Megabite's 180 Reef - Round 2

[MegabiteOG]

@That Crusso Kid

That think alike thing is getting weird. When you posted that you needed to print a tool a holder because you didn't have a place for your micrometer, I had just downloaded one and was about to print for some of my tools I wanted quick access to. This one worked very well for my needs. The micrometer on there is my big 12" one.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

@That Crusso Kid

That think alike thing is getting weird. When you posted that you needed to print a tool a holder because you didn't have a place for your micrometer, I had just downloaded one and was about to print for some of my tools I wanted quick access to. This one worked very well for my needs. The micrometer on there is my big 12" one.

Can you please send me the link to that file to save me from having to search?

Also, please, please tell me that your micrometer is not made by Neiko. Please.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Nice find. Didn’t have this one bookmarked. Are you using Fusion for design or something else?

I've used FreeCAD and tinkered with TinkerCAD. However, I downloaded and am going to learn Fusion. Our friend, @tharbin talked me into it. Especially since FreeCAD, while being very robust, is somewhat of a PITA and I do not exactly have a lot of free time. So, I think Fusion may be easier/simpler.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Can you please send me the link to that file to save me from having to search?

Also, please, please tell me that your micrometer is not made by Neiko. Please.

Yes I do. The 6" is a Neiko and the 12" is a Hardell. Wanted to see what brand I liked more. Jury is still out. Both perform well.

This is the one I went with AMS Riser VS Tool Holder.

 

[MegabiteOG]

I've used FreeCAD and tinkered with TinkerCAD. However, I downloaded and am going to learn Fusion. Our friend, @tharbin talked me into it. Especially since FreeCAD, while being very robust, is somewhat of a PITA and I do not exactly have a lot of free time. So, I think Fusion may be easier/simpler.

I started out with Fusion and starting to get better at it. Watching some tutorials while designing really helps me as I get more familiar. I'm really enjoying it. Lots more to learn though.

 

[skey44]

And back to reef related news for a moment. I wanted to give my thoughts on the Neptune Trident now that I've had it over 90 days. It's not cheap and I was a bit skeptical on how well it would perform based on some of the reviews. For me, it has been rock solid and very accurate.

Yesterday I pulled a sample of water to check with my Hanna dKH and Salifert for CA and MG at the same time the Trident was doing a test. The results were almost exactly alike. I've done this a couple of times and it's been very consistent. I'm really happy with the purchase.

dKH Hanna - 8.4
dKH Trident - 8.4

MG Salifert - 1380
MG Trident - 1390

CA Salifert - 440
CA Trident - 426

Looks dialed to me!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Yes I do. The 6" is a Neiko and the 12" is a Hardell. Wanted to see what brand I liked more. Jury is still out. Both perform well.

This is the one I went with AMS Riser VS Tool Holder.

Thanks for the link!

I have the 12" Neiko. My father-in-law teased me because I cheaped out and didn't get a Starrett or Mitutoyo. I teased him back, though, and said, "Well, why don't you give me one of yours then?" (He spent most of his career in machine design and fabrication and has some very high-end tools.)

 

[MegabiteOG]

There are MUCH cheaper ones. These are mid-range, but how much more precise for what we're using it for really. Hell, these are probably overkill. I love quality tools though, but couldn't justify the price of the high end ones for printing plastic parts. For example, the majority of my mechanic tools are Snap-On. Talk about expensive. Luckily my dad was a Snap-On dealer when I was a mechanic many moons ago so I got them all wholesale.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

As promised, here are pics of the toolbox.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Also, I printed the tool holder for the side of the riser. Thanks again.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Funny but not so funny and true: my micrometer is too wide to fit into the tool holder. Plan C enabled.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Box looks great. I have the Hardell in there. Just tried the Neiko and to your point it's a little fat, not wide. Looks like you can file the inner ridges to get it to slide in there. The end design of the Neiko is different than the Hardell.

Hardell is the bottom one.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Box looks great. I have the Hardell in there. Just tried the Neiko and to your point it's a little fat, not wide. Looks like you can file the inner ridges to get it to slide in there. The end design of the Neiko is different than the Hardell.

Hardell is the bottom one.

It looks like the 2 middle ridges on the inside is what's blocking it. Maybe you can just file or cut them out for it to work. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Box looks great. I have the Hardell in there. Just tried the Neiko and to your point it's a little fat, not wide. Looks like you can file the inner ridges to get it to slide in there. The end design of the Neiko is different than the Hardell.

Hardell is the bottom one.

While that may be the case with yours, mine is too wide. I have the 12" Neiko while I believe yours is a 6".

 

[MegabiteOG]

That sucks. I’m surprised the Hardell fits. At least it wasn’t a huge print.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

That sucks. I’m surprised the Hardell fits. At least it wasn’t a huge print.

No biggie. I do appreciate you looking into it though.

If I was so inclined, I could always place it vertically in one of the plier/cutter slots. Problem is, I aleady have two snippers and needlenose pliers. I'll get it figurd out.

Thanks for your help.

 

[MegabiteOG]

I forgot to mention. Found a Mantis running around the tank a couple of weeks ago. I've been hearing it for a while now, but hadn't seen it. It's small and reddish in color (about an 1" - 1.5") and I'm sure it came with the live rock. My assumption is that I need to catch and remove before it gets bigger and start killing stuff (assuming it hasn't already). Tried to get a picture, but it's pretty elusive and has made little homes all over the tank.

Should that be my game plan? I don't have experience with Mantis'.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I forgot to mention. Found a Mantis running around the tank a couple of weeks ago. I've been hearing it for a while now, but hadn't seen it. It's small and reddish in color (about an 1" - 1.5") and I'm sure it came with the live rock. My assumption is that I need to catch and remove before it gets bigger and start killing stuff (assuming it hasn't already). Tried to get a picture, but it's pretty elusive and has made little homes all over the tank.

Should that be my game plan? I don't have experience with Mantis'.

I really like mantis shimp and had a dedicatd mantis 30 gallon some years ago. As for keeping them in a reef, some, but few, are able to do so without much issue. They will basically decimate any CUC you have and will eventually take smaller fish too. Additionally, they have been known to move rocks around to their liking. They are so cool though!

 

[MegabiteOG]

Thanks man.

Yeah, he is super cool watching him now and then move around while I'm feeding and hearing a lot of popping. But don't care for CUC death and moving rocks. I'm going to need to trap it eventually.

 

[skey44]

Thanks man.

Yeah, he is super cool watching him now then move around while I'm feeding and hearing a lot of popping. But don't care for CUC death and moving rocks. I'm going to need to trap it eventually.

They are pretty inquisitive and I’ve seen where Randy @Randy Holmes-Farley is trying to trap one in his tank with a jar. I’m not sure if his daughter ever caught it or not. Good luck, definitely more of a sump critter than a main tank critter. also, there are two types and also known as a “thumb splitter” so don’t go grabbing it with your hand. If you were going to try that you never know