The Nano Reefs DIY thread...

[rockstarta78]

The stock media baskets are often bad. Aftermarket media baskets are unnecessary expensive. I went lab and built mine which costs around $10 (for two).
You need Acrylic sheets, I used leftover pieces in the lab. But if you go with the thinnest one, you can get one $5 dollars in Home Depot or Loews. Also need crazy glue (a few dollars) or aquarium safe silicon.

Preferably use a nice thin saw (I used upright bandsaw which made process a lot easy). You need some kind off drill for holes (I used hand drills).

Those are the final products


They fit chamber very nice. I think gap is less then 1/16" for all side so high water flow is guarantee.

These are really nice. InTank media baskets ate too expensive.

 

[lxn9901]

interesting

 

[LQT]

Here's my DIY Oceanic BioCube 29 splash guard...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2557971

 

[Ruckus16]

This is a great sticky

 

[frkysl]

here is my new diy media reactor

usb powered submersible motor $3 from aliexpress.com
water bottle
some mesh to cover output of the pump.
I drill some holes to bottom of bottle

 

[acropora213]

Ha! Not a bad idea there.

What are you running in it?

 

[frkysl]

seachem phosguard
btw, if you have a small pump then just use it.
be sure to cover your pump output with a mesh. Otherwise media can go inside and damage pump

 

[acropora213]

Thanks.

Can the top of the bottle with the outflow holes, be totally submerged?

 

[frkysl]

I think yes. but be careful if your pump is very strong make the outflow holes to the side. the only drawback is;
the maximum amount that you can fit inside is limited because the bottle is small. I dumped a lot media and it does not tumble nicely. I think you can run large carbon too.
since its kind of cheap I am ok to run small amount and refresh it every weekend. I don't use large bottle because I like it hidden inside the chamber.

 

[Rotorocious]

nice craftiness!

 

[blake2shay]

Looking to make my own media basket, I have the acrylic, but before I go out hunting for it, I have a hot glue gun. Is that reef safe or will it hold the layers together? Or should I go out for a tube of silicone and if so which kind in particular


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[JC561]

DIY media basket and sump

DIY media basket and sump

Any suggestions?? I'm building a media basket from scratch for my Oceanic Biocube 14G an turning an old Aqeuos 2 gallon into a sump/refugium with a skimmer. I've bought acrylics and aquarium safe silicon but i need suggestions on an overflow idea (again all from scratch cuz I'm cheap lol) any ideas?? Or suggestions??:dance::dance:

 

[meco65]

I think you will need Weld-On not silicon to glue acrylic. For reference. http://www.eplastics.com/plexiglass_glue

 

[themummra]

Looking to make my own media basket, I have the acrylic, but before I go out hunting for it, I have a hot glue gun. Is that reef safe or will it hold the layers together? Or should I go out for a tube of silicone and if so which kind in particular


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Weld-on 16 or 4. 16 is more liquidy, both work by bonding the two pieces together as one. It is a lot stronger than glue.

You will have to order this online or find a plastic fabrication store near you. Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. do not carry this anymore.

I had a lot harder time cutting the acrylic than I thought I would/