Navyblue's dual rimless display partial build

[Navyblue]

Ok, it's official. I paid my deposit for a custom built tank. It measures 4x2x2' with an external overflow box measuring 24x6x18". The tank will be rimless and made with 12mm glass.

There aren't many tank maker around here that are willing to male a tank with 12mm glass without top bracing. I am not sure if it is a case of over engineering or an confession to their poor workmanship, probably the later.

On my tank there will be euro bracing at the bottom of the tank, and a narrow glass strip siliconed on each vertical joints. I was told that the silicone joints will be 1" wide on each panel and for that I was advised to use black silicone to hide the near certainties of imperfection in the joints. I asked for clear silicone anyway as I thought the idea of thick black edges is contrary to the purpose of a rimless tank, and I don't think the black would do much to make an ugly joint pretty. This is one area where I am not sire if I am heading in the right direction, if you think I am not please stop me before it is too late.

By no means perfect but I have to work within my constraints.

A bit of of history first. I started with a fresh water converted 15G, then moved on to a 33G system then to a 120G system 3 years ago which I am tearing down soon. Each step had been a step up with quantity and quality.

My current 120G would run, but with a few annoying issues, they are:

- noisy and undersized overflow
- difficult access to the right and the back of the tank making them near impossible to clean
- ugly tank that is full of scratches
- awkward sump design with a wet dry tower converted refugium

I had other issues which included insufficient flow, ugly lighting and noisy chiller which I fixed along the way. But the above are fundamental problem that requires major revamp. I tolerated those issues, but what triggers this major undertaking is one day I found that I can slipy finger nails in the tank joints and see my finger nails from the front glass. I have no idea if it is normal, or how long it has been this way, but the prospect of 120G of salt water in the living room made my wive immediately authorise a tank replacement that I have been wanting for some time.

For easy access I know I want an open top tank this time, but the coolness of the rimless tanks posted here made no small part in my decision. I wanted a 6x2x2', but the rimless price was about 5x of my current size. I had to choose between a normal braced 6x2x2' with a rimless 4x2x2'. I went with the later. Someone should also stop me before before it is too late if you think I should go the 180G route.

This time round there will not be a step up in quantity. The focus will be on quality, both in appearance and the design of the system. With the experience I gathered through the years, I wanted this system to be as well designed as it can be, but at the same time without breaking the bank.

I would like to also include a second smaller display tank connected to the same system after I settle the first. One of the tank will be a mushroom tank and another will be an SPS tank. I have not decide the size of the second tank, nor which tank will house what. My wive likes clownfish, I will also house another clown pair on top of what I already have on the other tank.

My immediate plan is to tear down my current system. Replace the tank, reposition the stand, modify the sump and build a light hanger for the MH pendant to replace the hood. That would be the first stage of this project.

The second stage of the project would be for the ATO system and the second display, which I plan to house together.

Frankly, I fear the size of this undertaking, and the prospect of lessening of my already inadequate rest and cash. It's also the reason that The project is in 2 stages. Wow that's a lot of words, I guess that's all for now. Sorry no picture this time as I am at work and on my iPhone.

[Navyblue]

This is how the tank will look like.

Tank dimension: 48"x24"x24"
External overflow box: 24"x6"x18"

[jhawkor]

Very nice.

[Navyblue]

Thanks. I hope the real thing would be as nice. I think I have about 3 weeks before I find out. It's all about the workmanship.

I am not sure if the positioning of the overflow (2" from rim) and the inlet (3" from rim to hole centre) is too high though.

[Navyblue]

Change of plan.

I will be replacing the stand and the sump, so it is going to be a full instead of a partial build.

My new plan is to put my current stand beside the incoming stand. The stand will house the chiller and a top up reservoir. Everything will be hidden, except may be the MH ballast, though I can hide those too if I want. I hope that I can dismantle the tank by cutting the silicone seams and place the glass panels on the old stand so that it look like a normal cabinet, and I'll put the second display on it as well. But that depends on how well I can clean the back wall as it is full of coralline right now.


Btw, this was how the tank look like when I set it up 3 years ago.



This is how it look like now after a dead chiller incident.

