New 24g NanoCube Refugium Project

[WrigleyFish]

I just bought a new 24 Gallon Deluxe NanoCube.
I also bought the stand for a 28 gallon BioCube, at least that is what I think it was meant for.

I'm downsizing from my 46 gallon Hex to the cube since I will be moving soon and I am 100% not a fan of the Hex shaped tank.

The Cube is going to be my first jump into corals so I am planning to setup a good amount of filtration this year, and will be upgrading to the custom HQI hood with metal halides next year, if I can hold off that long :D .

Tank lights on no water:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/002__normal.jpg

Room lights off, tank lights on, no water:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/003__normal.jpg

Fresh water in tank, tank lights on, room lights off:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/007__normal.jpg


So my plans for adding a refugium to the tank is not only to turn the middle chamber into a refugium, but to also have the tank drilled for a overflow and return to a under tank custom acrylic refug. I am putting live rock rubble in the middle chamber and some chaeto. I am scraping the vinyl off the middle chamber on the back and will affix a 18watt 50/50 mini pc fixture. I replaced the stock return pump with a MJ 1200.

I am doing a 3/4" durso style overflow to my sump with a 1/2" return via a Mag 5 pump. The return pump will either sit in the last chamber of the fuge or I will plumb it to be external, I have not decided yet, b/c the space will be tight.

I had my tank drilled professionally, I didn't trust myself. javascript:smilie(':rollface:')

Here are some pictures of the holes with bulkheads installed and bulkhead plugs installed while waiting for the fuge to be built:

Left Chamber:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/008__normal.jpg

Right Chamber:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/009__normal.jpg

Back of tank:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/011__normal.jpg

Another Back of Tank:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/012__normal.jpg

Here are the first two cut pieces of acrylic for my refug:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-12/014__normal.jpg


The fuge will measure 18" w x 12" h x 12" d
Which measures 25 gallons, a little bit excessive for a 24 gallon tank, which I later realized how big it was after cutting it, but heck, you can NEVER have too much filtration. Besides much of that space is taken up by a protein skimmer, baffles, live sand, live rock, & maybe a return pump.

Now I'm busy waiting to find time to buy the 2 other acrylic pieces I need, have my last plumbing supplies deliverd, and the weld-on to glue the acrylic tank.

Waiting.....the hardest learned lession of saltwater aquariums.

[Jcrash]

/subscribed

I recently found a deal on craigslist for a 24g with stand and was thinking about adding a sump. Looking forward to your progress. :)

[Nano Chris]

Looks good, i might do the same with my RSM.

[WrigleyFish]

Made a couple updates.

Since the 24g Nano has a flaw in the design of the lights, with the LED moon lights being on the same power cord as the day lights, making running lights on a timer. I decided to add my own LED lights that I had sitting around instead of doing the ballast/led fix.

You can also see in this image that I reversed one of the fans. Now 1 blows in, 1 blows out.

http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-21/001__normal.jpg

Here is the hood back on the tank with the splash guard:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-21/003__normal.jpg

Unfortunately, the tank has been running very hot, so I might revert the fans to the stock direction and see if that affects the temperature.
I might also look into getting more powerful fans. I think after I get the fuge put together I can add some fans blowing on that to help keep the water colder.

Next mod I made was to attach a 18watt light to the back of the tank. After scraping off some of the black vinyl I used silicone glue to affix the light to the tank, I also have a piece of pvc under the light to alleviate some of the weight. The cardboard box is now gone.

http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-21/004__normal.jpg

The light is shinning into the middle chamber of live rock and soon some Chaeto. (The mini-fuge)

Here is a shot of the light from inside the tank:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-21/005__normal.jpg

I also finished the plumbing for the overflow output.
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-21/006__normal.jpg

I need to go get some 1/2" pvc to finish the return side of the plumbing.

I love how I have to buy 5 feet of pvc to cut a 2" piece. Just lovely!! javascript:smilie(':mad2:')

[xero404]

subscribed! one day i'll upgrade my 12g :)

[fisher1234]

I have heard of making the middle chamber a Fuge. Can you go into a little more detail of how you scraped it off???? Please and Thank you

[WrigleyFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13001629#post13001629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fisher1234
I have heard of making the middle chamber a Fuge. Can you go into a little more detail of how you scraped it off???? Please and Thank you

It is MUCH easier then you would expect.
I actually used a small tool I have for scoring acrylic.
I cut a outline of the piece I wanted removed, then you just need to get a corner inside that outline lifted and pull it up. You could use a putty knife to help.

[JLAURIA751]

very nice would you keep posting pictures as you are going along Im thinking about doing the same thing 2 my 24g aquapod but I only have the basic concepts of how it works. its gravity fed with a pump 2 return the water, correct. but how do you adjust the flow so it ddoesn't spill over?

[WrigleyFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13008225#post13008225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JLAURIA751
very nice would you keep posting pictures as you are going along Im thinking about doing the same thing 2 my 24g aquapod but I only have the basic concepts of how it works. its gravity fed with a pump 2 return the water, correct. but how do you adjust the flow so it doesn't spill over?


Hey ---

I will definitely be posting more pictures as I go along. I have a few updates that hopefully I will have time to post tonight.

The output flow to the lower fuge is gravity feed. I took measurements 10 times to find out where I wanted the hole drilled. I made sure it was placed just below the water surface level, so in a power outage only a gallon or 2 at most would drain into the fuge. Balancing that out, I will set the baffles in the fuge at the correct height to allow space for an extra 2 gallons of water.

I will then be running a Mag 5 as my return pump which gives me 500 gph, which should match the flow of the 3/4" output diameter overflow from the tank. I have also installed a ball valve on the output so that I can control the flow rate out of the tank.

[eaglesrx]

wow, nice work!

[WrigleyFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13012608#post13012608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eaglesrx
wow, nice work!


Thanks!!
I'm trying to do this one right. Learned so much from the forums in the last year.

[WrigleyFish]

Well -- there has been lots of progress in the livestock and contents of the actual tank.

This weekend I will finish the plumbing and mounting of the electircal work, then only building the lower fuge will be left.

Here is the start of the live rock migration from my old tank:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-21/008__normal.jpg

Addition of the Chaeto to the middle chamber in the back:
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/001__normal.jpg

Fast forward a bit and the addition of live sand, the rest of the live rock, and livestock (minus my cleaner shrimp and some snails).
http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/002__normal.jpg

http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/003__normal.jpg







http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/004__normal.jpg http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/005__normal.jpg

http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/006__normal.jpg http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/007__normal.jpg http://thejacobsonline.com/gallery/fish/images/fish/2008-07-23/009__normal.jpg