Ps2cho's Barely Nano 60g Shallow Build --> [October FTS Updated]

[ps2cho]

EDIT: Original post moved to post #2

 

Hi guys this is my 60 gallon custom build!

I am pretty new to Reef tanks...less than one year experience. After 3 short term 3 month tanks, I was very unhappy with both the footprint and size. The 55g hex was too tall, the 10g was too small, the 29g wasn't deep enough so I just went all out and ordered a custom 60g tank from Oceans by Design.

 

Here's the details!

 

Tank Filled and Start Date: 1/12/14

.

Current Full Tank Shot (October 11th, 2014)

 

 

 

 

 

Full Tank Shot (June 24th, 2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full Tank Shot (May 7th, 2014)

 

 

 

Full Tank Shot (April 8th, 2014)

 

 

 

 

Full Tank Shot (March 18th, 2014)

 

Have a lot of brown algae on the rocks. Hoping the Carbon and Phosgaurd will help out slowly over time.

 

 

 

 

 

Sump:

 

Equipment

 

Display: Custom Shallow 60g (30" x 31" x 15") created by Oceans by Design in WA.

Overflow: Large internal overflow box to maximize surface skimming. Two 1" drains - one primary, one emergency.
Sump: Standard 20g long /w baffles.
Biological Filtration: ~50lbs sand, ~50lbs live rock in DT and ~10lbs live rock in sump
Lighting: Reefbreeders Value LED
Protein Skimmer: SCA 302 skimmer
Controller: Apex Lite, pH probe, Breakout box
Heater: 250w Jaeger (primary) and 150W Cobalt Neotherm (backup)

Cooling: Walmart fan
Water Movement: 2x Jebao WP-25 + 350gph return
ATO: autotopoff.com DS1 Dual Float unit powered by Aqualifter

Reactor: TLF Reactor /w Phosban. Carbon in bag in sump sock.

Water Production: Spectrapure 90gpd Refurb /w Maxcap DI addon.

Quarantine: 29g Fish QT, 5g Coral QT each with Korelia and 50w heater.

 

Current Livestock:

• 2x Black & White Clowns (paired since young)
• Royal Gramma
• Kole Tang
  --
• 2x Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
• Sand Sifting Starfish (have had for 6 months now total still living have never fed it!)

Current Corals:

• Birdsnest
• Hammer Coral
• Frogspawn
• Radioactive Zoa
• Pulsing Xenia
• Red Planet
• Montipora Stelleta
• Montipora Cap
• Two unknown SPS
  

Wanted/Planned/Future:

• More blue/purple SPS once phosphates are reduced

[ps2cho]

Hi guys,

 

History: This will be my "technical" 4th tank, but in reality second since the first two had a lot of mistakes and a lot of wasted money doing things I should have done right the first time -- and of course the biggest enemy -- impatience. Nothing that killed fish or anything like that. Just inefficient ways of doing everything. Tanks that I didn't understand the dimension limitations until too late, slow ways of storing water, not finishing tank stands etc...

 

I also hope that by posting photos and such, that it can save future readers who are new from basically wasting money. Not necessarily from picking up pennies while stepping over dollars, but many just simply don't know WHY you buy X, or do X that certain way. By looking below I'll explain why on each [soon].

 

After batting back and forth with ideas and figuring out position in the house and appeasement of the significant other I have to come to a final design/thoughts. Here we go this is the start:

 

Edit: added gfci, h2o storage

Edit: added 2nd TDS meter for RO membrane performance + Toms Aqualifter

Edit; added autotopoff.com dual float ATO.

Edit: added completed h2o storage

Edit: finished h2o storage, protein skimmer and ball valves

Edit: added stand minus doors and sump in place

 

 

Equipment: [Will post photos as I get item]

 

Tank: [ETA: ~Late December] Oceans by Design Custom 30x31x15 rimless (60g)

Reason: I want the width and depth to aquascape without limitations.

 

Stand: Custom 2x4 stand (best I can do having no experience)

 

 

Lighting: Reefbreeders 120w Value LED

Reason: Inexpensive LED that on my 29g has kept everything growing nicely even at only 30%, so even though I am doubling the tank, I still have plenty of room to crank up the LED's. If needed, I can get a 2nd value LED in the future as the system grows. It MAY struggle in the corners of the tank since it is wide, BUT I could just put some nice zoas or lower light required corals.

 

 

Sump: 20g long -- 30.3" x 12.5" x 12.8" and Baffles and filter sock.

-- waiting for silicon to dry.

