Fluval Edge - 12 gallon - my custom build

[williams_eric]

I have had several reef aquariums setup over the years, but sure don't consider myself anything more then on the top end of the novice stage. Still have so much to learn. I do love to tinker though and hope others will get some ideas for their Fluval Edge 12 gal.

 

I purchased this new, but damaged from a bargain store for $40. The top glass was cracked, the AquaClear 20 was shattered, and some small pieces of plastic had minor cracks, but I just fell in love with the style of the Fluval. I thought for $40 how could I go wrong.

 

I immediately replaced the top piece of glass with 1/4" acrylic. $10 for the piece already cut to size, then just had to cut the opening and reinstall. Once that was complete I begin to dream about how I could best complete the filtration setup. Would I pick up a large HOB? Would I install canisters? Would my wife let me do a refugium (aka tank #2)? In my browsing the web and brainstorming I came across Marine-Pac3, but holy cow $600++ My challenge was then set before me... Make my own.

 

I hope others enjoy what I am in the process of creating. I have sure had fun making it so far. No water flowing in it yet, but I am sure close.

 

Below: I have ripped out the broken glass and set the acrylic on top. It's taped and ready for silicone.

Below: silicone done. tape removed.

Below: back to stock as close as I could get it

Below: my 7 yr old helping me fill up to do a water test.

Below: I settled on a toothless overflow

Below: overflow installed. Hope it works

Below: parts of my custom filter coming together. Three shelves staggered to hold filter media and maybe cheato if I can get light in there.

Below: inside picture of filter

Below: picture from back without rear cover showing filter container installed

Below: picture from front of aquarium. I haven't decided if I will modify and reinstall front side of rear cover yet.

 

Hope to put water in this baby tomorrow night. Really wanted to tonight while the bride and boys are sleeping, but need to give silicone time to dry. :-(

 

Hope you all enjoy!!! I have learned so much in these forums, so I wanted to return the favor by posting pics of my experience.

 

God bless.....

[williams_eric]

Alrighty then!!!!! I let everything dry, things were looking great!!! Water was flowing smoothly.... for about an hour. Then I noticed a little leak in my custom HOB filter. Then another leak. Then another!!!! My silicone didn't hold together!!!! I spent days thinking this thing through, hours of research, only to find out that silicone doesn't adhere well to acrylic. I am going to go sit in the corner and cry right now. We will see if I can pull myself through and recover. Lots and lots of hours in this baby right now... I know I can recover the HOB now by using Weld-on adhesive, I am not sure though about my acrylic top on my glass aquarium. It may be a deal breaker for this project, unless I want to go have someone make a top. argggggggg......

[farkwar]

http://saltwater-conversion.com/

[williams_eric]

I also saw this farkwar. I LOVE IT!!!!! I was in the midst of my build one night when browsing the web looking for more ideas and stumbled across it. I will hopefully have a few hundred dollars less into, though I admittedly have spent hours and hours on it. Learned a lot of things the hard way... but hey... that's a DIYer for you.

[farkwar]

I would go to a glass shop and see if they can cut you a top that fits. In glass, the silicone glass/acrylic joint there is not going to hold.

 

 

 

There is a YouTube vid on how to cut curved glass cuts. Its like an ad for a German glass cutting device, if you want to do that yourself.

 

I don't think Neill has a lot of profit in the Marine Pac 3s, even at $600. He has put a lot of R and D into it, as younknow now. You may want to just work some overtime and buy it.