55 Reef on a Budget

[adnup]

Hello everyone -
I'm a newbie with my first year under my belt. I have a successful 90 gal reef and wanted MORE..... We've ALL been there right! Well I dont have unlimited funds like others here do so I decided to do a reef tank as cheap as I could get. Along the way I figured we could all learn some things and teach our hobby as well. I intend to do alot of DIY and buying of used equipment.

This is what I started with. An AGA 55 gal NOT drilled that I paid $20 for.

 

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Drilling tank

Drilling tank

I bought diamond hole bits from Lau here:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZlauQ2aQ2aQ2a

They arrived from Hong Kong in about 5 business days and cost me $22.50 including shipping for a 60mm & 45mm bit.

I then drilled the two holes I wanted in the tank.

It was very easy with directrions I learned from this threat: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603816 Thanks to JustOneMoreTank for starting that great thread

 

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Stand

Stand

Then I started on the stand. It is going to be in my bedroom so "The Wife" requested that it come close to matching the bedroom furniture.
I used a simple 2x4 design, probably overkill BUT I didnt want to wake up and put my feet into a couple inches of water
The 2by's cost about $20. I used Luan and Pine for the stand to keep the cost down. all purchased from HD

 

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Painted tank

Painted tank

I painted the back of the tank with Rust-Oleum Painters Touch #1926 Brilliant Blue. $5

I like this color blue. I was going to try a "fade job" but I'm keeping the cost as low as possible so buying 2 cans of paint was out :smokin:

 

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The clamps on the top were to fix the broken center brace. I used a scrap piece of acrylic

 

[kraze3]

Lookin good, keep the pics commin

 

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Overflow

Overflow

Today I turned to the overflow. I had the glass cut at the local glass shop for $20, its 1/4" thick 24" x 5". The overflow is only 3 3/4" x 5" x 24". I left a 1" shelf to use for frags or Xenias or something

A speed square to keep it at 90

2x4's to support while silicone dries

Taped to hold it to the tank

 

[adnup]

Thats where I'm at for now. I need to make doors for the stand this weekend. I'll use the same pine and luan for the doors

 

[cybrstarr]

WOW, Keep it comin. Great job!

 

[mg426]

Dude that is awesome so far. I saved a few of your links to my favorites I can see them coming in handy in the near future.

 

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Overflow test

Overflow test

Alright, today I tested the overflow. It worked great! Would have been better if the tank was level outside BUT it wasn't so half of the overflow was dry. the stand will be perfectly level and so is the overflow(I hope )

Looks like it worked! :bounce2:

 

[mg426]

Rock on !!

 

[rustybucket145]

nice overflow. Is the glass tinted? or is that just an illusion from the photo?

 

[tulkas71]

Question,
Whats going to keep the 'critters' out of the overflow?

Great thread in the making btw. I have basically the same tank but with all HOB stuff. Definately want to keep tabs on your project if I ever redo mine from scratch!

 

[kingtoad]

I love it.

 

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rustybucket145 - yes the glass is tinted, I figured it wouldn't look as bad if I didn't clean the glass inside the overflow

tulkas71 - I haven't decided yet. Either an eggcrate top to the overflow or I'll DIY a pvc strainer

Thanks guys - keep the comments coming(good or bad) thats what makes Reefcentral so good. This way we can all learn

 

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Return

Return

My return pump is going to be a Mag supreme 9.5. I know that may be too much for this 55 but I got it for free :rollface: As Jessie James would say "Freebie"

What do you guys think if I plumbed pvc all around the top of the tank and with tees and made a bunch of power heads :mixed:

 

[mdisalvo55]

You might wanna put an adjustable valve on the flow going to the tank from the mag 9.5, I have a mag 5 as my return and it empties the sump pretty quickly if the overflow isn't pullng enough water in...

 

[bklinefelter]

Paulie, the tank looks awesome. Keep the thread alive so you can help new nubies like me.

 

[caseyjaydarling]

Looking good. I'm gonna tag along to see your progress. I'm especially interested in if you like the shelf you made on your overflow box. Keep the pics coming:strooper: