Oceanic 29 - craigslist / budget build / diy

[cknreef]

Greetings Reef Central,

I recently got the bug to get back into reef keeping. (pictures of my first reef tank.)

The purpose of this thread is to document my build from start to finish and to be a resource for fellow Reefers. I'll attempt to keep things organized and easy to follow.

Build List:
$100 - Oceanic BioCube 29gal (craigslist) 9/13/16
$9.99 - Stand (goodwill) 9/15/16
$30 - Home Depot (Painting supplies + a bucket) 9/15/16
$140 - Eshopps R-100 Refugium (craigslist) 9/16/16


It all started on craigslist, found a used Oceanic BC 29 w/sand and rocks. Figured I would apply the knowledge learned from my previous endeavor and bring this BC back to full glory. Here it is in my room:

Has some rubble and black sponges under the water tray:

Decided a proper tank stand was required. A friend and I went to the local goodwill and found this:

Added Silicon to the interior of stand esp around the corners, then painted over with the color 'Blackout' from HD. Used some old silicon after running out of the fresh tube from HD, the old silicon did not dry fully. Does not seem to be a problem, got paint on it, and will cover it with black gorilla tape before installing the sump. Here is a progress pic:

Sitting on a yoga matt to protect from water vs carpet dmg. Ain't she pretty:

Found a sweet deal on this Eshopps R-100 (brand new):

so this is pretty much where its at.. have not figured out the plumbing or what powerhead heater etc

Thanks for reading!

 

[cknreef]

forgot to mention - looking to do LEDs for SPS, pygmy or dwarf angles, starry blenny, possibly some saltwater mollies

 

[cknreef]

the future of my bc29 looks like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiULCECRU10

 

[LQT]

Rock out dude! That's kinda what I did. I found a Craigslist deal on an Oceanic BC29. Now I'm going heavy into SPS. We'll see where our respective journeys take us!

 

[ReefWreak]

Sounds like a nice score (can't see pics at work).

If you want to talk about lighting, lemme know, or post your questions. I've done a good bit of research and have seen a number of successful projects with different lighting setups around here.

I'd double check the structural integrity of the stand before getting settled in, and also would remove the sponge and rubble rock from the back. Too much chance of detritus settling in back there and getting lodged under the rubble.

 

[NeilFox]

That's really cool. Nice to see someone making such good use out of used gear. Can't wait to see what it looks like once it's up and running.

 

[cknreef]

Thanks for the comments!

I began to scoop out the sand

Filled up the whole bucket! Easily $50+ in sand

Gave it a rinse

Proceeded to take the AIO filtration system out, a shard of plastic remains, figure ill use this in the aquascape to create some type of cave or something

Shoutout to BRS.com they have awesome CS. Asked them a Q regarding overflow boxes. Which lead me to find this internal overflow box

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retrofit-Ov...e-Skimmer-for-Nano-Tank-600-GPH-/390928721744

Thinking of going to LFS or a glass shop to avoid cutting the holes myself since I don't own a glass cutting holesaw. I'll have to determine if the cost of buying one shipped will be more expensive than having it cut professionally.


and finally the light set up, oooh ahhhh

no rush to get LEDs yet, but I do want to set up a group buy for some tap-pastic acrylics ... to make an awesome brand new splash guard! any bites?

the next step is to finish the filtration setup and get the water cycled

Happy Reefing!

 

[cknreef]

Build List Cont.

$86.99 Ehiem Compact+ 2000 shipped (ebay) 8/19/16
$30.92 CPR (RSS05) Retrofit Overflow shipped (ebay) 8/19/16
[note: could have gone for cheaper options here, I decided to go with something that looks OEM/stock]

will visit LFS tomorrow to get correct size bulk head and any tips for drilling.

the r-100 comes with ato float valve installed from the factory, really impressed with this sump so far

 

[cknreef]

Build List Cont.

$51.74 Plumbing Supplies (Aqua Flo) 8/19/16

Aqua Flo was awesome, had everything!

part list

goodies

1" Bulkhead for Overflow box - going to drill out the cap for air vent, 3/4" Bulkheads for return. The goal here would be to install lock line with up to 4 nozzles on two Y connections.. curious to see if i need a powerhead at all. Someone said that its a good idea to add a powerhead so you have current outside of the closed loop from the return. Would like to keep the tank as clean as possible and quiet.

The Ehiem compact 2000 return is rated at 250-550gph, there is more flex pipe than pictured. I've been advised to to glue the PVC. Thoughts on set up?


About these holes.. I could not find a glass shop that could drill out a 1.75in hole or a hardware store that carried a diamond blade holesaw in the right size to save my life. Still on the hunt, I believe that someone somewhere in Los Angeles has the drill bits!

 

[cknreef]

Sounds like a nice score (can't see pics at work).

If you want to talk about lighting, lemme know, or post your questions. I've done a good bit of research and have seen a number of successful projects with different lighting setups around here.

I'd double check the structural integrity of the stand before getting settled in, and also would remove the sponge and rubble rock from the back. Too much chance of detritus settling in back there and getting lodged under the rubble.

Looking at the Rapid Corona setup with wifi controller, that thing is neat.

