DIY 35 Acrylic Tank

[DFason]

Well after a 2 year break I am back. I saved my old sump made by calvin and doing a DIY tank and stand. I used to sell a ton of stuff on NR before I was traveling all over for paintball. Now everything has calmed down and I am back at it!

So far I have..

H&S Skimmer 90-F1000 - I am LOVING this thing! Finsreef had a great price and perfect for a smaller tank.
Rock - Picked from my local store curing in a rubbermaid with the skimmer
2 Nano 6025's modded
ATI Sunpower 24x4
15g sump made by calvin off the forums.
Marineland 3000 pump - I may switch to a Ehiem 1260
DIY acrylic tank with these dimensions 30x18x15(h)
DIY Stand

Wish list
litermeter 3 for dosing 2 part.


I plan on keeping it pretty simple like SunnyX's off of RC just way smaller! Any suggestions are welcomed!




I just cleaned it out but this thing is PULLING some gunk out!

[DFason]

I got my Sunpower fixture! I also finished my DIY stand that turned out really well.

Its a Sunpower 24" 4 bulb. I am running a 2 Blue Plus's, UV 75/25, Aquablue

I am going to build my tank this weekend too. 30x18x15.

Stand without top

Stand with top

In the room


Sunpower







If you guys want any other shots just let me know!

[DFason]

Well I had a late night Friday and had to "rest" so my headache would go away

But I was able to start the tank tonight and make a mess! I have ALL the acrylic finished and gone over the cuts with the router. This being the first time with acrylic it was MUCH easier than I expected. My first go with the solvent I had a few small bubbles but then I got the hang of it and the other joint looks great! I should have the tank finished tm. I hope to have everything up by next Sunday.

Here's the run down on the final equipment list
DIY Acrylic tank 30x18x15
DIY Stand
Nano Streams 6025 modded
H&S Skimmer 90-F1000
ATI Sunpower 24x4 Fixture ( 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Aqua Blue, 1 UVI 75/25
Marineland 650gph pump
Custom three compartment sump
50W Heater

Should be it! Now for a few pictures



My good seam

[DFason]

I should be able to to the bottom of the tank and cut the eurobracing out tonight too. After that I will finished up the teeth for the overflow and get that in too.

Then I am going to think of some ideas on how to hang the lights.

Thanks for looking!

-Dave

[LISound]

how did you cut the acrylic? I plan to build the same size tank just one inch taller.
I was told you need a high speed table saw to get good cuts and no melting.
Looks like you used a circular saw.

[gsoaxionsk8]

I had the place do rough cuts for me. After that I used a router to make to clean cuts.

I would use Weld-On #4 instead of 3 too. This was my first one and #3 sets VERY quick!

-Dave

[DFason]

Sorry that was me on my friends name.

[LISound]

I'll be tagging along. I've never built a tank but do to cost, I'm going to have to go acrylic. I was always afraid they would scratch too easy.

where is the overflow going? do you have a jig to cut the teeth?

[DFason]

Going to use the router again for the teeth.

Overflow with me in the left corner.

Its not as hard as what you may think. Just dont rush and have all your cuts done and your good to go. I could have made it a weekend project but had a late night

[LISound]

great. Sounds like we'll be building the same tank.
Can't wait to see.
SPS tank?
How do you plan to set up the sump?

[DFason]

LISound - Yes it will be mostly SPS. I want to have a few LPS in it though. War Coral, micro or two, meteor shower and a couple nice chalices.

The sump with have carbon, extra LR and maybe some sand. I dont think a fuge will do much on a tank this size....

Some updates...

I have the bottom down as of last night and have the brace all cut. I am going to do this by hand and make it have a polished look. 200grit/400/600 then buff it out.

Hopefully I will have the teeth cut tonight too do get the overflow in place.

Its getting there! I hope to have it up by next week!

[LISound]

any updates?

[aznboichandoi]

^^ updates please!

[SunnyX]

Well, it looks like you are off to a great start.

That Sunpower fixture is very nice. I just ordered one for a new frag tank I will be setting up.

[gas4544]

LISound - Yes it will be mostly SPS. I want to have a few LPS in it though. War Coral, micro or two, meteor shower and a couple nice chalices.

