funkngroovy Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I've been hanging out for another opportunity to build a pico. I've had one in the past which was a touch over one gal. My contest build will be as close to 3 gal as I can get without going over of course). I'll also be sumping it with the same or similar size. The sump will hold all equipment, a fuge with shrimp. The sump and display will be made from one small glass tank. Not sure of the exact dimensions yet, I'll have to check out the LFS. I'll cut the small tank into two and it will look something like this. These are the dimensions of the tank, and sump. The display will hold 3 gal exactly and the sump about 2.8 gal. These volumes are before the addition of livestock or equipment. The small wier will have a full syphon/overflow style silent system. Introduction: System Type: LPS with Acropora dallaswarreni. Strike up Date: 1 April 2012 Display Tank: 460x 215x120mm glass with polished edges all round. Display Lighting: Sunlight plus 2x 6500k 12W compact flurescent. Stand: work bench Sump: 460x215x100mm glass. Mostly fuge but small section for return/recirculation pump.. Refugium Lighting: Sunlight Support systems: System Water: Natural salt water Display Water circulation: Closed loop. Sump pump will provide disply tank circulation Return Pump:2000lph Evaporation Top Up:Gravity fed RO via float valve in sump Chemical Support: Calcium Addition: Via water changes. Alkilinity Addition: Via water changes Other Chemical Maintenance: Via water changes Current Water Chemistry: Update upon strikeup Nitrates: Phosphates: Alkalinity: Calcium: Salinity / Specific Gravity: Magnesuim: Images: Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Huh? What do you mean? As long as the display tank is 3 or under... Sounds intriguing. Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 eg, I'll be grabbing a small glass aquarium, they are only $15, taking it apart and cutting the four sides down to the required height. Then silicone it all back together and cut a new base to build the sump. I'll make sure to post all the pics as I go. Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Wow! Sounds ambitious! I've been thinking about tinkering around with building my own tank, but I don't trust my silicone skills yet...lol...Sounds great! Can't wait to see the build. Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 Photo update. I went and picked up a small aquarium today as per the dimensions above.Here it is plus the disection. I'll cut the pieces down, drill and prep ready to silicone back together next weekend. Meanhile, this week I'll be selecting some rock to get some scaping done. I've already got cycle LR so i'll go with that. As you can see, it cost me $30. Carefully cutting between the silicone so as not to chip the glass 5 mins later, a leaky tank. Link to comment
shaneandjohn Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Wow...I like what you have going here! This one I will be watching. ( Subscribed ) Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Yeah, very nice start so far, very nice documentation of the build too, keep it up! Meta Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Quick update. Took my glass to work today and cut the pieces up during my lunch break Ready to cut one of the ends End cut, the wider piece on the left is 130mm high, this is the depth of the display. The remainder is 105mm for the sump. And also had to use an old bit of glass to cut another base. This glass is 6mm thick where as the tank is only 4mm so I'll use the 6mm for the base of the display and the 4mm for the sump This is the new base and the base from the cut up tank together. Link to comment
dallasprstn Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 dang, that is one slick looking tank. or should i saw was....i can't wait to see it pieced back together! Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Yeah, thank goodness for cheap chinese manufacturing! The great thing about it is that all the edges are polished so as long as I do a good job putting things back together, I will have a really nice tank. It was also supplied with a lid that was also polished all round so I'll also have a polished edge to the top of my wier. I'm going to make a little jig to help hold things together perfectly while I assemble it. Putting together thin glass and smaller tanks are often harder than bigger tanks. Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Pretty freaking awesome! I like to think I'm pretty handy with DIY projects, but now I feel pretty inadequate about my handyman skills after seeing this build...lol Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Sorry for the mass of uploads in a short amount of time but I only realised this had started yesterday and I've sprung into action. Here is some after dinner progress. Built the sump first so I could learn from any mistakes....Plenty of learning going on here! I'll do things a little different to make sure I get an A.1. finish on the display. I'm going to make a 4 sided jig to hold it together because these small pieces are so damn fiddly. I'l also tape up the outside of the joints because I am the messiest person on earth with silicone. Anyway some pics.... The pieces laid out. The sides go on first. I taped up so I didn't have huge silicone joints. First joint together and excess fingered off. And full shot of sump. Still have the small divider to place in to separate the pump and I also have a heater holder to go in. I'll remove the excess silicone in the morning. Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Water test water test! Looking clean so far! Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Patience grasshopper I'm rushing into the build but then it will all go into slow motion. Only bad things happen fast in this hobby, and when we are dealing with pico systems, Bad things happen REALLY fast. This is the reason I am maximising my water volume by making sure I get as close to 3gal for display and sump as possible. We saw in the last contest that the vast majority of tanks had to be pulled out of the contest due to 'crashing'. The fact is that these tanks need daily attention and major maintenance weekly. Thier size is definately not relative to the amount of work you need to put into them. I think Automation is also essential. I'll be looking to establish some kind of automated water change, but I'm not sure how yet. Also, I'm not a believer in cycling rock in pico aquariums. The water volume is not enough to create a stable enough environment. I will and would only use cycled rock and established corals. Link to comment
