Deep Blue 35G Frag Tank

hawaiifavo

hawaiifavo

New member
After being in the reefing world for a little over two years now I have finally had reasonable level success with my current reef tank and what better way to celebrate that success than with another reef tank : )

So...this thread is going to follow my progress of my first attempt at a frag tank. Why not an upgrade you say? Well, as much as I would love to upgrade I just don't fancy all the work and now that I have finally got my current reef tank at point now where its stable, coral is growing at a fantastic rate and everyone is healthy so I just don't want to mess with that.

The main reason for the frag tank is to see if I can start selling some frags and recouping some dollars. I started selling cheato algae on craigslist for $5 a bag that was growing in my refugium and believe it or not I actually sold enough bags to buy this frag tank:

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Its a 35 Gallon Deep Blue Frag Tank = 36"x18"x12" - a perfect sized tank for a first frag tank I feel.

There was a stand that was available with the tank however it was $100 more than the tank and I just couldn't help but think that, that $$$ could be better spent elsewhere for instance on something like......

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This is the Trigger Systems Emerald 34 - Gotta love the BRS Holiday sales!!!

So I had a tank and sump but no stand. Not only did I want to have a stand that would provide me with easy access to the sump, I also wanted it to be big enough to hold a 5-10 container for ATO. With the tank being 36" that meant finding a stand that was at least 48". There really arent decently priced stands out there and I quickly started looking at DIY fish tank stands.

This would be my first attempt at a from scratch tank stand so I was looking for designs that were simple in terms of the frame, a design that didn't have a center brace between the doors restricting access and something that I would know could easily hold the weight of the frag tank but would also if needed be able to accommodate an upgrade in tank size to a 48" tank too.

I found the king of DIY on youtube and a great video he did on building a tank stand from scratch and from there I set out....

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Basic frame with no re-enforcement. I used 2"x4" and #8 2.5" wood screws. A miter saw that I bought for my wife last year for Christmas also came in handy too : )

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Really pleased with how tidy it looks - not going to lie, my wife might have had something to do with that. She is very handy and loves making things and she made sure I didn't rush my measurements or cuts.

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Additional re-enforcement provided by x2 2"x4"s on each leg and brace pieces across the top section.

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Frame is now finished and ready for........not quite sure what the word is but I'm going with detailing/covers/doors & painting

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So that is as far as I have come with the stand itself. More work will be done this weekend for sure and I will definitely post updates on that as it progresses.
 
I was able to pick up a few other bits over the last few days:

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Vertex Omega 130 skimmer

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Tunze ATO

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Sicce Syncra 3 & x2 150W Ehiem heaters (bit too big I know).

Here are few more pics of the awesomeness that is the Trigger Systems Emerald 34 sump the frag tank:
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<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Frag%20Tank/25D2A237-1F8B-494A-AF35-E762BCF15394.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Frag%20Tank/25D2A237-1F8B-494A-AF35-E762BCF15394.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 25D2A237-1F8B-494A-AF35-E762BCF15394.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Frag%20Tank/8AD031DD-D249-4261-AC1F-DA1C221F2299.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Frag%20Tank/8AD031DD-D249-4261-AC1F-DA1C221F2299.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 8AD031DD-D249-4261-AC1F-DA1C221F2299.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Frag%20Tank/BFD0BC82-AE2C-4167-9A7F-C2E0EB7405A7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Frag%20Tank/BFD0BC82-AE2C-4167-9A7F-C2E0EB7405A7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo BFD0BC82-AE2C-4167-9A7F-C2E0EB7405A7.jpg"/></a>
 
So far as the refugium section of the sump I was torn between miracle mud or a Zeovit reactor and giving the Zeovit system a try.

I have used Miracle Mud on my previous and current reef tank with great success running the "Paletta method". I was able to keep a reasonably low nutrient system while having the tanks slightly over stocked with a high bio load due to the frequent and large feedings. I keep several dwarf angels and an AHT and I account for their good behavior by keeping them well fed.

But this is a frag tank and a small one at that so fish are the least of my worries. Its corals that I am concerned with.

I researched the Zeovit system and followed a couple threads on here and browsed the Zeovit forums too and I have concluded that without a doubt the system works if done properly. With regards to MM, I have never ran a tank without it so I cant say for certain that my previous success is owed in part to MM or not but I will say that I don't know how I could run such low nutrient systems otherwise.

The more I researched the Zeovit system the more I liked it but at the same time the more I realized it just didn't suit my style of keeping a reef tank. I'm a set and forget kind of guy and the Zeovit system needs an almost scientific approach to it.

