Zero Edge Tanks

[Squidhead9]

I'm doing something similar with mine. However I can still lose about 4-5 inches of water since I didn't want to go too high for the visual effect. I also plumbed an overflow line from my sump outside. I'm trying to develop some sort of electrical backup with a solenoid (or something else) to supplement the mechanical check valve. I was hoping someone had come up with a similar system.

 

[Henryreef]

Cool Tank erichatesmice ! Love the LED Lights, the vortech and how nice and clean you tank is overall. Awesome set up!

 

[Klownfish]

Re: Overflow....

Re: Overflow....

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14703064#post14703064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grunfeld
Since mine is a DIY, and I don't believe in the use of mechanical devices as protection where water is concerned, I raised the returns to within 1" of the top of the tank and created a "mushroom cap" for the pipes. When a power outage occurs, my sump handles 90% of that volume and I subsequently plumbed a sump overflow to handle the balance (2 bulkheads in the side of the sump which overflow into an emergency 10g tank which is normally dry).

I realize that the stock set-up had low in the tank returns and a check valve, neither of which is a good idea IMHO. Once that valve leaks, and it will, the entire tank is going to drain somewhere.

Pics available on request.

Grunfeld

WOW. Impressive pre-planning, and DIY design. Your tank is amazing.



:rollface:

 

[Elan L.]

Just saw two today at two seperate LFS and wow! A great display tank if you have it in an LFS because your basically there to clean it and everything all day.

 

[kc350twin]

Finally------ some people to share my pain with. Check my signature.


I owned one and from day one I had Micro Bubble issues.

The first week I called Brett to complain and send this Pile back. I came fresh out of a 12 Gal aquapod and had no idea just how bad 900gph though a 22 inch long sump is. My first tank with a sump and it was a ZE 22zr, man it almost ruined me for good.

Brett insisted that I was the only one with Micro bubble issues. He then began to blame Euro Reef sump for the Micro Bubble issues. I called ER and told them. They said ZE must have misunderstood our recommendations and to have Brett call them. Days later Brett claims ER is a bunch of liars and cut all ties with them.

The only reason I kept it 4 months was that Brett kept promising this newly designed sump to solve all of it and when I saw it I almost could not stop laughing.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have turned it into a Rimless cube.

I'm not sure but maybe if you use a sump designed for all the flow it would be nice, but that 22zr system is a joke.

My two cents ==========Don't buy it!!! any of them.


ZESC= ZeroEdge Survivors Club

 

[kc350twin]

Almost forgot... Pic


I was able to grow a couple SPS though. It was awesome to look at.

 

[letik]

Cool tank design and idea. I think that most regular rimless tanks can be converted to the same design quite easily. Question I'm asking myself is why.
Probably the height of the tank may be an issue as the water will make more noise and most likely sprinkle salt all over the place.

I think that i can easily convert my hexagon to be like that. I'll probably spend only a few bucks on it if I use the same filter setup, but easily kill weeks doing it. Plus it's almost summer and it means that I'm windsurfing and let me tell you that it's much more fun jumping waves and having fun in the ocean than drilling tanks and fitting pipes.

FYI here is my tank that by the way doesn't get any votes in the
nano tank of the month poll. I guess people hate it.

Another thing is that I checked that I can achieve very similar effect if I shut down two powerheads (I have 3 in my 10 gal tank moving 70 times the volume per hour) and raise the level of the water about 1/3 of an inch (very close to the edge)

Another con I see is evaporation. Here is simple calculation for my hex:
evaporation surface now: 888 cm2
will become: 888cm2 + 5400cm2 (wall surface) = 6288cm2 or 7 times increase and it will be more in reality as the water sliding down the walls will work very similar to the fan blowing on its surface. You probably won't need a chiller.

And this is for a 10 gal tank lit by LEDs. Now imagine evap. for 100 gal tank - you will probably have to add back 15-20 gallons of RO water per day. Plus all the water will be evaped. into your room.

In any case the idea is nice.

 

[massman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14903477#post14903477 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by letik
I guess people hate it.

I like it. You have my vote.

 

[Briansweber]

Yea, I know the guy that is the inventor of the zero edge tank his name is Bret. I have herd that he has patended a special cut on the glass to stop the rippling effect but I'm not sure. You may want to make sure your getting the real deal.

