schg's long term project: Ultum Nature Systems completely invisible build

[schgr.cube]

schg's UNS invisible build

 

Current full tank shot:

It starts with a stand, in a dirty old basement.

October 8th, 2015

[schgr.cube]

 Setup:

• Tank: Ultum Nature Systems 90L (pending)
• Lighting: pending
• Heater: pending
• Flow: pending
• Filtration: pending
• Auto top off: pending
• Control: pending
• Live rock: pending
• Live sand: pending

 

         Total spent on equipment: $0

 

Filtration and maintenance:

• pending

 

 

Coral:

• pending
   

Fish:

• pending

 

Invertebrates:

• pending

[schgr.cube]

Backstory:

Now that I'm back in the hobby with my Innovative Marine Fusion 10, I decided it was time to start planning for my dream tank. I have always been into nano reefs, but really liked the clean aesthetic that the planted community always seems to pull off. While I have seen plenty of reef tanks use lily pipes, or MAME overflows to replicate this, I had never seen anyone truly have no visible equipment in a tank that was still fully functional. Back in 2009, I started up an ADA 30c which almost achieved my goal, but I quickly realized in a tank of those dimensions, I couldn't really do what I needed to do. So I shelved the idea, and swore I would come back to it when I had the ability and money to pull it off. Well, here I am, coming to the community that I love to help me plan and eventually execute this, hopefully in the form of a custom made 30 gallon long aquarium. More details to follow.

 

Original tank that inspired all of this, an ADA 30C with almost zero visible equipment. I took this down in the middle of 2010.

 

The idea:

 

After I broke down the previously mentioned ADA 30C, I acquired an AGA 33 gallon long, which I absolutely loved. The only reason I broke it down was because of a Marineland heater exploding (recall issue), killing all $1,200 worth of tank inhabitants, and destroying most of my build. I decided I had invested too much time and energy into a build, just to literally have it blow up on me, and bailed out of the reef hobby to go explore planted aquariums.

 

Floating new inhabitants in my 33L, just after I finished cycling.

 

Part of the main reason I loved this aquarium was due to the unique dimensions, and how I was able to bring out a great aquascape so easily. When it came time to thinking about building my dream tank, these were the dimensions my mind immediately jumped to. This idea was solidified when the museum I occasionally work at was giving away a welded metal stand they used for an exhibit, that was custom made and would hold well over the weight of any aquarium I threw on it. Being free, and the perfect dimensions to accommodate my needs, I jumped on it.

 

Loved the tank, but not so much the look of the equipment. I know it's all about what's inside, but I like inner and outer beauty.

 

So where I sit now, with an empty stand and a head full of ideas, is on the cusp of forging my creation. I am going to use this thread as a long term documentation of my journey, and a place to showcase / gather ideas for this project. I'm sure it will be a long time until it is built, and many things will change, but I think this community is going to be the crutch I need to help me fulfill my dream for this.

 

Stay tuned!

 

Index:
1. The idea

[Giga]

I like where this is gonna go!-you should take a look at my new thread-may get some ideas(well once I reveal it), as I think my tank coincides with your ideas

[schgr.cube]

I like where this is gonna go!-you should take a look at my new thread-may get some ideas(well once I reveal it), as I think my tank coincides with your ideas

 

Thanks! I'll definitely follow along, I would love to be able to share (steal) ideas from each other!

 

 

So a little more information:

 

For those that haven't read the build I had on the ADA 30C, or are not going to, I essentially built a overflow and return system that had plumbing disguised directly in the rock. I essentially drilled through the rock, and epoxied it over the PVC pipe, which was surprisingly very successful. Now in this system, the flow from the return pump alone was not enough, so my real challenge became adding more flow. I built a housing for a MP10 that allowed me to have the pump on the bottom of the tank (thanks to those magic magnetic components), and had a rock shelter that hid it from view. This worked fantastically when my tank had no sand in it, and I thought immediately that I was successful, but once I added sand into the tank, disaster struck. Particles of sand would undoubtedly find their way into the housing, and even the smallest amount brought the MP10 to a grinding halt. Not only did this cease to solve my flow problem, but I feared it would also break a very expensive component.

