Tylers ~30 gal system build.
 

So with the large system build failing, I was pretty upset. My wife got tired of me mopeing around the house and told me to setup a small system upstairs and keep a couple pieces. All the fish had to go unfortunately as there too large for this tank. So it started with a 20Gal tank. I convinced my wife to let me do it perpendicular to the wall for more coral real estate. We will see how it goes. I notched the one wall for a sort of coast to coast, more of an external box overflow. I really like them as there really quiet. I know my plumbing is again probably overkill but thats pretty much who I am.

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So heres the stand in the freshly painted living room. Man there has been a lot of work done in this house. Still lots to go as you can see but its getting there. I figure this smaller system will be easier to move around when we do our floors. ( wont be for a while hence the reason im even considering this upstairs.) Its going to get some plywood where the tank and sump sits and a piece on the back for some structure and a barrier from water. I also threw a coat of primer on it tonight. I probably wont be skinning it with some walnut till the spring when I can work outside but the wife might get tired of the wood by then so we will see.


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The tank will sit sort of inlaid into the stand. I have some ideas for skinning but its hard to explain. The stand was sort of a build on the fly as well. Im contemplateing waiting for the nano contest this year but not sure if I want to wait for 3 months to start stocking. It might be the best and smartest way to go to let the system stabilize even though its only going from upstairs to downstairs theres still lots of commotion and probably some dieoff and small cycle so I dunno, It depends on whats going to go on with the current livestock. Also contemplating custom LED fixture for this tank too. Might be a good tester to try.

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Oh and gotta trim up the top trim for the overflow. Ill update again later with some more specs and such. Should be working on the plywood and plumbing tomorrow. Anyone think an ASM G3 will be too overkill for skimming?? Can you over skim? Hmm this will require some investigation.

Looking great so far. I'm always very impressed at the stands and tanks you build/modify for someone relatively new to the hobby. I still haven't ventured into the realm of glass cutting...

I think you will do fine with a G3 on a small tank like that. I used to use one on my 120gal but it couldn't keep up. For a heavy bioload I would rate the G3 good for a 75gal. The skimmer I have now is comfortably rated for twice my system volume so your situation is relatively the same as mine. However Alan has a G2 or Euroreef equivalent on his 90gal so if you want to downsize you might be able to trade with him.

Thanks. I have to thank the old man for that, hes a jack of all trades kinda thing. Started as a carpenter, hes a trailer mechanic now but we have all the tools for a nice woodshop, tablesaw, jointer, lathe, planer, saws and such. Its handy. I got used to just diving into projects, try it first kind of thing. You should try some glass work. I havent gotten the cutting the sheets down yet but as for holes and notching and stuff its really not that bad.

So got the stand all primed up last night. I realize its not 100% waterproof but I dont have that kind of money to be epoxy coating everything. It should help and be better then nothing.

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Last night I also tried painting the back of the tank black. Now im not sure how I got away with it on my last tank and really wasnt sure how I would like the results of this one with the external overflow I figured what the hey. Well I failed. No surprise there.



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Even if the paint stuck to the silicone I still just dont like seeing the overflow box and glass ends on the back of the tank. I think im going to see if I can track down a piece of black acrylic and I can even get a rake cut into the top for the overflow to stop critters from getting in. I know the risk of an overflow is higher with a rake but as long as its clean I think the risk is minimal. A float switch will be in the near future to shut the pump off should the water level get too high. Really any tank with a sump should have one in my mind. Sooo with that out of the way I decided to move on. Started working on mocking up the plumbing.





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The two on the left are 1" drains. I dont have really any water level in the overflow downstairs on the 90gal with 2 1" drains so I figured Id be ok on this one with just two. Plus the high water level switch yada, yada, you get the idea. I havent decided on wether Im going to try and put a ball valve or two in the lines to play with a herbie style as the only noise I get downstairs is the water hitting the sump. The 1" bulkhead on the right is for the pump output to the ocean motion. Im using the bulkhead as a mount of sorts I guess. It was planned as an emergency overflow but figured with the switch, yada, yada again, I could use it as a return as tolerances are tight in the back of the stand for plumbing.