Reason: It should fit perfectly. There are so many designs out there for 20L sumps. Easy decision. 29g is same dimensions but taller, but that gives more expense for baffles, and means less space to remove/add equipment.

I liked the filter sock on my old sump. Just had 3-4 on hand and swap them out weekly and throw them in the washing machine during the week whenever I have time. I didn't like the mesh as much as the felt. I feel like either do felt, or don't do a filter sock at all. The mesh pretty much just acts like a strainer. Its only good for catching livestock.

 

Overflow: 1800gph overflow box -- scaled back to ~400gph. Herbie variant style. Two 1" drains. One drain /w strainer, one emergency.

Reason: More surface area to skim and scale-able if I ever wanted to increase flow to the sump.

 

 

Return + Pump: Gl@ssHoles 1/2" Inch Loc-Line Return Kit Flare Nozzle

Pump will be what I already have -- Aqueon AQ2300 = ~400gph

Reason: Already have aqueon pump and it is quiet and works so no reason to change it (yet). Glass Holes return seems very good quality and was inexpensive. Even included the glass hole cutter.

 

 

 

 

Skimmer: SCA-302 -- 180gal Protein Skimmer.

Reason: Great reviews for $150 shipped. I got the larger skimmer cup too. Got both off NR hardware classifieds

 

 

 

RODI: Spectrapure 90gpd refurb /w 2nd DI addon and TDS meters and membrane flush kit.

[purchasing 2nd TDS meter for pre and post RO membrane to gauge RO membrane performance and to know when to replace the sediment and carbon prefilters

Reason: Spectrapure seems to be foolproof RODI choice. Have had this RODI for 6 months now and its been great. Added 2nd Silicabuster DI addon because Phoenix water supply is very hard and first DI cartridge was showing 1ppm after only a few months. Added flush kit to prolong membrane life. I flush the system both before and after use and only fill containers when TDS output meter (after DI cartridge) shows 0 ppm. Then it is safe to fill.

 

 

 

Auto Top Off: Autotopoff.com DS1 dual float ATO /w Toms Aqualifter + RO container

Reason: Dual floats. I will ALSO install a manual timer on the aqualifter. That way it only has power for my selected time. In case of two sensor failure, no power will be supplied to the pump regardless. Just one extra safety net. I will probably have it go every 3hrs for x minutes (whatever I discover is how much it needs). Will decide on RO container size based on space left in sump.

 

 

 

Pumps: Vortech MP10 + Hydor Korelia 750 + Jebao wp25

 

 

 

Reason: Love my vortech mp10. Will get a second in the future, but already have the Korelia so ~1750gph in reef crest mode should be enough for tank circulation. (~30x turnover in tank.) Including overflow, it will be ~2100gph or 35x turnover.

 

Water Storage: 2x4 Water Storage Unit.

1) On the bottom will be my salt mixer (32g brute trashcan /w 2" chrome bling bling rims). I will mark the inside of the can with 5 gallon marks. I will then wheel this into the house when the water change is ready to go.

2) Above is a square 28g brute can. I am going to put the float auto top off valve in this one and at the bottom of the can put a valve so it can drain straight into the salt mixing 32g can.

Reason: I am adding a bulkhead at the bottom /w a valve and I can easily add RO water to the 32g below.

 

 

 

 

Safety: GFCI, of course

 

Plumbing: Schedule 80 PVC and definitely using unions.

Misc: $3.80/each at Lowes. FYI. Home Depot by me did not have them, or any S80 pvc...just white 40. Lowes has 1" schedule 80 pipe too. It was like 10 feet for $13.

 

 

 

 

Original Stocking Ideas/Plans/Thoughts

 

Livestock:

 

Currently Own:

Pair - Black&White Ocellaris Clownfish

 

1x Blue/Green Chromis

 

Future Purchases:

1x Bristletooth Tang

 

an Orchid Dottyback

 

Then one more pair...

Options:

Flame Hawkfish

a single Resplendent Anthias

 

----

 

I certainly will not be adding all fish at once that is for sure. I will start with both pairs of clowns and the chromis, then add the remaining over the course of a good period of time -- aka time and cash flow

 

Inverts:

2x Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

 

Dozen of Nassarius Snails

 

Dozen Cerith Snails

 

Half dozen hermits

 

One or two Emerald Crabs

 

 

Corals:

I want a mixed reef with majority being SPS. Will be going steady with it since I have limited coral experience so far.

[ps2cho]

Autotopoff in! Working great on my soon to be old sump

[heifinator]

Make sure to read about glass cages, some people have had problems. Just make sure to inspect it thoroughly .

