Rockerpeller Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 hey peeps, Been planning this tank for the last few months and have finally completed the display tank, sump and stand. Tank measurements are 500mm L x 347mm W x 450mm H, which is roughly 20 gal. the sump is a 7 gal tank with a modified H500 Aquaclear filter (custom sump will be added later, just wanted to see how it would handle for now). The filter will be a refugium. The skimmer is being sent over from Oz as i type this so it will be added to this set-up when it gets here. originally, this tank was to house my sons clownfish and a few corals of some sort but now its been blown out to be a 150w MH lit grow out tank. 2 birds with 1 stone. he doesn't mind as he'll have something to look at in his room. Plumbing is up next so I'll update this thread with pictures when I get around to it. heres the latest pics so far. Twin Durso overflows in an external overflowbox (doesn't eat into the space in the tank and i can still get the benefits of surface skimming) FTS Planning on using some Loc-line fittings for flow direction through an SCWD for random flow hence the bulkheads in the sides of the tank. Will have photos of the tank on the cabinet etc in the next few days. So hows it look so far? Take it easy on me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 looks good- I like the bulkhead placement- will work well. Why all the crap on the front glass though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 glass filings from dremelling out the notch on the back of the tank... knew that thing would come in handy. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Looks good, are you going to put a comb on the overflow box to stop the critters getting in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 definitely. looking around for some perspex to dremel out a short comb to suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 looking good Mine hopefully won't be too far away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 20 gallon is still regarded as "nano" Mine at 200L will be pushing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 yea well thats what i thought but a few sites regard a nano as anything under 20 gal complete system... hence the title name (not quite nano...) lol its just over at 27.6 or something like that. meh not worried. have ordered the loc-line and plumbing etc so an update will be soon. the tank is currently on the stand right now and figuring out how to set the sump for max flow. Any suggestions on pump? will a 800LPH pump do the job or something larger. i've read the bare minimum is to cycle the tank over 8-10 times an hour but the pump is only temporary. only really gonna be used for a freshwater test then its gonna be a pump upgrade. the sump has already been made (ie. baffles) to accomodate a bigger pump already and thats just drying now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I think the SCWD will cut a lot of your flow down. I have a 23 gallon tank with a Tunze Nano Stream that gives me 2500l/hr, and no, everything is not leaning over one way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 nice overflow box, i will be looking to do the same oneday. Nano stream would be far better as the scwd will really cut your flow rate, especially when it gets dirty. But then again might be too much flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 i've looked at the nanostreams they look a lil bulky. will be quite daunting in such a small tank i'd say. worth looking at again i suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Rule of thumb is a minimum of 10 x's flow but in your tank you may be able to get away with less. Just wondering what kind of corals you are thinking of getting as that will be a consideration if it's softies and LPS you might get away with 8 x's flow. But to achieve that through a SCWD you need 10 x's flow assuming it cuts flow 20%. I once had a 60 litre tank with assorted LPS and sarcophyton, the flow was a 400 lph powerhead plus the skimmer probably 200 lph, the flow was very gentle but the growth of the LPS was extrodinary I had to frag them constantly. If you use a SCWD will it be internally or externally mounted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 hey wasp. i was thinkin any coral that would go into the main tank when its finished. but for now just some zoas to start for a few months, and then prolly lps etc. oh and the scwd will be external. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted July 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 heres an update Dursos plumbed up... sump plumbing with a 4000lph lifetech pump. I've used the Lifetech because its just sitting around. should i stick with this pump or get something smaller? Getting the Loc-line in the next couple of days and the hose fittings for the returns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 There is anumber of factors including not just the lph of the pump but what the pressure rating is, the lift, and how the SCWD will effect it, best plan now it's set up is try it & see . The set up is starting to look good, if you have sps you will want good flow, plus some quite spots for other types of coral. In a tank this size will be quite a challenge, but looks like you are heading the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 EDIT - double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted August 7, 2007 Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 How is this project going now Rockerpeller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted August 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 its going good. got the new sump in place which has upped the total water quantity to around 120L-130L (haven't worked it out yet as I'm adding rock to the sump). currently doing the touch-ups on the lighting. really don't wanna rush it but its pretty hard not to. lol auto top-up will come after the lights. currently just topping it up to a vivid mark on the sump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted August 7, 2007 Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 he means its going well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted August 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 Very well :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted August 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 time for updated pics. new sump: FTS: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 1, 2007 Report Share Posted September 1, 2007 Cool. Looks pretty well thought out. Hows the main tank looking now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted September 1, 2007 Report Share Posted September 1, 2007 yea i wouls like to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted September 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 still really good. the hermits are keeping the algae to a minimum with the help of the snails and coraline is popping up here and there on the back wall. and the the 2 shrooms and xenia that hitchhiked on the rock are growing pretty big now. still waiting on decent bulbs but they have been organised and its just a matter of funds for now. Just got a new job so hopefully there will be some better components very very soon ie skimmer, pendant light etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 Thought that was a skimmer in the sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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