Firestarter

Here's the simple design of my IOS. Hope it will solve the problem of microbubbles being sucked in by the seio from the skimmer output. The solution? This!

Hmm what does that mean? Guess I'll just have to go ahead into the unknown and experience it myself.

Haha peacemaker! Really like your tank. I was wondering what other kinds of equipment you use to require a sump. Do update your thread too.

Hi tunicate, first of all I must say you have a nice tank! I do agree with you that size is really restrictive especially the space for equipment. I've kept a 3ft tank before with a huge sump, so I know how the feeling is like having to 'shrink' to such a size. I want this tank to be really simple with minimal use of equipment, and keep any hassle low along the way. Space constraint is really the problem here, hence the size.

Hi tanks51, I would like to use the length of the IOS, but unfortunately the width of my tank is only 1ft, and it'll make the main tank really narrow. I'll just have to redesign my IOS. I already have something in mind. Will update again.

The seio will not only be supported by the rubber suckers, but with the help of the acrylic as well. I plan to stick the 'nose' of the seio so that about 1cm of it will be supporting by the hole in the acrylic. Do you think it would be better to place the seio at the bottom? Because I'm afraid that I might place corals at the bottom in the future. Thanks all for your comments.

Hi Ah lim, do you mean that the seio will suck the air from the water surface? Hmm another point to consider. Good thing posted pictures to show that my design is not perfect. Will have to redesign again.

Yes you are right! I was quite worried that the skimmer sponge would not be able to dissipate all the air properly, and some of the air will be sucked in by the seio. Guess I will have to do some adjustments to the design. Argh. Thanks for the valuable feedback! Much appreciated. Will post the new design again for your opinion.

No, I dont not plan to have any partition in the IOS. Please advise on any flaws you see in the design. Which part do you think will have a microbubble problem?

Tank setup with all equipment.

Another look inside the IOS chamber. Got a space at the right side, which can be used to place a mobile DSB. Haha I'm getting crazy from my weird ideas. Will explain more on the mobile DSB soon.

Cut out the return hole for the Seio M820. The real IOS will look something like this.

Placed the Atman 104 skimmer pump and Seio M820 inside the fake IOS.

Fooled around with some cardboard just now, to visualise the IOS. Cut out a piece of cardboard to act like an acrylic sheet.

Yes thats true! Was wondering what kinds of fish I can put in after that. Its going to be a real challenge.

Hi, thanks for your feedback and suggestions. On further thoughts, I think I'll pass on the external DSB tank. Just took some more pictures and I'll be posting them soon. As for the iceprobe, I've read that it can only support up to 10G of water, but my tank is 16G. Was wondering if I could just take my chances in it with the help of a fan.

I'm so afraid to make any mistakes and want to do everything as perfect as possible. Been thinking about equipment to use in the future like iceprobe, T5 lights and so forth.

Still many uncertainties in my mind now. I want to try to keep the setup simple, but I keep having wild ideas to make the setup more complicated. Right now I'm debating whether to run an external DSB tank as I have a similar 1.2ft tank with sandbed. Also, I'm not really sure if the 1x36W PL lights will sustain in the long run. Plan to make a bare bottom tank, and keep some corals like mushrooms first.

Final picture of the lightset. All that I have to do now is to change the bulb to a B/W bulb. Any comments welcomed and appreciated.

Played around with the wires, so that I can make use of the switch at the side. Then fired the lights up.

Rammed the e-ballast in as it was quite tight.

Fitted in the reflectors.

Plain blue hood is finally dry.

Luckily I had other colours as well, choose a cool blue colour instead. I think it looks better than black.

Time to give it a nice spray of paint. Sprayed it black but ran out of black spray halfway because one of the cans went haywire, and splattered blobs of paint everywhere.