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Heres what I have planned for the ocean motion to sit on. I was going to go with 45's but run into height problems so 90s will have to do. Should be pretty sturdy. Im going to try to fasten the longer outlet runs ,that go to the front of the tank, to the stand somehow. Ill figure it out better when they get mocked in. The hardest part im finding with this is really the compact size. Trying to get an ocean motion in with all that plumbing but stay out of the way of a potential lighting fixture. Downstairs it was kinda frankenstein it together, who cares if it sticks out 2". Well that cant happen up here. Not a huge deal so far, just taking a bit more time to make sure its going to get done right.


Oh and I have to mention a HUGE thanks to whatcaneyedo as hes helping me out with the coral end of things (babysitting a few things for me) and Madreefer for helping me out with the fish situation and finding some good homes for them. Took a lot of stress off now that I can do it right and make sure im not throwing a bunch of stuff into a tank thats not ready or too small for them.

Looking good. Keeping an eye on this build.

So had to work late. Got the plumbing all finished up. Got the sump cleaned and ready. Just ran out of time to get water into it for a test. I didnt really feel it would be a good idea for 30 gal of water to be tested while I'm not home. Oh well, tomorrow should be a water test and possibly get some rock in it if the test goes well. I'll post the pics tomorrow when the cameras charged. Still need to do some tweeking. Build some mounts for the outlet piping. Looks like I'll have a bit of room in the sump for whatever rock I have left over Which will be nice as I won't be using it all in the display.

Dang. Water leak at the bulkhead fitting on the return line through the overflow. It drips into the sump but I cant be leaving that. Crap. First time ive had one of them leak. Oh well get the saw out. Gonna set me back a couple days but this ones the upstairs show tank so gotta do it right. Pout. Everything else seems to be working pretty good. Gotta put a valve on the overflow. Im going to get it done up tonight and ask if I actually did successfully do a herbie overflow as Ive read about it and have tried to do it but not sure if I succeded.

Well......frack. So got all the plumbing done up tonight for the overflow. Got the valve in to play with the herbie. I know the system will drain from one overflow so the emergency line should handle anything if the main line happends to get plugged. Went to reseal the bulkhead for the return, something wasnt right when I put it together the first time, I thought i heard a click, wasnt sure. Well I am now.

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Crappy part is I dont have another bulkhead here, I work tomorrow from 7am till around 6pm tomorrow and the wife wont have a vehicle tomorrow to run to the pet store to see if they have another one. Another day dead.

On the plus side of things nothing else seems to be issues with plumbing, got everything secured properly now and like the flow. Pumps actually not noisey either. One issue ill have to work on is the small amount of bubbles from the water going over the baffle are creating micro bubbles, not sure how im going to tackle this one but will figure something out.


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The 2X4's have been replaced with some blocks and clamps to secure the piping.


Anyone have a 1" bulkhead for a 1 3/4" hole they want to sell?? haha.

I've got your bulkheads.

While I'm holding your coral I'll see if I can clean them up of aptasia. A day each with my CBB might work...

Lookin good Tyler. Whats your plans for livestock? That would look cool plugged with zoas.

I know I know they have really got out of hand this past two months.:redface:Made me really debate getting peppermints again. I didn't realize they did so much. I think I'm going to get that zapper Paul b builds on reef sanctuary. I don't like shrimps and I like lots of lps and well obvious tank size limits a copper band. I'm still iffy with the Filefish and well tank size again. Zappers seem to be working well just a little more work. I could build my own, still might but Paul's looks really spiffy.


I have an Idea for rock work but other then that I'm not sure. I really like the green wrasse at tp but don't think it will fit. Maybe a fire fish. I'm still working on getting the plumbing to not leak.

Thats a pretty small tank for any wrasse. Firefish can be jumpers too so take that into consideration. I also like tailspot blennys, coral gobys and rainfords gobys.

I agree for the wrasse but I can dream. I'm thinking the 14" canopy should stop him and also thinking about the mesh from brs. Coral gobys are nice. There's lots of options just hard to pick.

YAY! Finally leak free. Thanks to Whatcaneyedo again, got another bulkhead from him tonight and slapped it in. Fixed the piping and once dry let er rip.