[Navyblue]

I might be decided on the of the smaller display. If it materialise (have to check with the tank maker), it will be a custom made rimless, ADA style minimum silicone and with a somewhat shallow dimension of 24"x18"x12". I am kind of toying with the thought of a 24"x24"x12", but not sure if the back will be visible with a tank this shallow.

The tank (or tanks) and the stand are to be delivered this Saturday, I am taking a day off on Friday to tear down my existing 120G (literally, I'll be cutting the silicone seams and use the glass as some sort of counter top). This week I have been stocking up materials for the build.

To make sure a smooth transition, I even wrote down the steps.

Friday

- drain clean water
- remove and clean rocks
- move all fishes, shrimps, crabs and starfish to sump
- remove and clean sand
- clean tank
- drain tank
- dismember tank
- position chiller, stand, top-up reservoir and small tank

Saturday

- move all fishes, shrimps, crabs and starfish to clean water
- empty sump
- clean pumps and skimmer

- position new stand
- clean sump
- modify sump
- position sump
- install skimmer
- construct and install light stand

- position new tank
- install all plumbings
- fill all tanks with fresh water and salt

Sunday

- fine tune salinity
- finish plumbing
- place sand in new tank and small tank
- place rocks in new tank small tank and sump
- move all fishes, shrimps, crabs and starfish to new tank and small tank
- wash all containers

Execution has to be smooth and no hiccups are allowed. I am quite nervous about the amount of work involved and if worry I could finish it on time. What make things worse is not only that I can't take day off on the following week, I have to work till late for most of the week.

[fishysteve]

That's a lot smaller than you had originally planned. Why did you decide to go so much smaller? It went from a 120 to a 22 gallon.

[Navyblue]

I'm going for both, from 120 to 120+22.

[ChadTheSpike]

I think I have found a strong competitor for my own OCD-edness!

I hope you are able to find a helper, an extra pair of hands will go a long ways toward making things go smoothly.

Good luck!

btw, a fellow Navy guy here, 11 years, CPO turned mustang

[Navyblue]

I get that pretty often but... I am not from the Navy.

But you got my OCDness.

I wish I got some help too, but everyone is so busy here, and my OCDness actually make it hard for me to trust people to do stuffs for me. But my wife might give me a hand though on the less technical stuffs.

[ChadTheSpike]

Haha, That's funny because I almost put something along the lines of an extra pair of "well directed" hands, but figured it would be implicit

For some reason I could have sworn you were from the Navy (like I read it somewhere than your name), oh well, I can see why you get it.

Good luck with the move, Im looking forward to hearing how it goes!

[Navyblue]

Thanks Chad.

It's past midnight now and it's officially D-day -1.

I probably got most things figured out (assuming they all work ), except for 2 issues.

1. Fishes

These are what I have at the moment:

- Purple tang, definitely going to the big tank.
- Ocellaris clown pair, to small tank.
- Royal gramma, I'm leaning towards the big tank as it might get crowded in the small tank, but either way could work.
- 4 stripes damsel, my greatest headache, sometimes he is an @$$ but he has been good lately, I like him but don't want him in either tank, he's been with me for may be 4-5 years and that should count for something.

I am planning of getting:
- Some kind of algae blenny for algae control in small tank, but I know very little about them at the moment, I read that they won't take prepared food? I am definitely not going for fussy fishes.
- Regal blue tang in large tank, about 4", the purple tang is 3", risky but I hope it would work out.

There are rooms for a few more small fishes. I like firefishes, but for open top it might not be a good idea. My wife wants some kind of schooling fish, but I am not sure if 5 chromises is pushing it, and I might end up with 1. I like mandarin too, but I am wary of fish that won't eat pellets. May be a dwarf angel, but there isn't one that stands out to me. Potteri angel seems nice, but they seem touchy.

2. Lighting for the small tank

The tank will be housing mushrooms mostly, ricordea and yuma included. I might add an anemone for the clown, or at least a torch coral.

I have a few 150w MH ballast, and have a pendant that is as tall as the tank. I am not sure if it would look goofy. I think open top rimless goes best with small pendants, but I like T5 better as I like the blue look better. 150w 20000K MH bulbs have pathetic PAR, with 4-6 tubes of T5 I can go really blue and still have good PAR.

