Beanz's 25 Gallon Nano Adventure

[Beanz]

Hello everyone, I've recently decided to set up another salt water aquarium after some time of being out of the game (2013). Anywho here's some background info on me. I started dabbling in SW aquariums when I was around 16 year old. Being that young I rushed things and had to try and correct errors because of that in my tanks back then which ended in frustration and tank shut downs. Now since I've grown older I realize that good things take time and I'm hoping that this tank will be much better because of that. I'm a welder by trade so naturally I built a wooden stand for the lovely 25 gallon tank I bought if a canreef member so long ago . Then I realized, hey I'm a welder, why not utilize that skill and build something wonderful. Any ways lets cut to the exciting stuff.

Equipment:
Overflow: Glass holes 700 in-and-out overflow/return
Power Head: Vortech MP10W
Filter Sock: Eshopps filter sock holder
Skimmer: Bubble magus qq1 (will hopefully return and get a Tunze 9004 because my sump water level is too low for this skimmer even though the water level is above the min line )
Heater: Fluval E100 (may also try and return to get a larger one as this won't keep up with the volume)
Lighting: Kessil A160WE Tuna Blue
Sump Lighting: DIY LED (came with tank)
ATO: Tunze Omsolator Nano
Return Pump: Aqua Euro AE-370
RODI: Vertex Puratek RODI set up

Enough with the words, here's pictures!!!

What it all began with, 24"x17"x14"

http://i.imgur.com/8yKPP4jh.jpg

The beginnings of the stand. 2"x2"x0.125 wall HSS capped off for the uprights.

http://i.imgur.com/wDt8tkVh.jpg

C Channel fit up to the uprights.

http://i.imgur.com/Sz2qTyth.jpg

Frame all fit, ready for welding.

http://i.imgur.com/xdzwVbIh.jpg

Cross members tacked up for support for the sump and tank.

http://i.imgur.com/NC66zWhh.jpg

The girlfriend, just givin' er laying down more serious welds than me :mrgreen:

http://i.imgur.com/cf2ygM5h.jpg

Now on to the wood work. I found an awesome look when I was browsing Instagram furniture and that's what inspired me to build my stand the way I did. Really loved the look of burned wood so I did what anyone would do and gave er a go.

Before:

http://i.imgur.com/KD3eyqxl.jpg

After, it was mind blowing to see the grain just come alive before my eyes!

http://i.imgur.com/sM1N3mSh.jpg

The side panels are made of angle iron with wooden inserts, they've got a gusset welded in each corner where a magnet sits which corresponds with a gusset on the stand. This feature is so simple, having the full panel remove, but is such an improvement over hinged doors in my opinion.

http://i.imgur.com/vkC85cqh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/H2wR5I1h.jpg

Top fitted to the frame.

http://i.imgur.com/74y6Uich.jpg

Drilled the tank for overflow and return.

http://i.imgur.com/WUyVcZlh.jpg

20 gallon sump with all baffles in place. Skimmer section on the right, middle is the refugium and return on the left. Refugium light is in there too with the bolt in angle iron light holder.

http://i.imgur.com/Z1HlJL5h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WfKlJlNh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XFgMuyNh.jpg

Finally got the system wet a week ago! Such an exciting moment.

http://i.imgur.com/kDgpVQDh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Hpfebxch.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gZc9sf9h.jpg

Front off picture.

http://i.imgur.com/q38CP2Fh.jpg

Sump in action.

http://i.imgur.com/tNsBK3Dh.jpg

When I designed the sump I wanted the electronics to be very hidden and out if harms way. So I built the light mount for the Kessil to house the cord leavings clean look then thought why stop there. Being a welder means I'm quite fussy almost OCD at times lol. I wanted a clean and simple way to have all my gear out of the moisture present in the sump area so I make a compartment for all of it. Open at the back side of the stand to vent heat and such it worked well to eliminate the mangled rats nest of wires I had going on in my previous tanks. Zip ties and screws was all she took to make me happy.

http://i.imgur.com/MFtIIyFh.jpg

Anyways that my lil nano as she sits and that's all I can muster to post for now. I do have a few questions that would be awesome for someone to answer at some other time.

Cheers

[Howie]

Great job on those panels, I really like that look!!

[Beanz]

Thanks a bunch Howie! I'm quite happy with the finished product as well!

[Myka]

That's a sweet stand! I love the style of the steel and the burned wood is great too. What did you use to finish the steel so it won't rust? It looks like you put something dark on it...?

