Woo Hoo My HUGE 30 Gallon Build

[JoeAyers]

In the last 2.5 years I have gone from a 375 to a 240 to a 200 to a 14 BioCube.  If you are thinking about having kids.. think again.

I’m sick of the 14 and want to get back to having a real sump and room for more ‘stuff.’  Equipment, coral, rock, etc.  So I stepped up and bought a huge Oceanic 30G Cube with stand.

30 Gallon Oceanic Cube & Stand
Glass-Holes.com Nano Overflow - http://glass-holes.com/Super-Nano-con-Dientes-Overflow-Kit-nanodienteskit.htm
Glass-Holes.com ½” Return Kit
Vortech MP40W with Icecap Battery Backup (a lot of flow, but I already have it so I’m using it)
150W MH – Eventually will go LED, but that is a luxury that will come later. http://shop.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=54241
Mag3 return pump
Ranco Dual-stage Temp Control
Sump and Skimmer are still up in the air
Top off with Kalk and eventually add two part via a reef dosing pump

[JoeAyers]

Tank as it came from Petsmart. (On sale and the last one with a small scuff on the top trim that faces the wall so Baggerhog beat them down another $45 on price for me).


I decided to order a nano overflow from Glass-holes.com. I have to say the craftsmanship is great and they provide everything you need except teflon tape, but we all have 30-60 half rolls of teflon tape anyway.  They also always include a couple of pieces of candy in the package, but my daughter grabbed those almost immediately.


The first step is to figure out where you want the overflow. I would suggest near the top somewhere, but it’s up to you. I wanted mine center back (at the top) so I measured… That’s right people my tank is 20” wide…


I then used the old eye ball measurer to get the height I wanted and marked where the overflow should go.


Glassholes provides a wooden template/guide for drilling.


I got to use one of my favorite things on earth for this project… Ductape


No pics of me actually drilling since I was by myself and I’m not coordinated enough to drill glass and snap a pic with my phone.


I also ordered a return kit from glasshole. Basically a ½” holesaw, bulkhead, lockline and street ell. I probably have all of this stuff already, but since I just moved it’s packed in one of 400 boxes that still aren’t unpacked.  So I had to drill a second hole.  Also, near the top.


It started to rain so I moved inside to start taping up the tank to spray the back and side that are against the wall.


That isn’t exactly where I stopped; I taped the rest and painted the back and sort of dry fit the overflow and return bulkhead. No pics of this since it was almost time for the kids to come home and it was raining off and on so I was taking the tank in and out as I worked.

More to come, but it may be slow. Just moved, working on both houses, unpacking and kids seem to monopolize my time. But I do need to get this done so I can move the biocube straight into it from the old house.

[Blown76mav]

to bad your so far away, I have tons of black vinyl that you could have had.  It goes on easy and peels off if you change your mind.  Also have blue as well.

Looks good so far, keep us updated.

[JoeAyers]

to bad your so far away, I have tons of black vinyl that you could have had.  It goes on easy and peels off if you change your mind.  Also have blue as well.

Looks good so far, keep us updated.

Thanks.  I've already painted it black. It needs to be touched up cause it started to rain after the second coat and I had to move it back inside and I was to impatient to wait for the next day so I pulled off the paint and continued to play with it.

You don't happen to know anyone that could build me a small custom sump do you?

[stickboy_107]

That's why I waited till after I had kids and they are almost grown before I got mine. The tank looks real nice, can't wait to see this build come along.

[Blown76mav]

Thanks.  I've already painted it black. It needs to be touched up cause it started to rain after the second coat and I had to move it back inside and I was to impatient to wait for the next day so I pulled off the paint and continued to play with it.

You don't happen to know anyone that could build me a small custom sump do you?

Sure send me the demensions.

[jd]

Looking Great Joe!

I was thinking about making an overflow box like theirs, how does that baffle inside of the box work?

[JoeAyers]

Looking Great Joe!

I was thinking about making an overflow box like theirs, how does that baffle inside of the box work?

Here is my crude drawing of what it would look like if I cut off the front of the box.  The water has to flow to the ends of the box then under the baffles to get to the bulkhead.

[jd]

So its like and upside down U that just slips in-place? Thanks for the drawing. I better fire up the bandsaw...

[HUNGER]

looken good

[JoeAyers]

So its like and upside down U that just slips in-place? Thanks for the drawing. I better fire up the bandsaw...

The sides of the U are glued in to keep them in place. The top is removable to tighten up the bulkhead. It is a very tight fit on the piece that is removable.

Joe

[jd]

The sides of the U are glued in to keep them in place. The top is removable to tighten up the bulkhead. It is a very tight fit on the piece that is removable.

Joe

Great, thanks a ton Joe.

[lazylivin]

Looks great Joe, how did you like the glass hole kit? I was thinking about getting one. I like the way they are removable for cleaning.

[cyberwollf]

so Baggerhog beat them down another $45 on price for me).

I believe it! if there is one thing Andy is good at, it is talking people out of their money

[Baggerhog]

I believe it! if there is one thing Andy is good at, it is talking people out of their money

I am not sure how to take that, btw Wes can you send me some money?