 

I think my solution with this larger tank is going to bring things back to a mix of a few different technologies and ideas. I am going to use the same overflow / return idea I had on the ADA (although slightly modified, more details to come), but then also build in a closed loop system that will also be hidden in rockwork. I think this will be able to be more successful for a multitude of reasons, but the biggest help will be from all of the variable speed return pumps that have been released lately, allowing me to use a closed loop system that will still generate random flow patterns. I am going to try to start coming up with some plumbing diagrams, and may even see if I can get my hands on a broken 55 gallon (since they are also 48" x 12") for free so that I can at least create plumbing mock ups. One of my biggest decisions will be regarding the amount and size of overflows, as I will need to balance aesthetics of having pieces of live rock emerge slightly from the water, and the safety of having enough water pushing through the overflow. I would love to match my aquascape on my original 33L as much as possible, but I will of course have to have at least one part of the rock poke through the waterline.

 

A really crappy panoramic of my old tank, lit only by actinics, but showing off the aquascape.

 

Part of the reason I am creating this thread now, is to start getting a grasp for what things I will need to do to make this idea come to life. I know that technology and options are always changing in the reef industry, so many things I say early on will be different when the time comes to actually get this built, but it can't hurt to at least start painting the picture. As I write this now, I dream of putting an Ecotech Radion, Nano Box Reef Hybrid, or a Kessil 700P (or a few A160WEs) on top of this tank, but I'm sure that these lights will be upgraded long before I need to even worry about that.

[schgr.cube]

 

The stand:

 

So as I mentioned before, I got the stand for free. I know it might seem a bit silly to let the stand be a large determining factor of aquarium choice, but I felt like it was too perfect that what I was given matched the 33long dimensions I loved before. The museum I occasionally work for had a bunch of different sizes made of these to display artifacts on, and they were designed to hold over 2,000lbs (there was actually one that was 6' x 2'! I couldn't fit it in my car).

 

 

As you can see, there is a panel attached to the top that was used to hold up graphics, which I will need to grind off. While I'm at it, I am going to probably have the white powder coating removed, and I will redo the finish on it. Picking out a color scheme will be a decision for much later, but my initial instinct is to go with either white again, or to do just a clear coat on the raw metal. I will then cut wooden panels to panel inside the metal to close up the stand. Obviously I will have to pick out a pretty special looking wood, but if Dave Fason continues using wood for panels on his fixtures, I will probably try to match these up.

 

This is probably it for a little bit, I've exhausted all of the even moderately interesting content that I have for now. I may end up drawing out some plumbing ideas, because that is the thing I am going to need the most help with.

[Rehype]

Cant wait to see what you do with this..

[reefernanoman]

Great idea! Following.

[JR!]

nice man. really like it so far.

[schgr.cube]

Cant wait to see what you do with this..

 

 

Great idea! Following.

 

 

nice man. really like it so far.

 

Thanks guys! I think I've made some progress on the plumbing ideas, I may post some diagrams up soon!

[schgr.cube]

I know it has been a long time since I posted an update, but I did say this would be slow...

 

I had lost motivation on my IM Fusion 10 gallon, as well as dealing with quite a health issue, so everything reef-wise became very sidetracked. I finally found the motivation to clean up my 10 gallon, which brought back the wish to start working on this again. I spent a little time at work today planning things out a bit, and will probably reach out to see how much getting glass cut will cost me.

 

 

I will have to see what the difference in price will be between low-iron and standard glass, but I am hoping to be able to afford the low-iron to make this as nice as I can.

 

I'll try to start working on this more!

[Lula_Mae]

3 hours ago, schg said:

I know it has been a long time since I posted an update, but I did say this would be slow...

 

I had lost motivation on my IM Fusion 10 gallon, as well as dealing with quite a health issue, so everything reef-wise became very sidetracked. I finally found the motivation to clean up my 10 gallon, which brought back the wish to start working on this again. I spent a little time at work today planning things out a bit, and will probably reach out to see how much getting glass cut will cost me.

 

 

I will have to see what the difference in price will be between low-iron and standard glass, but I am hoping to be able to afford the low-iron to make this as nice as I can.

 

I'll try to start working on this more!

Welcome back!  I think I vaguely remember your build from before--at least, I remember someone's who was trying to make all plumbing invisible!  And the pic seems a bit familiar so it may well have been yours. If you can't manage the whole thing low iron, maybe you can do the front and/or sides low iron and the rest regular glass?  And that way viewing surfaces, at least, would be higher clarity.  Looking forward to seeing this come to life!

