Fluval Edge 6gal Reef Conversion

[GriffinMarsh]

Earlier this month I purchased a fluval edge that was broken in shipping to a LFS here in Tucson Az. While the top was broken i knew that the tank still had potential to be an amazing set up. This is going to be a full biological system with very little mechanical filtration. Due to the size, I wanted to do more biological filtration over mechanical to keep more nutrients inside the aquarium. Frequent water changes, macro algae, and soft corals are going to be the bulk of nutrient export. I will be posting pictures of the build and setup with as detailed information as possible for the setup. Please excuse some of the earlier pictures as they are off my cell phone. I hope you enjoy nano tank lovers.

[GriffinMarsh]

Here are some shots of the tank cleaned up with the back filter removed. All that is going to be used is the light hood and the stand. The overhang on the back of the stand is where the plumbing for the overflow will enter the sump. The returns are going to come up on either side of the overflow box. An AiPrime is the main light for the setup.

https://36.media.tumblr.com/4cabb2901e139c2fc068b94e1828613d/tumblr_nwoof2aXhA1twx0s4o3_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/949c877d8103bfda098fc197ae106467/tumblr_nwoof2aXhA1twx0s4o1_1280.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/c7faf9b58b397c4d4304cf192f6927e0/tumblr_nwoof2aXhA1twx0s4o2_1280.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

Plans for the overflow box and stand. And a simple layout for the tank size.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/ec707efb48ec5a22e1ac1130b10b2d5e/tumblr_nwop57EEVR1twx0s4o3_500.jpg

https://36.media.tumblr.com/ffb21c1a3cff09760febcdc99424d378/tumblr_nwop57EEVR1twx0s4o1_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/08e2beedb71ac4ff821094736f81dba5/tumblr_nwop57EEVR1twx0s4o4_500.jpg

https://36.media.tumblr.com/a6939710b5004cf90664cdcbec34e51b/tumblr_nwop57EEVR1twx0s4o2_500.jpg

[Amatuer21]

Nice!!! Looks like it will be another beautiful nano setup. Will be following!

[OrQidz]

That's going to be nice!

[GriffinMarsh]

Overflow Box, stand progress, and new colors for the light box and fluval stand.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/6786c506b0e143d6f94a33533c8ae2c9/tumblr_nwpddktk5m1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/26aaabec230864715e3e5e6a095653a3/tumblr_nwpddktk5m1twx0s4o2_500.jpg

https://36.media.tumblr.com/fe47e8cc0ee0db495d5467e9acf5c842/tumblr_nwpdcnpX5r1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

https://36.media.tumblr.com/f4252a1cdc3bda9208d2d4e63decf1b4/tumblr_nwpdcnpX5r1twx0s4o2_400.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

Its hard to tell from the picture, but a notch was cut with a diamond band saw out of the back to make the overflow. A total of five holes were created for both the return and the "bean animal" over flow. A white stripe was was added to help tie in the sand and light box. Even though the stand is all going to be white. A lot of white!!

https://40.media.tumblr.com/643861dbaec5d676ce55ea4370fe40c3/tumblr_nwpdcnpX5r1twx0s4o5_250.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/a05cf2e7e9873fbbeea1ad0239df6837/tumblr_nwpdcnpX5r1twx0s4o6_250.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

Painted and coming to completion.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/c1507b5f6e0780292b27e8540bb63aca/tumblr_nwrgk5CQbL1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

[acropora213]

Very Nice build. Looking forward to the read on progress ,and pics of the mods and plumbing.

[GriffinMarsh]

A LONGER MORE DETAILED UPDATE

This is a Sicce Syncra 2.0 as the return pump. This along with the light and a heater (down the road) are the only pieces of electrical equipment in the tank. Like posted previously, the goal is to make a biologically dependent filtration in the aquarium. Due to the output pressure of the pump, I attached a gate valve to control the water for the overflow at full siphon. I almost glued the check valve below the "T". That would have been a fools mistake. By controlling both the water returning to the tank and the water draining into the sump, I believe I can maximize the 1/2" pipes capacity for full syphon and leave two of the drains as emergency drains. This goes against the bean animal a little bit, but in six gallons with close to between 400-500gph turn over the little overflow box in the back can fill up quickly. Because 1/2" pvc pipe tends to lock together like two long lost lovers, I didn't need to glue any of the pipe right of the gate valve.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/9e3f1c378e702a258e41ec2441c2c7ff/tumblr_nws97rUGTK1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

