Horgos Rimless Build

[jahorgos]

I decided to replace my in wall tank and remodel the basement. Some of those might remember my knotty pine which is loved or hated but I decided that I had enough of the dark basement. I painted the knotty pine, removed the old brown aspestos tile and replaced it with vct. The old tank wall was removed and replaced with drywall.

Here is an early shot of last tank when it was first setup:

I had the tank and sump custom made by great lakes aquariums which turned out to be a wonderful experience. The quality, service and price make them the number one place to buy a tank in michigan. This was a custom tank dimensionally and the largest by volume rimless tank they have done as nobody previously had asked for such a large cube tank. They now offer this tank in their catalog of products.

The tank is a 200 gallon rimless cube. 48"x48"x20" (LxWxH). The stand is 36" tall and soon will be covered for tiling. The 2 front corner panes are starfire glass. I have a custom corner overflow with 2 individual return lines and one large drain. I did this so if I ever go with more flow to my sump I can just add a second pump.

The sump is 48"x18"x18" with a custom double bubble trap which is probably not necessary but if you hate bubbles as much as me then you understand the precaution.

I will be using many of the items from my existing in wall tank.

2 6 bulb 36" ATI Sunpower Fixtures
2 MP40wES
1 Bubble Magus 220 CS2
1 Eheim 1262 return pump
2 Drews Parasitic Dosing Pumps for Alk and Calc
1 Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite


Most of my existing fish and inverts will also be transfered.

 

[dzfish17]

Nice tank. This should be a fun build.

 

[kayaking2]

can't wait to watch see the progress.....

 

[lanespd200]

Great looking tank!

 

[kmu]

Very nice, that corner overflow gives you a lot of real state in the tank.

I just finished cycling a 48x48x24 cube and will start stocking it slowly over the course of the next few weeks...

I originally had planned to use 2 ATI 6x54 fixtures for lighting, Im currently running a single 6x54 fixture and it definitely needs more bulbs for better coverage. My tank has a 6" eurobrace with 3/4" acryclic with around 36" of open top, now I think I should have gone with the 36" fixture just like you did maybe even 2 Sunpower 8x39s instead of the 6 bulb fixtures.

I might keep the ATI sunpower (have it on sale right now) and just add a couple of Aqua Illumination LED modules.

I got my tank used but if I would have done it again I would have gotten the same dimensions or maybe 48x48x20.

 

[blaten]

I love the size and shape. I wish mine was more like that.

 

[jahorgos]

Thanks everyone. I have added some center boards on the faces to attach plywood that I'm going to tile to. I decided to go with 3/4" plywood for additional structural integrity. I am going to paint the corner sides black to hide the wood color since you won't really see those sides. The tank will be roughly 3" off of each wall so that I can put my vortechs on those two sides.

I also made up a square frame that will be mounted to the ceiling to hole my T5 fixtures.

Very nice, that corner overflow gives you a lot of real state in the tank.

I just finished cycling a 48x48x24 cube and will start stocking it slowly over the course of the next few weeks...

I originally had planned to use 2 ATI 6x54 fixtures for lighting, Im currently running a single 6x54 fixture and it definitely needs more bulbs for better coverage. My tank has a 6" eurobrace with 3/4" acryclic with around 36" of open top, now I think I should have gone with the 36" fixture just like you did maybe even 2 Sunpower 8x39s instead of the 6 bulb fixtures.

I might keep the ATI sunpower (have it on sale right now) and just add a couple of Aqua Illumination LED modules.

I got my tank used but if I would have done it again I would have gotten the same dimensions or maybe 48x48x20.

The two 36" sunpower fixtures are way overkill right now on my 100 gallon and cause difficulty with keeping my corals dark and keeping down on the algae. I'm hoping this light will be sufficient to evenly light the tank but allow room to put corals which prefer less light around the edges.

 

[solRNY]

beautiful rimless! ur stand frame looks very familiar was wondering how thick is ur glass?

 

[jahorgos]

beautiful rimless! ur stand frame looks very familiar was wondering how thick is ur glass?

You know it. My glass is 1/2" thick. This was really the limit my manufacturer was comfortable with for 1/2". Only because of the height and short 4ft sides was he comfortable with the design.

As we speak it is filling with water so it should speak for itself over the next few days. I'll try and post some pictures later today as it fills.

 

[jahorgos]

I started filling the tank today and put in the substrate. I washed the substrate like crazy but at some point enough was enough but you can still see that its rather clowdy. I'm sure after a few days with the filter sock and some settling it should clear up.

