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Chungy's 50g rimless | New ATI SunPower 6x24


Chungy

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10/14/2014 - Just filled the tank and sump with water last night.

 

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Hey all!

 

They didn't lie when they say to "go bigger" from the beginning. 2 months after started my first reef tank with a Spec V, I setup a Biocube and transferred all the livestocks over. Few weeks ago, I got my hands on a used 50g rimless with stand and most of the equipment needed to get it going from a local reefer who is moving out of state.

 

After spending a weekend to clean up the old sand left in the tank, I filled the tank with 1/10 vinegar/water and run it through the setup for 2 days. Then vacuum out the water, rinse, and let dry. No leaks during the 2 days it was running. Wish I took some pictures of how dirty it was, but that wasn't on my mind when I was aiming to get the tanks cleaned up.

 

Picture time! Moved to the location where it will be located.

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Here is a list of equipment I currently have:

  • Display: 50 Gallon AquaPro Rimless (36"x18"x18")
  • Sump: 9 Gallon AquaPro Rimless (12"x12"x14")
  • Stand: Top Fin Stand Customized w/ White Paint and Frosted Glass Doors
  • Protein Skimmer: Bubble Magus NAC6a
  • Heater: 150W Jager
  • Return Pump: Eheim 1260
  • Powerhead: Eco-Tech Vortech MP10 ES
  • ATO: JBJ ATO with Aqualifter Pump and Synergy ATO container

 

A list of stuffs coming in the mail:

  • Nanobox Quad with storm controller (Dave is shipping this next Monday!)
  • Spectrapure RO/DI with maxcap
  • Arch VidaRock
  • 30 lbs of dry rock from ReefCleaners

Thanks for reading, I have tons of questions coming, hoping you guys can help me to set up this tank.

 

 

Sump and ATO:

 

 

 

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Close up on sump.

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The previous owner had a thread here somewhere with his setup, I met him on a local reef forum to pick up some corals for my other tank, it was beautifully setup, that's when I learned that he was selling the whole setup. Seeing this thing running in person convinced me, I couldn't pass it up, because it was something already running so good.

 

However, I immediately noticed the sump is a bit small, there is no room for a fuge, and it risks overflowing during power outage. I did a power outage test when the setup was still in my garage. In order to avoid spillage, I had to adjust the return nozzle (not the drain) pointing upward and above the drain level on the side, otherwise water will back flow into the sump, although it doesn't spills in the sump, but it is too close for comfort.

 

I thought about removing the 2 vertical panels in the middle or cut their bottoms off to fit a bigger sump, but I'm afraid that would weaken the structure of the stand and not sure if it would cave and collapse when the tank is filled.

 

Thoughts? What are my options, if any? Alternate ways to add a fuge (want to have pods for a dragonet or 2) without a HOB setup?

 

Also, would a swing check valve works to prevent backflow into the return nozzle?

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best dimensions ever, but I am indeed bias on the subject, hope you enjoy the tank.

 

I actually just read through your entire thread, love your scape...hopefully I can create something remotely close to your awesomeness, but I'm a really bad "scape-artist". :D Hence the reason getting dry rock this time.

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I actually just read through your entire thread, love your scape...hopefully I can create something remotely close to your awesomeness, but I'm a really bad "scape-artist". :D Hence the reason getting dry rock this time.

 

You shouldn't have any issues with making something fun with dry rock, its pretty easy to work with if you have an idea in mind of what you want.

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You shouldn't have any issues with making something fun with dry rock, its pretty easy to work with if you have an idea in mind of what you want.

 

I want to create something like this below, but fit the vidarock arch in the picture as well, although the arch is completely optional if it doesn't work, I will just use it for my office tank.

 

Picture04.jpg

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RO/DI unit is here!

 

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Not quite sure where to set this up, my garage or storage room do not have faucet...Might have to set this up in the storage room and run the hose to it when I need to fill up. So I need to go look up a 30-40 gallons water storage container tomorrow, also extra tubings for the waste line.

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Gl with ur setup. You werent kidding about wanting to upgrade. I started with a 30g aio tank, i loved it but wasnt satisfied. I upgraded to a 50g cube with a sump, although not much of an upgrade but I am satisfied. Its big enough to house the fishes and corals i wanted but not big enough where i have to do big water change.