The over flow box has two 1/2" Slip/thread and one 1/2" Slip/Slip bulk heads to handle the quick turnover. I absolutely hate with a fiery passion the sound of gurgling pipes in a tank which is why I went overboard on the draining. Thanks to the bean animal style overflow, full syphon was possible with very little water noise. The plumbing beneath the bulk heads is as follows: 1/2" threaded bushing to 1/2" pipe could be threaded into the bottom allowing for easy transport and deconstruction without cutting up pvc, that goes to a union even though it isn't shown in the sump picture, and finally is just a simple grouping of 90s and 45s to make it to the sump. The sump picture is also not showing where the glass baffle will be just left of the return pump. Also where the return pump has the 3/4" flex pvc to pressure vinyl just slipped into one another, will be a 3/4" coupler to 3/4"-1/2" threaded bushing and barb fitting. Again for easy removal. That all may have sounded like some seriously confusing mumbo jumbo, so feel free to ask any questions.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/1e20962420ab795a982dbfd5ab33680e/tumblr_nws97rUGTK1twx0s4o3_500.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/a93e891fbdc6a47287e78bbf665eecb5/tumblr_nws97rUGTK1twx0s4o2_500.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

Glass has been drilled and painted for the top of the stand. I still find it funny that this little nano 6 gallon aquarium has a total of TEN drilled glass holes. Any ways... Here is what the finished product looks like before the cycle begins. Thanks to Richard at Tampa Bay Saltwater, we are cycling strong with live sand and half of the live rock provided in his "The Package". I cannot be more grateful for what he has provided for this little tank. waiting to get everything inside the tank is the not so fun park of cycling. But we don't want critters swimming around in that damned ammonia.

This all took place a couple days ago when I started this thread. So even though the pictures are in order and seem like it happened within the last couple days I need to stress that the whole tank has been set up for a little less than a week already.

Here is the stand with the glass top and light attached. All the components (light placement, water flow, etc..) for the system will be adjusted as we add corals and livestock.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/5c894cafe4c2d10689fec7f7a3dc2980/tumblr_nwsgbe7GdF1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/53f2be1d84516e3042088ebdc02218c0/tumblr_nwsgbe7GdF1twx0s4o2_500.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

All sorts of fun life coming off the rocks including this little guy that will be added back into the sump when the cycle finishes.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/2c0c7fb23a6d232103120a9f784104f8/tumblr_nwsh4mzFFr1twx0s4o2_540.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/ec24d7bc0c1aba78ccfe55caf5843132/tumblr_nwsh4mzFFr1twx0s4o1_540.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

Alright so we have been stable with very low trace amounts of ammonia. The rest of the tampa bay saltwater stock has been added and the tank is looking sweet. It is amazing that around a week ago we started the tank with the rock. I will now be posting updates more as a spectator since the tank is being handled by its new owner. Hopefully he will make an account soon on RC to share his personal experience with the aquarium. It was a really fun project to work on and I hope to make more interesting aquariums and post threads.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/9428bd4cc02f03f45e97bbcf3cfaf84e/tumblr_nwv66zMHjR1twx0s4o1_540.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

New aquascape pictures. New additions to the aquarium include some small zoa frags, goniopora frag, favia frag, and dragons breath macro. All the gorgonians except one one on the left from the original setup were moved to the sump for more room.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/bd20e81311335a85e1161f261af8ac60/tumblr_nwysd9E3Cf1twx0s4o1_540.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/b9c17c32ec920443b5a41b241a411e64/tumblr_nwysd9E3Cf1twx0s4o2_1280.jpg

[acropora213]

Looking nice. Coming right along.
Blow that FL rock off often,until fully cured.

Returns look a little... Bulky
For such a clean though out setup. Just my thought though.

[GriffinMarsh]

Yeah those returns are quite bulky. If I can tract down the 1/4" line and flare nozzle I will replace them. I do like the amount of water pushing through the system while still keeping a nice current in the tank around all the rocks. Might keep the right side large and then switch the left side to the smaller loc line. As for a size comparison though I will post a picture with somebody standing next to it.

[GriffinMarsh]

This was taken during round two of setup. As you can see it is a pretty small tank and those stinking returns were the best/smallest available at the time.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/4fb4dafd9ea40182d4dab81e416c509d/tumblr_nx0ehcgssx1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

[acropora213]

Wow! Pico is right :)

I like all the planning that went into this.

[seymour47]

I work in a marine science lab and the lab next door to ours has a really nice 90 gallon low profile tank for their experimental corals. They bought the Tampa Bay live rock and that stuff is amazing. For at least 6 months I was looking nearly every day and found something new in that tank that came out of the rock.

