renaissance glorieuse; A reef chronicle

[PEMfish]

As many of you may know I have the acrylic reef tank, its a horribly problematic system. Well its time to do something about it. This thread will chronicle the tearing down, and re building of the reef.

Current stats;
48x 11x 13.5"t 31g DT, 34x 13x 10't dual fuge ( a 20g tank divided into two 17" parts ), and a 10g sump.

Flow is the Rio whatever model return pump, about 250GPH. It pumps water into the DT, it flows into the mantis tank ( one half of the fuge ) then back into the sump.

A 2x4 stand that I hate. There are no 90* angles, easy access, sound dampening, aesthetic appeal, structural integrity, level surfaces, or excess room.

Lightning is 4x 54w T5 HO with individual reflectors, there will be 6, when I get around to it.

Filtration consists of nothing. I have a Terminator 2 skimmer but I don't run it because of the noise in my bed room.

[yungreefer2410]

sounds nice. since your redoing it you might want to move it out of your room

[PEMfish]

A before picture;

A before picture not available.

[PEMfish]

Originally Posted by yungreefer2410

sounds nice. since your redoing it you might want to move it out of your room

That will be the first thing I do.

[PEMfish]

Conception;

See how it all started in the first chronicle for this system;

La Box De Opciones

[PEMfish]

Hopes;

I have some plans drawn up here;

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...reef-stand.jpg

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nes-stand-.jpg

Yes, pics. I plan to have alot of pics in this thread as I am no longer ashamed to show. ( except for it in its current state. ).

[PEMfish]

The new sump will be a marineland or AGA 20H ( 24x 12x 16"t )

[PEMfish]

In the dual fuge there is a hole in the back and bottom of each side. (each side is sealed from the other. ) To plumb it I figure I will buy a square plastic box for an overflow, drill a hole in the side of it, the put a BH through it, then through the back of the tank and do an external stand pipe. So the BH will go through the back of the aquarium AND the the box, holding the box in place. I already have an extra seal.

Will this work alright for me? Be very quiet?

[PEMfish]

Guys? Anyone? Advice?

Maybe you'll get some pics in return... ( you will ).

[Frankie]

Good luck Paul. Your external durso idea sounds kinda like something Melev did on his nano. Reef Central Online Community - Melev's new Nano!
I don't see why you cannot use the bulk head to hold the box on. Just be sure to have the seal between the box and the tank and not on the inside of the box.

[PEMfish]

Makes me think I don't need the box or anything in the tank, I can do it all wit plumbing.

[PEMfish]

I was at a LFS were they had two 75g tanks on display. Boy do I like those. I could scape one so much easier and better than the 65g. I would have come home with one if I had a 48", not 36" stand going.

Now I am considering using the 65 as a reef and building an identical stand for a 75g and doing planted in it. I would them have to sell my current reef tanks but I like the 65g better for a reef than the ones I got.

The cost of doing this over using the 65g for the planted and redoing the current reef is about an extra $500. Maybe worth it.

[bratyboy2]

save the 500 for the tank

[PEMfish]

But I like that idea a bit better... I think.
I am still trying to figure out what I want to do.

[Frankie]

I am a big fan of the 75 gallon's foot print. I am sure what ever you go with Paul it's going to rock!