d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build
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d2mini
Premium Member
I'm really not sure how it works yet. That review looked like it showed some kind of electronic gizmo for dialing in the return flow but there isn't anything like that included. But I got the Vectra pump for that. But yes, the drain flow can be dialed in at the overflow, so no gate valve is needed on the drain line.
haha, yeah i thought pretty much the same thing. No way. I still have my Tunze 6105 and might pick up another tunze. I can put these on the back wall and direct flow where I want, keeping them a little more hidden than Vortechs on the sides I think. Not 100% sure yet.Curious, Dennis - Roughly how much does that tank weigh - so how many friends did you have to bribe with beer to get it inside?
I found the write-up on that other site about the Elos Quiet Drain interesting - it would seem to be a "variable BeAn Animal" in that it will work as either a normal overflow or a full siphon overflow depending on how much water's pushed through it.
I do find the claim about not using in-tank circulation and relying on a high flow from the return pump amusing. I suppose that'd be OK for a softie tank; perhaps the Elos folks have never seen the tsunami that most SPS keepers run through their tanks. In just my little 50g cube, the 4 vortechs a capable of 6000 gph, and typically run at 70% of the max, so 4200 gph.
I did not get the metal stand. Much too much money. My stand looks like this...
BTW, speaking of stands, one thing I was kind of shocked about is NEITHER stand option has a bottom! Your sump would sit directly on the floor! Ok I guess if you have tile but I have wood floors. We mentioned it to Nicola at Elos and he said they do it that way to keep vibrations from the sump transmitting through the stand and being amplified. Everything about the Elos is supposed to be quiet. He said he would build me something and what I appear to have gotten is two pieces of white board with big black rubber feet. Nice, but still not quite what I had in mind. I'll be looking at making an acrylic tray or something. I want spills contained. Anyway, something for people to keep in mind if thinking of buying one.
reefanatik
Member
Sorry if I missed it Dennis but are u going to keep it open top or are u going to put a screen insert? I love my rimless but it bothers me a bit that I can still see my somewhat hidden screen, but I'm also scared of jumpers.
d2mini
Premium Member
I may keep it open top because I might do a rock tower that breaks the surface of the water again, like I did in my old cube tank.
But if I did a screen top it would be the new ClearView frame lids from Artfully Acrylic.
reefanatik
Member
But if I did a screen top it would be the new ClearView frame lids from Artfully Acrylic.[/QUOTE]
Man i just looked them up. Deff a good call. They look nice
Man i just looked them up. Deff a good call. They look nice
davocean
Active member
Nice looking tank, and interesting overflow, I like the small footprint of it but I wonder if I could get my hands inside that thing well enough to tighten fittings and such, or did they work that part out for you somehow?
Cool it can handle that much turnover, that is my only complaint on my SCA
Cool it can handle that much turnover, that is my only complaint on my SCA
d2mini
Premium Member
Thanks, Mark!
Me too!
As far as I can tell at the moment, you don't really access the interior. Other than hooking up the drain line below, it seems ready to go. And there is no way for fish or anything to get inside unless then can squeeze through those thin vent holes.
The stand is 31.5" tall so it's doubtful it's going to fit.
Mostly likely i'll be trading out for the 24", which is plenty of skimmer for this tank anyway.
fishresponse
New member
Beautiful tank, as always.
fishresponse
New member
Beautiful tank, as always!
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d2mini
Premium Member
UPDATE 4-6-16
Ok, the stand is built. It's a beast.
Took me several hours to build. A lot of that was head scratching in the beginning because the instructions were a vague guide at best. There seems to have been some minor changes in the design.
When I was looking at the illustrations in the instructions, they didn't seem to be matching up with the pieces I had. And nothing was labeled. So just trying to even figure out what was the back panel and what was the top panel took me a while.
And another piece seems to be completely absent in the new design.
But that said, it turned out well and like I said above, it's a beast. It's marine great MDF inside which weighs a ton. It goes together much like Ikea furniture with the same kind of hardware, but it ends up very sturdy and the panels are quite thick.
What's interesting though is how little of the tank is supported. Basically the sides, along the back about 3/4 of the way back, and the very front corners.
Now that it's built and I have a better sense of the actual and visual space that it takes up, I'm second guessing the placement, and thinking my second choice might be the better of the two.
The one thing I didn't like about where I was originally placing it was that it would really only be viewable form two sides. It's such a nice tank that is seems a shame to tuck it in the corner like that and lose that much viewing area.
