10 gallon cube / experiment project

[AquariumNut]

Hi guys im Starting a small tank . Its gonna be a month or two before I fill it . But thought it would be fun to update as I go . I plan on making it an all in one type set up with my own design for the filter .

[2_zoa]

Is the filter setup the experiment? Or do you have another twist?

[AquariumNut]

Filter is the main thing but im letting my imagination go wild so i may add as i go .... im also gonna try a sand free set up but I like the look of sand so I have some ideas from building terrariums on keeping the look and not having it all blow away in the flow .

[2_zoa]

Well that's cool. I've seen some neat builds with an epoxied sand bed. It'll be fun to see what you come up with for it and the rest of the tank.

[AquariumNut]

Im thinking along those lines . But maybe using Silicone instead . Plus I have something I want to try to make the silicone porous and easy to build up ( putting it through a whipped cream dispenser lol ) I need to figure out if theres a way to thin silicone down a bit . Or if theres a softer type of silicone out there .

[AquariumNut]

How much par do you guys think I should go for in a little tank like this ? I doubt ill have sps . Mostly lps and softies

[AquariumNut]

Okay I've decided to try and do the built in filter with a reverse flow Under Gravel filter *taking a page from Paul B's book* im thinking a fugi in the back, maybe room for a skimmer, 2 returns on either side connected to a wave maker, then a section at the botom that has a sponge then 2 pumps feeding the reversed UG . Im gonna do this all out of plexiglass and im Going to try and come up with a way to spread the flow through the gravel evenly. I will drill and float the rockwork off the gravel just by a hair *using pvc* so it doesn't get dead spots

[2_zoa]

Originally Posted by AquariumNut

Okay I've decided to try and do the built in filter with a reverse flow Under Gravel filter *taking a page from Paul B's book* im thinking a fugi in the back, maybe room for a skimmer, 2 returns on either side connected to a wave maker, then a section at the botom that has a sponge then 2 pumps feeding the reversed UG . Im gonna do this all out of plexiglass and im Going to try and come up with a way to spread the flow through the gravel evenly. I will drill and float the rockwork off the gravel just by a hair *using pvc* so it doesn't get dead spots

Sounds pretty cool. It'll be awesome if it works for you.

How much flow are you planning on running through the UGF? If I recall proper, I believe PaulB runs about 75 GPH down the tubes into his UGF. It's a pretty light flow rate.

Not sure if your aware or not. Be careful with the plexiglass. I've read a few threads where it expanded and broke the glass.

Edit:
I tried to pull some text from an old pm with Paul but my phone won't let me highlight what I want. Anyway, he mentions a slow flow rate and basically letting some detritus build under the filter slowing things down. Allowing it to convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.

I never pulled the trigger on a RUGF. I will though, some day. Just for fun.

[AquariumNut]

Good to know lol I was planning on 250-400gph in the RUGF lol my thoughts were to keep detritus in the water column so it could settle in the fugi where my mud and plants would be

[Paul B]

That would be a big mistake. Much to much flow in a RUGF. That is why people (except me) stopped using them, with all that flow, it will clog quickly and be a disaster.
I have been using one continousely for over 40 years and have tried it many ways. In such a small tank I would pump maybe 50 gallons an hour through there, probably less. I think I pump less than that through each of my 3 UG plates but my tank is 6' long. Slower is better and the idea is not to keep any detritus suspended as no matter how much you pump through there, you would not be able to acomplish that. There is no detritus visable in my tank and I don't try to suspend it. I do however every year stir up the gravel and suck it out where I can reach with a canister filter.
Thousands of people tried your fast flow aproach and failed after a year or two.
Good luck on whatever you do.

[bigswaug]

I bought my girlfriend a 25 cube with a diy chamber in the rear that was siliconed in.. Basically a 3 chamber fuge.. Well the silicone started giving way on the left side (return side) where the water level drops.. Needless to say it continued to pull itself apart from the pressure in the front and shattered the glass pane it was siliconed to.. That was a fun disaster to clean up.. Good thing my tv was under warranty.

[AquariumNut]

Thanks for the tips paul b

[AquariumNut]

Originally Posted by bigswaug

I bought my girlfriend a 25 cube with a diy chamber in the rear that was siliconed in.. Basically a 3 chamber fuge.. Well the silicone started giving way on the left side (return side) where the water level drops.. Needless to say it continued to pull itself apart from the pressure in the front and shattered the glass pane it was siliconed to.. That was a fun disaster to clean up.. Good thing my tv was under warranty.

That sucks . Do you happen to remember what the thickness of the plexiglass was ?

[bigswaug]

I'd say 1/4 inch or less.. The glass on the aquarium was thin too.. I would definitely reinforce behind it so water pressure doesnt push it back..

[AquariumNut]

Ill take that Into account when I build it

[AquariumNut]

I've decided im putting this project on hold . Run out of funds lol ... ill be able to set up a simple tank with the equipment I have laying around tho . Im thinking a budget low tech aquarium is what i will try for now . The one I want to do will happen just probably after I get a better job

[AquariumNut]

Well just set up my budget tank . Air driven sponge filter , live gravel/sand collected from a reef some sort of plants and lots of life . 1 paly and a mangrove

[AquariumNut]

Pardon the murky water lol still clearing up

[AquariumNut]

Idk what these snails are

[AquariumNut]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1414109659.246007.jpg

[AquariumNut]

[AquariumNut]

Added 2 acans that I rescued from my bros tank

[AquariumNut]

and it's already healing up

[AquariumNut]