project for next MACO acrylic course

[ToeCutter]

It about that time to plan for the next MACO Acrylic Fabrication course.

http://www.aquaristcourses.org/

Here are some possibilities for the class project.

This will help me to gauge the interest in each. I will take the poll results into consideration, but the poll winner is not guaranteed to be the course project.

The interest level shown by this poll may also help motivate me to get started on the next course.

The aim of the course is to teach acrylic fabrication skills. Enough that people can build professional quality equipment.

The objective is not to build one cheap Do-It-Yourself-style piece of equipment to save money.

The course will run about $75, and a materials package will run about another $200 for a project such as a calcium/limewater reacter. The router bit is another $35 or so, and the class also requires the use of a router/router table. There will be more on that later.

The poll doesn't allow for multiple choices, so just mention any alternate choices in a message.

also, if you have any "write in" suggestions... suggest away

 

[ToeCutter]

feel free to bump this thread with tons of enthusiasm

 

[liquid]

The ones that I've seen mentioned most often seem to be sumps and calcium reactors along with skimmers. I'd say those are the "hot 3".

Shane


weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

 

[prafferty]

What would the calcium reactor be like? Mine now are upflow.

 

[thewuf]

Bryan -

I'm all about another course! Loved the first one. My vote was for the protein skimmer, but I'll prolly be around for anything.

The recirculation skimmer is hot and everyone needs a skimmer

 

[Anonymous]

I have never taken a Maco course, but I really wanted to last year, but didn't have the time or money.

This year I may, not real sure about that. Whatever you decide on I can probably use.


The only thing I would like to see is that the project covers all aspects of acrylic use, such as cutting, routing, glueing, and bending.

That is the only real thing that would sway my decision to take the course this year. That and my wife saying no

 

[ToeCutter]

prafferty - I'm not positive on the Ca reactor design that I'd go with, but my gut feeling is that I'd do a desgin where the pump is below the reactor tube. That type could be set up to run upflow or downflow.

knucklehead - Cutting, routing, gluing, and bending are covered in the course (table saw cutting and bending won't be required for the project, though). I'll have more about how the class works and what's covered later on.

 

[Maximus1]

I vote for an exact replica of a Bubble King skimmer. Come on Toe, I know you can do it!

 

[ToeCutter]

oops doube post

 

[K9coral]

Sump

 

[ToeCutter]

I vote for an exact replica of a Bubble King skimmer. Come on Toe, I know you can do it!

Ummm... no.

But I might expand on the importance of coming up with original designs

 

[wade1]

BUMP!
BUMP!!
BUMP!!!





How's that for enthusiasm?

 

[wade1]

If anyone has any suggestions, of you arrived after the close of the voting poll, please post your suggestions in a message!

 

[Anonymous]

Sump with probe holders, racks for sponge filters, baffles, racksfor carbon reactors, etc. In other words, a completely tricked out sump.

Louey

 

[wade1]

Sump with probe holders, racks for sponge filters, baffles, racksfor carbon reactors, etc. In other words, a completely tricked out sump.

I like the sound of that myself. Originally I was thinking a media reactor (fluidized) would be best.... but it might be more useful to learn how to put together a tank/sump with all the bits and pieces on it.

Good idea!

 

[Anonymous]

people always want protein skimmers and ca reactors i'd sign up to learn to make one of those.

 

[cjsrch]

Im making CA reactors to sell. O_O soo ill probobly do this just to get some more ideas to improve. ( so far dual chamber. ( 2nd chamber is inside the first) with external pump) i have a feeling ca will win... but i would rather do a protine skimmer

 

[ToeCutter]

Hiyaz

I'm leaning towards a Ca reactor or an upflow media reactor. The tricky part about a sump is that I couldn't do a standard size, because everyone has different needs. So, I would probably have the students figure out their own cut lists and buy their own acrylic, rather than offering a complete materials package.

cjsrch - Concentric chambers on a Ca reactor sounds like a clever idea for your product.

I've been slow to pick a project... once I do I can get things rolling...

 

[mpollom]

Bryan,
I'm up for another class! My Kalk reactor is working great and I learned a ton from the last class! THANK YOU!! I count me in for a Skimmer or a sump class. But lets do the skimmer in a large "Del-techish" sort of design. Or just go all out and build a sump with a intigrated skimmer?

 

[Anonymous]

When is this class going to start?

Louey