So now I'm thinking of pulling it out and putting it against the adjacent wall, directly across from the kitchen island. Even with the 31" depth of the tank, there is still a ton of room between it and the island so that's a non-issue.
The bathroom sink is directly behind it if I ever wanted to utilize the drain. And now we would have unobstructed views of all three sides.
The downside is that it's more out in front of the TV which may produce more glare. I guess I could always dim the lights if I needed to watch a movie or something when it mattered.
And the overall scale of the tank is large for the space which is more pronounced in this location. Again... it's a beast. lol I'm so used to my tank being more built in and in a room that's more off to the side rather than front and center.
Here's some pics.
What do you think?
Ok, the stand is built. It's a beast.
Took me several hours to build. A lot of that was head scratching in the beginning because the instructions were a vague guide at best. There seems to have been some minor changes in the design.
When I was looking at the illustrations in the instructions, they didn't seem to be matching up with the pieces I had. And nothing was labeled. So just trying to even figure out what was the back panel and what was the top panel took me a while.
And another piece seems to be completely absent in the new design.
But that said, it turned out well and like I said above, it's a beast. It's marine great MDF inside which weighs a ton. It goes together much like Ikea furniture with the same kind of hardware, but it ends up very sturdy and the panels are quite thick.
What's interesting though is how little of the tank is supported. Basically the sides, along the back about 3/4 of the way back, and the very front corners.
Now that it's built and I have a better sense of the actual and visual space that it takes up, I'm second guessing the placement, and thinking my second choice might be the better of the two.
The one thing I didn't like about where I was originally placing it was that it would really only be viewable form two sides. It's such a nice tank that is seems a shame to tuck it in the corner like that and lose that much viewing area.
So now I'm thinking of pulling it out and putting it against the adjacent wall, directly across from the kitchen island. Even with the 31" depth of the tank, there is still a ton of room between it and the island so that's a non-issue.
The bathroom sink is directly behind it if I ever wanted to utilize the drain. And now we would have unobstructed views of all three sides.
The downside is that it's more out in front of the TV which may produce more glare. I guess I could always dim the lights if I needed to watch a movie or something when it mattered.
And the overall scale of the tank is large for the space which is more pronounced in this location. Again... it's a beast. lol
I'm so used to my tank being more built in and in a room that's more off to the side rather than front and center.Here's some pics.
What do you think?
ClownsRCoo
New member
d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build
I like that area much better. Make a floating canopy to match the look of the stand which shouldn't be hard and have it overhang the fixture you use by a few inches. That should help with a lot of the light spread.
I like that area much better. Make a floating canopy to match the look of the stand which shouldn't be hard and have it overhang the fixture you use by a few inches. That should help with a lot of the light spread.
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jason2459
Well-known member
That is a very nice and interesting looking tank and stand. Very clean looking. I notice they have a 200 and 200xl. Once my kids grow up a bit more so I don't have to worry about random items ending up in the tank and I wont need a canopy anymore that is something I would definitely look at.
And how about calling up Jeff and getting a custom collection cup cut a bit shorter to fit?
And how about calling up Jeff and getting a custom collection cup cut a bit shorter to fit?
d2mini
Premium Member
Just saying.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! :lolspin:
Ok, looks like it's going to stay where it is.
Time to enlist some help.
I lifted one end this morning and there is no way two people are going to safely lift the tank up onto a 34.5" tall stand.
Saturday morning at my house if you are local! I will caffeinate you.
Philly guy
New member
Dennis,
I have been following your builds for probably 2 years now and continue to be impressed with your attention to detail. I think either location would work well but the one thing I like about the new spot is the tank is off of an outside wall, which will help stabilize temperatures. On the downside as I see it, if you plan to set up AWC from your outside water supply you will have to run the lines further and possibly expose them in the house. Also if you wind up with any nervous fish the more open location will increase their stress level. In any event keep up the great work, I enjoy following.
I have been following your builds for probably 2 years now and continue to be impressed with your attention to detail. I think either location would work well but the one thing I like about the new spot is the tank is off of an outside wall, which will help stabilize temperatures. On the downside as I see it, if you plan to set up AWC from your outside water supply you will have to run the lines further and possibly expose them in the house. Also if you wind up with any nervous fish the more open location will increase their stress level. In any event keep up the great work, I enjoy following.
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