because of all of the vacations we are going on this year and other stuff. i think i can not wait anymore for a decision on where to put the big tank, so i am thinking of building a smaller tank.
i know, i know, it is about time.
so i am thinking of two different options. it will be hard for me to do one or the other, but i am going to try my best, at least for now. what do you all think i should do? either one is going to be a ground up custom build by me. there is nothing out there that is going to fit. i would like to stick with 1/4" acrylic, but if need be i can go bigger, but i doubt i will need to. the size of the tank is not even a consideration it is the form factor and equipment needs that will determine the display tanks size.
the inhabitant for either of these system is going to be a single acropora on a rock. i know exciting, but hey, i like the look of a stag coral growing as it wants. there will also be a fish and a small CUC, but that is it. there is not going to be any sand, unless i get really bored and decide to build a plateau sand bed tank in order to prove the concept.
either of these systems is going to relatively self contains. it is the form factor that will be different. one is a desktop model, the other is a floor model for a lack of description. both are probably going to be to small for a proper skimmer, so they will rely on a conical settling tank for the detrital capture and daily water changes for filtration. depending on the size i hope to keep it at work. it is also going to use an auto top off system for the weekends and long vacations. this will also allow me to play with LED's before i have to figure it all out for a big build.
anybody have any ideas for a simple drawing program for getting these ideas on here for you all to point out the flaws? i would prefer either an online version or a Mac version.
OH boy!!!! Geoff's back in the game Can't wait to see what this turns in to! Id love to see a tank with a blenny of some sort or maybe small goby? I have a Tailspot who is very interactive with the tank and seems to fend for itself on pods and algae.
Personally I enjoy the thought of the desktop version more, due to the fact its right next to you even while you work, better to distract you with Anyways, cant wait to see the build!
it is a solid piece of concrete, HDPE, acrylic, whatever that is as thick as the desired substrate. all of the LR is put on the plateau. the sand goes around it. a powerhead, or CLS outlet is placed behind the LR on the plateau facing downward so all detritus is pushed out from behind the LR and into the water column to be collected in the sump, settling tank, skimmer, or in the substrate. the substrate is easily gotten to so that it can be replaced when needed easily without disrupting the entire tank.
A pvc lift, with a closed loop hooked into the lift with multiple returns, a couple out the rocks and a couple shooting at a bare bottom, pushing out towards a very shallow substrate, that way i have half BB ( that you can't see ) and half sand that is easy to maintain, ...as easy as sand can be, to maintain......LOL
oh and now that i have had a little red scooter blenny for a few weeks, blennies is my call, they are so cool to watch move around the tank and hunt.
Nate recommended these free drawing programs to me.
There is a nice free on online its a flash based so it's what I use at work its Pixler, also GIMP is a free Photoshop Alternative for Windows, lunix, and I think Apple.
for 3D, Anim8or is a good free Windows, and Blender is like Maya and zBrush in one program, and thats for Windows, lunix, and I think Apple.
i am thinking of using this cone tank for the desktop model and this one if i go the floor standing model.
i need to find a rigid container for auto top off. if need be i will make one out of PVC pipe and a few fittings. it needs to be able to handle being under negative pressure. think of an upside glass full of water above a water line.
That's great Geoff can't wait to see what you come up with. As for the coral let me know what you're thinking I can get you just about any high end acro local to Raleigh for free or next to nothing. I have a ton of folks around here who owe me favors. And know quite a few high end acro keepers that are always trying to give me frags or small colonies with fancy names. lol!
Woot, Tanks are great regardless of size. Small sizes can open the door for some great custom work.
With your DIY experience you might be able to try a setup I considered playing with.
Basically use sand or crush coral for its best use... A baffle trap for detritus. Then combine some conical applications.
Figure small tank better if custom to size it a bit taller then normal. This will odds are be a small stand tank. epoxy smooth coat the bottom like a shallow conical tank. Put a bulkhead in the bottom of the slopped sides. Then place a filter fabric 300-micron ect. What ever is as large as it can be and not allow substrate to work through it. Crushed coral would be the easiest. Place the fabric over eggcrate and use the eggcrate to span the width of the tank and rest at the top of the conical bottom.
So basically detritus settles into and through the substrate and fabric into the conical gap under the substrate. Settles down to the bottom with a bulkhead and ball valve. You open the valve and flush the collected waste. Plus the draw of opening the valve can help pull more waste through the substrate.
