Drilled and sumped 8 gallon

[Dnanoreefer]

This is my 4th reef tank I have set up. My past tanks had good success but they just we're not what I was after. I have been wanting to run a sump for a wile now, and the last 2 tanks I had were biocubes.

 

My friend had a nice finnex 8g tank sitting in his basement. I thought it would make a perfect nano tank with some ideas I had kicking around in my head. Most ideas came from some amazing tanks on the forum here. Lawnman and theropods have amazing tanks that gave me the bug to be this tank setup. Its been a long process mainly because I work to damn much. Be patient because it's not totally completed yet but here's the start.

 

Tank - finnex 8g rimless curved corner glass aquarium

Overflow - drilled with a gl#######s 350gph overflow box

Return - 2 seperate return lines drilled.

Sump - 10g tank I silicone all baffles

Pump - Eheim compact plus300 adjustable

Light - my good old JBJ viper 150 halide

Skimmer - reef octopus bh50

ATO - autotopoff.com in sump

Stand - homemade

 

The build has been fun so far but this thing needs to get some water and rock in it ASAP! I drilled the holes for the drain and return a wile back. I was a bit nervous but it was easy as 123 with the bits and a nice drill.

 

Here are a few pictures of progress.

Light test

Drilled

Just a test fit with the sump and tank and light.

Stand done

Watching paint dry

Stand done and at my house.

It's wet

Sand is finally in, a little cloudy.

All clear! Waiting for cycle now. Everything is running smoothly! I really like this tank! The color in this pic is very close to true color..

 

Enjoy. And comment!

I had this thread on the members tank forum, but it may be appreciated more here.

Thanks.

[Snow_Phoenix]

I love the 'mountains' you made. Looks cool. But make sure you have places to stock coral (if you're going the reef route). Also, I noticed that it's very common for people to make their own stands in the States. I admire that!

[Angel<3Nanos]

Man love your setup!

 

I like a clean look on the outside but the sump is what im all about. Awesome job.

 

Love diy stands. I recently did mine for my 13.3gal with a 43gal sump/ entertainment center lol

[th64]

Wow man that is great execution there. Looks super clean. How much did you spend on that stand if you don't mind me asking. I want to make something similar for my 4 gallon. Also supply list would be awesome LOL I have never attempted a stand before.

[Dnanoreefer]

Thanks yall.. The stand cost about 75$ to make in materials. Paint grade plywood is a bit lore expensive. I was aiming for a super clean look outside, than inside has all the goods. It was fairly easy to build. I plan on stocking it with tabling montis, acros, and possibly some lps.. The left side is for tabling montis.. Right side acros, sand lps.. The live rock that I am using hasn't been in a tank for around 2 years.. But after 2 days in the water it's sprouting little critters ever where! Crazy how things can go dormant for so long.

 

I will only keep coral that will thrive.. If sps doesn't work out in the tank than all lps it is.. I will not be adding a powerhead to the tank just to keep sps..

[Reefkid88]

This thing is awesome !!! How are you liking the 70w MH ? What size return pump are you using ?

[Dnanoreefer]

The return pump is an Eheim compact+ 3000, it was humming pretty loud the first day, but is very quiet now..

 

And the light is a 150w halide. I love it! ? I'm interested to see how coral does in the tank.. There is tons of water movement and flow in the tank.. It's not a super hard blasting flow, but more so just random soft consistent water movenent..

 

Thanks for looking. Can't wait for a cycle here!

[nathenvan]

Hat off to you sir. Awesome built

[Dnanoreefer]

Thank you.

[vw4life]

Awesome build and nice stand! I really like your DIY skills.

 

Offtopic... I see you have a mk4 golf and a subaru impreza. Both toy's I assume? lol

[Reefkid88]

The return pump is an Eheim compact+ 3000, it was humming pretty loud the first day, but is very quiet now..

 

And the light is a 150w halide. I love it! ? I'm interested to see how coral does in the tank.. There is tons of water movement and flow in the tank.. It's not a super hard blasting flow, but more so just random soft consistent water movenent..

 

Thanks for looking. Can't wait for a cycle here!

Gotcha,I had the 70w and totally forgot they came in 150 as well. I've read online that that pump can be a little noisy on the break in for a few days.

