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03/29/2012, 06:19 PM | #1 |
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My 10 Gallon Nano Reef Build
I've always been intrigued by nano reefs and how beautiful they can be in such a small environment.
So I’ve done a lot of reading and searching and decided to build one. I know what I'm getting myself into and I’m accepting the challenge. This is something that will surely push me towards being a bigger reef hobbyist. As for my first nano, I’m going to start with a standard 10 gallon aquarium (20x10x12) and custom build an overflow chamber into the left/rear corner. I will not be using a sump in this build but will be using a modded Aquaclear 70 refugium and a Aquaclear 20 with an InTank Media Basket ( http://shop.mediabaskets.com/AquaCle...ket-AC20MR.htm ). I believe getting rid of surface scum is just another step to having a successful aquarium. The overflow will also be keeping the DT at one water level but also means I have to be careful not run the overflow dry from evaporation. The modded Aquaclear 70 refugium will be placed in the overflow section. As for the Acuaclear 20 will be placed on the opposite side of the aquarium. I’m going to run cheato and rubble rock in the Aquaclear 70 and Chemi-Pure Elite, Purigen, and a polyfilter in the Aquaclear 20. I have also built a baffle in the overflow to hold another piece of polyfilter to collect all the scum off the surface. It will, somewhat, decrease the water sloshing sound when water has evaporated. I have bought 10 pounds of Bulk Reef Supply’s “Reef Saver Rock”, but will probably not use all of it. Don’t really know how I’m going to aquascape it, but I’m going to take my time. I will be seeding the aquarium with a piece of rock and some sand from my 1.5 year old reef. But enough of me talking. Time to post some pictures
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
03/29/2012, 08:11 PM | #2 |
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Your build sounds like it's going to be great! I wish I would have made an overflow for my 10g nano. Nice work. I will be following the build!
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36 Bow front, 10g nano and building a 90g in my basement Always dreaming of a bigger tank!! |
03/29/2012, 09:31 PM | #3 |
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I have a feeling this is going to be a cool build. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
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03/30/2012, 12:36 AM | #4 |
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Thanks guys
Im so anxious to fill this baby up.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
03/30/2012, 04:20 AM | #5 |
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Looks sexy. What's your plan for lighting? Any chance of an ato?
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6g rimless cube, 2g sump, tunze silence, osmolator, ledio led |
03/30/2012, 08:07 AM | #6 |
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Did you cut out the overflow slots yourself?
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03/30/2012, 08:54 AM | #7 |
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WOW ! Nice and neat..I'm loving it
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03/30/2012, 12:32 PM | #8 |
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Where did you get the black acrylic to make the overflow?
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Born Southern and Fish by the Grace of God Current Tank Info: Nanocube6 |
03/30/2012, 02:30 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
I'm most likely going to go with the ELOS ato but not now. Yes I did. I used a dremel with a router bit. Thanks miniwhinny Tapplastics.com Real good quality acrylic and measurements were right on the dot. I'll take a picture and show how close the overflow is to the trim. It's barely touching it.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
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03/30/2012, 02:53 PM | #10 |
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This is cool, and makes me want to go tear my black rim off my 10g and then build an AIO system.
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03/30/2012, 09:46 PM | #11 |
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Did you bend the acrylic or did it come like that? Looks sick so far. Nice!
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TIM Current Tank Info: 29 biocube. Rkl with alc. mp-10. DIY CREE LEDs. Tunze 9002. 10 gallon with kessil 150 ocean blue |
03/30/2012, 10:39 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
I bought 2 pieces of acrylic and used Weld-On 4 to put them together. I cut the teeth out before i glued them. I just sanded the edge and torched it for a smooth finish.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
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03/31/2012, 01:57 AM | #13 |
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Then well done sir! It looks like a professional job. Can't wait for updates.
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TIM Current Tank Info: 29 biocube. Rkl with alc. mp-10. DIY CREE LEDs. Tunze 9002. 10 gallon with kessil 150 ocean blue |
04/02/2012, 08:49 PM | #14 |
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Speaking of updates ....
anything new to report..? |
04/03/2012, 12:59 AM | #15 | |
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Update!
Quote:
I just recieved 10 pounds eco-saver rock from BRS today and I'm still waiting on my sand. I bought Tropic Eden's Miniflakes (best sand ever) from premium aquatics. Tracking number says it'll be here Friday. I've already modded my Aquaclear 70 and is ready to go. Media basket from InTank arrived Friday for the Aquaclear 20. I love the workmanship that went into this basket. I really recommend this basket to anyone who wants to run filter floss, purigen, carbon, or any other media. Awesome product. In the mean time, while i wait for my sand, I'm mixing salt (Red Sea Coral Pro). Still contemplating on which light I should buy I want to try something different. I will post pictures soon.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
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04/03/2012, 11:04 AM | #16 |
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looks good, interested to see how things go without a sump
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04/05/2012, 02:12 AM | #17 |
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Update
Finally finished modding the Aquaclear 70.
I put a piece of 1/4" acrylic as the baffle. The basket it came with worked as good template. The light I made came from a thread I had read last week and I thought it was pretty clever. http://mini-reef.blogspot.com/2008/0...t-fixture.html I liked the concept but it wasn’t as clean as I like it to be. So I did what he did and used the same LEDs, but I used 3/8” tinted acrylic I had left over from my sump build. Made a small box to house the leds, cut the lid and put in a piece of 1/8” clear acrylic so light isn’t dimmed from the green lid of the Aquaclear. Overall, I think it came out pretty well
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
04/05/2012, 02:14 AM | #18 |
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I was also thinking of painting the lid black.
What do you guys think?
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
04/05/2012, 07:29 AM | #19 |
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thats awesome. i am going to steal that overflow idea for my 20XH build.
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04/05/2012, 01:05 PM | #20 | |
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Quote:
Just make sure that you filters tube will reach near the bottom of the overflow.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
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04/06/2012, 06:42 AM | #21 |
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guess i should try to find the extension tubes for my ac70s.
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04/06/2012, 07:32 PM | #22 |
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If you can't find it, you can buy one for like $6.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
04/07/2012, 03:21 PM | #23 |
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Just painted my Aquaclear 70 with plastidip. It came out better than I though.
Here's a few pictures with the lid on and off.
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SFVR Member Cadlights 50G Artisan (Rebuilding/Upgrading) 10 Gallon Project |
04/07/2012, 06:16 PM | #24 |
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Very nice project!
Keep up the good work Do you happen to remember the height of your overflow plexy pieces?
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40b DT, with a 20l DIY sump 10g clam lagoon plumbed together with^ 10g stand alone NANO, JBJ 24g NanoCube rescue project |
04/07/2012, 06:37 PM | #25 |
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AC70 looks bad ***! Like it came off the assembly line!
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basket, intank, nano, overflow, refugium |
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