Function option: tiny pico pump recirculating water under the substrate to prevent anything that settles through to work its way down. Very little flow is needed.
Toss in small overflow and a sump for a skimmer and you can route the drain piping where you need it to empty water out. This setup would work easy on a small foot print tank simply due to its easier to slope down sides steeper on a small square or rectangle. If you setup the substrate more like a tray that fits well to the inside tank dimensions you can if needed lift the sand bed out
Oh I like the one fish and the SPS idea. Maybe a midas? Make him a little cave for home, plus their active little swimmers as well.
Another option to the above would be RUGF it with a cone for better flow. Push a good deal of water volume up through and overflow it to sump. Smaller tank you can really keep that much substrate blown free possibly.
i have toyed with making the bottom of a tank conical also for a while, but i keep thinking of what if.... and i have to get to the cone at the bottom. it is either going to work fantastic, or it is going to need to be maintained every so often, like Paul's RUGF. i would rather be able to just blow it out when needed and call it good.
i do think what you suggest has merit and should be tried, but i keep thinking of scenarios that make me cringe. i am afraid of cringing.
i have toyed with making the bottom of a tank conical also for a while, but i keep thinking of what if.... and i have to get to the cone at the bottom. it is either going to work fantastic, or it is going to need to be maintained every so often, like Paul's RUGF. i would rather be able to just blow it out when needed and call it good.
i do think what you suggest has merit and should be tried, but i keep thinking of scenarios that make me cringe. i am afraid of cringing.
A yasha goby and Randall's pistol is a great combo for this tank. Pistol never stops working and doesn't care if you mess with the sand bed. Yasha is out all the time and it is so fun to watch the interaction. Will post a link to my 12 gal nano if desired. So easy to take care of and so fun to watch!
pache11- you have not been on TRT long have you. i am not going to have any sand in this system, so both of those critters would not be good choices, good suggestion though for a small tank. the systems i am going to be doing will be completely custom built.
ok, sorry, for the delay. it has taken me a while to get used to using Google Sketch. pretty cool app by the way. i strongly suggest it.
here is a front ISO view of the Desktop version.
here is a rear ISO view of the same design.
i did not put the actual plumbing in the diagram, that works best when test fitting. this just makes sure everything fits. the overflow will drain directly into the rectangular settling tank on the back of the tank itself. the drain for the settling tank will go into the sump itself located on the side. the drain for the conical settling tank will go into a hose that will be accessed to the left of the sump on the left of the display. i plan on having a flexible hose so that i can just unroll it and valve the detritus into a cup once a day. the return pump will be in the sump. the large cylinder thing in the sump is the ATS. it is a vacuum based system. the same physics that work those upside down 5G water coolers. fill the cylinder with water turn it upside down so that the only air that can get into the cylinder is when the water level in the sump goes below the neck of the outlet for the cylinder. these need to be sturdily built in order to handle the negative pressure of the water. it will probably be made out of 3" PVC.
i am still working on if i am going to be adding a CLS for the system. with a single piece of LR and a coral, i am not sure i would need a low nozzle. i may build it as is, then decide later. there is enough room on the back side to create a small CLS system using a small external pump. a tiny Mag drive or eheim i believe also makes a tiny external pump.
i will work do another quick mockup of the floor model shortly. it shouldn't take as long as the desktop did since i have learned a good bit of the drawing program.
probably, but i have found that small skimmers do not work real well. the settling tank should do the work of the skimmer. there just is not enough height in a small skimmer to get good contact with the DOC's.
i will probably put a hole in the side of the overflow directly into the settling tank as low as possible. there may be a very small 1/2" PVC between the two using uniseals to seal them.
there will an outlet towards the back of the settling tank out the same side as the overflow. the outlet will be just above the middle point, also using a uniseal. inside the tank there will be a 90 degree elbow going upwards and i can adjust the water height using different length pipes of PVC.
i quickly drew the plumbing. not exact, but it should give you an idea.
yep, return up and over the back or the side near the sump depending on how i think the flow should be to better bring the detritus to the overflow.
Invic- i plan on encasing the entire unit in black acrylic. that is why the footprint is so large. that includes the walls. the front side small area and the back i am going to look into making slide up and out for access.
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