My ReefMonkey nano buildoff entry

[yardboy]

I thought ya'll might like to see what I've got for the buildoff. I got it set up in the house finally. Specs are:
custom 19 gallon cube with center overflow (DIY)
custom stand and hood of poplar stained with antique walnut (DIY)
lights - 1-175W XM 15000K mogul base metal halide w/ 2-36W PC 03 actinic
Quiet One 1200 return from 10 gallon modified sump
CLS with Quiet One 3000 with 2-1/2" corner bottom bulkhead returns
26" DIY Geoff skimmer with 1/2" venturi driven by MAG 7
20# Marshall table liverock
sump with builtin refugium with Gracilaria and Sea Lettuce macroalgae
Put a small colony of orange zoanthids in this evening after a month of cycling. Still debating on SSB or BB



Aquascape simulates a mangrove island with spur and groove fringing reef.

[Loverotties]

That looks so good!It was worth the waite! ten thumbs up!

[adrianleewelch]

thats a wonderful little tank ! Im going to start assembling parts for mine this weekend, prolly gonna be a 5 gallon with a 2.5 gallon sump hidden in a tiny stand. I would like some info on the DIY overflow. I know I can easily cut the little plastic tank and install a bulkhead, but should I buy the everflow or make it. I do have some acrylic. will it bond to the plastics used to make the inexpensive 5 gallon tanks, not sure of the materials !! Anyay you have inspired me !!!

[yardboy]

I'm glad ya'll like it. hopefully it will develop into a beautiful little tank. Adrian, I'm not sure either what the material is for the plastic tanks, but it's likely to be acrylic. Just remember that silicone doesn't adhere worth a flip to plastic so you'll have to use cyanoacrylate (superglue) or acrylic cement (Weldon) Test the glue on the piece you cut out of the tank for the bulkhead, to see how the glue works. As for the overflow, with such a small tank you might find it difficult to locate an overflow sized properly. Just look at what's available and copy it! I'm a DIY'er all the way!

[rmhuntley]

Beautiful Tank Yardboy! can't wait to see how it progresses

[adrianleewelch]

I just built mine and I used pvc for the overflow and I did use silicone, It seems to be a rock solid bond, tomorrow I'll see if it leaks, If so I'll try CA glue, wish mine was as nice as yours but it was on a budget. see my thread about it

[wharyat]

Very nice, I like how the hood is setup like that.

How are the microbubbles with the short skimmer?

[yardboy]

I used the triple pass design from Geoff's original and there are no microbubbles at all. The body is 24" tall, I guess that helps too.

[mnreefgeek]

Tank/ OF is DIY. Any pics of the progress?

[yardboy]

Trying to get decent tanks shots still. XM 15000K is making it tough, even though I love the color of the tank. Here's a couple of frags I've put in recently.

[tims]

Roger very very nice!
hmmm i may have to try one soon!

[dobejazz]

How's the tank??? any updates?

[yardboy]

The cube is progressing nicely, growth is evident. Here are a few pics I've taken since I posted here last. A shot of the mangroves under actinics


A nice little Favia I picked up




Frags I scored off a fellow reefer.









Got a little tiny bubble-tipped anemone who moved all the way to the top of the tank. Here he is next to the green Sinularia



Here my two tanks are waiting for Hurricane Dennis to strike, fortunately he only dealt us a glancing blow, no harm done.


Here's the thread for the contest, check out the other entries also!
http://www.reefmonkey.com/phpbb2/vie...ace66a72ae34b8

[dobejazz]

Very cool! thanks for the update glad you all got through Dennis ok.

[Loverotties]

Keep it up looking great!