what I want. I’d love for a DC but as long as it works better than what I have.

-Powerheads. I have one of the old one on the 35, but I think I want to go with something better on the 70.

-Fish. I really want picassos. But I also want something else. I’d like to be able to keep something that’s not going to be beat up. Suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated.

Now the not boring stuff, pictures.