[GriffinMarsh]

I have absolutely fallen in love with this tank. A little back story on the build process that was left out of the beginning. The owner of the aquarium does illustrations with an emphasis in natural illustration. One of the subject matter he excels at is marine organisms. So I proposed that he hook me up with some of his prints, and I would build a little tank for him. I designed the tank with ease of mind and simplicity. Usually with a nano that doesn't always work. So far so good with only minor hiccups. Here is an illustration off his website.

http://www.nearsightgraphite.com

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/538109b8e4b0ed2aa3d456f6/t/5513c8eae4b0301f01209cab/1427359985590/?format=750w

[GriffinMarsh]

Alrighty Update time. Ammonia is just barely showing, other than that things are going great. Here are some updated pictures of the tank. One of the new additions for now is an ORA White Spotted Pygmy Filefish. He is quite the pod eater! Busting out the DSLR soon for some macro shots!

https://40.media.tumblr.com/4a37633d8d4dd74e489eb4d6a1e7facd/tumblr_nx9s8lL4J21twx0s4o1_500.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/24420adf1a90182ff1c458f5a53139c2/tumblr_nx9s8lL4J21twx0s4o2_400.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/ea3f2d31f5082b5980eca7815ffd9280/tumblr_nx9s8lL4J21twx0s4o3_400.jpg

[nanodude87]

Nice looking little setup! I look forward to following along with its progress.

[GriffinMarsh]

Open Questions

Living in Arizona can be a challenge in the summer months for aquariums. Luckily we are cooling off and starting to get in prime tank water temperature time. Even with this aquarium being small, it hold temps wonderfully(as of now) between 76N-78D. All the fish we really want to add to the aquarium are known jumpers, such as gobies and blennies(some of them). My questions are as follows:

1. If we decide to add a solid glass top to the aquarium, really home much heat if any do you expect the aquarium to hold?

2. Will the AI Prime need to intensified to allow similar par as now?

3. With Starphire glass, is there any additional magnification or reflection to look out for? Possibly requiring lowering the intensity of the light?

With a reef tank I have never had a glass lid or hood for that matter. All kinda new.

[jco1856]

Just got a used AI Prime. Would greatly appreciate it if you can tell me how high you have your lights set up and the settings for the different color channels. Going to be over the exact same tank

[ReefWreak]

Open Questions
My questions are as follows:

1. If we decide to add a solid glass top to the aquarium, really home much heat if any do you expect the aquarium to hold?

A lot of heat, to some degree because of the greenhouse effect, to some degree because you will not be evaporating water off the surface anymore

2. Will the AI Prime need to intensified to allow similar par as now?
Yes

3. With Starphire glass, is there any additional magnification or reflection to look out for? Possibly requiring lowering the intensity of the light?
Probably not, if anything it will likely diffuse it and get in the way, lowering intensity

With a reef tank I have never had a glass lid or hood for that matter. All kinda new.

I would recommend using a clear mesh netting and building a frame for it (you could build a nice one, you seem like a handy guy). Bulkreefsupply sells a nice clear mesh, and I'm sure you could find some of it at other sites too.

[BMMMW]

Beautiful tank and awesome job on the diy stand, paint, plumbing etc...

[GriffinMarsh]

Update Time

So things are turning... green. As expected with a natural style aquarium, algae is part of the game. So far the green algae is staying relatively small and non invasive. Just like the diatoms, I assume that over the next couple of months they will deplete in numbers. The rock is really coming to life. Its amazing all the sponge and tunicates that are popping out. I can't wait to see how this bad boy progresses over the next months. Hopefully soon I can get some higher quality images to show.

Here is the tank right after the first bloom of algae. as you can see some of the sponge has a diatom film on them, but I've noticed that the ball sponge especially looses the layer quickly, and then looks larger.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/a056ba7582c5eeb549eb70e9f42ac0fd/tumblr_ny76y93Oaa1twx0s4o6_1280.jpg

I posted in the invert section a question about the reef compatibility of echinaster sentus and found out the hard way when it decided to snack of the blastomussa.

Before
https://40.media.tumblr.com/138f06f6d31ca09c82d7b6e31fbc1e3c/tumblr_ny76y93Oaa1twx0s4o5_500.jpg

After
https://36.media.tumblr.com/e879babf4abe355ed157d183b5b007d1/tumblr_ny76y93Oaa1twx0s4o3_500.jpg

Moral of the story, check your starfish species! He is living happily in the sump with a bulldozer/paint chip eater pincushion urchin, and a doofus mantis.

