[tachikoma]

So a while ago I was in the process of building a 150 Vert. Well after the movers decided that I didn't need that tank anymore I decided that it was time for a fresh start. So thus began the zoomed rack!

The rack is a 60"x24"x72" which turns out is a perfect size for 3 zoomed 18"x18"x24"!

I ordered six, four arrived but one was shattered when I opened the box. So I am still waiting on the last three to arrive.

I decided to go with LED's for lighting this time around as my last T5 HO's used to make the temps get pretty warm, especially on hot days here. I went with this system:
AgroLED LED Fixtures | Sunlight Supply, Inc. - Indoor Gardening Supplies, Grow Lights, Hydroponics, and Lighting

I went with the 6500K lights but I really feel the color temp is too cool, so I am going to order one of the red tubes to see if it helps balance it out.

Other than that the light output is phenomenal! The pictures really don't do it justice as my cell phone can't really do the job.
The lights are cool to the touch even after being on all day, so I am very happy about that.

The bulbs are rated to last for around 11 years running 12 hrs a day!
I will keep everyone posted on my electric bill after a few months of use.

I'll post updates as they happen in this thread.

Stay tuned!
James

P.S. I am not giving up on my vert build I will continue it after this rack build so no worries.

 

[tachikoma]

Last three tanks came in!! I also ordered the red led bar to balance out the blue temp of my light. It now has a very strong 5500K color. The camera saturates it a bit too much but it's a really nice color now.

I also added a glass top to the zoomed, but I still wanted to keep the functionality of top opening as well, so I removed the screen and installed the glass in the existing frame. It keeps the tank nice and clean looking as well!

I will be drilling the tops for mist king and also air circulation.

Stay tuned!

 

[RedEyeTroyFrog]

what cha got sleeping on the walls there?? Those Calarifer?

 

[tachikoma]

Hahaa, No those are my moreletti, the calcarifer are in the tank next to them. They almost always sleep horizontal. Their tanks are super bare at the moment just the essentials. I am making some badass tanks for them at the moment. I am discovering the extreme annoyance with the pivoting head on the glass cutter!! It has caused me to ruin quite a bit of glass attempting to cut tops for the zoomeds. I will be posting a few updates today, nothing major but something is better than nothing!

 

[ZookeeperDoug]

Looks good. Personally I'd vent the tops somewhere. I vented my Zoo Meds along the fronts and it greatly helps with condensation on the front glass, which may or may not be an issue for you. Are you planning to drill the tops for a misting system?

 

[c81kennedy]

I'm so jealous of this setup. How much did you pay for the rack the ones I have only 2 and a half 18x18x24

 

[Bonobo]

Coming together nicely! I also have a rack with zoomeds only.. but just have the screen top over some plastic. Would you mind sharing how you modded the top to hold glass?

THANKS

 

[tachikoma]

I'm so jealous of this setup. How much did you pay for the rack the ones I have only 2 and a half 18x18x24

I think I paid around 130 for the rack, I can't find my receipt to be 100% but I am sure it was around that.

Coming together nicely! I also have a rack with zoomeds only.. but just have the screen top over some plastic. Would you mind sharing how you modded the top to hold glass?

THANKS

I didn't do anything special, just removed the screen, and replaced with glass then siliconed from the inside so the top still looks clean and factory.
On the other ones though I have been using the drill method described on dart den, I drill out the posts that are holding the screen in on the inside of the rim, then the screen comes out much easier.

I drilled the glass and put in the misting head.

 

[tachikoma]

Looks good. Personally I'd vent the tops somewhere. I vented my Zoo Meds along the fronts and it greatly helps with condensation on the front glass, which may or may not be an issue for you. Are you planning to drill the tops for a misting system?

I was originally going to do this, but I'm finding it is not an issue here at all, the air is so dry that condensation almost never forms on the glass for longer than an hour or so. I will be putting in internal air circulation as well. I think the little air holes on the front black bar are letting enough fresh air in.

 

[froggies3]

Your making me too jealous!- Man I am excited for this!

 

[tachikoma]

Small update! I finally have some time off from work so I will begin working on my rack some more. Some more pics of recent progress.

Drilled bottom.

Bulkhead with right angle pronged adapter for drain lines.

Second Rack!!

I still need to finish drilling them and still waiting on a few more vivs to arrive.

 

[pdfCrazy]

Priorities priotities. Work only exists to support our hobbies. Were waiting on construction updates.....that means taking time off from work. I'm sure they'll understand.

 

[tachikoma]

Soo... another fail to add to the many that I have encountered with this build. My order from Tropiflora came in today...

I was expecting 3 large but viv suitable sized plants and 3 broms. The broms came in as expected but man oh man did I severely underestimate the size of these plants. Lets just say I now have some nice rarer Philodendrons for the apartment. haha

 

[tachikoma]

Last of the tanks arrived today!!

I have the tops being made at a local mom and pop glass shop. I timed how long it was taking me to cut and drill a single lid and did the math to do 15 it would take a good portion of the day and considerable aggravation, so I figured I'll take it to a place and get it done. I'll report back on the price once I pick up the lids, see if it was worth it to just have a pro do it without any hassle or stress on my end.

 

[pdfCrazy]

For me, it wasn't the labor I had to consider. It's how many times am I going to make a bad break in the glass and have to replace it before I get it right. So, I go to a local glass man/frogger. BTW, if you read this glass man, I'm gonna need more soon!

 

[tachikoma]

Unfortunately I still have to drill 10 more tank bottoms and that sucks just because each one takes a long time to drill through and also gets dirty from the cooling water and glass dust that turns the water white. So I have to lug the heavy ass tank to the shower stall and wash them, then dry them. lol One or 2 is not a problem but doing 15 gets old fast. I have been doing 2 a day which is fine since I have to do other things on the other tanks as well, like start setting up the false bottoms etc.

 

[The Dude1]

Wow! I just finished setting up my first which is a 20g and now I'm working on a 46g bow. The 20g is going to sit for a while until it grows in. I can't imagine doing 15 at once. Why did you decide to do this as opposed to starting and finishing one and then moving on to the next? That room is going to look awesome!

 

[hydrophyte]

\

Wow those are nice philos. What species/vars are they?

 

[tachikoma]

Why did you decide to do this as opposed to starting and finishing one and then moving on to the next? That room is going to look awesome!

It was a couple of reasons, first and it's my work schedule, I work insane hours for months at a time with literally no break, but then I will have a long (2 month) break then start again. So I wanted to have all of my stuff ready so I could get it done in the time frame of my downtime.
Second reason is to save on shipping, buying everything in bulk has saved me major bucks in shipping.

Wow those are nice philos. What species/vars are they?

Thanks! They are as follows:

Philodendron 'Autumn'

Philodendron 'McColley's Finale'

Philodendron 'Moonlight'

 

[tachikoma]

So just finished my first viv in the dart rack! I did the mint p. Terribilis tank first as those frogs are the largest and so I wanted them out of their quarantine tanks asap.

Also I received my lids from the glass shop, they charged me 10 bucks a lid, so they cut the glass, drilled the holes, and even offered to silicone all of them in for me. However, I told them I had not finished removing the screen from the rest so they could just give me the glass, and I would do it on my own time. They did silicone the one I gave them for size reference. So in my case it was definitely worth it, $150 bucks to get all 15 lids made! Most other places were quoting $8 a hole!