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Please excuse the smegglies from cutting the plumbing to fix up the overflow. Will drain, give everything a wipe down and should taste salty tomorrow. All I can say is I think I have a herbie overflow now because this is the quietest tank Ive had in a long time, since freshwater with no overflow really. No bubbles getting thrown into the sump either. Thats nice and huge for keeping the microbubbles down till I get the filter socks (the tank is running in the pic you see of the sump) . Hoping to throw the rock in it tomorrow and get the structure built up. Oh and I realize the plug behind the tank is not GFCI but will be changed over tomorrow before the tank is set in its final place. I have a sealed plywood back for it to seperate the tank from the drywall.

That zapper that you want to buy can be made for around $20. Sure the one for $95 looks cool but it's just gonna sit under your stand when not in use.

I know I know I'm just a crow somedays..... Oooh look! Shiney! Mine! ...... It's worse somedays the others. I'll probably build one like yours. I think I even have a couple transformers kicking around too.

So its a little cloudy still but I got pretty close to what i was shooting for with the rocks today, got one crab and one large bristle worm out, i went over every rock with a fine tooth comb and had to club soda one or two to get the buggers out but hopefully I dealt with the problem. Ill keep a close eye on it still. I didnt end up securing with zip ties or epoxy as I just used a hammer and chisel and made the rocks shaped how I wanted so they would fit together well. Ill get better pics when the waters clear and I have some lights above them.

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View from the kitchen into the living room.

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Front view. I was able to utilize the cave in this rock.


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View from the living room towards the kitchen



Im pretty happy with the shelves and nooks I was able to get for lots of corals to be stuck into, also I seem to have been able to create a bunch of different lighting areas. Ill have to re evaluate when I get a proper light on the tank for that though. I dont think the wife is too happy with the skimmer air intake noise so the stand may get skinned sooner rather then later. Dont bother me much. Only problem im having now is I should of done one more baffle....microbubbles from the skimmer outlet. Going to have to come up with a solution for that and the skimmer pump may need some foam or something below it for a bit of noise dampening. I saw one article on a guy that used a certain foam on the edge of some baffling and was able to just push the baffle in place and the foam wedged it in there, had to be a certain foam to do it. Might work for both problems..... hmmm.

So a bit of an update on this tank. Dont get too excited this isnt the final look. I have a bunch of trimming and theres a couple of corals going out for trade, some going to get hacked up a little smaller. Its tough dealing with a small landscape. I am enjoying the level of maintenance on a smaller system. Water top up is crutial. I wont be getting any fish or inverts still my controller arrives and I can set up my auto top off. Topping up every night is getting a bit tiring. So ya ordered an apex lite, bunch of float switches, everything should be here by next weekend so i can get it all set up. Ive been looking at maybe bushing my mag 7 down to a 1/4" line and seeing if it will pump up from my basement. From the flow charts it looks like it should and I cant really see the large restriction on the out line causing an issue as its kind of the same as a ball valve or similar. Test is conducted tonight or tomorrow night. Couple pics. Im going to wait till I get my full rock back before submitting a pic to the full tank shot thread. ( One large piece is cooking with the leftover rocks as I wasnt able to get the two crabs out and wasnt going to take any chances this time. Thats why it looks like its missing something.)



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And I know the coral colors are not there, I know, I just spent a good chunk of change on the controller so Im making due with a couple of 36" hagen t5 fixtures with hagen bulbs. There on top of the stand so there like 14" away from the tank and just look terrible. Light is next on the list.

Looking good great job on the tank and stand.

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I have to say I am impressed you managed to fit a Television in there! :crazyeye:

Its a new feature ive been working on, i figure were boxing them up in a glass box we may as well give them something to watch. Im still working on a remote for it though. Hard to make it watertight.

BAHHAHHAHHA! I think the whole opposable thumb or lack there of might still be an issue... make them watch Sponge Bob.