I gifted this tiny little rose bubble clone and porcelain crab to the tank from my system, and think that both are looking exceptional. I will demand it back when it gets too large for the system. It, like everything else seems to be growing quickly.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/8dca4bf0e1d6ad226eb95823b1dd0a2f/tumblr_ny76y93Oaa1twx0s4o2_1280.jpg

just a neat shot of some corals and such.

https://36.media.tumblr.com/3643dd5dfb640bc67e05f6778da66d1b/tumblr_ny76y93Oaa1twx0s4o4_1280.jpg

And finally the latest update of the nano with the pygmy white spot filefish chilling in the corner. As you can probably tell, the diatoms from the first picture have been replaced with a green macro(well mostly). Remember that this is a natural no filter aquarium. We like to see all things growing not just coral and coralline. As long as corals are looking healthy, we will keep the algae growing. It may seem that he is skipping on cleaning the aquarium, but notice the glass is spotless and the white stripe is covered. We like to say that is adds a little depth to the tank.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/07289167b4c36d5dc246a47baa1f4072/tumblr_ny76y93Oaa1twx0s4o1_1280.jpg

[iphone]

Whoah,water line looks really high.How do you combat water displacement when working inside the tank?

Really digging the clean modern look,the last pics are stunning.Great idea transforming the tank though.

[GriffinMarsh]

When hands are placed in the tank, water simply flows to the back overflow box. Of course anything has to be placed in slowly or it would displace over the front.

[GriffinMarsh]

Here are some pictures of the newest additions. They are looking sweet!

Porcelain Crab and Bubble Tip Anemone
https://41.media.tumblr.com/136f5a65a7118a49727df9fcf17f4491/tumblr_nyi8xhfL2I1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

Pygmy White Spotted Filefish
https://41.media.tumblr.com/1ce86731bee186dda86f46c7712647ea/tumblr_nyi8xhfL2I1twx0s4o2_500.jpg

Red Kelp
https://40.media.tumblr.com/96802066e2fe7b70028e7ed91d22d976/tumblr_nyi8xhfL2I1twx0s4o3_500.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

New additions to the nano. Loving their ricordea to hang out on.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/35cbb9b493d400bc5c9edb9d955b88ca/tumblr_nyv6ey5ZZm1twx0s4o2_1280.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/e5b5118e5709ad88194206dcd9451b0e/tumblr_nyv6ey5ZZm1twx0s4o1_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/465abeb12dfd696729334d6bf35b28da/tumblr_nyv6ey5ZZm1twx0s4o3_1280.jpg

[GriffinMarsh]

almost forgot the blue hypnea too.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/f39154fce76582ea2a8f5b6db74c1cca/tumblr_nyv7hv82N41twx0s4o1_540.jpg

[Baptizt]

Very Nice. Have same tank without top and loving it.

[GriffinMarsh]

Very Nice. Have same tank without top and loving it.

Cool. I would love to see some pictures of your setup. I always like to compare what people have done differently to stock tanks!

[Baptizt]

Hope this works....:idea:
First pic is of the startup.
Auto KH-MG-CA en topoff with doser.
DIY LED build.
No fish.

http://s28.postimg.org/nggq94h2x/IMG_20150223_143204.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/nggq94h2x/)

http://s3.postimg.org/4x8kijxe7/IMG_20151130_130953.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4x8kijxe7/)

http://s13.postimg.org/tjdtd13tf/IMG_20151130_130803_1.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tjdtd13tf/)

[jco1856]

Just wondering what your settings are on your AI Prime.
So far I have mine: CW 20%, R 10%, G 10%, DB 40%, B 40%, UV 20% and V 40%. Up from 12 PM to 9 PM with 1 hour ramp time

[GriffinMarsh]

Just wondering what your settings are on your AI Prime.
So far I have mine: CW 20%, R 10%, G 10%, DB 40%, B 40%, UV 20% and V 40%. Up from 12 PM to 9 PM with 1 hour ramp time


I don't know exactly what the light settings are. It has been changed frequently due to the inhabitants.

[GriffinMarsh]

So it has been a while since I posted some picture updates of the aquarium. Here is whats new. As you can tell, the painted back had been chipped away over the last five months. The tank might need an upgrade.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/876a3875a8721929c14e2280fa760e11/tumblr_o4ghwphk0j1twx0s4o1_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/5abc482b12bd73043741e69123fbd87b/tumblr_o4ghwphk0j1twx0s4o2_1280.jpg

https://36.media.tumblr.com/9174b30fd46f6e2931041f7eea273b1a/tumblr_o4ghwphk0j1twx0s4o3_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/6ce39947e664014a884df11a1a1693a1/tumblr_o4ghwphk0j1twx0s4o4_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/99686c80b9f3afd1bea162440fc03822/tumblr_o4ghwphk0j1twx0s4o5_500.jpg

[rickztahone]

How is your tank supported? Is it squarely on that block of wood?

