Fluval Edge Conversion

[wlyon]

I've had my fluval edge up and running for over a year now. In that time, I've swapped filters twice, stuck a canister filter on it, added lights, swapped to LED's, and messed with flow. I've never been happy with my simple/quick modifications so now I'm finally stepping back and doing it right.

I have decided to build an 18 inch 2 bulb T5 fixture into the hood, add an overflow box hidden inside the box that originally hides the HOB Filter, using an aquatic life 30g nano skimmer, and a maxijet 600 return pump running into two exit points connected to hydor rotating water deflectors.



The current usa 18 inch T5 fixture will be built into the existing fluval edge hood to try and make it look like the tank was designed that way.



The sump is a simple design, having a single baffle for the sole purpose of maintaining the water level in the skimmer side. I cut the acrylic a little long and just decided to go with it and see what happens.



The tank is in my bedroom so I added some silicone lines to sit the return pump on to contain the nosie a bit.



I'm going to glue an overflow box I built onto the back of the tank hidden inside the old filter compartment of the tank and then cut the top back part of the tank so it will overflow into the new chamber.



Looks like it will fit nicely on my old night stand that I've been using for a stand. Once the old canister I was using and the JBJ refugium light with a new bulb are removed it should start to shape up nicely.

[bugs713]

Neat idea!
I've had a Edge established for about 3 years as a planted freshwater and just replaced the HOB with a small canister, also have Cree DIY LED's ready to build - kind of working up to a SW conversion as I think these would be the ultimate micro reef! Good luck with the build, I'll be following along...

[wlyon]

While I paint the back of the tank, and glue on the overflow box I realized just how much chemicals would be in the air, so I decided to move my live stock from the aquarium into another well.... uh.... yeah...

[wlyon]

got the back painted it looks a lot better from the front. While cutting the overflow slots I realized how hard it is to cut long strips with a drill, but as long as its functional it doesn't matter since it won't be seen.



Used silicone with a smidgen of epoxy for strength to glue on the overflow box I built.

[wlyon]

I worked on the return this weekend and finally got it working the way I want it to.



Ran it for about 4 hours and had no problems!!!



Then got it painted and made the hood fit around it.





The only thing left is to get it all plugged in, and to order the light I want. Problem is I was going to buy it today and its out of stock for a week!!!!!!!!!

[Floowid]

What light are you going to use? I am looking for something better to light my edge.

[wlyon]

Originally Posted by Floowid

What light are you going to use? I am looking for something better to light my edge.

I've been looking at this one mainly, so far it's the current winner

http://www.aquatraders.com/20-inch-4...re-p/52302.htm

[blindsider]

badass!!

[wlyon]

Finally got it all up and running. Still missing my new light though



Need to work on getting my skimmer silenced, and tweak the overflow a bit but that's about it!!! Without the skimmer running, the system is pretty quite for the most part.



Not quite sure if I like the rock scape or not, I just threw it together in a few minutes but it works for now.

Now to stock up on some awesome sps corals!!!

[wlyon]

Still waiting on the light I want to come back in stock

[thebanker]

I'm impressed with the overflow job. If you could find a way to hide the sump, it would be killer, but mechanically it looks like your setup is working really well.

I updated tags on this thread too, hope you don't mind.

[wlyon]

Originally Posted by thebanker

I'm impressed with the overflow job. If you could find a way to hide the sump, it would be killer, but mechanically it looks like your setup is working really well.

I updated tags on this thread too, hope you don't mind.

Currently it is sitting on my nightstand so I don't have a way to put it under the tank. I'm thinking about building a wooden box of sorts to sit on top of the sump and have the top of it act as a bit of a shelf at the same time so I can put my alarm clock back on my night stand instead of on the floor.

[wlyon]

moved the tank to the new house I forgot how easy it was to drain 3 gallons of water into a bucket pick up the tank and set it in the front seat of my car haha. Still haven't decided on lights for it unfortunately...

[wlyon]

So once again I have changed this system

The 2.5 gallon sump just wasn't big enough to contain splashing since the water level had to be pretty high for the skimmer to work properly. So I planned on installing the 5 gallon sump I originally made for the 20g half moon tank that I cracked since that tank got an upgraded sump to a ten gallon.

In the process I figured why not just use the stand I was going to use for the 20 gallon as well since I'm planning on having one built haha.

All in all the lesson here is when you work night shift and have three days off your awake in the middle of the night with nothing to do so you play with your fish tanks...



Had to drain some water to play with the rock work, in the pic and I still haven't found a good aesthetically pleasing way to mount the led strips over the tank yet.