[schgr.cube]

10 hours ago, Lula_Mae said:

Welcome back!  I think I vaguely remember your build from before--at least, I remember someone's who was trying to make all plumbing invisible!  And the pic seems a bit familiar so it may well have been yours. If you can't manage the whole thing low iron, maybe you can do the front and/or sides low iron and the rest regular glass?  And that way viewing surfaces, at least, would be higher clarity.  Looking forward to seeing this come to life!

It may have been, I don't know if (at the time) anyone else was trying to do a full invisible build like I was. Hopefully people have attempted it since, as I thought it was a neat idea. As far as the low iron goes, I would definitely have to go all or nothing. Part of my plan for this involves placing the tank in the middle of a space, with the lighting coming out of the ceiling, and all of the plugs hidden inside the stand. I was hoping to achieve 360 degree viewing, so having different types of glass would stand out a bit more then.

 

This might be wishful thinking though, I will have to balance my dreams with what is actually attainable.

[schgr.cube]

Just put an inquiry in to get glass cut for this, although I may be changing the size / dimensions. We will see what the totals come out to. Who knows, this might be happening sooner than I thought!

[schgr.cube]

Got the quote back from a glass shop I have used before. Standard glass comes to $194 + tax. Low iron would be $485 + tax.

I normally wouldn't be THAT pressed for low iron, but I was kind of spoiled with the ADA...I'm not sure if I should push forward with this just yet. Maybe I need to start a GoFundMe

[Justind823]

Just go for it! You only live once

 

 

[GregEmmitte]

Following

[schgr.cube]

4 hours ago, Justind823 said:

Just go for it! You only live once

 

 

hah! If I spend that much on just the glass for this, my wife will make sure that I don't live for very long. I'll figure something out, I have an idea up my sleeve...

 

[samnaz]

But the glass is everything! I say go for it.

 

Following  

[Lula_Mae]

That low iron price Maybe uhhh do something less for now while saving up for it lol

[schgr.cube]

9 hours ago, samnaz said:

But the glass is everything! I say go for it.

 

Following  

 

6 hours ago, Lula_Mae said:

That low iron price Maybe uhhh do something less for now while saving up for it lol

 

I am still reaching out to a few places, and I'm debating seeing if any company would be willing to sponsor the glass for this. I will admit that I may not have the backing a lot of "big" reefers out there do, but I know this is a unique idea, and maybe someone will want to be a part of it!

 

For now, I'm starting to flesh out the idea a bit more, I started modeling / rendering the build, just to get a better idea of what I'm looking at here. I am not the best at design software, so give me a little break on it!!

 

 

For those who are wondering, overflow / return are the longer pipes, the 3 shorter pipes will be a split closed loop system. Still toying with ideas here.

[samnaz]

You're onto something here. I think it looks great, the design and the idea!

[schgr.cube]

3 hours ago, samnaz said:

You're onto something here. I think it looks great, the design and the idea!

Thanks! I feel like I got most of the idea down with the original version of this tank, but I should be able to fine tune it now. A larger size, and newer technology will be my saviors!

 

Cross posting from my other thread, since I feel like this will eventually merge into one journal:

 

This is how I spent my Sunday:

 

 

The stand will have a door on both the left and right sides, as I will need access to my sump, chiller, and ATO res, without it being too much of a PITA. I still need to fill the holes, stain the inside, and then track down some laminate.

[schgr.cube]

There is a possibility I will be getting a low iron, rimless tank in the dimensions of either 24" x 14" x 14", or 36" x 12" x 12". I will be fine with my Kessil for the former dimensions, but for the latter I will definitely need a different lighting situation. I'm wondering if I could trade my Kessil for a ATI 4 bulb fixture, but I will need to keep costs down to make sure I can afford the rest of what I need to make this happen.

 

Also, I'm starting to figure out plumbing on this. I was planning on doing an emergency overflow, since this is a more specialized setup, but wasn't sure if I should go with 1" or 1 1/2" pipes.

 

Any input on either of these would be appreciated!

[Christopher Marks]

My vote is that you should stick with the light you already have and build the 24x14x14" tank. Unexpected costs come up during builds, not having to spend more on a light would give you a lot more flexibility. I also like the idea of a slightly taller tank at 14" vs 12".

 

You just built that stand though! What are the top dimensions? Is it for this hypothetical tank or a different one? If you are still planning for the tank itself to be custom built, perhaps you could push it a little to a non-standard dimension like 28" x 15" or the like.