LadyMac
Freshwater sage fish whisperer
Be patient. It’s very hard, especially when you hyper focus on things. Nothing in this hobby happens fast except disaster. I’ve learned that the hard way
*** Tank Talk with Top Lids & Avast Marine Giveaway!! WIN a Plank Autofeeder and Custom Lid for Your Tank!! ***
- GIVEAWAY CONTEST PRIZE CLAIMED
- Thread starter Daniel@R2R
- Start date
- Tagged users None
LadyMac
Freshwater sage fish whisperer
The only real DIY I tried was a sump build and my cat wrecked that almost immediately lol.
As you can see, she didn't care.
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RJT
Active Member
Best DIY. I built my own "light rack" was new to the hobby and only knew a few people. I used a piece of plywood that I hung from the ceiling (the room is unfinished in the basement) and attached the MH lights. It actually worked well, I used the same setup when I switched to LED's. Kept it that way for over a decade.
I've posted this one several times, so skip it if you're bored with it by now.
QUESTION OF THE DAY - REEFING DIY: Biggest Wins & Biggest Failures
My diy aquarium sump and stand
www.reef2reef.com
ctenophore
Active Member
TANK TALK: For those of you who have had both DIY screen lids and professional polycarbonate Top Lids, what have been the biggest differences for you?
I have neither but my outside perspective is a question of light penetration on the screen and poorer gas exchange on the poly lids.
LadyMac
Freshwater sage fish whisperer
I’ve also had neither but the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that the diy seem very light and wouldn’t be great to keep strong jumpers in. I’d imagine the polycarbonate would have a little weight to it? At least enough that if a fish popped up it wouldn’t knock it askew
My quick temporary DIY lid is a polycarbonate sheet with slots routered in it with a screen stretched around it. The PAR does get diminished as salt creep from dips and splashes builds up on it.
I 3D printed my entire controller area to fit inside my tank.
The hex grid wall is not my design
However all the controller mounts such as sicce pump skimmer pump Hydros Control 2 and reef strip are all my own cadded up designs and 3D printed myself
I dont have any professional lids but Evap cover to prevent excessive evaporation while maintaining gas exchange is key. Right now I just use acrylic panel over the top of some of my tanks while others are just open.
Acrylic warps after awhile so it isnt ideal to not have heat/gas exchange
My poly lids have always sagged, I did get smart and put a half inch strip across the middle of the last one on edge and that has worked so far for sagging and my screens like the one I have now is super hokie thumb tacks duct tape LOL You cant see any of it thankfully unless you lift the lid but yeah definitely NOT a work of art
Does it count if I haven't done it yet? Because I was banking on winning one from you!
Mhamilton0911
BitterSalty
While I don't have the polycarbonate lids (yet, wink wink) I have both diy and glass lids to compare to, and I certainly like the light penetration of the screen lid, the evap though is certainly more in those tanks than my biggest tank with glass lids. I clean the glass weekly though to keep it as clear as I can.
RJT
Active Member
I had both. Used the DIY screens from a friend. Super light and tough, I used to put live rock on it while I was aquascaping. Now that I have a professional lid on the main tank at most I rest some frozen food on it. Best part about the professional ones is that it has removable doors. The doors actually fit a plank auto feeder, which is perfect.
Mhamilton0911
BitterSalty
I did the diy AIO! I ordered the tenecor AIO kit, flat packed, and I had to glue it together myself. I installed this to my main tank, 75g. Because 1, I'm scared of sumps and plumbing, and 2, this stand design limited my sump options as each cabinet is only 15"wide. I love it. I also chose to place it on the side, peninsula style, rather than in the back because I thought I'd never be able to reach the bottom where the pump was or ever clean anything if I had if centered in the back.
It's so easy to maintain, and check on things having it easy on the side.
tbrown
Nominated Cronie Intern - Might be failing?
I've only had the glass flip tops and egg crate cut to size. The egg crate is good because it allows air flow and doesn't grow algae like the glass lids.do, but it also has large holes which fish can (and do) jump through.
This pic will serve as double duty it seems.
I ordered this before this contest. Now, I'm reluctant to make it since I'm going to hope that I win a @Top_Lids instead. I can already forsee some issues with the DIY lid. One...I have to do it. Two...it won't look as clean and professional. The overall functionality of it will likely be lacking compared to a commercial lid.
LadyMac
Freshwater sage fish whisperer
Regarding circulation pumps: read reviews. I’ve a box full of no longer working wave pumps that I have no idea what to do with because they no longer work. Basically making my choice for return pump and light obsolete because I chose that brand due to it being cheap and all controlled together.
In short, I should have listened and read reviews.
Start simple homey. You probably don't need a total reef controller right now. Get lights flow and heat. Then build up in time.
Also what @LadyMac said. Get the best you can with what you got.
