Rimless Build thread - fast forward

[Montreal Ray]

Hi everyone,

I built this new set-up right around the end of August of this year. So this will be a build thread on fast forward :-)

I tore down my wall mount 120G to build this 55G Rimless. I downgraded because I wanted to move my tank to the main floor (120G was in the basement for the past 2 years) and I am limted in space.

This build will consist of:

- Rimless 54 gallon “waterhome” glass tank (39x16x20)
- Basement sump design
- Dual sump. 1 with a deep sand bed and Skimmer, 1 with cheato (Same set up that I have now)
- NO MORE Metal Halide lights! I’m going with 6 x 36″ T5 HO via a TEK Light fixture and Giesemann bulbs
- Mixed reef, mostly SPS with some LPS
- The stand is a modified solid wood buffet. The only way I was to set-up a reef tank on the main floor is if my wife liked the stand. So I opted for a piece of furniture rather than a typical aquarium stand. The stand is very well built, so it need on a little reinforcing...just in case.
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1423-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1426-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1433-300x258.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1435-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1441-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1444-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1443-300x225.jpg

[Montreal Ray]

I opted to go with a split return line. I used 1/2″ PVC and painted it flat black with Krylon Fusion.

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1453-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1454-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1463-300x225.jpg

We have water!

I finally got to filling up the tank! I padded the tank (between glass and stand) with 1/8″ rubber mat, before filling it up.
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_14661-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1470-300x225.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1469-300x225.jpg

[Montreal Ray]

TEK lights are in!!

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1518-300x225.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1519-300x250.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1524-300x225.jpg

I have since replaced one of the 6000k bulbs for an Actinic +
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_18441-600x450.jpg

My set-up is as follows from from to back. Giesemann AquaBlue+ 15000k, Pure Actinic, Midday 6000K , KR Fiji Purple, AquaBlue+ 15000k and the new Actinic+

[Montreal Ray]

I painted background black and finished plumbing the return and drain to basement sump

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1527-300x225.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_1529-300x225.jpg

Here are some pictures and video of my dual refugium / sump with DSB, Cheato & auto top-off.

Dual 33G basement sump
Cheato
Deep Sand Bed (DSB)
Gravity feed auto top-off
Carbon reactor
Mag-18 return pump

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1731.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1729.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1730.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNjfGes6bss&feature=player_embedded

I have since replaced the skimmer. I purchased a Bubble Magus NAC7 because my Vertex in-180 was too much of a tight fit. In fact, I initially was going to put the skimmer in the same chamber as my return but I calculated my height wrong, I needed an extra 4 inches. The second sump was a tad lower but I still would not have enough height to raise it to the recommended water level. Rather than re-building the stand, I bought a shorter skimmer.

The cheato is now in the last chamber right before the return pump.

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_18471-450x600.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_18541-405x600.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_18551-407x600.jpg

I will be posting the rest tomorrow. Thanks for looking!

[Milad]

i think you need LED Fixture for that build! make it look smooth and cost effective. Let me know if you need one ;)

[lastlight]

I love what I see so far it's looking fab. Where did you get that overflow? That's a fantastic idea and they look to be very shallow.

[lorenz0]

Finally someone on here is running a glass-holes overflow. I heard they are awesome as long as nothing fails.

edit. brett look up gl*******s overflow

they are like $100

[Montreal Ray]

I love what I see so far it's looking fab. Where did you get that overflow? That's a fantastic idea and they look to be very shallow.

Finally someone on here is running a glass-holes overflow. I heard they are awesome as long as nothing fails.

edit. brett look up gl*******s overflow

they are like $100

Thanks guys!

Yupp, Gl*******s http://www.glass-holes.com/700-gph-Overflow-complete-kit-gh700kit.htm

[Montreal Ray]

It took roughly 10 hours to move everything from the old tank to the new rimless. The move went pretty smooth. One of only issues I had was with some moti caps, for some reason they were the only ones who did not adjust to well to the move. A couple of them started to STN.

Oh and one of my clown fish took a death dive onto my living room floor.

Roughly 1 month after the move, I noticed that most of my moties had black bugs on them. I'm not sure if this was brought on by the move but I quickly fixed the problem with interceptor. You can read more about this here (http://www.raysreef.ca/black-bugs-on-montipora-monti-monties-interceptor-fix/)

Today, 3 months after the move, the caps seem to be doing fine once again and no more signs of black bugs.

Future plans:
Deltec PF501 calcium reactor (should receive this early next week)
Some sort of Aqua Controller
Vortec MP40

Here are some of my most recent pictures

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_18521-600x450.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/side.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_18451-600x450.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/img_1596.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/3-600x450.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1-600x450.jpg
http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/img_1592.jpg

http://www.raysreef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/img_1598.jpg

Thanks for looking!

[outacontrol]

how do you like that overflow set-up, is it quiet or is there alot of noise?
what about if that single overflow plugs, there is no back up or emergency drain?

[Montreal Ray]

how do you like that overflow set-up, is it quiet or is there alot of noise?
what about if that single overflow plugs, there is no back up or emergency drain?

It is very quiet..as far as overflows go anyway. It's gotten quieter with time as sludge (is that the correct term?) coats the inners.

The fail-safe is built into the sump. If that blocks there is not enough water in the pump chamber to over flow the main tank.

thanks,
Ray