As you all know I have really slowed down on the acylic business over the past year. It looks like it may be slowing down even more. I know. But the next few months are gonna be a little unsure for my family and I. My ever growing family is now filling the confines of our house. Needless to say the need to move is getting ever more present each and every day. Well more so for my wife than I but......

So that said.
For the past elevinty billion days I have been tooling around with the idea of building a limited run of pico zero edge style tank. I am still not sure of the exact size of this tank. But its gonna be small. I can assure that it will be under a 12" cube max. I would love to offer a full kit minus the stand and sump. The kit would include the tank, pump, plumbing, and a cool little LED setup. The sump I am thinking could be a small 2.5 AGA tank.

Here is my problem. I cannot find out how they plumb these tanks to save my life. Now I am sure that this is one of the most kept secrets of this style of tank. So if you are interested or could sluth this out for me it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks



Just think. Maybe just maybe one day there could be a pico sero edge contest here at NR.

Any pics of the design?

i need one i will find the info 4 u

Not yet. As I really need to know how to plumb one b4 I can get to the brass tacks of the tank. I know that I will most likely have clear acrylic pipe as the return into the tank. No ugly pvc here.




lol you just need one dont ya.

i do now how you think i got all my zoas lol

You used the force! Most deff a different method than I use. I am so coral broke at the moment it isnt funny.

me to trade one for cool corals and how do i put a link here

lol. Link for photo? or just page link.

Id also be interested In one after the build! I can trade corals too

pm me your email i have the info dont want spying eyes to see lol

bam

Wow that was fast. Thanks alot. I was almost certant that they were using a check system. But with the price they are fetching I wanted to believe that a super crazy gizmo was hidden that would eliminate the need for the failure prone check valve.

theres a zero edge tank at my LFS and that is how its plumbed ^^^^^
they just have 1 pvc pipe in the middle with LR piled over it to hide it.
I like the idea of it tho! I was thot of building one awhile ago but didnt want a sump.

looks easy except the out side needs to be true or you will have to adjust the flow to get it to flow all around and the tank needs to set on top of the than with groves under pan for it to drain right


told you i need one

I would have never thought it was that simple. I have seen the pile o rock to hide the returns, but hate that. I have even thought of sittin one up bonsai style with the clear return up the center of the rocks. Only drilled rock. Just ideas. But thats the reason for the clear return. No need to hide it if one doesnt want to.


On a tank this small the tray and tank will be a combo unit. Both will share the same bottom. That way the custome will have to assure that their stand be true. The drain should be the easy part.

i would build it with a clear tube of square and have it 1 or 2 inches above water and let it flow over might look cool

Add me to the buyers list. =)

what about nice thick acrylic hob fuges for the smaller biocubes or nano cubes so folks can actually have fun stuff like skimmers or mini media reactors.....you dont have to carry pumps, just recomend some

Those could be in the future. I guess your right about the pump. Its not like we dont have a few pumps around all the time. Now to find those micro check valves. Gone Googling.


The run of these tanks is probably gonna be 10-15 tanks. Just a fyi.

Here is the running list of who wants one.

Hlander
moto826
msellers86

I would buy one.
How much are you thinking ?
I'm ready for a small tank and being zero edge makes me want it even more.

Those are very cool. I've never seen that before. A little pico version would be awesome.

Well the micro sized check valves have been located. http://www.usplastic.com/pdfdatafiles/2223...heet09-2004.pdf

Or these.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx...5&catid=489

If these work out then then the project is one step closer to the release date I do have one HUGE issue with these valves. They have a stainless steel spring in them. Now it needs to be found out if the true zero edges have a c-valve that contains a spring.

id be interested in one .... need to know a price range

I will let you all know the exact price once it is all figured out. Hopefully this will be in the near future.

kool

this will be sweet

Have you checked if there are any patents held by zero edge?

I would love to have one of these if you get them going.
I have access to one at the LFS if you need pic's.

what happened to your car

I know what your talking about. CPR contacted me about my overflow boxes and said a big NO NO. But in all fairness you couldnt tell that much difference in mine and theirs. I know all Z-edge stuff is under patent. But you only have to change such a small % of stuff to get out from that. I highly doubt that the US patent office has allowed a patent to be writen for the movement of water. But Harley Davidson has the sound of their bike patented.

Pictures would be great. It can do nothing but make this project better.

Question time.

Would you guys and galls be worried about a small stainless spring in the check valve?

