44G Hex Tank: Build Log with Pics.

[beefcakemighty]

Awesome!!!!!!

[Waterkeeper]

I called radio shack and asked if they have computer fans. i was told they don't really do computer parts in the stores anymore but I could order it online.... well I walked in anyway just for the hell of it....

They had them for laptops, and 4 other sizes... so I got 2 of these for $12 each, an adjustable power supply for $18 and a pig tail so I wouldn't have to ruin the PS for $3.
The fans are 40mm , rated at 10.8 - 13.2 VDC and the PS is adjustable from 1.5 to 12VDC. the fans will fire at as low as 4volts. I am going to rig some kind of acrylic or plexi bracket to hold them in the tank and make them safe by covering them with screen.

[jpstod]

Thats Funny, My Local Radio Shack keeps plenty of Parts for Repairs and Upgrades in stock. I wonder if its regional?

[Waterkeeper]

No, It's not regional... IT's my point that I called they said none where there, I went in anyway and found them on my own... kid didn't even know he had them.

[alex1976]

I've probably got something like five or six various sized fans laying around from computer rebuilds over the years. So how exactly are you wiring your fans up to the power supply?

Can we get more pictures on the wiring please? The tank's looking awesome!

[Waterkeeper]

I will post up some pics of the fan wiring when I get it done nicely, right now the wires are just twisted together, not even electrical taped(kids don't try this at home!) so that I can see how they will power. i'm still looking for this post I saw someplace once on different wiring methods....

[rudd03]

Your tanks lookin great. And I gotta thank you for the step by step it really helped me out with some questions I had especially with the background. Can't wait to see it finished.

[Layna]

Waterkeeper, you're doing an awesome job, I can't wait to see the finished product. Keep up the good work.

[Waterkeeper]

FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!

what fun this has been.. the boards are full of fan questions with no fan answers.. thanx to Green_Ghost for coming through with some wiring diagrams comparing Series, parallel and Series/parallel wiring. turns out the easiest way is the best way... GO FIGURE!??

So take the ends of your fan wires and twist them together. black to black and red to red. Put somekind of connector on there. if it's just a splice then don't worry about making them different, but if you are going to put a removable connector on them. Make the positive a male and the neg a female or whatever just so you can tell them apart, and not possibly reconnect them backward in the future.


Now get your pigtail or cutoff cell charger or whatever your PS(power supply) is and put on your connectors, just remember which is + and - so you don't have to go back and do it again... You see I'm using 2 different kinds.. you'll find out why in a minute.


I decided I want a kill switch right on top of the viv for when I open and close the hood, or just for quick access for whatever reason, so I put this toggle inline (always put switches on the positive)


Now I'm ready to install it when time comes. it will be in an eggcrate box, well out of FrogBert's reach at the top front of the viv. one fan pointing at the glass, and the other at the background.

[Waterkeeper]

I got my glass cut for the top (after 2 tries by the old man at ace hardware)

the triangular gap at the front will be filled by eggcrate attached to the smaller piece of glass like so..



i'm still not sure how to affix them together.... silicone doesn't seem to adhere well to the eggcrate...
any ideas????