20Long downsize build

[Kengaroo131]

well iv had a 40 gallon breeder setup for about 7 years now, with nothing but live rock and live sand in it and a few snails iv been using it for my curing tank but its about time i put some of the stuff in there to use. so im starting a 20 long build like i had always wanted to. picked up the average AGA 20 long from petco for 20 bucks, gotta love the 1.00 a gallon sale! i had put together a sump about 8 years ago that never got used along with a mag5 return pump and a cheap skimmer iv had laying around modded to fit up to a maxijet power head. i will be drilling the tank for 1 1.5" bulkhead for my overflow and 2 1" bulkheads for my returns converting into 1/2 loc line with fan heads 4 heads total for optimal water flow throughout the tank to eliminate the use of powerheads. i have ordered a cheapo aquatraders led light, id like to test it out and maby write a review on it over 6 months of use. if it fails me i always have the MH pendant that would fit nicely over the tank. i have about 75 pounds of fully cured figi live rock and about 60 pounds of cured sand i know i wont be using anything close to that but thats what i got, just that much more excuse to setup another nano...:spin2: lots of pictures to come!!! im still trying to figure out what i want to do with the stand im using a dresser now and am thinking about modifying it with a door.

please excuse the sloppy silicone job lol i did it when i was 14 year old

there is 4 chambers in the sump the first will house a few pound of live rock and some sand the second will house a ball of macro and some sand the third will house the skimmer and heater and anything else that is needed and probably some more rock in there aswell and the last chamber will house the return pump and auto top off sensor

here is a general idea for the setup, im going to go to home depot and purchase some of the plumbing tomorrow and take a few pictures on that

 

[codyreef29]

cool tank I would go with a minimalist aquascape and pack your sump with rock. I am eventaully gonna go with something simular I THINK? so many options

 

[Kengaroo131]

i was considering doing maby 2 large tonga branches in the display and loading up the sump with rock, im now considering making another sump also 20L i need to measure the bottom of the dresser to see if one will fit if it does i have a pretty go idea of what ill be doing. ill keep you posted

 

[Kengaroo131]

i think i have decided to go with another 20 long on the bottom for my sump. i will but getting the plumbing ready tomorrow

 

[Kengaroo131]

so the cheapo led light cam in today along with my bulkheads for the tank. the led light is eeeh, you get what you pay for i suppose lol. its a decent light and will work on for what i want unfortunately it being 24" long and the next size up was a 36" long this was kind of the only option. initially the light did not work right out of the box. i thought i had gotten a dud. i wiggled the plugs and connectors and nothing i gave the light a small smack and it fired right up, hopefully i dont have to do that often. the light is super bright but its small size really fails you on the outside of a 30" tank it would work really nice on a 20 high. but there are a few dead spots on the outer most part of the tank. the design is super slim and out of the way though i must say. another downfall is the 3 way toggle switch it has its unfortunate they couldnt add another switch for the actinic lights instead its on one switch with actinics on one off on another and 10k+actinics on the last i may take the fixture apart and wire in another plug for the actinics so i can set them on a timer. other then that it seems like a half decent light for only 70.00 brand new. its nearly 1700 lumens with 27 1 watt leds. i will be writing a review on it in a few months to let everyone know how it holds up and how the coral responds to it. here are a few pictures of the light on the tank.

10k+actinic

actinic

 

[Kengaroo131]

also has anyone out there had any luck drilling the bottom of a 20L?

 

[Kengaroo131]

today i fit up the drain part of the plumbing drilled the tank and modified the dresser to fit the 10 gallon a little better, after farther though iv decided to just stick with the 10 gallon.

drain plumbing drilled tank and overflow

modified dresser

 

[Kengaroo131]

just picked up 40 pounds of aragonite sand for the tank just waiting on getting my other glass hole saw and 1 inch bulkheads then let the water addition begin!

 

[maddmaxx]

im always a fan of 20Ls, like the drain return idea....

 

[Kengaroo131]

thanks im trying to so a seamless look in the tank as clean as possible, i feel like im building a german car and over engineering everything.

 

[Kengaroo131]

well i managed to get all the plumbing done to the point where i can today the return is all complete just waiting for the bulkheads and bit to come in still should be here wensday or thursday but everything is plumbed to that point i used a very basic setup design, 2 valve on to near the bulkheads and a union on the bottom for servicing the pump im running a 1.5 inch drain and a 1 inch return with duel 1/2 outlets on each return bulkhead there will be 2 one on each side of the back of the tank. here are some photos.

also my jaw dropped when i walked into my local fish store today and saw this, couldnt resist bought a few pounds and stuck them in the 40 for now.

 

[Kengaroo131]

well the plumbing is now all complete the tank is drilled and ready to rock i did a leak test on the system all setup and found a crack in one of the return valve so now i have to cut it all apart and replace that here are a few pictures of it running

 

[tommer725]

looks great!

 

[Kengaroo131]

thanks! im going to get the plumbing fixed today then in goes the salt water sand and rock!! im pumped!

 

[Kengaroo131]

everything is finally fixed and the saltwater, rock and sand have been added! wile that cycles i will be putting together a small acrylic tank that i will be making from scrap acylic i have laying around keep your eyes out for that!

 

[tommer725]

cant wait for the acrylic tank! what size?

 

[eddieh]

I can't really tell how your stand is put together or reenforced, but pay close attention to it. A dresser like that one was probably not designed to support that much weight for a long period of time. It looks like you might have chopped some of it out. I would be afraid that over time it might sag, warp or even collapse. I hope I am wrong.

Nice build.

Eddie