my 30long build

jacksonpt

jacksonpt

New member
now just hold on, don't get too excited... this isn't going to be some big fancy extravagant build. No fancy sumps or complicated plumbing or custom tank or anything like that. This is going to be a fairly straight forward, pretty basic build.

Oh, and it's probably going to be a slow build as I get money set aside and decide on how exactly this is all going to come together.

No, I don't have any master plan in mind, I'm basically just winging it.



So, on with the goods...
I picked up the tank (a 30long) at the frag swap a couple of weeks ago for 2 decent sized mushroom frags. I definitely got the better end of the deal, so as far as I'm concerned, mickela has a "store credit" with me once I get this tank going and some of my frags grown out.

The stand is framed with scrap pressure treated 2x4s that I've had sitting in my garage for ever. The stand measures ~36"w x 12.5"d x 32"h. It is getting finished with 1/2" birch. Not sure how I'm going to trim it out or handle the doors just yet, or what color I'm going to stain it, but it's coming along.

DSC01039.JPG


DSC01041.JPG


DSC01040.JPG


DSC01042.JPG


DSC01043.JPG



I got the first order of dry goods on the way (heater, power heads, etc), so I could potentially be filling the tank this weekend.

More to come...
 
Jackson looks very nice so far. I see the nano in the back ground. Are you transfering everything over or are you going to keep that going to.
 
Just kind of talking through some thoughts here...

I really like the way my nano has the built-in "sump" chambers in the back. Not so much because of the ability to use it like a sump/fuge, but because of the surface skimming and the ability to hide heaters and power heads. So I'm thinking about doing something similar in my 30.

My thought is to use some sort of plastic piping (irrigation, or the like), probably 8" or so in diameter and quarter it length wise. I'd end up with 4 pieces, but I'd only need 2, one for each corner. Cut some slots in it for the surface skimming and silicon it in place.

Here is my inspiration, though I'd have 2, one in each corner of the tank.
DSC03798w.jpg


The trick will be how big does the diameter of the piping need to be so that when quartered I can still fit a powerhead in there... Assuming that doesn't prove to be too big of a deal, I can run a little tubing from the outlet on the powerhead to an outlet I drill in the piping to act as a retrun.

Should be fairly easy, will keep the tank looking clean (free of power heads, heaters, cords, etc. Will also give me surface skimming and all the benefits that go along with that. The only unknown at this point is how big do the overflow chambers have to be in order to fit a halfway decent powerhead in them..
 
Im confused, is this tank drilled? powerhead inside that? are you just using the overflow to to hide equipment and the power head will somehow go over the top of the overflow like a return??
 
Powerhead will sit inside the overflow. A hose will run from the outlet on the powerhead to a hole drilled in the side of the overflow as a return back into the tank.

It's just like a traditional drilled overflow, minus the sump and all the plumbing.
 
Last edited:
A couple more updates... trying to make a lot of progress today...

Stand is basically done and stained. Pretty basic, nothing fancy, but I'm reasonably happy with it.

DSC01057.JPG





Overflow boxes... I used DAP brand aquarium sealant (100% silicone, says right on the package that it's intended to aquarium repair and is safe for fresh and saltwater applications). I found it at Lowes for $4 for the tube. Getting a good bond was really easy, but getting a nice neat bead took a little more care. Generally speaking, more care than I was willing to give. I still have to cut the teeth for the water to flow through and drill the hole for the return, but the boxes are done.

DSC01058.JPG





Tomorrow I want to get the back of the tank and the overflow boxes painted... I'm still looking for someplace locally that sells Krylon Fusion as that seems to be the most recommended reef-safe paint.

Lights come Tuesday (4x39 T5s, DIY). Once they get here I'll start working on the canopy. Hopefully will start filling the tank by midweek.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13074646#post13074646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jacksonpt
A couple more updates... trying to make a lot of progress today...
Click to expand...

Looks like you accomplished that.

Very professional looking job jackson. I think I have seen Krylon Fusion at walmart.
 
Tank and overflow boxes, painted and drying. The actual color isn't that bright... the sun is bright in my garage this morning. And yes, I did find the Krylon Fusion at wally world, and it's very easy to work with.

Now I'm getting somewhere...
DSC01059.JPG



I did buy some more acrylic and another tube of silicone, so if I get bored today I may try to build another set of overflow boxes with cleaner seams.
 
Ah, I starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere with this project...

DSC01063.JPG


DSC01062.JPG


These pics show my first attempt at overflow boxes. The cuts aren't that clean and the seams are sloppy. I made some nicer boxes today that I'm going to swap in, but I'm doing everything with these temp boxes first, so I get all my mistakes out of the way (i.e. cutting the teeth for the overflow was a bit more delicate than I was expecting...).
 
This was the first time I've worked with acrylic. It's easy to get something that works, but it's hard to get something that works AND looks good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

adova
300g DIY Acrylic Tank Recommendations
Replies
5
Views
409
griss
griss
E
Long time Reefer looking to start anew.
Replies
12
Views
2K
FOX-FACE fanboy….
FOX-FACE fanboy….
AZBigJohn
New Build... I'm back
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
Dustin07
D
M
Iam about to build my forever tank. Any advice? I want to migrate my current two tanks
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
griss
griss
M
How everything change and keeps changing
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
kingone
K
Back
Top