Mr. Aqua 22 gallon (closed loop for flow)

[tmc1313]

Starting this thread to share and start documenting this build from the start. I've been working on it for a while and it's almost complete. I'm downsizing from my 65 gallon, so I will also be moving the livestock of my choice into the new build. I won't be able to fit everything, but I will try and keep as much as possible. I'll start off with a few of the photos I've been taking of the build so far.....

NEW TANK AND STAND (ALREADY DRILLED FOR THE CLOSED LOOP)

TANK NOW DRILLED FOR OVERFLOW TO SUMP (PENINSULA STYLE)

LIGHTING I'LL BE USING (AI PRIME 16 HD)

CLOSED LOOP ALL PLUMBED

VIDEO TO SHOW RANDOM FLOW PATTERN

Once I get the sump plumbed in I'll update...…..To be continued

[WV Reefer]

37 minutes ago, tmc1313 said:

Starting this thread to share and start documenting this build from the start. I've been working on it for a while and it's almost complete. I'm downsizing from my 65 gallon, so I will also be moving the livestock of my choice into the new build. I won't be able to fit everything, but I will try and keep as much as possible. I'll start off with a few of the photos I've been taking of the build so far.....

NEW TANK AND STAND (ALREADY DRILLED FOR THE CLOSED LOOP)

TANK NOW DRILLED FOR OVERFLOW TO SUMP (PENINSULA STYLE)

LIGHTING I'LL BE USING (AI PRIME 16 HD)

CLOSED LOOP ALL PLUMBED

VIDEO TO SHOW RANDOM FLOW PATTERN

Once I get the sump plumbed in I'll update...…..To be continued

Very nice!

[ECLS Reefer]

47 minutes ago, tmc1313 said:

Starting this thread to share and start documenting this build from the start. I've been working on it for a while and it's almost complete. I'm downsizing from my 65 gallon, so I will also be moving the livestock of my choice into the new build. I won't be able to fit everything, but I will try and keep as much as possible. I'll start off with a few of the photos I've been taking of the build so far.....

NEW TANK AND STAND (ALREADY DRILLED FOR THE CLOSED LOOP)

TANK NOW DRILLED FOR OVERFLOW TO SUMP (PENINSULA STYLE)

LIGHTING I'LL BE USING (AI PRIME 16 HD)

CLOSED LOOP ALL PLUMBED

VIDEO TO SHOW RANDOM FLOW PATTERN

Once I get the sump plumbed in I'll update...…..To be continued

So if it’s a closed loop, how will it get to a sump and back? Please explain the dynamics 🤓

[tmc1313]

29 minutes ago, Dirté Sanchez said:

So if it’s a closed loop, how will it get to a sump and back? Please explain the dynamics 🤓

I wanted to do this build with absolutely no pumps in the tank for flow. The back will not be painted and I did not want to have any visible pumps or wires. Once the tank is scaped you won't be able to see the drain or the nozzles that you see in the video. This should give the tank the very clean and minimalist look I'm going for. Unfortunately, I still had to install the overflow on the side that you see to support my heater, ATO, UV etc...….. The good news is that the overflow side will be against a wall so it shouldn't look like such an intrusion. In summary, the tank will basically have two different plumbing systems, one for the sump and what you see in the photo's is just for the closed loop. Seems a little crazy, but I think it will be well worth it when I won't see any pumps or wires in or outside of the tank.

40 minutes ago, WV Reefer said:

Very nice!

Thanks!

[ECLS Reefer]

15 minutes ago, tmc1313 said:

I wanted to do this build with absolutely no pumps in the tank for flow. The back will not be painted and I did not want to have any visible pumps or wires. Once the tank is scaped you won't be able to see the drain or the nozzles that you see in the video. This should give the tank the very clean and minimalist look I'm going for. Unfortunately, I still had to install the overflow on the side that you see to support my heater, ATO, UV etc...….. The good news is that the overflow side will be against a wall so it shouldn't look like such an intrusion. In summary, the tank will basically have two different plumbing systems, one for the sump and what you see in the photo's is just for the closed loop. Seems a little crazy, but I think it will be well worth it when I won't see any pumps or wires in or outside of the tank.