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You can remove the middle panels and reinforce it with 2x4's. Then, since it is open in the middle, you could skin the boards with some thin hardwood plywood and either match the color of the stand or repaint the whole thing. 4 vertical 2x4's will be strong enough to support a truck.

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Can't wait to see this up and running!

 

I'm super excited as well, but I'm patiently waiting to get everything here.

 

Gl with ur setup. You werent kidding about wanting to upgrade. I started with a 30g aio tank, i loved it but wasnt satisfied. I upgraded to a 50g cube with a sump, although not much of an upgrade but I am satisfied. Its big enough to house the fishes and corals i wanted but not big enough where i have to do big water change.

 

Thanks! Are both the 30g and 50g running?

 

You can remove the middle panels and reinforce it with 2x4's. Then, since it is open in the middle, you could skin the boards with some thin hardwood plywood and either match the color of the stand or repaint the whole thing. 4 vertical 2x4's will be strong enough to support a truck.

 

I just measured the space, I think I can get away with just removing 1 of the 2 middle panels, just the left one and be able to fit a 20L (30x12x12) or 29g (30x12x18) and still have plenty of vertical space left. I can then just put 2 2x4s in the front and back end of the section where the panel used to be to reinforce it?

 

I'm not super handy with wood working though, does homedepot cuts them for you? I should have pieces cut exactly to the measurement from top to bottom?

 

This will also leave the right side with a usable shelf and keep the ATO where it is right now on the bottom right.

 

Man, I'm getting really excited about all this. :naughtydance: I want to do it right the first time, even if it means I have to move the whole thing back in my garage to test the new setup. Heh

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She's a bute! Set this thing up! I so want a large tank with a sweet scape.

 

Thanks! Still waiting for a few things to get here, mainly the dry rocks for the scape.

 

Still debating whether to build a custom stand to replace that top fin one or not, but damn plywood is expensive!

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Vida Rock arrived!

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Although I'm not quite sure how this will fit with my scape plan atm...it will sort of throw stuffs out of balance...waiting for the dry rock from reef cleaners, should be here tomorrow.

 

I pulled the shelf apart and removed the 1 of the 2 middle panels, the back panels as well, heading to the lumber yard today to get some 2x3s to reinforce it, will repaint it after I put everything back together.

 

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Went to the lumber yard to get all the 2x3s and 2x4s needed along with some screws and misc things. Took about an hour to get everything done:

 

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The top back on.

 

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Need to find another door for the middle.

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What is not shown is the bottom of stand where I reinforced with 2x4s. I used 2x3s in the now sump area since 2x4s would be too big, I need to borrow a jigsaw and cut an opening on the left panel to have a way to take the 20L sump tank out if I need to.

 

I specifically went to a lumber yard instead of homedepot or lowes to get the lumbers because I thought they would do a better job at cutting, but still disappointed when I measure them after I got home, many of the pieces were off by as much as 1/4" which is a huge difference when you are going to build something so small. The prices were a lot higher as well. Definitely going to invest on a miter saw when I build the next stand.

 

Going to buy a paint brush to touch up later today!

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Dave just finished the quad!

 

Manchester United theme Nano Box quad. Going to get some decals made for it, including the club logo, they will go on the top/middle of the unit.

 

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The spot where the stand and tank is sitting right now is too far from the ceiling, going to see if I can find a conduit bender on craigslist to make the light bar.

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Dry rocks got here the other day, here it is right out of the box:

 

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I think they are beautiful, a little too big for my aquascape plan, but nothing a hammer and chisel can't fix. :)

 

I rinsed them yesterday to get rid of all the dust that settled on the rocks, they are now drying in the garage.

 

Also painted the stand yesterday, the baffles should be ready for pick up today. Almost ready!

 

A few more misc things to do before I can start filling the tank:

 

  • Stick baffles into the sump
  • Get RO/DI set up and running, need some fittings to make a manual bypass
  • Make light bar to hang the Nano Box Quad
  • Adjust the drain piping to fit the new sump
  • Do some scaping!
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