CalmSeasQuest Desktop Tank and DIY CSQ Skimmer

[CalmSeasQuest]

I've decided to rebuild the "PuzzleRock" tank that sits on my office desk...

That tank was a lot of fun to build, and the method of creating and using slabbed live rock hadn't been done before. The downside was, the aquascaping was so dense, that when coupled with the small tank dimensions - I never felt it fair to add any fish. As a result, the first question from every visitor to my office was "where are the fish"?

And now for something completely different...

This tank will go in a new direction. This will be something of a minimalist mixed reef and will be home to a pair of "Talcassos" to satisfy the visitors. While this tank will sit on my office desk, I'm doing the build at home so I don't have to tear down the current tank.

Here's the equipment list,

• Tank - Mr. Aqua 12 Long (36" X 8" X 9") ~12 gallons in dimension, (7.5 gallons water) Fitted with an 8" overflow creating a 3"X3"x8" mini-sump area.
• Lights - Catalina Solar Black 4 X 39W T5 (ATI Blue+, Blue+, AquaBlue, KZ Fiji Purple) + ReefBrite 36" LED 50%/50% Royal Blue / White
• Return Pump - Eheim 600 Compact set at 160 GPH.
• Controller - Apex Aquacontroller, lab grade pH, ORP, PM2 with salinity probe.
• Skimmer - DIY 2X12 airstone driven skimmer with remote skimmate collection
• Mechanical filtration - AquaClear 20 with custom InTANK media insert using Chemipure Elite and Purigen as needed.
• Biological Filtration - Marine Pure Ceramic Biomedia Spheres (compensating for limited live rock) and Mangroves
• ATO - Elos Osmocontroller feeding Kalk laden RO/DI
• Dosing - BRS 2-Part via 2 BRS peristaltic dosing pumps controlled by the Apex
• Water movement - 1X MP-10Wes running ReefCrest @ 50%
• Live Rock - Limited/YTBD
• Substrate - Tropic Eden Reef Flakes
• Heater - Hydor 100 Watt

It was a challenge to get the tank itself. These MA 12 long tanks were sold out everywhere for awhile. I managed to get some help from Geoff at 7Ports (the US distributor for MA.) Geoff helped me track down 2 of these tanks - apparently just about the last 2 left Stateside.

On the fabrication end, I'm had to go through an acrylic learning curve. It took me longer than anticipated to complete the design and fabrication of the acrylic components. On a good note, the stocking plan for this tank is very simple and I already have much of the livestock on hand. It's strange, looking this concept and design on paper and in Sketchup ...it seems very simple. Come time to start fitting acrylic, it suddenly becomes complex. I suspect it has more to do with my skill level (or lack thereof) than the complexity of the design.

I was able to finalize the feature inhabitants....A beautiful pair of Tal's Picassos....err Talcassos

The larger two in the photo will be taking up residence on my desk.

Although I hadn't yet given much thought to a coral stocking plan, I stumbled on an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. A nice Monti collection including,

Tyree Superman monti
Tyree Pokerstar Monti
Tyree Purple Haze
Tyree Sunset
Tyree Seasons Greetings
Copps Vesuvious
Tyree Palawensis
Tyree Undata
LA Lakers
Tyree Pink Sand Dollar
Tyree Setosa
Tyree Flower Petal Cap
Tyree aequituberculata
Leng Sy Cap
Tyree Idaho Grape
Confusa, spongotes
ATL Forest Fire Digi
Greg Hillers Teal digi
Orange Digi

Glass arrives...

I created a bulkhead for this tank in hopes of hiding most of the equipment and gaining better surface skimming. It's a bit crude as I cut the teeth for the weir using a table saw as my router was DOA.

It's amazing how some of the simplest things can take the most time and patience. I spent far too long creating this stone bridge...

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Freshwater leak and overflow check done

Freshwater leak and overflow check done

I've been working on the overflow and filtration. The challenge is I have only 8"X 3"X 8" in which to install a return pump and plumbing, heater, temp, ORP, Salinity and pH probes, Osmocontroller sensor and ATO, 2-part dosing, mechanical, chemical and biological filtration a few mangroves..AND...I decided this tank needs a skimmer

I looked at all the commercially available skimmers and none would fit in the available space, so my remaining option was to build one. I really liked Glazers nano skimmer, but it was a bit smaller than I wanted. Due to my very limited acrylic skills, it's not the prettiest, but it does fit in the allotted space (2"x2"X12") and for an airstone-driven skimmer, seems to function well. The reaction chamber is modeled after the Glazer's and a Tunze 9006 fitted with a foam extraction unit so I can store the skimmate remotely and lessen the skimmer footprint.