 

[kc350twin]

It's not glass. Just acrylic and not much special about it. Rounded edge and enough GPH will give you crystal clear sides. Many people have done it with square edges as well.

 

[letik]

It's totally obvious why you need slided/ rounded edges - more gradual drop of water.

Evaporation is a killer for me. I add 250-300ml /day to my 10 gal hexagon. It means that 1 gal DI water lasts for 2 weeks. With 0-edge it will be gone in 1 or 2 days - huge NO NO for me.

Maybe when I have nothing to do, I'll make some modifications to my tank to level it and bring the water level 1-2mm off the edge and automatically shut down one powerhead for a couple of hours during the day to create 0-edge effect without pouring the water out on the walls. If you have a very precise topoff pump I bet you can do it.

massman, Thank you for your vote

 

[SFeST]

Zero edge tanks are always cool to think about but I don't think I would ever set one up salt water. And if I did, I would definitely start with a small freshwater tank first to get a feel for what they would be like before you add everything you needed for marine. It would save you a lot of time and money if you feel like you couldn't even hang with that after a few months.

 

[Eddie James]

I'm looking at one of these....bump this one up for more ZE comments.

 

[CLINTOS]

i like it. You have my vote.

wires and junk etc. Clean it up and it's got my vote.

 

[Squidhead9]

I've been successfully running a 150 gallon zero edge for several years now. I have a dry box in the center which allows me to run vortechs so I have plently of flow. That has allowed me to create a mixed reef with sps corals as well as softies and lps. I think the biggest problem with these tanks is that the manufacturer does not provide good advice on setup or running the tanks. Overall now that I have it set up right (and that took about a year to figure out) I don't spend any more time on maintenance than I did with my prior tank. I do find it important to spend about five minutes cleaning the glass daily but otherwise its pretty much the same. Sorry for the bad pics. I'm not much of a photographer.

 

[MrBillLumberg]

Hello:

I own a 22 gallon zero edge: Measures 24"x18"x12" ht. (25"x31" Footprint)

I have had it setup for over a year now and i have to say that I like it, its simply incredible to look at.

I have to say that cleaning both sides of the acrylic is not a problem and takes a lot less time that people think, all you do is turn off the return pump and clean the outside first (which takes about 15 seconds) and then the inside, you have to remember that you cant use any tools with this tank! you must clean it with an acrylic sponge using your hand or you will scratch it 100% guaranteed.

I have used extreme caution with this tank and I can tell you that I have already scratched all of the sides at least once, its really disappointing that its made out of acrylic.

If you use extreme caution and understand that its acrylic and if you do something stupid it will scratch then you wont have a problem cleaning it.

A PROPERLY SETUP ZEROEDGE DOES NOT get a ripple effect on the sides, I can tell you that from experience.

Salt spray is a definite issue with the tank, I have salt spray all around the tank, it comes with the turf and there is nothing you can do about it.

Another thing that I must mention is that adding additional flow to the tank is not needed... my 22 gallon tank has a 1000 gph pump!!!! that is more than 45x turnover!

You MUST have this large pump in order to maintain the clear wall effect on the tank. if you go with a smaller pump you will get very bad ripple effects.

Yet another problem is that this tank is plagued with is micro bubbles! because of the ultra high flow of the sump the bubbles generated by the skimmer dont get a chance to rise to the surface. I had to trash the old sump and create a custom sump at my LFS.

And finally the stand is just horrible, it looks like crap and it breaks, from the water that has fallen off the tank while cleaning it has already started cracking at the base.

If you want to buy a tank from zero edge go for it, but I would strongly recommend against buying their sump or their stand. Buy ONLY the tank and the plumbing. then get your LFS to make you a good sump with lots of bubble walls and buy a decent skimmer as well as a good stand.

Looking back I have to say that once everything is said and done I am very happy with my zero edge because its simply beautiful to look at, but I would NEVER EVER recommend it to a friend. Its kinda like recommending a 1967 stingray Corvette to a friend as a daily driver. It looks beautiful but you know he will have problems with it.

I have spent Over $2,500.00 on hardware and failed attempts setting up this tank, go out and buy it but dont tell me I didnt warn you

Regards,

Estefano

awesome unbiased info. Good to know as I was considering one of these. Thanks!