Previous to that I mounted plywood on the rear and front for stability, I will mount the side panel in a few weeks after I make sure no leaks are present. Once that is done I will work on tiling the front faces of the stand. I did paint the back 2 sides black so the wood would not stick out. You will also notice that I mounted a 2x4 frame to the ceiling to mount my t5 light fixtures to.

If all goes well I will be transfering everything over on Monday. I do plan to use the 100 gallons of water from my current tank to help make this an easier transfer for the inhabitants and bring over some of the beneficial bacteria.

I have had it with pvc, if this works as planned I'll never go back.

My sump setup, this is a temporary thing as its sharing the space with my current setup.

 

[jahorgos]

The new tank is running! I spent all weekend making the switch. I also got the old tank out of what is now exclusively the sump room and have started work in there.

These pictures are from earlier and after these I worked on moving the wires to minimize their view.

 

[jahorgos]

A few pictures with my cords now hidden behind the tank. I also got my moon light in and mounted it today, once I decide if it is in its final resting place I will hide that cord as well. The moon light is provided via an ecoxotic panorama 453nm actinic. This thing is like the sun but in blue. I tried mounting it in several other locations but I couldn't get it to spread across the tank and/or it was blinding me while watching tv on the opposite side of the room. Althought I have not figured out how to properly capture the color, with my camera, in my corals with this on, they are stunning for what little I have.

 

[shannonpayne86]

Looks awesome man. What are the plans for stocking fish and coral wise?

 

[nuccadoc]

I love rimless tanks, looks great! I know I'm a little late with my question but why did you not place the tank on a completely flat surface such as 3/4" plywood? I noticed in the first few pictures that there is only the single cross member.


Scott

 

[kmu]

Very nice, I really like it... that lighting set up looks ideal for the rimless look.

What is that lighting fixture you have in the ceiling, whats its purpose and what color K is it?

THX in advance

 

[jahorgos]

Looks awesome man. What are the plans for stocking fish and coral wise?

Mainly SPS and Acans, but you never know what might catch the eye.

Fish currently:
1 Yellow Tang
1 Naso Tang
1 Kole Tang
6 Blue Green Chromis
2 Bartlett Anthias
1 Lyretail Anthias Male
1 Purple Firefish


Thinking of:
Misc Anthias
2 True Percs 3" +
1 Chevron Tang
1 Blue Hippo Tang
1 Powder Blue Tang

 

[jahorgos]

I love rimless tanks, looks great! I know I'm a little late with my question but why did you not place the tank on a completely flat surface such as 3/4" plywood? I noticed in the first few pictures that there is only the single cross member.


Scott

When you have a tank that has a frame around the bottom you only need support around the edges. The center brace is lower than the outer edges and is merely for some additional structural support for the stand.

Plus with the frame even if you did put plywood down the center section of tank will be slightly higher due to the frame.

 

[jahorgos]

Very nice, I really like it... that lighting set up looks ideal for the rimless look.

What is that lighting fixture you have in the ceiling, whats its purpose and what color K is it?

THX in advance

The moon light is provided via an ecoxotic panorama 453nm actinic. I have since moved it because this light is way over kill and just too bright as a night light. I am thinking of putting it behind one side and pointing it on the wall and allow the reflection to light the tank and thats still quite bright. I might end up using something else and getting rid of it.

 

[solRNY]

nice hanging fixtures over a beautiful rimmless tank, your setup sure looks awesome

i wish i stuck with my first choice to go with T5s like yourself, you only have 1 color type bulb?

seems like from your pictures the 12w panorama puts out a ton more light than i thought, surfice to say 1 fixture is more than enough atinic supplimentation?

also, when you dim the fixture from low to high, did the atinic color shifted? by this i mean was it more blue at the low setting and blue-white at the higher setting?

i am thinking of getting of getting 2x 100w 453nm actinic pill led from ecoxotic for a simalar size tank to yours, this is probably dumb to ask but do you think this will be a overkill for just atinic suppliment?

more pic please

 

[jahorgos]

nice hanging fixtures over a beautiful rimmless tank, your setup sure looks awesome

i wish i stuck with my first choice to go with T5s like yourself, you only have 1 color type bulb?

seems like from your pictures the 12w panorama puts out a ton more light than i thought, surfice to say 1 fixture is more than enough atinic supplimentation?

also, when you dim the fixture from low to high, did the atinic color shifted? by this i mean was it more blue at the low setting and blue-white at the higher setting?

i am thinking of getting of getting 2x 100w 453nm actinic pill led from ecoxotic for a simalar size tank to yours, this is probably dumb to ask but do you think this will be a overkill for just atinic suppliment?

more pic please

Mine was only suppose to be a moon light but its way too bright, I see no selection for high or low, I am thinking of modifying it to lower the brightness. I would say 2 might be good as a supplement.