Thanks!

Thanks I’ve noticed multiple people with large tanks here in my area going with in floor nozzles and drains like that and yes they disappear into the rock work. That will be really nice to see when you get it built in! 

[Cannedfish]

This is really cool! I’d love to know more about the random flow valve! That thing is amazing!

[tmc1313]

10 minutes ago, Cannedfish said:

This is really cool! I’d love to know more about the random flow valve! That thing is amazing!

Yes, I've heard a lot of good things about them so I thought I try it out. I bought the 1/2" nozzles for my application. Here is a link to their site.

https://vividcreativeaquatics.com/product-category/random-flow-generator-nozzles/

[Clown79]

15 minutes ago, Cannedfish said:

This is really cool! I’d love to know more about the random flow valve! That thing is amazing!

The RF nozzles are great. 

 

 

 

[Clown79]

1 hour ago, tmc1313 said:

Starting this thread to share and start documenting this build from the start. I've been working on it for a while and it's almost complete. I'm downsizing from my 65 gallon, so I will also be moving the livestock of my choice into the new build. I won't be able to fit everything, but I will try and keep as much as possible. I'll start off with a few of the photos I've been taking of the build so far.....

NEW TANK AND STAND (ALREADY DRILLED FOR THE CLOSED LOOP)

TANK NOW DRILLED FOR OVERFLOW TO SUMP (PENINSULA STYLE)

LIGHTING I'LL BE USING (AI PRIME 16 HD)

CLOSED LOOP ALL PLUMBED

VIDEO TO SHOW RANDOM FLOW PATTERN

Once I get the sump plumbed in I'll update...…..To be continued

This looks amazing.

 

Can't wait to see more.

 

Love the stand, its beautiful.

[Christopher Marks]

2 hours ago, tmc1313 said:

I wanted to do this build with absolutely no pumps in the tank for flow. The back will not be painted and I did not want to have any visible pumps or wires. Once the tank is scaped you won't be able to see the drain or the nozzles that you see in the video. This should give the tank the very clean and minimalist look I'm going for.

🙌

 

It's going to look so cool! 

[A.m.P]

Holy smokes that's quite the setup, but did I see a few drips in the video?

[tmc1313]

2 hours ago, Clown79 said:

This looks amazing.

 

Can't wait to see more.

 

Love the stand, its beautiful..

Thanks, it's been a slow process, but getting there.

39 minutes ago, Christopher Marks said:

🙌

 

It's going to look so cool! 

Fingers crossed. So far things have come out the way I've pictured them in my head. When it's all said and done I really hope I'll love it.

22 minutes ago, Amphrites said:

Holy smokes that's quite the setup, but did I see a few drips in the video?

You have a good eye. When I did the leak/flow test I had some drips coming from the drain bulkhead. My immediate reaction was CRAP I cracked the bulkhead. Upon closer inspection I had forgotten to tighten the bulkhead nut. 1/4 turn more and the drips stopped. I was so relieved. With all the gluing and connections that one must have slipped by. I guess that's why we all leak test before moving forward.

[Cannedfish]

16 hours ago, tmc1313 said:

Yes, I've heard a lot of good things about them so I thought I try it out. I bought the 1/2" nozzles for my application. Here is a link to their site.

https://vividcreativeaquatics.com/product-category/random-flow-generator-nozzles/

Sorry, I should have  been more specific, while I do like the VCA RFG I was talking I guess about the valve under the tank that appears to be alternating the flow between the two return nozzles. What is that thing? I'm really intrigued. 

