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Hang-on-the-Wall reef aquarium

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Mark Peterson View Drop Down
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    Posted: November 25 2015 at 2:13pm
Can't believe it - after ~25 years in the hobby, this is my one and only build thread. Smile

Below is how my dentists freshwater tank looked in 2010 before I changed it to a reef. There were hardly any fish and they were continually jumping out. I discovered that the heater and the light were keeping the water at about 83.





As you can see from the top pic, this acrylic tank was all scratched. I started to remove the inside scratches with a strong algae magnet and micro-mesh. It couldn't take the pressure and started leaking. It was a pretty old acrylic tank. Cry 
My dentist did not want a regular tank on a stand with a sump and he didn't want a sump hanging on the opposite side of the wall(the restroom). Ouch 

Yea! I found a new glass picture frame tank, gathering dust in the backroom of Fish-4-U. Thanks Kris Thumbs Up
Here it is fresh out of the box:


I ripped off the cheap steel picture frame and cut pieces of it to fashion a reinforcing bottom pan and brackets for top and sides. Generous amounts of aquarium silicone were slathered on to secure/support the bottom edges of the tank in the pan and to keep the braces from rusting.

Dimensions: 40" wide x 4.5" deep(front to back) x 21" tall.

Here it is with sand, ready to be placed on the shelf on the wall.


Hmmm, I guess I forgot to take a good picture of the shelf on the wall. Here is a fuzzy view looking up at the bottom of the shelf.





Edited by Mark Peterson - December 11 2015 at 8:25am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 25 2015 at 3:27pm
New brushed steel picture frame pieces were manufactured by a local sheet metal shop and I found very short bolts to hold it together and give it the right look to match the outside veneer of the dentists office. Utah Rock pieces were glued together with Gorilla Glue to form the nice aquascaping.

(In this pic the steel is still covered with protective plastic.)





Here it is without the picture frame. I used the same large PC light fixture. "L" brackets support the fixture on the wall and flipped "L" brackets reach the top edge of the tank keeping it secure against the wall. The shelf is made of an oak plank supported by two brackets secured to the metal wall studs.


With the light further from the water than previous, there was no need for a heater.



Edited by Mark Peterson - November 25 2015 at 3:57pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 25 2015 at 3:34pm
Skip forward to 2013 and almost 2 years away from Utah, living and working in paradise Wink. Cared for by a tank maintenance company, the tank looked poorly with tufts of hair algae all over. The LS and LR had been changed out during my absence. Not because it wasn't good stuff, but because the company did not know how to care for this little aquarium. Until added prior to this pic, Snails and Hermits were practically non-existent and PO4 removal media was not being utilized.




TLC, time and some tank raised Nemo's made for a lovely 2013 holiday season:



Illuminated by a Hamilton 48" 36x1W LED light strip.



Edited by Mark Peterson - November 25 2015 at 4:17pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 25 2015 at 3:47pm
As it looks today:


Circulation is two Maxijet 600's at opposite ends shooting water at each other. Makes for good turbulance. Everything is always swaying in the turbulence.



Looking down at the new Hamilton 36" 18x3W LED Light Strip with PWM Dimmer installed just today, turned to about half power/intensity for acclimation. The shimmer on both the background and the aquascaping is intense.


Tank location: Garden View Dental, 1356 So. 2100 E.  

Aloha,
Mark  Hug


Edited by Mark Peterson - November 25 2015 at 4:26pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 11 2015 at 8:21am
Yellow Tang introduced December 1 started peeking out. Big smile



Tank mates:


Aloha,
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote superman1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 11 2015 at 2:26pm
That's a really cool tank, Mark! What are the actual dimensions of the tank?
Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix

6 gal nanocube
65 gal build thread
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 29 2016 at 3:17pm
Sorry, I missed the question until now. From a post above:
Dimensions: 40" wide x 4.5" deep(front to back) x 21" tall. 

It's only filled about 18" deep so 40x4.5x18/230 makes it 14 gallons. That's it.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 30 2016 at 3:50am
I'm surprised that tang can turn around lol
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2016 at 8:03am
The Yellow Tang has been in the tank for 13 months and is still going strong, despite a recent cold spell. The furnace failed to heat the office over the Thanksgiving Holiday. From what I was told, I figure the temperature got into the low 60's. The male Maroon Clownfish was the only mortality, all other animals survived. Big smile

Now I'm facing a different problem but it's actually a repeat problem. It looks to my eyes like the light fixture is losing intensity. As before, I believe it's the LED power supply that needs replacing. A thread  covering some of the issue, where I received some excellent advice is here:
It makes sense to move that over to this build thread. Here is my comparison of two Mean Well LED driver (power supply) options:

Option 1
The Mean Well GS90 A12-P1M posted above (in the other thread) is still a black plastic case 6"x2.5"x1.5, but it has a 2 year warranty, unlike the close to zero warranty of the $6 Kastar unit. It has the advantage of being similarly compact and fully insulated as power supplies used previously. The downside is bulky wires that require bundling to fit the whole thing in the space between the tank and the picture frame.

Option 2
The Mean Well metal cage style RSP-75-12 is a bit larger at 6"x4"x1. It has a better warranty of 3 years. Though larger, it has raw wire connections rather than standard cords. I need to look again at how it could fit in the available space. 

At the right in this pic the metal picture frame is just barely visible. This creates a channel where the powerstrip, plugs and wires must fit. And then there is the potential salt water damage issue which might also void the warranty. Confused 



Thanks for looking.
Aloha



Edited by Mark Peterson - December 15 2016 at 8:12am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2016 at 8:26am
While I was writing all this, editing and adding a pic and then linking both threads (can you say "over acheiver" LOL) this really helpful information came in this morning in the other thread.
Originally posted by Krazie4Acans Krazie4Acans wrote:

I have that same Meanwell power supply on an LED light setup that has been running 24/7 for the last 7 years (accent lighting on stairs and hallway in basement). It hasn't failed that entire time. 
Thanks Krazie/Jeff. That cinches it for me. The GS90 A12-P1M is in my Amazon Shopping Cart.

Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka  Hug




Edited by Mark Peterson - December 15 2016 at 8:27am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2016 at 9:05am
Originally posted by phys phys wrote:

I'm surprised that tang can turn around lol
 LOL It has stayed about the same size, though it's belly is continually round from grazing on Caulerpa. Big smile
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