iball1804 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 We've got similar tanks are are in the same contest! Your tank dimensions: 18L x 8W x 5H (inches) My tank dimensions: 14L x 10W x 5H (inches) Good luck bro! Wee you at the finish line Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Patience grasshopper I'm rushing into the build but then it will all go into slow motion. Only bad things happen fast in this hobby, and when we are dealing with pico systems, Bad things happen REALLY fast. This is the reason I am maximising my water volume by making sure I get as close to 3gal for display and sump as possible. We saw in the last contest that the vast majority of tanks had to be pulled out of the contest due to 'crashing'. The fact is that these tanks need daily attention and major maintenance weekly. Thier size is definately not relative to the amount of work you need to put into them. I think Automation is also essential. I'll be looking to establish some kind of automated water change, but I'm not sure how yet. Also, I'm not a believer in cycling rock in pico aquariums. The water volume is not enough to create a stable enough environment. I will and would only use cycled rock and established corals. Haha, I know. I'm only messing around. I have two 3 gallon picos hooked up to a ten gallon sump...double float switch ATO, 2 heaters in case of one failure...36" Four bulb T5 hanging over them...I have much respect for the Pico aquarium. Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Great minds think alike . I guess you are thinking like me, an aquairum with this profile will be much easer to 'scape. I also did it for the increased surface area. This will make it easier to cool with a fan and also for gas exchange. Link to comment
iball1804 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Great minds think alike . I guess you are thinking like me, an aquairum with this profile will be much easer to 'scape. I also did it for the increased surface area. This will make it easier to cool with a fan and also for gas exchange. Exactly. I'm planning to incorporate a large rock that juts out of the surface. It'll be home to a fiddler crab. Link to comment
funkngroovy Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 What type of ATO float switches are you using? I use a gravity fed/float valve system on my bigger tank but I'm not sure I'll have the space for it on this system. Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Exactly. I'm planning to incorporate a large rock that juts out of the surface. It'll be home to a fiddler crab. So you ARE planning on the fiddler habitat? Sneaky...lol Link to comment
iball1804 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 What type of ATO float switches are you using? I use a gravity fed/float valve system on my bigger tank but I'm not sure I'll have the space for it on this system. Probably just all manual. I've got plenty of time with my tanks, so ATO's really are unnecessary. So you ARE planning on the fiddler habitat? Sneaky...lol Yes... Maybe... Creep Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 What type of ATO float switches are you using? I use a gravity fed/float valve system on my bigger tank but I'm not sure I'll have the space for it on this system. I have the dual float switch sump setup from Autotopoff.com...It's hooked up to a cheap 160gph powerhead with a 3' maximum head lift on it. They're madison switches I believe, you can buy them on eBay for like a buck a piece.. This is the exact switch model specs Probably just all manual. I've got plenty of time with my tanks, so ATO's really are unnecessary. Yes... Maybe... Creep I'm a judge, it's my job to be a creepy watcher...lol...jusst trying to follow every tank as close as I can. Link to comment
iball1804 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 You're a "judge." Suddenly an elitist that has the power to creep. Link to comment
MetaTank Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 You're a "judge." Suddenly an elitist that has the power to creep. You got that right! Haha!! Link to comment
deeznutz Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Patience grasshopper I'm rushing into the build but then it will all go into slow motion. Only bad things happen fast in this hobby, and when we are dealing with pico systems, Bad things happen REALLY fast. This is the reason I am maximising my water volume by making sure I get as close to 3gal for display and sump as possible. We saw in the last contest that the vast majority of tanks had to be pulled out of the contest due to 'crashing'. The fact is that these tanks need daily attention and major maintenance weekly. Thier size is definately not relative to the amount of work you need to put into them. I think Automation is also essential. I'll be looking to establish some kind of automated water change, but I'm not sure how yet. Also, I'm not a believer in cycling rock in pico aquariums. The water volume is not enough to create a stable enough environment. I will and would only use cycled rock and established corals. Pico are hard to maintain, that's why I tied mine into my basement sump for the 150 DT. I wish I was in the contest, but my sump is way too big. Oh well, there is always next time. Good luck with the build looks good so far. -dan Link to comment
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