The Glassware Nano build

[Ephraim]

Well I guess I've got too much time and money on my hands because I figured it would be a good idea to start up yet another "tank". Went in a different direction with this one though. When the project is totally completed, it will be a series of glassware, 4 pieces, arranged on an endtable by my living room couch that are all piped into a common sump.

First piece of glassware is a schooner mug which has been drilled with a 35mm hole. In order to fit the drain and return into this one hole and maintain the already limited living space within the mug, I incorporated the both into the same pipe. A 1/2" pipe runs inside a 1" pipe. 1/2" pipe is the drain and 1" is the return. In this picture is the fittings for the piping under the mug where the drain and return part ways. The return water enters through the hose barb, and since there is a gap between the 1/2" and 1" pipe it is able to travel upwards. A 3/4" coupling fits into the 1" tee, and a 3/4" to 1/2" coupling fits in there. This prevents the return water from getting out of the line. Inside of the 3/4" to 1/2" coupling needed to be slightly bored out to allow for the 1/2" pipe to slip all the way through.



And here is a picture of the assembled manifold that it mounted to the underside of the table. The valves give me the opportunity to bypass pressure from the pump back to the sump and independently control pressure to each vessel. It was really tight getting this to fit under the table, but I squeezed it all in.


Here's a couple pictures of the sump(5 gal), baffles will help to slow the movement of sediment allowing it to settle in a couple key places that are accessible for siphoning. Intake on the pump has holes drilled in rows along the bottom to disperse suction to avoid potential vortices. ATO float coming in the mail from Virtual Village. They sell a great little float that I have on another tank, $15 and about 3" x 5" and works like a gem on a gravity feed. I will be teeing off of the gravity feed for the reef tank in the living room to feed the ATO on this system. I should still have some room for tossing in some LR rubble for good measure.



Here's a picture of the everything assembled in the middle of the room so the mechanics of it can be better seen. One extra set of holes has been drilled in the stand as I plan on getting the second vessel done in the near future. The other two vessels will be on the lower portion of the stand.


A lower angle shot of the assembled system showing the drain pipe placement as well as the mounting of the manifold.


Another low angle shot from the other side. In this picture you can see the completed assembly of the tee where the 1/2" and 1" pipe get married.


Shot of the mug itself with stand pipe in place. The stand pipe is composed of a 1" coupling, a 3/4" coupling and a 3/4" to 1/2" coupling and then the 1/2" drain that runs to the top. If you look closely, you will see that there is holes drilled around the 1" coupling. There is about 20 holes drilled around the perimeter, pointing downwards to avoid deadspots along the bottom.


Here's a picture of everything in place.



The only thing I have not given much thought to is lighting. I want to be able to grow some encrusting montis in here. I was thinking of some type of clip on LED spot light. Does anyone have any recommendations or ideas on this front.

As for livestock, I saw some really nice small blue hippo tangs down at the LFS, less than a inch long. Should go pretty well in here right?

[bignose]

My GF would be ****ed if I started drilling holes in my tables and cups. How about those clip on lights used for pico tanks?
Your kidding about the hippo right?

[Richard_Dicosimo]

once you put some coral in that schooner how are you planning on cleaning it? i think you are going to end up hating this.

Richard

[BlueAbyss]

I like the concept (and have seen some interesting builds similar to this on NR), but I have to agree with Richard that it will be very difficult to clean.

[Ephraim]

I like the concept (and have seen some interesting builds similar to this on NR), but I have to agree with Richard that it will be very difficult to clean.

One step ahead on the cleaning for the tank. Going to build my own tools. Going to use plastic chopsticks to create the tools. one with a section of razor blade stuck on the side on the side, vertically so i can scrape coraline. And another with a beveled hinged pad on the end, with a square of sos pad on it for a daily scrubber. I have picked up a set of tweezers and such from Princess Auto that will help with manipulation. Will post pics of tool set when complete building them.

My GF would be ****ed if I started drilling holes in my tables and cups. How about those clip on lights used for pico tanks?
Your kidding about the hippo right?

Before i started work the table was old and in need of throwing out, i stained and refinished it so it actually looks better than before (even with the holes drilled). The fiance is pleased so far. Do you have any links for the lights you were talking about?

yes and i was kidding about the hippo, they are ich magnets. A yellow tang would be much more suitable.

[bignose]

I found this on big als website. 15W clipon refug light but there are smaller lights for pico tanks that I've seen at big als many times on display with coral in the tank. I'm guessing the tank was 3L in volume perhaps even smaller.

[BlueAbyss]

Since you're the DIY type, you should consider some high power LED spotlights. With good optics you could probably put the light source rather high from the glassware, making for easy viewing.

[Ephraim]

I found this on big als website. 15W clipon refug light but there are smaller lights for pico tanks that I've seen at big als many times on display with coral in the tank. I'm guessing the tank was 3L in volume perhaps even smaller.

That is an interesting idea, i will have to go down to Al's and see it in front of me, it may be too big. Tough to say from the picture.

Since you're the DIY type, you should consider some high power LED spotlights. With good optics you could probably put the light source rather high from the glassware, making for easy viewing.

I was bumming around Rona today and found some cool led spot lights that are like 40 bulbs mounted into what looks like a halogen housing. I think these may have some potential. Will need to test to see. If i go this route i could suspend some small pendants from the ceiling with these in them. Might look good.


I got around to doing the wet test yesterday and noticed i got to make some changes. I don't know what i was smoking when i tossed a quiet one 4000 on there. I found it in my extra pump basket and figured i would throw it on, forgetting how noisey they are. Not to mention it is over kill. So needless to say i am going to look at changing the pump out.

[bignose]

Originally Posted by Ephraim

I got around to doing the wet test yesterday and noticed i got to make some changes. I don't know what i was smoking when i tossed a quiet one 4000 on there. I found it in my extra pump basket and figured i would throw it on, forgetting how noisey they are. Not to mention it is over kill. So needless to say i am going to look at changing the pump out.

did you end up with a water fountain!!

[Ephraim]

Originally Posted by bignose

did you end up with a water fountain!!

LOL Almost! A little water on the floor but nothing too major. This is what happens when i do most of my work after a couple beers