The sump with have carbon, extra LR and maybe some sand. I dont think a fuge will do much on a tank this size....

I have a 30 gallon total volume AIO tank with a six gallon sump and a six gallon refugium. My tank is almost all SPS and gets allot of light. When I added cheato into the refugium section, it made a world of difference. It grows like crazy and I have very little nuisance algae in the tank. I am also running GFO and carbon in a Bulk Reef Supply dual media reactor and skimming wet with a Bermuda Aquatics Rogue.

I believe that the refugium is helping out quite a bit.

Gary

[DFason]

Just mounted all the new stuff. So here's the list for the tank now...

ORA Hawkins
ORA Red Planet
Tyree Purple Monster
ATL Pink Polyp Cap
Montipora Setosa
Purple Bonsai
Lime in the Sky Stag
Purple Digitata
Tubs Purple Polyp Birdsnest
ORA Green Polyp Birdsnest
Blue/Green Tip Acro
Purple Rim Efflo

So far a good start on the tank. I am still looking at getting some UFO micros,Bubblegum Monster Chalice, Dendro and a couple different SPS's.

I should have picture tonight or tm!

-Dave

[DFason]

Yasha


Cardinals




Blue/Green Acro?

Red Planet


-Dave

[DFason]

New pics! These are only with the morning bulbs on. Just these guys shine! Thanks pook for the GREAT frags!

FTS with the little guys swimming around

ATL Pink Cap, Purple Bonsai, Lime In The Sky, Blue Acro

PM, Red Planet, Setosa, Hawkins, Efflo

The 7 Strong!

Another blah FTS shows the Purple digi and birdsnest on the left too.


I wish I could take better pictures. These colors just POP. Now its time to wait a few months and let these guys grow out. I just ordered the acrylic for the new smaller sump. After that I am going to get everything hard plumbed. My H&S has been kicking into overdrive and pulling some of the most gnarly stuff out.

-Dave

[cerobbins]

Looks like a great start! Can't wait to see it grow in

[LISound]

Originally posted by gas4544
I have a 30 gallon total volume AIO tank with a six gallon sump and a six gallon refugium. My tank is almost all SPS and gets allot of light. When I added cheato into the refugium section, it made a world of difference. It grows like crazy and I have very little nuisance algae in the tank. I am also running GFO and carbon in a Bulk Reef Supply dual media reactor and skimming wet with a Bermuda Aquatics Rogue.

I believe that the refugium is helping out quite a bit.

Gary

I couldn't agree more. I just finished plumbing my sump in 2 weeks ago.
Through some cheato in there 2 sunday's ago...and it's already doubled in size. And I'm running carbon and GFO as well.
I've decided not to put sand in my fuge since it's so small. But I did create a cryptic/Bathic zone out of some eggcrate. Covered that with rock and put the cheato in.

what combo are you running your lights. I've been reading around on that lately and it looks like you have it right. 2 blue bulbs on the outside and the 2 daylight bulbs in the middle. Is there a big color difference between the 75/25 and the aquasun?

[DFason]

Here's a few pictures. Not to good but should work for the time being. I hope to have someone over with a nice camera so I can get some nice pictures. Everything is looking so good and I wish I could show! I have finally glued my plumbing down so no more random micro bubbles. I am going to have my tank in the dark for a couple days to try that out....

My pictures really dont due justice for some of the colors.... The pearlberry is SUPER purple with a whitish base. The sestosa is glowing and my PM is starting to come around. I dont plan on adding much more besides an encrusting monti, Tyree Pink WM and some dendro under my little cave.

My next two upgrades are going to be an MP10 and a I-Tech 100. Hopefully these will be sooner than later. I feel like I need to skim more and I really want to simplify my sump and add a powerhead down there.
Clown

Purple Bonsai, Lime in the Sky, Blue tip thingy, Pearlberry

PM, Setosa, Hawkins, Green Birdsnest, RP, Efflo

my horrid fts...


Shoot any Q's if you have them!

-Dave

[nate82]

just a though but on the left why not spread those frags out so they don't run into eachother and fight to the death? just figured it would save you a headache in the long run