If I could make a suggestion...lower your rockwork. I like what you built, but I think it's too tall. You don't have any room for corals to grow before they hit the surface. I also think tanks looks more pleasing to the eye with more negative space.

[Beanz]

Thanks, Myka! The finish on it is just clear coat over top the millscale on the steel. Ya I was thinking it was pretty high up but my main focus for this tank will be zoas and lps. What would be the tool to sue to chop some rock off the bottom of some of them?

[Myka]

Diamond blade on something...like a tile saw or diamond blade on grinder or such.

[Beanz]

Well I think a achieved a more sensible aquascape by just moving around my rock a bit.

Front:

http://i.imgur.com/PhObBaph.jpg

Left side:

http://i.imgur.com/KyZloFKh.jpg

[Beanz]

Well here's a little update. I exchanged my bubble magus QQ1 today for a tunze 9004. I checked the dimensions out and it fit perfectly in my sump where there is limited room due to the light fixture being mounted kind of low in the stand. The reviews I've read online were quite persuading so I figured what the heck and grabbed one. Right away I noticed the sleek design, quite attractive really, and good build quality. Also a small package for what it's rated up to. Tunze seems like they have some pretty quality user friendly gear so I have faith in this unit. Here's what it looked like assembled out of the box:

http://i.imgur.com/cb7v1syh.jpg

Beside a pack of smokes to help gauge the size of it:

http://i.imgur.com/iapvIk0h.jpg

Fits quite well in the sump with plenty of room to remove the collection cup:

http://i.imgur.com/UBE0sRQh.jpg


Also picked some of this up since the majority of my live Rick has been sitting in an aquarium for quite some time. Thought this would be a good boost to get things rolling. It's seed from Aquavitro. Also got some purpleup to try and get my rocks back to their purpley selves.

http://i.imgur.com/llEv3Gah.jpg

Anywho that's all for now. Feedback, sudgestions, criticism and flaming are always welcome!

[WarDog]

Extremely cool build! That stand could hold a car, lol.

[Beanz]

Thanks a bunch! I appreciate it! Haha ya the stand is kind of overkill I could've gotten away with using just some smaller HSS. But I really dig the look of the channel + HSS uprights. Plus I oversized it pretty good so when the time comes for an upgrade I'll be able to get a tank with a 27x34 footprint! And it'll for sure have strength to hold that big of a rig.

[Beanz]

I do have a question about cycling. I've got a shrimp from the grocery store in the tank and it's been in there for about a week. Is there a point where I should remove it? What I've been reading people say just leave it in there but that was for larger tanks. Just wondering if with my small volume, ~35 gallons of water, if I should leave it in there for the whole cycle? Thanks in advance!

[Beanz]

Made some more progress tonight on the tank. Managed to make a nice little screen too for the tank in preparation for adding fish. http://imgur.com/lilf9A7

http://i.imgur.com/lilf9A7.jpg

[Beanz]

Well the tank is now fully stocked with fish and inverts. I've battled aptasia and won with one mean little peppermint shrimp so that's a bonus!

Now I'm dealing with elevated phosphate levels right now so there is some algae. I'm running the vertex puratech ro/di system that has a tds meter built in. This meter is not accurate, I found this out when I tested for phosphates on my fresh salt water I was changing Into the tan and they read somewhere from .05-.15. So I deceided to go to the store and pick up a tds meter and some new filter carriages. Got home and used my fancy new tds meter and got 18ppm while the meter on the unit said 00. Anyhow I got the filers all changed out, dumped my brute full of the garbage water. Now testing at 0ppm with the tds meter. Anyhow got that all sorted and now the task of ridding my tank of algae begins. I'm running phosphate remover and carbon in my reactor and doing frequent water changes. Anyways heres some pics!

http://i.imgur.com/pTXQ5Ut.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XCxm5zE.jpg

FTS

http://i.imgur.com/HaADbWR.jpg

Beautiful little hammer from a forum member

http://i.imgur.com/5Nfo3Oj.jpg

My newest addition and also my favorite piece a little rainbow bubble tip anemone

[Beanz]

http://i.imgur.com/0KtgpWn.jpg

Watermelon zoa I think

http://i.imgur.com/h3JrzK7.jpg

Armor of God I'm pretty sure

http://i.imgur.com/1OTbwt5.jpg

Acan, not sure what kind it is. Maybe someone could ID this guy mint color with lime green mouths with orange in some spots