Ultimate 20G Setup Journal - Pic Intense

Looks awesome! What a great idea for a nano tank, built into the stand like that it looks very professional!

For your bulkheads - or lack of, I assume you're counting on the water that leaks past just dripping into your sump?

Sorry if I missed it, but what kind of lights are you planning on and how do you plan on keeping the heat buildup down?
 
Thanks for the kind words springer. I'm not sure what you mean by the lack of bulkheads. Maybe I mis-communicated in an earlier post. I created my own bulkheads from pluming parts and o-rings I purchased at Lowes rather than buying the specialty bulkheads that are more expensive. It's basically like this:

(Slip Female | Threaded Male) -> O-Ring -> Hole in Glass -> (Threaded Female | Slip Female)

Sorry if this doesn't make sense. Maybe I'll grab a pic tomorrow.

As far as lights go I'm thinking a 150W MH with 2x55W PC's. Probably 10K MH and All Actinic PC's. I'm hoping that evap (with fans) alone will control the temp.
 
Hey Sparks I have been watching your tank progress for a bit, just thought I'd make my first post and recommend T5's instead of PC's. They are much brighter and the blue you get out of them is actual blue and not the purple you usually get from PC's.
 
Thanks cmondo. I've never really considered T5's before because I don't know much about them. I guess now is the time to do the research. I know they are a bit more costly to purchase. How about life of the bulb and replacement costs?
 
dsparks - thanks for the extra thread. I'm learning a lot, I'm sure I will continue to have more questions. Did you find that other thread that you were looking for?
 
DSparks,

What speed did you use with the tile bit to cut the glass? I assume the highest setting?

I am very afraid to try a cut on my tank, but I like what you did and I am considering it.

Thanks,
Chris
 
ktkreegs, I couldn't locate that thread. It was a great one too. I haven't been able to access to search function. I'll try again later today.

Chris, imitation is the greatest compliment. Thanks! I did use the highest speed on the Dremel. It really did cut like butter. Just make sure that you keep it really wet and cool. One other comment. Cut the notch out it smaller pieces rather than one large piece. I did this to avoid any added vibrations that may have cracked the tank.
 
i am so afraid when it comes to drilling a tank. my uncle had a 120 g tryed to drill a hole in the bottom....made a huge crack and was never able to repair it. lost a good amount of $$$.

peace
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6636887#post6636887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DSparks
Thanks for the kind words springer. I'm not sure what you mean by the lack of bulkheads. Maybe I mis-communicated in an earlier post. I created my own bulkheads from pluming parts and o-rings I purchased at Lowes rather than buying the specialty bulkheads that are more expensive. It's basically like this:

(Slip Female | Threaded Male) -> O-Ring -> Hole in Glass -> (Threaded Female | Slip Female)

Sorry if this doesn't make sense. Maybe I'll grab a pic tomorrow.

As far as lights go I'm thinking a 150W MH with 2x55W PC's. Probably 10K MH and All Actinic PC's. I'm hoping that evap (with fans) alone will control the temp.
Click to expand...


Makes sense now, I just could see the o-ring in the picture.

Are the fans going to be on the sump? You could probably have one blowing over the sump and another one blowing air out of your stand through the opening you have behind the tank. I'm used to dealing with larger tanks where heat is always a huge problem, but am just getting into nano's and imagine with all the submersible pumps (and MH in an enclosed canopy like that) the problem would be the same or worse.
 
wow, wow, wow,,,,,,

i am starting up my tank soon. and would love to be able to do custom work likeyou. just not creative enough, but limited on the time.
 
I am so afraid when it comes to drilling a tank. my uncle had a 120 g tryed to drill a hole in the bottom....made a huge crack and was never able to repair it. lost a good amount of $$$.
Click to expand...

fishes, I would be a nervous wreck drilling a large tank like your Uncles. Since we are working with Nano's they aren't as expensive to replace :)

Are the fans going to be on the sump? You could probably have one blowing over the sump and another one blowing air out of your stand through the opening you have behind the tank. I'm used to dealing with larger tanks where heat is always a huge problem, but am just getting into nano's and imagine with all the submersible pumps (and MH in an enclosed canopy like that) the problem would be the same or worse.
Click to expand...

springer, I am a little worried about the heat. I am planning on a fan over the sump to help with evaporation. There will be two fans in the hood hopefully handling the MH heat. My current 10 gallon has a 70W MH and it does OK with one fan.

Do you happen to know if T5's run cooler than PC's?

...just not creative enough, but limited on the time.
Click to expand...

kroniclove, you can do this, I'm sure of it. Like I've said before, most of my ideas were "borrowed" from other setups. And as far as the time thing, I've been working this setup for months. And it'll probably be a few more months before I there's water in the tank. Just have a little patience. The payoff is well worth it.
 
So right now I'm struggling with lights. I've been planning on a MH/PC combination all along. But it seems like the trend is heading towards the T5's. I've only found one 24" MH/T5 combination retro kit, and it didn't look that great. I guess I can always piece together my own kit, but I'm really looking for something a little easier.

Thoughts?
 
I'm going to plug the tank into a wall outlet that is GFCI. That'll make all the other outlets downstream GFCI protected. This way I'm only using up one GFCI instead of eight.
 
if the one GFCI trips when your gone your whole tank will shut down. if you had 8 seperate GFCI outlets and one trips it wouldn't be as big a deal.
 
I'd almost rather have everything shut down. Imagine if the fans outlet tripped but the lights stayed on - he'd fry the whole thing. If everything shuts off and he catches it the same day, water may cool down a couple degrees, some corals may not be happy, but nothing gets boiled.
 
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