[Dnanoreefer]

The cars are both my friends.. Lol his garage. The gti is his impreza his wife's. The gti has a good deal of work done to it.. It's fast, faster than the subi. I like the gti a lot.. It's a corner monster!!

 

The pump is awesome after 4 days. Super quiet! I would definately recommend it. I love that it's adjustable! Super handy!

 

I have diatoms! ?

[Dnanoreefer]

I also just realized how much evap is happening.. It's about a 1/4 gallon per day.. The ATO from autopoff.com is working flawlessly! My favorite part of the tank! No more adding water daily by hand!

 

Winning!

[Dnanoreefer]

What test kits are people having best results with. I was using the API kits in the past with no problems. But I have read that many people do not like them.. Are the Red Sea test kits more accurate?

[alrdye]

Looks great! That top rock looks a bit precarious though.

[Dnanoreefer]

Thanks, the small rocks are all from my friends well established fish only 76g tank.. They are only in for seeding reasons, after the cycle happens and everything is good they are going in the sump.

[Dnanoreefer]

I was moving some rocks around tonight a bit and found 4-5 serpent starfish.. The tank has been running for about a week now, glad to see they are alive.. Must have been in the rocks from friends tank.. I haven't had any problems with serpent stars in the past so I'm excited they are alive and well.

[Dnanoreefer]

I did some very minor rescaping, not all that noticeable. I puttied the rock on the left to a smaller rock.. It kind of has a ledge or slight overhang appearance. Can't much tell from the picture. The light is so bright that pictures are hard to take with the phone.. I don't have a camera and don't plan on purchasing one anytime soon so phone will have to do! I also moved the light up about 4" or so. Jus cuZ.

Enjoy!

I still love this tank.. I don't know if I'm getting used to the water falling through the sump or what but it's getting more and more quiet by the day.

[Dnanoreefer]

Added two fish today! ? little damsels.. Tiny damsels actually. They are really cool. Super actir and hard to photo.. Here are a couple tries.

[vw4life]

The cars are both my friends.. Lol his garage. The gti is his impreza his wife's. The gti has a good deal of work done to it.. It's fast, faster than the subi. I like the gti a lot.. It's a corner monster!!

 

The pump is awesome after 4 days. Super quiet! I would definately recommend it. I love that it's adjustable! Super handy!

 

I have diatoms!

lol yeah they definitely are corner monsters, track monsters also!

 

Those damsels are awesome. What type are they?

 

Also, let me know how that skimmer works out. I've been eyeing one for awhile

[Leatherneck3755]

Very nice tank!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see how it grows

[Dnanoreefer]

The damsels are cool. They are called bi color.. But I'm not sure if pet world new what they really are.. The little fishes are eating like they have been starved.

 

I can't believe the amount of flow through the tank! I was hoping for a good deal of water movement with the dual returns but I didn't figure it was going to be so even and gentle.. There isn't any dead spots anywhere.. The water just gently flows and swirls throughout the tank.. I do believe any corals I put in here will do very well. I'm glad my plan worked out here.. I would have been disappointed if it would have been a flop!

 

The skimmer works well, takes a little messing with to get it right with water levels and all that, I haven't been running it as of now because of cycle reasons, but I think I may kick it on tomorrow, fish will have been in for a few days, ad the rocks are growing some algae. I will be picking up some snails and a crab this week.

 

Thanks for all the input and compliments!

 

I have been kicking around the idea of adding a stunner strip for another light source after the halide goes out. So my lighing schedule would be like this

 

Halide on from 4-8

Stunner strip on from 8-12

Trulumen moonlight on the rest of the time.

 

Thinking a 20k stunner strip.

 

Ideas??

[Dnanoreefer]

So I have narrowed down the led lights I am interested in.

Current trulumen pro 12" 12k/453

Ecoxotic panorama pro 12k/445

 

Current light has much better reviews.

Anyone have any experience with either or both?

[Dnanoreefer]

Tank is doing really good.. I am still contemplating the supplemental light. I don't know which light I'm going to go with.. Pretty sure it's the current tru lumen.

I am getting lots of micro bubbles in the tank.. It does not really bother me but I don't know why that's happening. Anyway.. I'm really ready for this thing to cycle.. I want coral!

[Reefkid88]

If you're wanting supplemental lighting,why don't you just go with a DIY kit from rapidled.. ? Are you looking for more blue ? It'd deff add more par/pur to the tank.