Don't get me wrong I religiously test my water once a month for everything and it all gets logged, I do water changes every three weeks and keep up with my regular maintenance of pumps, skimmer and general tank care which is just about all I could handle I think. The final nail in the coffin for me was the weekly 10% water change and the additional costs of keeping up with the supplements - just not for me. Maybe one day when i have nothing better to do with my time but for now MM is the way for me.

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I picked 5 2lbs bricks from premium aquatics during their holiday sale for a total of 10lbs which should just about fit in the sump.

Thanks Giving/Christmas is definitely the best time to setup a new tank - so many sales!!!

Alright, that's it for now, more to come soon.
 
Made some more progress on the stand today. I used 3/4" finished oak - it was $49 for a 4x8 piece. I was able to get all the wrapping done with that single piece but it did take some checking and triple checking to make sure I could get the pieces I needed out of that one cut of 4x8.

One word of advise though for those of you who like myself had lowes do the cuts, don't expect them to be exact.

A few of the cuts were 3/4" short but I was able to make it work.

My advise would be too see if you can take the wood to a carpenter to cut for a few bucks if you don't have the tools/space available.

Okay, here are the pics - enjoy:

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As you can see I had a gap on between the side legs that for a cleaner finish I wanted to fill in. Also I want to water proof the base of the stand as the frag tank will be sitting on carpet so I don't want any spillages that I don't know about it sitting unattended under the stand.

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Couldn't help but put the sump and frag tank on the stand to get an idea of how it looks : )

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Next up is water proofing and then painting the inside and outside.

Next weekend will be the doors.
 
Thanks. I'm going with a Radion XR15W with a 120 degree tier lens. This is due to me keeping mixed coral frags so it will all me to keep SPS in the middle, LPS outside the SPS and then zoa's around the edge - that's the theory anyway.
 
Awesome start. Looks like you got a good stocking plan. It's Pretty close to the 65g I just got only twice as tall. Following
Do mind saying how much the deep blue cost? Might look into changing out the 65 for the rimless.
 
Lilmatty5dimes said:
Awesome start. Looks like you got a good stocking plan. It's Pretty close to the 65g I just got only twice as tall. Following
Do mind saying how much the deep blue cost? Might look into changing out the 65 for the rimless.
Click to expand...

Thanks, no not at all. Its $213 including tax from a local LFS.
 
Made more progress on the stand over the last couple days.

I was able to get the wood filler and sanding completed. Filled in all screw holes and all the seams of the wrapping. Caulked and sealed the inside of the stand albeit the back opening (still need to get a piece of wood cut to complete the 1" high reservoir) and put down the first coat of paint on the inside.

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Will complete the final coat of paint tonight on the inside and see about a cut of wood for the back to complete the reservoir. Then this weekend I will get to finishing the exterior painting - going with black to match the room the frag tank will be in.

I should hopefully be able to make some progress on the door this weekend too time allowing.
 
Deep Blue 35G Frag Tank

First coat of paint down on the exterior of the stand.

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/09F192CE-5E1F-493D-8F53-74E2214AB4FF.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/09F192CE-5E1F-493D-8F53-74E2214AB4FF.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 09F192CE-5E1F-493D-8F53-74E2214AB4FF.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/142D198E-3D5B-438A-8227-1EB8F70558B8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/142D198E-3D5B-438A-8227-1EB8F70558B8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 142D198E-3D5B-438A-8227-1EB8F70558B8.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/A412C17B-7641-4336-9AF9-E43523BEE70D.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/A412C17B-7641-4336-9AF9-E43523BEE70D.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo A412C17B-7641-4336-9AF9-E43523BEE70D.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/35A184F4-BB50-4376-A12D-FA5F41FB1EDF.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/35A184F4-BB50-4376-A12D-FA5F41FB1EDF.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 35A184F4-BB50-4376-A12D-FA5F41FB1EDF.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/4DDF2C6D-17F3-41C2-BB10-4192DBE4D062.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/4DDF2C6D-17F3-41C2-BB10-4192DBE4D062.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4DDF2C6D-17F3-41C2-BB10-4192DBE4D062.jpg"/></a>
 
Finally got the doors done on the stand - not the prettiest thing in the world but for a frag tank stand that will be sitting in my office rather than out in the common areas of the house it will do. Now I can finally get on with the fun stuff.

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<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/favo1984/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/A0F35652-9116-46B0-8E56-B709BF3AAB18.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa477/favo1984/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/A0F35652-9116-46B0-8E56-B709BF3AAB18.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo A0F35652-9116-46B0-8E56-B709BF3AAB18.jpg"/></a>

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