Photos forthcoming...

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Traditional this tank will not be...

Traditional this tank will not be...

For the past 20 years, every tank I've built has basically been an adaptation of the same theme. Although we've long since lost the plenums, underground filters and skilters, many builds are simply filling a tank with live rock and gluing in Frags. I've had an idea about doing something different and this build presented a perfect opportunity to do so.

This idea isn't revolutionary, it probably isn't even evolutionary - but it is different. At least personally, I've never seen this done. I hope this tank will set forth some new ideas and perspectives about what a "reef tank" might be including new ideas on aquascaping and nanofiltration.

Anyone expecting a traditional reef build will be disappointed. This one will definitively be considered "Abbynormal"

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

The CSQ DIY Skimmer

The CSQ DIY Skimmer

The skimmer design is very simple. I used a 12" length of 2" acrylic pipe as it was the largest that would fit in the area available and it's easy to clean using a long handled glass brush. It affixes to the side of the sump area using 3 plastic-encased magnets that are attached to the body of the skimmer using Cyanocrylate (I couldn't get a strong enough seal with silicone.)

The skimmate collection area is angled to direct the skimmate to a 1/2" drain (Tunze would call it a foam extraction unit.)

It's driven by a whisper 10 pump with a single Limewood air stone...

I tested multiple airstones, but the turbulence seemed to offset the additional air. I'm also working on a bubble plate (silly I know, but it's easy to get "sucked" into playing with skimmer designs.)

I still have to add the rigid airline that will attach to the air stone and design a small skimmate container that can sit beside the tank on my desk. Based on just a little testing, it seems to work well. It will be placed so the bottom-opening is beside the AC20 intake which I hope will aid it water flow through the skimmer.

 

[RotaryGeek]

Looks well thought out.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Most of the filtration components are now in place...

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNtq9SKmlN4?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNtq9SKmlN4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

The filtration process includes an 8" bulkhead and weir feeding raw water to the skimmer, Mangroves (yet to be installed) and an AC20 filter fitted with an InTank insert. The AC20 will hold Chemipure Elite and Purigen as needed. The skimmer is raised to allow space for the Mangroves roots directly below the skimmer opening. Although difficult to see in the photos or video, the Marine Pure bio-balls are enclosed in a vertical acrylic tower which has a slot opening beside the return pump. Filtered water from the AC20 enters the top of the bio-tower and is drawn down through the bio-balls by the return pump just before being warmed and being returned to the tank.

The intake for the AC20 is places immediately beside the skimmer intake in the hopes of increasing flow though both the skimmer and surrounding Mangrove roots. The Apex thermometer is also located in this area, far from the heater to avoid any erroneous measurements and heater cycling. A small bottle serves as a temporary skimmate locker until I come up with a more aesthetically pleasing design.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the air-stone works - It creates a full column of micro-fine bubble rivaling that of my other pump-driven skimmers, albeit on a much smaller scale.

This photo was taken just minutes after adding saltwater to the tank and already the water column was filling with foam.

The Elos Osmocontroller still needs to be installed, and I'm waiting until I have some bio load and waste in the tank before adding the mangroves.

The substrate has been added. The cycle was started using Ammonia, Dr. Tims nitrifying bacteria and the Marine Pure which has been seeding in my home DT sump for the past few weeks.

 

[RotaryGeek]

I'm not understanding how the skimmer works. Looks like the foam head would just rise up and out at the lowest point without going down to the container. Could you explain it a little more for me?

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I'm not understanding how the skimmer works. Looks like the foam head would just rise up and out at the lowest point without going down to the container. Could you explain it a little more for me?

It's very similar to the Tunze Foam Extraction Unit. The air pressure from the air-stone pushes the foam up, out and into the drain line. Then, assisted by gravity the foam is deposited into the skimmate container (the cap of the glass bottle is drilled to allow air to flow through it.)

 

[RotaryGeek]

Oh so the slanted cut isn't open? It's sealed off so skimmate is forced into the tube?

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Oh so the slanted cut isn't open? It's sealed off so skimmate is forced into the tube?