LED would seem to be perfect, but I don't have much budget at the moment.

Or I could move one of the 250w DE LumenMax III pendant over from the big tank and figure out something else for the big tank.

[Navyblue]

The last shots before light off, tomorrow it will be torn down.

MH +T5





T5 only (well, they don't look too different, just about a stop dimmer exposure wise and minus the shimmer)



Just look at the coralline mess, I hope this time round will be different.

I hope to get rid of the bubble algae too and let the emerald crab take care of the rest.

[Navyblue]

I didn't know my water is this yellow.



Draining water.



It took me longer that I expected to dismantle the hood with the stuffs that I stuffed in there. Fortunately, it's the last time that I am going to do this for a while. The room felt somewhat more spacious after the hood is removed.



It took me even longer to get rid of that bubble algae from the rock, the most painful and humbling experience in my reefing career.



Suddenly, the door bell rang and these arrived.





The tanks are not supposed to be delivered until tomorrow AFTER my stand has arrived, looks like somebody screwed up. But to the ghost of a chance, the mover that brought the tank is the same mover that I asked to bring the stand, so I let them in since they can help me move the tank onto the stand tomorrow.

Back to hard labour.

[glaukos]

i'm so happy for you navy
indeed the space looks bigger without the hood

will you make anotherone for the new tank or only the lights?

the new tank looks very sweet!
many aquascaping possibilities

[ChadTheSpike]

How did day 1 go?

[Navyblue]

Originally Posted by ChadTheSpike

How did day 1 go?

Behind schedule.

I worked from 10am to 3 am or so. Spent too much time cleaning the rocks of bubble algaes. I think I "harvested" a gallon or so.



I weren't able to cut the tank to pieces. One there are many joints that are too narrow for my blade to slide into. I slept for 4 hours or so, when I woke up my arms were sore, and my fingers are all swollen

This morning just I thought that I won't be able to clear the space in time for the stand delivery, my brother happened to be home and we managed to discard the old tank, and move the stand.

I still thought that I might not make it in time. I initially planned to dismantle the sump, but my brother and I managed to slide it across the floor enough that it is out of the way, with water and fishes in it.







With this shortcut I am able to take pictures and typing away here while waiting for the stand to be delivered. The upside is that with the skimmer and refugium in place the fish would probably last indefinitely in there, so I no longer have to worry setting up the new tank ASAP. The down side is that the old stand can't be in its place and my living room looked like a war zone.

Another "bad" news is that my wife reminded me that I have a wedding to attend today, so time would be tight again.

[ChadTheSpike]

Wow, that is a lot of bubble algae!!

Looks like it is coming along well (nothing crazy popping up anyway!)

Good luck getting to where you need to be before the wedding!

By the way, your wall behind the tank looks WAY better than the wall behind my tank last time I did a move/upgrade like that! I had some salt spray that bubbled the paint up a bit that I had to repair...

[Navyblue]

The chaeto in my refugium hasn't been growing for years, I guess they lost out to these bubble algae.

The back of my hood is mostly covered, and most of those splashes ended up on my lights anyway. That's probably why the wall is relatively clean.

Day 3 is officially over, and I am WAY behind schedule. Actually I gave up somewhat on day 2.

This is how messy is my living room.





The stand is here, and the tank is in place.



I have the following holding containers:

1. old sump with fishes in it.
2. a small tank with liverocks.
3. a tub with liverocks "tainted" by mushrooms, the inverts are also in it.
4. pail with sand in it.
5. pail with sand in it.

I didn't have a powerhead in my inverts tub. Yesterday the worms are all crawling up the rocks, lack of oxygen I guess. I added a powerhead to stir things up. This morning I woke up and walked into the living room I smelled death. The blood shrimps and emerals crabs are dead, corals not looking good. I moved the surviving banded serpent star to be with the fishes. Shouldn't have kept the inverts separate from the fishes. I thought there would be aggression with the crabs and the rocks would keep them apart, but they seem to be surprisingly friendly among themselves and to the shrimp (they even touch each other while hanging out).

