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DIY AIO 12" Cube


eodmike

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Ok so my Spec V question went unanswered so I am nervous. So plan 2. (Possibly a better one)

 

There is a company in town that will do custom glass tanks!!!

What I'm thinking of is doing a custom 12" cube that isn't actually 12". What I mean by that is I want a 12" cube display but then a false wall with all my equipment. So I'm thinking something around 2" to 3".

 

I'm just not sure of design yet. I've been rolling some ideas around.

I want my hydro ATO to fit back there. A return pump or 2 that go into a flow deflector for the random flow effect. A heater. A media basket.

 

So what would you guys do with the back portion? 2 chambers or 3? 2 pumps or 1.

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Ok so what I'm getting is a 12 high x 12 wide x 16 deep a wall 4 inches in. 3 compartments each 4 inches wide. I'm guessing center is the overflow chamber with the media rack. The side chambers would both have return pumps. 1 would have a heater the other the ATO.

 

Thoughts?

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HarryPotter

Ok so what I'm getting is a 12 high x 12 wide x 16 deep a wall 4 inches in. 3 compartments each 4 inches wide. I'm guessing center is the overflow chamber with the media rack. The side chambers would both have return pumps. 1 would have a heater the other the ATO.

 

Thoughts?

 

Not a great layout for chambers IMO.

 

Left chamber overflow into media basket,

Center chamber for Skimmer/reactor/redugium, right chamber for return

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Ok so here is a quick sketch up:

 

post-75998-0-89968900-1438796164_thumb.jpg
post-75998-0-52022600-1438796186_thumb.jpg

 

Planning:

Media Rack in the first chamber.
Jager 75W in the center chamber.

Hydor Pico 800 in the last chamber.
Hydor ATO in the last chamber.
Hydor Flo attached to the Pico.

BuildMyLED 12" fixture 20,000K

DIY Arduino that will be a fail safe for the heater and control the lights.

 

The display ends up at 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 11 5/8

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I would use a Tunze ATO Nano instead of the hydro but if you already have it then use it. Also get a puck still light for your tank instead of a strip. An AI prime would be perfect for your tank or even a decent par 38. A Puck style light will keep the modern look of the cube in place and have better coverage than a strip. You could also get a kessil 160. Granted it being a small tank, skimmers go a long away if you can fit one in your budget. In talk of the return chambers. Because this is a small 12x12 cube once you put a second power head in there, (jebao, hydro, etc.) that will take a nice chunk of room unless you plan on buying an MP10. If you can

 

have the left chamber an overflow with media baskets and heat, right chamber with skimmer etc. and center chamber with 2 pumps or 1 stronger pump (split into two hoses) with 2 return jets so you don't "HAVE" to use an eye sore circulation pump.

 

Of course this is all advice and opinion and everything you currently have works so this is just my two cents B)

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I'm thinking I'll for go the skimmer. Its so small and I don't plan on having much in the way of a bio-load. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

I am thinking of adding a second return pump. Thinking of putting it in chamber 2 about 1/4 of the way up the wall. Another Hydor probably. The question is how much flow for this size tank? Also I think the overflow can only handle just under 300 gallons. I know the Hydor Flows and the Slip Streams reduce flow to work. So would I be safe with the 2 160's that puts me at 320 but with reduced flow I think ok?

Thoughts?

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HarryPotter

I'm thinking I'll for go the skimmer. Its so small and I don't plan on having much in the way of a bio-load. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

I am thinking of adding a second return pump. Thinking of putting it in chamber 2 about 1/4 of the way up the wall. Another Hydor probably. The question is how much flow for this size tank? Also I think the overflow can only handle just under 300 gallons. I know the Hydor Flows and the Slip Streams reduce flow to work. So would I be safe with the 2 160's that puts me at 320 but with reduced flow I think ok?

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

I recommend the PLS-50 Elite skimmer. Amazing little thing!

 

I don't think you should get another return pump. Just use a stronger one- a siccce .5?

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So you are saying you'd use a skimmer too?

 

I was thinking of for going it as in not doing it. But if you think its a good idea too I can move the heater to the first chamber. I'm doing a custom media rack and could easily add the heater there as well.

 

So then it would be a heater and media rack (Filter Floss, Purigen, Chemi-Pure) in chamber 1. A PLS-50 in chamber 2. A return pump in chamber 3.

The Sicce .5 (I love there products I have 2 of their power heads and a return pump in my big tank) is 185 GPH at 8 watts. For this small tank isn't the Hydor Centerfugal 200 at 200 GPH and 6.5 watts better? A little more flow and less heat based on watts. Or Even the Hydor Centerfugal 300 at 8 watts and 300 GPH. Would this be enough flow to avoid a power head?

 

Also what do you think about the AI Prime vs the BuildMyLED?

 

The center chamber is 4" x 3.5" x 12" how would I keep it up so it wasn't too deep in the water? Should I drop my baffle? Build a stand for it?

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HarryPotter

So you are saying you'd use a skimmer too?

 

I was thinking of for going it as in not doing it. But if you think its a good idea too I can move the heater to the first chamber. I'm doing a custom media rack and could easily add the heater there as well.

 

So then it would be a heater and media rack (Filter Floss, Purigen, Chemi-Pure) in chamber 1. A PLS-50 in chamber 2. A return pump in chamber 3.

The Sicce .5 (I love there products I have 2 of their power heads and a return pump in my big tank) is 185 GPH at 8 watts. For this small tank isn't the Hydor Centerfugal 200 at 200 GPH and 6.5 watts better? A little more flow and less heat based on watts. Or Even the Hydor Centerfugal 300 at 8 watts and 300 GPH. Would this be enough flow to avoid a power head?

 

 

Also what do you think about the AI Prime vs the BuildMyLED?

 

The center chamber is 4" x 3.5" x 12" how would I keep it up so it wasn't too deep in the water? Should I drop my baffle? Build a stand for it?

 

The PLS-50 Elite has a mount that can hang onto a baffle or the back and is VERY adjustable. Don't worry about that.

 

I don't know much about wattage and GPH, sorry.

 

A NanoBox Tide would be killer on this tank if it's not too expensive. Otherwise the Prime is a fair 2nd option

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