Webdr's 39 gallon tank/sump/nano build

webdr · 11-17-2006, 06:18 PM

Id like to share with everyone my tank build. Ive been planning this build for many months and its finally near completion. Sunday, I will remove the 29 and put the new 39 in place. Yea, its not a big step up in size but I also added a 20 gallon sump where before I was "sumpless."

Somewhere along the way I also decided to build a nano tank and stand that would tie into my new system. I had a 10 gallon from the nano tank buildoff last year collecting dust (that means I didnt win) and put it back to use. I built a stand and bolted it to the side of the existing stand.

So Ive gone from a 29 gallon to a 39+20+10 =69 gallons total capacity.

And now (drum roll)
On to the build...

Heres a before shot.

theplatypus · 11-17-2006, 06:21 PM

Looks like you finally got rid of Mt Xenia.

webdr · 11-17-2006, 06:23 PM

I started with building the sump. I had glass cut at Lowes and silly-coned it in place. The idea was a right to left flow: skimmer and drain/bubble reducer/refugium/return.

The AquaC ev-120 was my skimmer of choice. Powered by a mag5

webdr · 11-17-2006, 06:27 PM

When I got my 39 (used from craigslist) I began drilling it for bulkheads.
I used a "wall" of clay to keep the water contained while drilling. Ive gotten pretty good at drilling glass. The first hole took 15 minutes. The last one took about 2 minutes!

webdr · 11-17-2006, 06:34 PM

After all the holes were drilled, I began plumbing the tank.
This was honestly my favorite part. I love cutting and fitting the PVC and the fact that I had zero leaks (except at a few bulkheads) was great.

I wanted to make a CLS with a spraybar. My objective with this tank is a mixed reef so I wanted great flow. The CLS origionally had a mag 5 which was way under powered, then a mag 7 which wasnt much better. The reason the flow sucked was because of the spraybar. It literally stole all the pressure. After a little help form the forum, I got a mag 12 and problem solved!
The first pic is of the mag 5, second is the mag 12 which Im using.

You can see in the second pic, I added a SCWD to the return for a little motion in the ocean!

webdr · 11-17-2006, 06:44 PM

Next was the invisible rock lift. I got the idea from Fly Guy.
I took a 1/4 inch thick piece of acrylic and had Lowes cut it to fit the bottom of the tank. I then drilled 5/8" holes for the acrylic rods.

The rods were cut with a PVC ratchet cutter (which ruined the blade...yea, I know FLY GUY!!!

) but darn it was easy!!

The rods were glued in with Weld-On #16 solvent cement.
The whole assembly was placed in the tank and silly-coned down so no water will get under it and possibly create excess nitrates.
Its solid!
Before I glued them in, I sharpened the rods with an angle grinder. This keeps the rocks firmly placed.

webdr · 11-17-2006, 07:00 PM

Next, I fit the skimmer in the sump. I used an excess piece of acrylic and a few pieces of 1/2" PVC pipe as a stand for the skimmer.
As you can see in the pic, the return splits with the majority of the flow going to the main tank and the rest to the nano. The nano drains back into the sump in the skimmer chamber.

webdr · 11-17-2006, 07:04 PM

heres a shot of the whole setup minus the new tank. I added a hinged door to the main stand. This allows me to view the sump. I can see it being a problem if I add a reverse timed light to the refuguim. Ill deal with it later...