[tmc1313]

Oh, I wasn't sure. The oceans motions has been around a long time. I think when people started to move away from closed loop systems you never heard too much about it anymore. It's really an incredible and simple device that needs little to no maintenance. I'm hoping to get years of use out of it. Here's a link to his website. There is a good video from well known vivid aquariums about it to. Check it out.

http://www.oceansmotions.com/

[Cannedfish]

14 minutes ago, tmc1313 said:

Oh, I wasn't sure. The oceans motions has been around a long time. I think when people started to move away from closed loop systems you never heard too much about it anymore. It's really an incredible and simple device that needs little to no maintenance. I'm hoping to get years of use out of it. Here's a link to his website. There is a good video from well known vivid aquariums about it to. Check it out.

http://www.oceansmotions.com/

Those are incredible. I'm sure they have been used before, but I can't say I remember seeing them used on a nano! I'm really intrigued by the possibilities of a closed loop in a small system (especially knowing first hand how much real estate wavemaker take up in a small tank); more so, a closed loop that has the ability to create random flow. I am really excited about your build and will definitely be following along. 

[tmc1313]

4 minutes ago, Cannedfish said:

Those are incredible. I'm sure they have been used before, but I can't say I remember seeing them used on a nano! I'm really intrigued by the possibilities of a closed loop in a small system (especially knowing first hand how much real estate wavemaker take up in a small tank); more so, a closed loop that has the ability to create random flow. I am really excited about your build and will definitely be following along. 

Thank you, much appreciated. I can't agree with you more about a nano tank. Real estate is everything and I was adamant about building a nano without having to use any in tank pumps. I'm still on the fence about the overflow I installed, but I just couldn't think of any way around it. This tank is going to be 99% SPS so I needed a sump for my ATO, dosing etc..... to keep everything as stable as possible. If this was a softie/LPS tank I might have just left out the overflow and tried to get away with water changes and additives. 

[tmc1313]

With such a busy schedule this build is going painfully slow, but making progress regardless. 1st level is almost complete. All that I have left is to plumb from the outlet of the UV to the tank. Hopefully will be done tomorrow and then 2nd leak test to follow. 

[tmc1313]

Finally all plumbed and been running everything continuously for the last week. All is working as it should with no leaks. The rock in the tank was just one of 5 or so interpretations of what the scaping will look like. I'm pretty certain this one will not make the final cut. Once I get the final look I want, the tank will be drained and moved out of the basement to it's final resting spot upstairs.

[mitten_reef]

20 minutes ago, tmc1313 said:

Finally all plumbed and been running everything continuously for the last week. All is working as it should with no leaks. The rock in the tank was just one of 5 or so interpretations of what the scaping will look like. I'm pretty certain this one will not make the final cut. Once I get the final look I want, the tank will be drained and moved out of the basement to it's final resting spot upstairs.

hmmm, based on the strainer's location off the tank floor, I'm guessing this will be barebottom or very, very thin sandbed? 

Really like the full-system shot.    

[tmc1313]

6 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

hmmm, based on the strainer's location off the tank floor, I'm guessing this will be barebottom or very, very thin sandbed? 

Really like the full-system shot.    

Mitten_reef,

No, this isn't going to be barebottom. Once It's moved and set back up, I will pull the strainer, add a stand pipe cut to the appropriate length based on sand depth and then put the strainer back in. 

[TheKleinReef]

This is such a cool concept. Well designed!

[tmc1313]

1 hour ago, TheKleinReef said:

This is such a cool concept. Well designed!

Thanks, 

Sometimes things don't turn out the way I have them pictured in my head,  but this idea seems to have worked out well. 

[Tamberav]

Close loops used to be popular before wavemakers were mainstream... nice to see you bringing it back!! Looks great! 

[tmc1313]

33 minutes ago, Tamberav said:

Close loops used to be popular before wavemakers were mainstream... nice to see you bringing it back!! Looks great! 

Thanks, agreed, For this build wavemakers were just not an option for me from an aesthetics standpoint, but a good old closed loop was the answer. 

[tmc1313]

I finished how the final aquascape (rockwork) will look. Once the
substrate is down, the outflow pipes that you can currently see should be almost completely covered and not visible. The drain strainer will be on a stand pipe cut to length and will also be hidden behind the structure.