[neontetra777]

could you post some pictures of your sump? tank looks fantastic

[rickztahone]

The background was painted by spray can and has started chipping off? Would you mind sharing the dims of the overflow box? I plan to make something similar on the side of my tank but I only have 12" to work with. However, yours looks to be very small as well. Were there any concerns on drilling the 3 holes in the overflow box since they are so close together?

[GriffinMarsh]

How is your tank supported? Is it squarely on that block of wood?

The background was painted by spray can and has started chipping off? Would you mind sharing the dims of the overflow box? I plan to make something similar on the side of my tank but I only have 12" to work with. However, yours looks to be very small as well. Were there any concerns on drilling the 3 holes in the overflow box since they are so close together?

Sorry Im horrible at replying back to comments. The Fluval Edge comes with a plastic support that was utilized to lift the tank up. So it is designed to be placed up on the support. Gives it a nice look for sure. The background was painted with Krylov Fusion, which when dry is perfectly safe for aquarium use. Found out that urchins like it and algae can grow behind it peeling it off. The dimensions of the overflow box are 8X8x3". As for drilling the glass, just keep it consistent and gentle. But I have drilled 100+ tanks.

[rickztahone]

Sorry Im horrible at replying back to comments. The Fluval Edge comes with a plastic support that was utilized to lift the tank up. So it is designed to be placed up on the support. Gives it a nice look for sure. The background was painted with Krylov Fusion, which when dry is perfectly safe for aquarium use. Found out that urchins like it and algae can grow behind it peeling it off. The dimensions of the overflow box are 8X8x3". As for drilling the glass, just keep it consistent and gentle. But I have drilled 100+ tanks.

wow, 8"x8"x3"! That is way smaller than the one I plan on doing! You are running 3/4" piping correct? If so, is it a Bean Animal setup and do you have any problems with noise? I have heard a few people mention that when you go below the 1" mark it may become a problem (noise). Thanks for your reply though.

[GriffinMarsh]

Picture Time:

Maintenance
https://41.media.tumblr.com/50163506ec2ad282136d17b4224bc83e/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o1_500.jpg

FSS
https://36.media.tumblr.com/3bea129c99aa7e7c24ddf4cd04ba78f2/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o2_500.jpg

Main display with the sump and ATO on bottom right.

Sump Close Up
https://40.media.tumblr.com/61579ed1fcc0c23d287ba0cfd6b7f8a0/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o3_1280.jpg

Some display eye candy
https://36.media.tumblr.com/a1d8fecc34dce73a7a4e8c413f51c71c/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o4_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/63ec152afb1fde57681690d7b8caa00d/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o5_1280.jpg

[rickztahone]

Where's that like button?!? Awesome looking tank and sump

[Excurrent]

Hey everyone. I'm the happy owner of the 6gal tank in this thread. Finally got around to creating an RC account.

I'll try to pop some pictures on here in the near future and will help GriffinMarsh out with the great little updates he's been posting.

Just hunted down and wrestled two sizable bobbit (Eunicid) worms out of the rocks, so it's time for a beer.

[kjay88]

Overflow Box, stand progress, and new colors for the light box and fluval stand.



https://40.media.tumblr.com/6786c506b0e143d6f94a33533c8ae2c9/tumblr_nwpddktk5m1twx0s4o1_500.jpg



https://41.media.tumblr.com/26aaabec230864715e3e5e6a095653a3/tumblr_nwpddktk5m1twx0s4o2_500.jpg



https://36.media.tumblr.com/fe47e8cc0ee0db495d5467e9acf5c842/tumblr_nwpdcnpX5r1twx0s4o1_500.jpg



https://36.media.tumblr.com/f4252a1cdc3bda9208d2d4e63decf1b4/tumblr_nwpdcnpX5r1twx0s4o2_400.jpg



Your inspiring me to make one for my office

[kjay88]

Picture Time:



Maintenance

https://41.media.tumblr.com/50163506ec2ad282136d17b4224bc83e/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o1_500.jpg



FSS

https://36.media.tumblr.com/3bea129c99aa7e7c24ddf4cd04ba78f2/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o2_500.jpg



Main display with the sump and ATO on bottom right.



Sump Close Up

https://40.media.tumblr.com/61579ed1fcc0c23d287ba0cfd6b7f8a0/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o3_1280.jpg



Some display eye candy

https://36.media.tumblr.com/a1d8fecc34dce73a7a4e8c413f51c71c/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o4_1280.jpg



https://40.media.tumblr.com/63ec152afb1fde57681690d7b8caa00d/tumblr_o5ldpniWWD1twx0s4o5_1280.jpg



That is a work of art