So not a whole heck of a lot of change on the tank lately, everythings growing great except for the one open brain (cant remember if its trach. or wells.) but ya, feed every say 4 days, have tried just about every food on it, not forcing but sort of letting the slow current sweep the food across it, have tried the smaller stuff as well, it was showing some signs of growth, or so I thought, but now i feel like im either not seeing any growth or go as far as saying maybe a bit of recession. Theres a trachyphyllia about an 1" away from it and it almost seems like its getting bigger every week. I dunno, some days I wonder if its lost its will. Im not giving up yet though, trying to keep any algae off it and ill keep trying to feed it till the bitter end. Anyone think a med/dip would have any positive effects?? I know there are no critters in the tank anymore, Ive spent hours watching with the lights out and all I see are pods. (Have a red LED flashlight that works great) Nothing else in the tank is showing signs of stress, everything actually seems the opposite. The platygyra seems to be getting puffier and whiter, lots of feeding tentacles at dinner time, no sweepers noticed yet though. Oh well Ill keep plugging along. I got all my float switches plus some this week.

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But due to a shipping mishap it looks like the controllers going to be a week behind schedule. It sucks but what you gonna do? I need some time to figure out how im going to mount all these things anyways. I want one for the tank, overflow, three in the sump (one for water top up, one for low sump water, one for high sump water incase of float failure on the top up) and one will be for the water topup container in the basement incase the water level gets too low in the bucket it wont run the pump dry. That will be my 6 for the one IO box I ordered and if I think of some more well I have some extra switches and also have extras for failures. I have some trimming to do tomorrow and may update the FTS but havent been to keen on it as its going to be a while before I get my final look as Im waiting for my rock to finish cooking. I want to be ultra sure whatever in that rock has long died so I dont bring another 2 crabs back in. That was 6 crabs in 50lbs of liverock.

Soo my controller showed up late last week, Got it mounted into place. The wifes not too excited about the idea of me keeping the display on the outside of the stand after its skinned but she loves me and compromised. Please excuse the wiring, nothings finished yet, its actually not too complicated once you get everything figured out and figure out there programming code. Took some real forum searching and an unofficial guide from RC but we got her figured. Theres a few questions still but im going to search a little harder before asking repetitive questions. Pretty stoked with the auto top off now, works great. No more nightly drips!! Love it. Working with the acrylic making holders has been alright as well. Still have lots to do with it to finish things up but do a little bit more everyday. I found that I do need to calibrate the probes too. No biggie.

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Also anyone have any ideas how long someone would "cook" LR to make sure the little crabbies didnt survive?? I have some leftover rock in my basement in a tub with heater and powerheads. Everything looks really clean now, but I just really do not want to put the last piece of rock into my tank and end up putting the two crabs I couldnt get out of the rock, back into my tank. Ill have to do some research on that as well.

Were you able to set up remote access to your Apex from over the internet? I can fiddle with mine on my home PC but I can't figure out my router to let me at it from outside my home.

I was slateing that as my next project. Looks like it may be different for each internet provider and router. Have you got the text alarm to work? I dont think mine will work as im prepaid on virgin and it sends the emails back to me.

I get texts and emails from mine. It has to send an email to 2503017298@txt.bell.ca for me to recieve the message as a text.

So it arrived today. Ordered yesterday. Its hard to beat. Thanks JL.



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I was a little worried, the wife said it was pretty light when she picked it up, and I remember my 400W ballasts are anything but light. I wasnt expecting such a tiny little box. Kinda nice though, dont have to get crazy with mounting it.
I have the pendant where I think im going to like it. Well I hope so anyways. I was able to turn it on for a couple mins to get an idea of the color. I really like it. Went with a phoenix 14K, lumenmax 3 pendant and sunlight supply ballast. I know its not magnetic but you cant even find them anymore. 150w ballasts are rare as it is looking at websites anyways. Ive got 5 days off this weekend so will slowly acclimate everything. Its going to be a huge change going from 2 t5 units 16" away with crappy bulbs to an awesome reflector and bulb. Its going to be a cloudy day in the reef tomorrow as I havent got the ballast mounted yet. The cord on the pendant is long enough ( another plus ) that I can run it through the floor and mount the ballast in the basement below. Cooler down there plus less moisture and well I dont have a tonne of room under the stand. With all the cords and switches and components on this tank its starting to look like the back of my surround sound. Ha. Going to finish the install and tie everything up friday, try to keep it as clean as possible. Working on some LED night lights. Have a few more floats to install. Nothing serious, just a lot of little odds and ends to tie up. I am a little concerned I will run into heat problems this summer though. I do run a/c in the house but not to sub 20* temps. Its only 30Gal of water which will be interesting. I only have pumps running and the old t5s a ways away and the tanks at 78*. Im going to run some fans (with auto top off I can get away with it now) and see how that goes before investing in a cooler, considering I will need to drill another hole in my floor if I need to run pipes into the basement for the chiller. Theres no room upstairs for it.

