Succesful tanks under 10 gallons

[KafudaFish]

Thanks Agu. I remember your build from a previous post. Can you post your over under 10 gallons.

En:
Nice tank. Can you describe your powerhead or return nozzle rock such as how you made it?

[bassplaya12]

Originally Posted by EnFuego

This is my <10 gallon that has been set up for close to 2 years

that looks awesome, I love all the zoos

[EnFuego]

Originally Posted by KafudaFish

Thanks Agu. I remember your build from a previous post. Can you post your over under 10 gallons.

En:
Nice tank. Can you describe your powerhead or return nozzle rock such as how you made it?

Thanks, KafudaFish.

The tank has a closed loop and a sump/return. The closed loop is all run through the bottom of the tank. The two nozzles you see at the bottom of the tank in the front of the picture are both returns (one near each front corner). Their are matching drains in the back. Since it's a closed loop there are no issues if the power goes off.

I got the idea for the drain/sump return from another tank on here a while back, but I can't find it now. The tall pipe you see in the middle is the drain and return. This was done by drilling another hole in the bottom of the tank towards the back. Basically the pipe sticking up is just 1" PVC that I covered in that putty that you can buy from the fish store or home depot. I put it on there to give the pipe some texture so it wouldn't look as much like a PVC pipe in the middle of the tank. As the tank has aged coraline algae grows over it and it blends in more. Underneath the tank, the 1" PVC that attaches to the bulkhead then feeds into my sump. I fed a flexible tubing with a smaller diameter through the middle of the PVC that runs down all the way to the sump and ultimately connects to the return pump. In short, the tank drains through the 1" PVC pipe sticking up into the tank, and there is a flexible hose also running through the PVC pipe that serves as the return line. Since the tank is so small, and I have another source of circulation, the return pump is fairly weak and is just there to allow the use of the sump. Having the return come up through the drain line allows me take up less tank room with equipment and there are no issues in a power outtage because the drain and the return are at the water level.

I hope that made sense. If not, let me know and I can try to clarify.

[unda_da_see]

wow, that rock is rockin

[KafudaFish]

Originally Posted by EnFuego

Thanks, KafudaFish.

The tank has a closed loop and a sump/return. The closed loop is all run through the bottom of the tank. The two nozzles you see at the bottom of the tank in the front of the picture are both returns (one near each front corner). Their are matching drains in the back. Since it's a closed loop there are no issues if the power goes off.

I got the idea for the drain/sump return from another tank on here a while back, but I can't find it now. The tall pipe you see in the middle is the drain and return. This was done by drilling another hole in the bottom of the tank towards the back. Basically the pipe sticking up is just 1" PVC that I covered in that putty that you can buy from the fish store or home depot. I put it on there to give the pipe some texture so it wouldn't look as much like a PVC pipe in the middle of the tank. As the tank has aged coraline algae grows over it and it blends in more. Underneath the tank, the 1" PVC that attaches to the bulkhead then feeds into my sump. I fed a flexible tubing with a smaller diameter through the middle of the PVC that runs down all the way to the sump and ultimately connects to the return pump. In short, the tank drains through the 1" PVC pipe sticking up into the tank, and there is a flexible hose also running through the PVC pipe that serves as the return line. Since the tank is so small, and I have another source of circulation, the return pump is fairly weak and is just there to allow the use of the sump. Having the return come up through the drain line allows me take up less tank room with equipment and there are no issues in a power outtage because the drain and the return are at the water level.

I hope that made sense. If not, let me know and I can try to clarify.

Thank you for the description. It made perfect sense and really is a smart way to utilize the space especially in a smaller tank. Real estate is more valuable in a smaller tank and the idea is simple and the best solution which is the norm.

If I ever set up another nano with a sump I now know how to do the drain and the plumbing.

Thanks.