I bought 2 crabs to fight the bubble algae. They are so tiny and ate so little that I wished I had 20, now I am down to 0. I hope I can get them again before the bubble algae is back, LFS here don't bring them in often.

The pails of sand also smells horrible.

The next schedule killer is plumbing, my drain is leaky and took me a while to fix it. Till now I am not sure if it is the union joint or the glued joint, but I glue the heck out of all the glues joints.

Sand is in, water is cloudy because I used a quarter pail of hardened salt. It's taking forever to clear up, another schedule killer. I whipped out all my arsenals, filter wools, filter bag, and skimmer. I also put on the Tunzes to stir up the display, I got a great deal of sedimentation in the overflow box and sump.



For the next 4 days or so I am going to work late and progress will be little I guess. I hope by tomorrow night the water would be clear and I can do aquascape.

[ECFENCING]

navy blue: Who built the tank? Nice setup...and good luck with everything.

A local builder told me that it would not be possible to have an external overflow and a rimless aquarium....

[Navyblue]

Originally Posted by ECFENCING

navy blue: Who built the tank? Nice setup...and good luck with everything.

A local builder told me that it would not be possible to have an external overflow and a rimless aquarium....

Thanks.

A local tank maker did.

I guess it isn't an easy thing to build a rimless tank. Not many tank makers here are willing to build one with 1/2" glass. My tank also isn't quite a regular rimless tank. The silicone joint is about 1" think and there is a glass strip placed diagonally across the joint.





From the pictures, you can see glass-silicone-glass-silicone layers.

Also you could see chips at the corner of the tank, so I wasn't entriely impressed with it. The tank maker offered to tank the tank back but I really don't have the time for that.

[cham]

Looks great so far. We have the same tank and my joints have the same looking bubbles in it.

Just one of those things.


You did allow the tank to sit for 3 full weeks before you put water in it right?

[Navyblue]

It's been 2 weeks and the progress is painfully slow.

I managed to set up the bulk of the filtration system.

Left - A chamber for filter media, at the moment it is a temporary home for the fishes meant for the smaller tank
Right - Skimmer compartment. The covered part is the refugium. I am trying to keep the light spill to the minimum to prevent unnecessary algal growth. Might be a futile attempt though



Inside the refugium



The lights are 2 clip on lights that I got from local light shop, each with a 24w daylight screw in PC. You probably won't see it very well but there is a Seio M620 pushing water through the chaeto. I haven't seen the Seio in a while and have been using the relatively big Tunze, I thought its small size looks really cute.

My wife accidentally nudged a specimen box to the floor and it cracked, so there it becomes the refugium. The coral chips are what I used to grow pods with great success. It's on the small side this time round, but something is always better than nothing.



I spent hours for days trying to get the right aquascape, I think I am quite satisfied with the look now.



Also managed to build the light stand. It's made with PVC 1" pipes painted black. It flexes more than I thought/like, but I think it should hold, the 2 LumenMax III pendants that I intend to hang them on aren't all that heavy.



You could see a chain hanging down the light stand. I wanted to cut it to the right length but my pliers doesn't cut it , so I gotta stop again. I was supposed to complete the stand last night, but I ran out of spray paint and could find more that I know I have.

[Navyblue]

Originally Posted by cham

Looks great so far. We have the same tank and my joints have the same looking bubbles in it.

Just one of those things.

I was told that if I chose black silicone those would be less visible. I had a hard time choosing if I should go clear or black.

Originally Posted by cham

You did allow the tank to sit for 3 full weeks before you put water in it right?

I haven't heard of that, neither did the tank maker told me, and of course I didn't do that. What's the reason for that?

[cham]

Originally Posted by Navyblue

I was told that if I chose black silicone those would be less visible. I had a hard time choosing if I should go clear or black.



I haven't heard of that, neither did the tank maker told me, and of course I didn't do that. What's the reason for that?

To allow the silicone to fully cure. How long did it sit before getting wet? I gave mine a month but you may be fine. It's already full now anyway.


Are you concerned that the crushed coral bed in the refugium will become a detritus trap?