[cyberwollf]

I am not sure how to take that, btw Wes can you send me some money?

How much? 

[JoeAyers]

Looks great Joe, how did you like the glass hole kit? I was thinking about getting one. I like the way they are removable for cleaning.

Very nice. Tight against the glass, take up very little room in the tank. You'll need to put a union right after the threaded 90 to take it apart. You sort of use the 90 to help screw the bulkhead together.

[JoeAyers]

I believe it! if there is one thing Andy is good at, it is talking people out of their money

I've told him he needs to start a little website where he acts as a personal buyer for people on major purchases. I would say in the last three months alone he's saved me $6-8,000 on two vehichle purchases (and the aquarium )

[JoeAyers]

Update.  Here are the pics of it painted. It needs to be touched up in spots but looks pretty good.



Pics of the overflow in the tank.






When I got home from work at 10p my light was waiting on the front porch for me. It’s the $99 special from Aquatraders.com. I know they sometimes get a bad rap for quality, but I’ve had their PCs on freshwater tanks when they were sold as Jebo.  They were a little flimsy but always worked well for me. This light is actually very solid. And ‘feels’ nicer that the Current USA Orbit that I had on the 14 Biocube. The feet are a lot nicer as they actually screw on so once you have them adjusted they will stay where you want them.  I’ll probably try to get it fired up in the next day or so, so I can see what kind of light they put out, but here are pics of it temporarily sitting on the tank.

[Reefinmike]

tank looks like a great size for a nano, I too find it much more fun to have a tank you can have some equipment on, rather than having a self contained biocube. I find myself looking in and playing with my fuge much more than my main tank. Let me play the devil's advocate for a little- be careful with the holes you drilled. It looks like you had a blowout on one of the holes(not a perfectly clean cut). It should be fine, but I would fill it in a garage or something and check for small cracks. Also, I too have had great success with the aquatraders PC lights. I had one of their MH lights , and one day out of nowhere, the ballast started smoking like crazy, and would have surely started a fire if I had not been around.

[JoeAyers]

tank looks like a great size for a nano, I too find it much more fun to have a tank you can have some equipment on, rather than having a self contained biocube. I find myself looking in and playing with my fuge much more than my main tank. Let me play the devil's advocate for a little- be careful with the holes you drilled. It looks like you had a blowout on one of the holes(not a perfectly clean cut). It should be fine, but I would fill it in a garage or something and check for small cracks. Also, I too have had great success with the aquatraders PC lights. I had one of their MH lights , and one day out of nowhere, the ballast started smoking like crazy, and would have surely started a fire if I had not been around.

Thanks. I've drilled about 200 holes in tanks so I'm confident it will be fine. Did the ballast get wet?  Even the worst wiring jobs I've seen don't just suddently smoke without some type of accelerant/issue. Seems odd that it worked fine then suddenly started smoking.

[HUNGER]

looken good the over flow looks great

[JoeAyers]

Flipped the light on and put in the big ace rock Andy gave me. It will actually be flipped over in the final set up, but you can get a general idea. The actual color of the light is less blue than the picture shows. I really like it. Hopefully it’ll be strong enough for coral.



The rock is currently sitting in my water change barrel full of bleach and water.  I’m going to let it soak until Friday then start changing the water in the barrel every day for a week or so. I’m hoping to have saltwater in the tank next weekend.

Next up is figure out exactly what I’m going to do about the sump. Once I have it I’ll be ready to plumb.

[Baggerhog]

let me know if you need any help doing all that plumbing I will come over and help out.  ;Dl I have plenty of pvc and glue we can hard plumb everything. I have an extra snapper laying around if you want to borrow it for your tank?

[Baggerhog]

So what kind of corals and fish are you planning?

[Baggerhog]

BTW are you gonna do a calcium reactor or two part or both?

[JoeAyers]

let me know if you need any help doing all that plumbing I will come over and help out.  ;Dl I have plenty of pvc and glue we can hard plumb everything. I have an extra snapper laying around if you want to borrow it for your tank?

Yeah thanks. I'm thinking about the hammerhead I have in my garage instead. 

So what kind of corals and fish are you planning?

I have a pair of clowns and a clown goby. I'm thikning about adding a school of 50-60 anthias. For corals I'm just going to fill it up with anthelia.

BTW are you gonna do a calcium reactor or two part or both?

Had you bothered to read my original post, instead of looking at the pretty pictures; Kalk and two part.

[JoeAyers]

So what kind of corals and fish are you planning?

But to be real. I'm keeping the clowns and goby. Probably add some firefish and/or fairy wrasses. I'm thinking I'll use a mesh top to try to prevent jumpers. And a Orange Spot goby to sift through the sand.

For coral. Rics that I already have all over the bottom. Center piece will be the Tyree leather. Maybe a small island or two of zoas, nuc greans and purple hornets. Beyond that I ahve not decided. possibly a few of the easier SPS, but more than likely sticking with LPS and polyps.

