20g Cascade Reef

[Heartland Reef]

I'm back with a new nano-reef account! Previously known as CBO (crashburnoveride) here on the forum. Just wanted a fresh start and to be in sync with my YouTube channel. Time to dive in to my new build. 

 

Unfortunately, my first two attempts at setting up a saltwater tank have both ended in failure. This is plan C. I'm calling it the Cascade reef. Long story short... plan A leaked due to design error. Plan B cracked. If you wanna read up on all of it see this thread: 

 

I had just finished building this stand for a 29g biocube that then cracked.

 

 

The new Cascade reef will be going on this stand instead. It's called "cascade" because the system is two 10 gallon tanks. The rear sits up a bit higher and is the refugium/equipment tank. Gravity overflows water down to the display. In the display's back left corner water will flow over an acrylic weir to the pump that goes up to the back tank. I chose 2 ten gallons because I already had one of them around, they both fit on the new stand, and theyre affordable. I think using a 20t and 15g would be cool too. Then you wouldn't need one tank sitting on a platform. I'm going to try to make it look more like one cohesive unit rather than just 2 offset tanks. Here are a few early mock up images:

 

 

 

I'm thinking I'll light chaeto through the back glass, and hang some kind of light for the eventual mangroves. I'd like to build a low profile hood over the display and light it with diy LEDs. 

 

I'm excited to set this up. Having such a large refugium will be really cool. And being able to see what all is going on in there from the left side of the tank will be great. Hopefully the large fuge and skimmer will equate to a relatively low maintenance reef. 

 

What do you think of my plans? Have any of you set a system up similar to this? 

 

If you want to watch all of my previous failures 🤣 here you go! 

https://youtube.com/channel/UC19O5oQ5ovTUUORtY-A6sdA

 

Stay classy Nano-reefers.

 

[Christopher Marks]

Welcome back @Heartland Reef! This looks like a fun system design concept. What kinds of livestock are you hoping to keep on the display side?

[Heartland Reef]

Thank you @Christopher Marks! 

 

Livestock, well I currently have one percula clownfish and one astraea snail in a 15g tank just waiting for their new home. That's it! I would like a shrimp and some crabs, perhaps another clown. But idk about more fish in a 10g. It may be cool to find something that would like to live in the fuge section. 

 

Corals: I will be starting out with... well it depends on what I can find locally for a reasonable price, but I'd like to start with zoas, leathers, maybe mushrooms, definitely want a gorgonian, small patch of gsp, then maybe a few LPS down the road. We'll see. 

 

Cheers!

 

[Heartland Reef]

Honestly guys, a mandarin dragonet has always been a dream fish of mine. I wonder if the fuge would be enough to sustain one in the display... 🤔

 

[Christopher Marks]

1 hour ago, Heartland Reef said:

Honestly guys, a mandarin dragonet has always been a dream fish of mine. I wonder if the fuge would be enough to sustain one in the display... 🤔

 

Perhaps with time, once the system matures. There are captive bred mandarins as well, which take prepared foods readily, though they are sometimes hard to source. It's good to have a goal for your tank, hosting a mandarin dragonet one day is a good motivator.

[Heartland Reef]

 

I'm not gonna use the brown trim tank just getting an idea of how things will work. I have the rear tank sitting up on a 2x4 rectangle. That will need a final adjustment and painted black. I need to drill one hole in the rear tank and buy a new 10g for the display. This will be really cool! And perhaps one of a kind? 

 

I'm hoping to have everything done and up and running this weekend. On my YouTube channel I typically post a new video every sunday. So the video of the build will be up then! Lots of work left to do!

 

Thanks for stopping by nano-reefers...

 

 

 

[Heartland Reef]

Well, I just bought this light. 

 

 

The light I have now will not work with the setup I want. Its just too large. This is the light I have now. 

 

 

Its a odyssea with 150w MH, 28w of t5, and moonlight leds. Great light, but overkill for a 10g. I was just using the t5s and leds on the 15g. If anyones interested in the states I'd sell it shoot me a reasonable offer. Its 18" wide.

 

If you've owned the popbloom s16 let me know how you like it! I will probably be mounting it inside the eventual hood. Or I could modify the arm to work somehow with my setup... says its arriving tomorrow I hope it comes early enough to tinker with it. 

 

Here's where I'm at now with the build. 

 

 

Just need to finish up the plumbing and move everything over. Have a great weekend everyone. 

 

 

 

[Heartland Reef]

I'm sitting here waiting for my new light to show up on my doorstep. 

 

 

The build is really close to completion. 

 

 

 

I'm not a huge fan of the pump outlet pipe. It would be painted black if I keep it, but im considering ordering the bit and drilling for a 1/2" or 3/4" bulkhead. Part of me also does not want to do that in fear that something bad will happen. Given my past luck maybe I should accept the victory here and just fill it up. What should I do??

 

If you'd like to see the entire process of the build so far heres the video:

 

 

Have a good sunday everyone. 

 

-HR

 

 

 

[Heartland Reef]

Hey everyone. I got the popbloom s16 on the 10g and everything moved over. Heres a picture of the light spread. This is actually all channels 100%.

 

 

This is only white.

 

 

Looks like a crappy freshwater light to me.

I just have it sitting up on some 2x4 scraps to get an idea of what it would look like.

 

 

I'm probably gonna return it. What do you guys think? Its way darker towards the outside of the tank. For $60 its just not worth keeping. I'd say its usable on a tank smaller than a 10g. 

 

My next lighting plan is to take apart my odyssea light and rob the 2 t5s from it if I can. 

 

But yah I got everything moved into the new 10g display last night. The fuge I'll have to fill up when I can get to it. Dad life if you know what I mean. 

 

-HR

 

 

[Zer0]

I really like the concept, it’s very unique. 
 

My only question/concern is how practical/easy is it to get back behind the whole thing? To do like maintenance and what not. Or do you not plan to work back there?

[JustReading]

What's the point of this double tank deal?

[JohnTheReefer]

I like the concept! Are you going to plumb your ATO to the overflow in the display tank? 

[Heartland Reef]

2 hours ago, Zer0 said:

I really like the concept, it’s very unique. 
 

My only question/concern is how practical/easy is it to get back behind the whole thing? To do like maintenance and what not. Or do you not plan to work back there?

Thank you! I don't really plan to have to go back there. Only thing that will be in the back is a fuge light. Hoping to just use a clip on fixture thats attached to the stand. I think I can reach that pretty easily with a step ladder.

 

2 hours ago, JustReading said:

What's the point of this double tank deal?

 

It's basically the same as a sump below a display... but above it. 😯 

 

1 hour ago, JohnTheReefer said:

I like the concept! Are you going to plumb your ATO to the overflow in the display tank? 

 

Thank you! Yes thats my plan! I don't think it would work anywhere else. 

 

-HR

 

[Heartland Reef]

Hello, you guys already knew that I transferred everything over to the new setup earlier this week. But I just uploaded the video about it on YouTube. Its a short one this week Ive been crazy busy. Here's the link if you wanna watch. Leave me a comment!

 

 

I am dying to get some corals. It has fealt like a long wait. I'd have some already if I could figure out my lighting situation. Which is up next!

 

-HR

 

[Heartland Reef]

I cleaned up some cords and took a few photos. I think I fell in love with this tank at that point. 😍 It's gonna look even better with the canopy on!

 

 

 

And the display is lookin super clean without any equipment! Can't even see the return pipe in this lighting it blends right into the background. 🤗

 

 

I hope some of you will enjoy this build and evolution of the Cascade tank. I know I am... Have a good week everyone. 

 

-HR