 

[cknreef]

Rock out dude! That's kinda what I did. I found a Craigslist deal on an Oceanic BC29. Now I'm going heavy into SPS. We'll see where our respective journeys take us!

That's really cool. Nice to see someone making such good use out of used gear. Can't wait to see what it looks like once it's up and running.

Thanks guys, looking forward to sharing the journey with you all. Almost ready for water :celeb2:

 

[cknreef]

Wow with the realization that I will have to do some serious HW to make the best overflow system as possible, I don't see my tank having water for at least a month from today. Back to the drawing board! better to do it right the first time around.

Also need to figure out the best placement of the return pump, I've seen the standard returns near the top of the tank, but now I'm thinking there might be other ways.... and after thinking about it for a little it, I don't really need to drill a return at all... I could hang a U on the back and cut out the top to hide it... hmm decisions decisions

 

[cknreef]

As the journey unfolds I almost jumped the BC29 and bought a biggertank for more liverock etc... then reality set in and I decided to wait until I have space for 150+gal reef.

Between life, work, and prepping for burning man I've had little time to work on the tank, initially I wanted to rush and get the cycle going. Boy o Boy I'm glad I did not rush, I learned about the Herbie overflow system and that will take some tinkering to solve since I ripped out the back of the AIO system already lol. Looking back I should of kept it all together so easily drill out and install herbie overflow, now I dont know exactly what my options would be other than drilling a regular durso.

Here was my original thought

Can the Emergency drain be a 1/2"? I might be able to fit that.


After mocking it together, it seems that there is very little room for the main drain and the emergency drain to function properly.

Given the space I'm thinking the durso is the only way to go with what I currently have. IE 3/4" Bulkhead with a T for an air hole and then a 1" Flex tube to the sump. would probably make a lot of noise - looking to avoid that, forgot how loud it can be until I started researching overflows.

If I went Durso with one single drain and had a gate valve on it - would that impact the noise level via controlling the flow into the sump?

Any suggestions working with what I have?

Thanks in advance


Heading to LFS to play with PVC connectors and see if I come up a better idea

 

[cknreef]

Build List cont.

High quality ball valves and plastic U returns (about $60) LFS
150watt cobalt Neo Therm ($51.78) Amazon
Digital Thermostat ($6.99) Amazon
ASM Mini-G Skimmer ($75) Friend
Eshopps PF300 overflow box ($79.99) LFS
Bathtub Mat for sump ($15) Wallgreens

Howdy folks,

Lots of stuff has happened in the past few weeks. Went to Burning Man and my extra time and attention went to preparing for the trip. Had the time of my life and I can't wait to go next year. Highly recommended!

Upon my return it was weird being back in normal society, good thing the reef tank was calling to be set up.

Following the advice of virtually everyone I talked to at many different LFS re drilling out the tank for bulkheads, I decided to nix drilling in lieu of plastic "U" style returns. Perhaps a tank in the future will be drilled.

The skimmer has micro bubbles coming out of the intake, need to replace the o ring in the powerhead. May replace the skimmer in the future, no rush.

My friend brought over his pvc cutter and we got to work, that tool cuts pvc like butter, so hawt.

Grateful to have the tank in my bedroom, it is at the perfect eye level from my bed. The system w/o the skimmer running is very peaceful, a zen like trickle from the overflow to sump :thumbsup:

Need to utilize the ATO built in float that came w the R100 sump, get the o ring for powerhead, change the filter sock, begin planning the hood mods inlc LED lights.

some pics:

yummy detritus from old rock/sand, the sock doing its job

pretty quiet with black sponge

What do you guys think?

Happy Reefing

 

[cknreef]

Build List cont.

8 200 Micron Filter Socks 10.5inch ($42.99) Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Filter-Socks..._6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CDXJJYNJJP8KTTB3TR63]

As it turns out, the 5gal bucket full of sand was also very full of detritus. Stirred up the sand in tank and did about 50gal worth of water changes, each water change seemed to do nothing.

Was watching BRS TV on youtube while waiting for the saltwater to prep, saw a clip showing a bucket filled with sand with a hose in it. Got the bright idea to remove all the rock, put the sand back into a bucket, and run a powerhead through the bucket with water treated with Prime. Took a long time, but it was worth the work as my sand is now clean!

I'll be installing another return as well as cutting the overflow tubing to raise the overflow box so the waterline is out of sight, when this happens I'll pull the sump and clean.

Need to order LED lights and figure out the best way to light the refuge.

 

[Dekon70]

Great looking build.

 

[K-Dubbs]

Really awesome thread. Nice to see the step by step. I'm not as handy as you with the DIY but I am also setting up a new aquarium after being out of the hobby! Seems to be a common theme with a lot of the posts in the nano thread. I will have to take a look at the local goodwill and see about a stand like you found because that would be just perfect for my tank as well!

 

[cknreef]

There goes the neighborhood'

Updates soon


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[cknreef]

Great looking build.

Thank you!


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[cknreef]

Really awesome thread. Nice to see the step by step. I'm not as handy as you with the DIY but I am also setting up a new aquarium after being out of the hobby! Seems to be a common theme with a lot of the posts in the nano thread. I will have to take a look at the local goodwill and see about a stand like you found because that would be just perfect for my tank as well!

Glad you've found inspiration on these forums. Did you find any stands?


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