Let me know if you're interested in a green coral goby. I may have to get rid of mine. It really likes hosting my elegance coral which wasn't a problem when I had all three frags in my sump. But now that only one is down there getting all of the attention I think the goby is irritating it too much. For the time being I've separated the goby to my QT tank.

tank is looking stellar man , well done I love the 150 DE i wish that the 250'w would be like that.

So i decided to order a matted filefish for my tank that has become overrun with them wonderful brown pests. I figure any corals he gets a taste for, well i guess ill have to set up a frag tank, darn... Anywho the lfs finally got one in and its probably just over 2". Anyone here think its a mistake in a 20g tank? I have a good amount of flow and kept the rock down in the DT for more swimming room. Im just a little concerned on this move thats all. One last thought before pulling the trigger, i dont like impulse buys, ive gotten burned too much. Anyone have any opinion on that? (the idea is if hes successful with the the pest removal i can do a new FTS)

So the Filefish is in. Its not nearly as big as I thought it was once it was in the tank. It pretty much hung out in the back for a while. Its really crazy to see its colors go in and out so quickly. Neat eyes too. Anywho it started to cruise a bit, slowly and methodically. I saw it pic at some sand and rocks, figured good its eating a bit. This is a good sign. I watched it for a while and noticed something. Couple weeks ago I did a round of flatworm exit. I thought it worked well but didnt get all the flatworms. Well... Guess who has a taste for them. HA! Perfect. Zipped up all remaining flatworms right away. Neat. Had to go to the parents for dinner tonight and was watching him before I left. BAM! Nailed a huge aiptasia! Im stoked! All I know is he has to nibble on some corals. No fish is this perfect. And if he does, Im totally cool with it. Ill put them into a frag tank. Lets face it, no ones perfect. Really stoked and excited to see the progression of what is going to happen with it. Ill get some pics up tomorrow maybe, Hes still chilling out with the lights out.

All I hear is the jaws song as I watch it lurk around the tank, its even got the top fin. Its great. Its hard not to spook it when it takes a chunk out of an aiptasia, Im just soo excited. Hahaha. Anywho here he is.

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Some of the corals seem to really like the new light as well. Really starting to make some colors pop.

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Ive got a bit more cleaning to do then I will take a new FTS.

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Thats one ugly fish but really cool looking. I wonder if it eats clove polyps. Do you know if it does? Good job on your build. Betcha your glad you kept a tank going.

I am really glad i kept it going. It is tough working with a really small real estate. Hes definitley not going to win any beauty pagents but i like it. Ive been watching it quite a bit today. Hes nipped a few things, xenia which i thanked it for helping me. Sometimes i think hes just getting a pod or aiptasia. Its just so cool to watch it stalk and snap one of them buggers up. Really cool.

So as i expected my " model citizen" isnt perfect. Hes munching my zoas like smarties. May have nipped the acan and poccilipora but thats unconfirmed. I can get upset at all though, hes wiped my aiptasia and flatworm problem up in less then a week. Im trying twice a day feedings but its not slowing him down so up goes a frag tank. Im not upset or mad at all just because i expected this and no ones perfect.

:pout: So I cant find a smiley of someone eating there own words. Yaaaa, my nice red brain in the above pics, not so nice. I was watching him tonight, and ya I think we all know what im going to say. 3 mouths. Gone. Its currently in the temporary frag tank till I can find a tank thats the size that I want puking its guts out. Literally. 2" strings of innerds. Darn..........

Acan is joining everything. Man, any steps forward on that one has gone backwards. He did a number on it, i should of removed it when i suspected it, my fault. Man..... *sigh*


Its ok though ( at least im telling myself that ) its still a great fish, no aiptasia, no flatworms. Its a tradeoff i guess. I half expected it and did it knowing this was a possibility. I cant get angry at anyone.

Mine was also nipping stuff but he was easy to catch as the clam did not take kind to getting nipped.

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