[HUNGER]

that light looks realy good

[lazylivin]

Joe can you raise and lower the overflow box? For example the U tube style overflow has a plastic thumb screw that allows me to raise and lower the overflow box to adjust the water height in the tank. Just trying to determine if the drilled overflow box is right for me.
Thanks

[Baggerhog]

Joe can you raise and lower the overflow box? For example the U tube style overflow has a plastic thumb screw that allows me to raise and lower the overflow box to adjust the water height in the tank. Just trying to determine if the drilled overflow box is right for me.
Thanks

With this overflo you set the height by where you drill the hole. It is a really neat setup.

[jd]

Brian, The box's level is set when you drill the tank. The template is what helps determine the water level if I'm not mistaken.

[lazylivin]

Thanks

[jd]

Of course. 

[aquavista99]

As previously stated on another website, amazing build, Joe! Everything looks fantastic!

Flipped the light on and put in the big ace rock Andy gave me. It will actually be flipped over in the final set up, but you can get a general idea. The actual color of the light is less blue than the picture shows. I really like it. Hopefully it’ll be strong enough for coral.



The rock is currently sitting in my water change barrel full of bleach and water.  I’m going to let it soak until Friday then start changing the water in the barrel every day for a week or so. I’m hoping to have saltwater in the tank next weekend.

Next up is figure out exactly what I’m going to do about the sump. Once I have it I’ll be ready to plumb.

[JoeAyers]

Rock is clean and sand is in. Got the acrylic Monday to build the sump so I'll be starting on the at some point. Next steps are

1) Run the water lines to/from the tank to the Topoff, NSW and Drain. Basically just 1/4 tubing run through the crawlspace to the basement area then back up to the utility room where the RODI and NSW is.

2) Build Sump

Here's what the tank looks like now with the rock.sand and vortech in place.

[UDJustin]

Looks good Joe I may copy your sump design when you get it done lol. I am currently building a 30 gallon oceanic cube tank too. I did a calflo overflow and am in the process of building the stand for it now. Its gonna be for the wifes photography studio.

[JoeAyers]

Looks good Joe I may copy your sump design when you get it done lol. I am currently building a 30 gallon oceanic cube tank too. I did a calflo overflow and am in the process of building the stand for it now. Its gonna be for the wifes photography studio.

What skimmer you going with?

[HUNGER]

looken good the rock looks great

[JoeAyers]

looken good the rock looks great

Thanks. That is just one big rock. I'll add the few small pieces with coral on them from the nano, but that will pretty much be it.

Joe

[HUNGER]

i think big rocks look better than a bunch of smaller ones

[UDJustin]

I think a really small deltec.

[JoeAyers]

I think a really small deltec.

I'm basically going to have about 9.5" x 12" area available for the skimmer so I'm pretty limited. My wife won't let me sit my dart needlewheel next to the tank for some reason.

[HUNGER]

y not that would work great 

[JoeAyers]

Maybe when I'm home tomorrow I'll just set it up next to the tank and see if she notices.. 

[HUNGER]

she mite not

[UDJustin]

The small deltec I was looking at was a hang on the back so no real sump space is taken up.

[JoeAyers]

So. I ordered the acrylic for my sump through ebay from a guy called popdisplays. He sells his scraps which range from 20x20 ¼” to 96x48 ¾”. He will also make 5 free cuts (more if you as nicely and there aren’t a ton).  So I got a piece of ¼” x 48” x 32” and had him cut to my specs for my sump.

Here’s what I got.


I went ahead and measured each piece and they were to my specs and square so for $60 shipped I didn’t think it was too bad and I have pieces left over for other projects.   Now I will fully admit I am no expert. This is the second thing I’ve ever made out of acrylic so there are imperfections. I let the Weldon drip, I put a scratch on the back side etc. But overall turned out well. I’m happy with it and it will fill my needs.















This is ¼’ RO line that will go to the sump pump of the house so I can drain water for water changes without having to use buckets or run hoses all over the house.



AND IT HOLDS WATER!!!!!





I also created a cover for the top. I found some black pond mesh that I had bought years ago and used it. I don’t have the finished pictures but here is the frame sitting on the tank. I painted it black so it looks pretty good on the tank. You don’t really notice it.  I’ll get current pics tonight.



Still need to run the water lines and install all of the equipment. Hoping to have water in it by the end of the week.

[UDJustin]

Looks good Joe

[jd]

Looking very good Joe, thanks for all the pics.

I love the drain idea too!

[HUNGER]

looks good cant wait to see it up and running

[slandis3]

Joe that tank is coming along real nicly. This gives me some ideas when I set up her nano this fall.

[Seano Hermano]

Nice build. What do you think about weldon, compared to silicone? I like the clean look, that you can't get with silicone Is it difficult to use? Nice sump btw. Will be following this one.

[TechGuy]

Nice build. What do you think about weldon, compared to silicone? I like the clean look, that you can't get with silicone Is it difficult to use? Nice sump btw. Will be following this one.

Its cake to use. Getting smooth cuts, and flush finishes is the key. It actually melts the plastic. So what weld-on you use depends on the quality of your cuts. Unless you don't mind a few bubbles :p