Bingo - The reaction chamber is completely sealed except for the drain line. The angled top simply assists in directing the skimmate to the drain.

 

[Sinclair81]

Ha, this is excellent, Love the skimmer design, I will be watching this thread closely. Although I am sad to see the old nano leave I am excited to see this one! Keep it up.

 

[mhowe9]

Cool skimmer design, I have not seen anything like it

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Ha, this is excellent, Love the skimmer design, I will be watching this thread closely. Although I am sad to see the old nano leave I am excited to see this one! Keep it up.

Thanks Sinclair. I really enjoyed the Puzzlerock tank - It was a lot of fun to make and watch - but in the end, it was a ton of rock in a tiny tank. The density made maintaining good flow a challenge and there simply wasn't enough room for fish. Wait till you see what this build is going to be - I'm pretty sure you won't have seen anything like it

Cool skimmer design, I have not seen anything like it

Thanks Mark. There are a few very similar examples - Glazer makes a skimmer very similar to this, but smaller. The Mame skimmer is also close but smaller and very expensive. The design is basically a smaller version of the Tunze Foam Extraction unit that I use on a 9006 with great success.

I really like this design as it's very easy to maintain - it can be removed and replaced in seconds and cleaned completely with a couple swipes of a bottle brush. I'm also playing with an idea to increase the size slightly and install a bubble plate (it's easy to get sucked into spending waaay too much time with skimmers.)

The tank seems to be running OK - At least as far as I can tell by monitoring the Apex remotely. I'm noticing the salinity slowly creep up due to evaporation as I haven't gotten an ATO installed yet and I'm running the tank at 82 degrees to promote bacterial growth.

I'm tempted to swing by the office just to see how the skimmers running.

 

[reefer859]

Love the skimmer. This is why I can't stop reading your thread. There is always something new to try and keeps the hobby addicting

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Love the skimmer. This is why I can't stop reading your thread. There is always something new to try and keeps the hobby addicting

Thanks - I really enjoy the dimensions of these tanks. Small enough for desktop use, but large enough for interesting build options.

I'm pleased to report the little skimmer is "rocking." Although there is little to skim a this point, it's functioning well with about half an ounce of light-colored skimmate in the bottle.

I didn't have as much time as hoped today to work on the tank. The Elos Osmocontroller that I had planned to install today shipped without a return line (unlike it's Tunze counterpart.) After wasting time trying to figure out a way to get it installed with what I had on-hand, I shoved it back in its box and re-installed the Tunze Osmolator which has ran perfectly for the past year.

It appears the cycle is well underway (I'm running the tank at 82 degrees to promote bacterial growth.) The ammonia dosed on Friday that raised the tank to 3ppm is gone, measuring zero with no nitrites detected today. I once again raised the ammonia level to 3ppm today and I'll check it again on Wednesday. It appears the seeded Marine Pure coupled with Dr. Tims bacteria are working well. At this rate, the tank might be ready for livestock in about a week.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I may have been a bit overoptimistic on the cycle progress. Today I measured .25 Ammonia / 0 Nitrates remaining from the 3ppm dosed on Monday, so we still have a ways to go. I added more ammonia to bring it back to 3ppm and I'll retest on Friday.

Despite there being very little bio-load in the tank, the little skimmer continues to impress...

 

[KafudaFish]

I really am looking forward to your nontraditional build.

Never seen a glazer before so I will have to look for it but as soon as I saw yours I figured Mame or that ATB that can have a dual chamber.

Did you ever do the bubble plate (for fun)?

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I really am looking forward to your nontraditional build.

Never seen a glazer before so I will have to look for it but as soon as I saw yours I figured Mame or that ATB that can have a dual chamber.

Did you ever do the bubble plate (for fun)?

Thanks Mike - I haven't had time to work on skimmer enhancements as everyone in "on me" to get the display done and introduced. Although it appears to be running very well sans-bubbleplate, I fully intend to make one if for no other reason than the absurdity of it

I envision the bubble plate with a fitting to hold the air-stone that is easily removed so the entire skimmer can be cleaned with a couple swipes of a bottle brush.

 

[KafudaFish]

Tom,

It is kind of scary because ever since I saw the Mame one I have wanted to build one for my pico just for the heck of it because I did not want to spend $100.00 on a straight plastic tube with a hole on the side.

I saw yours and thought that is what I am hoping to do.

I will look at your home page for hints.

Again good luck.

 

[Reef264]

Looks fantastic!