If so.

Would an clear acrylic return tube up the center of the tank bother you?

If this is done then the need for a check valve is eliminated. The height of the tube would dictate the drop in the display water when the power is cut. But then the flow to the lower portions of the tank are not as much as may be needed.

Come on floks. Anyone have any thoughts?

In my experience (I work on boats) stainless steel has a limited life in salt water. For sure it lasts way longer than regular steel but I would want to inspect/replace the spring at regular intervals. You could add a shut off valve above the check valve to do this but will tank owners keep up with this servicing? You also have to consider protecting your liability should a failure occur.

The acrylic pipe idea is much safer, no moving parts to fail. Why not add a flow deflector on the top of the tube to direct flow downwards? I realise there is an aesthetic compromise here but personally would feel much happier trusting an acrylic weld or bulkhead to protect my home and aquarium than a metal spring in salt water.

Stainless still rusts in SW,
it lasts much longer than normal steel,
however, it would need a monthly inspection and a few replacement with each tank....

Hey. Thanks alot for the input. I do believe that the acrylic standpipe will be the best route. I am kickin the idea of including both. That way the customer can pick what way they want it setup. This way the customer can assume the risk of the checks pros and cons.

What about a mini stand?
Like 1.5 feet tall,
the sump would be inside of it
(made out of cheaper glass, fat silicone joints because it can be ugly because it's a sump)
and if you had an issue(power outage and check valve failure) the whole tank would siphon into the sump.
It would prevent a flood,
yes you would loose livestock however it's more preferable to having a flood and losing livestock.
I'd build the stand in my case to save $$$, however it's an idea..

Use a 3/4'' swing check valve and size it down to 1/2''.

It is a little pricey at $25 a pop but i have always had good luck. The only thing is make sure to add a ball valve above it in case you need to take it off to clean.

Now yall have me all wondering.

The stands are not gonna be offered. As it would be crazy pricy to ship. As well as I am not gonna do the wood work to build them. If I get the planning correct a small 2.5 aga would be a sutable sump.

Valves

What would you all want? The acrylic stand pipe w/o a c-valve your option to put in a ball valve. Or a check and no stand pipe.

idk wtf happend

check valve looks good eather way i want one have you thought of prices yet

Hmm.
Depends on price....

It will deff be less costly w/o a c-valve. I think I am gonna have to build and test one w/o the valve and use a stand pipe. Just to melt all curosity of will it work w/o the valve. I am gonna have a hard time reserving my wants from this product. grrr. I really do not want to add a costly valve if it isnt really necessary.

Sorry Moto I know your chompin to get one of these wet. But I still have to get all the nitty grittys figured b4 the price will be posted.

no worries if you need more info ill find it for you

Well what about doing a standpipe and having another larger standpipe over it just a little taller and drilling holes lower or having slots. That way you get water flow to the bottom of the tank?

I dont fully understand what your talking about. Is this something you can post a pic of?

Wait a zero edge I can afford? <- Hopefully lol.

I am interested in one as well. It would make a cool replacement for my 5.5g

Best quote of the year. I hope to have a price soon. I truly do want to get all aspects of this build absolute befor the price is set. I dont want to have it price so that you all cannot afford them. But I am not gonna build them at a cost to myself. I know you all understand that. As well as patience is key to all corners of this hobby "sickness".

Once again. Thanks for the interest.

Cool cool. Makes perfect sense, I am hoping it won't be too bad, it seems simple enough, just some acrylic (haha), then again in my mind the zero edges should cost more like 200, not 2000

Really though, this would be neat. I hope you are able to make these, it would make a nice replacement for my 5.5g.

I did a quick paint sketch.



Basically you have a standpipe thats a little over water level. Then one of larger diameter over it and still taller than the inner standpipe. Just drill holes lower in the larger standpipe. The water will come up the inner pipe, overflow into the larger standpipe and flow through the holes under the water line.

This way there will be no way of the the tank to run back to the sump and eliminate the cost for check valve.

Thanks.
I am not sure that with the hydraulic pressure equalized that much of the water would find its way back down and through the lower holes. Along with this the seamless surface that the overflow style tanks are known for would be obstructed.

Great idea though. Thanks alot.

Keep the updates coming lol...

Developed from Ashaf's idea.



A flow deflector as I mentioned before. You could cut four wide slots in the end of the up tube leaving four thin fingers to fix the deflector to (not shown).