 

Should be a fun build, my tank is 15 deep and I love it. (40x24x15).

[ps2cho]

I got the 20L from Petco today. for $40 not on sale, its not worth saving $20 if it gets sold out and I miss it.

[ps2cho]

Got my water storage unit built with some leftover pieces of 2x4. Most of them were bad and warped, so its a little off -- but plenty strong enough for 28g of water above it.

 

[Reefed419]

That water tank stand looks plenty strong. Are you worried about the noise having the 1800gph overflow and only putting <400gph through it? Maybe with some ball valves you can quite it down enough. I would love to see the inside of the overflow box, to see how you run it herbie...

[ps2cho]

Got my SCA-302 skimmer, Schedule 80 ball valve, and completed my h2o storage unit. Got a 1/2" bulkhead with a ball valve to fill the brute or 5gal jugs. This should really save me a ton of time and effort

 

^ Yep, that is for the schedule 80 ball valve I just added. I am going to close it enough that should have a complete siphon achieved.

[ps2cho]

Well all my equipment is here. All that is left now is to build the stand, and (attempt) to install the acrylic baffles into the 20L sump.

 

This weekend will begin the stand build!

[ps2cho]

Heres my plans:

 

 

[heifinator]

I like 60g shallows. Nice build.

[lilmatty5dimes]

everything looks good and planned out nicely. cant wait to see it up

[ps2cho]

Mike @ Oceansbydesign will be sending me a final invoice for me to confirm in the next few days or so and the tank will begin construction! He said about 5 weeks total between cutting the glass, drilling, curing etc...

 

Should be perfect amount of time for me to get the stand going. Starting it tomorrow! Its pouring with rain here in Phoenix, so can't do much else but be in the garage this weekend.

[ps2cho]

Started the stand today. Not finished yet. Still have to add the load bearing sections, and I plan to reinforce against lateral movement. Enough for one day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ps2cho]

Sump baffles curing...

Sticking to the simplest sump baffle design I can...

 

[ps2cho]

Decided that 1 mp10 was not gonna be enough, but I didn't want to spend another $240 on another MP10.

So I got a Jebao wp25. That should definitely do the trick! $76 shipped on ebay!

 

 

On a side note -- I ordered the tank! Oceansbydesign estimates about 4 weeks til its done, then about a week for the shipping. Hopefully before the new year then!

[TheFragger]

Looking Good!

[ps2cho]

So I was about to put the weight support 2x4s in the slots shown above when I realized I made a dummy move and put the top on the wrong way around LOL. You can see it in the photo above.

Luckily not a big mistake. I removed the top, spun it 90 degree's and now its good

The top was flat on the level, but it was like a rhombus when I looked down on it lol. (its only 1" longer on one side hence it was hardly noticeable)

All fixed.

 

Planning to put the panels on 2 of the sides today and build a shelf inside. The shelf inside will also act as a lateral brace to avoid swaying. This stand is wayyyyy over-engineered and could probably hold 4x the tank weight -- but I want it that way.

 

Lastly if I have time...I will get the inside of the stand painted satin white.

 

Also the sump has had over 24hrs for the silicone to dry and cure, so I will be leak testing later today with that at some point.

 

Getting excited its actually coming together now and not just a pile of parts!

[Pinner Reef]

Oh how I wish I had the space for your mixing station.

[ps2cho]

I had to move around a lot of junk...I really need to take my 2x4 building experience now and build some garage shelving units...

[FishBrawler]

I'm loving this build!

[ps2cho]

Leak tested the baffles and one was leaking, so I resealed and will let it dry for 6hrs then test again later tonight.

 

Two sides are on. I also glued down the foam to the top (hence stuff stacked on top while it dries lol)

Out of paint...need some more cans, but updating in the interim.

 

You can see the shelf I made...well two of them. I did not want to do one large shelf because doing it this way gives me an extra 3" of room so that I can access and remove the skimmer easy.

 

 

[ps2cho]

After 5 additional silicone additions...its finally water tight.

 

The acrylic is a little thin, but if it can hold the water in that chamber alone over night, it should be good.

 

Also finished painting the inside of the tank stand today too. Next up will be putting the doors on and installing the sump

 

 

I am now using the 2nd post in thread dedicated to livestock etc. I have updated with my current ideas/plans. I think it should be good as long as I go slow

[4x5]

Looking good, similar dimensions to mine. Tagging along.

[ps2cho]

Staining has begun on the stand. Will post photos once I am happy with it.

 

In the mean time I made a magfloat fragrack! Should come in handy for acclimation.