Zico's 3 x 2 x 2 reef journey

[zico]

Just got mine installed yesterday.

Will put in more pictures when I am ready, now want to spend more time hunting down rocks to do up my rockscape.

Tank maker will come again on Monday to do some touch ups to the tank. I want to thank Iwarna's Victor for his help to set this up. He is a wonderful fella!

[Solo77]

Keep the photos coming. That puma shirt guy looks familiar, lol.

[zico]

Haha, ya, that is Victor.

This is my sump... this is the challenge that kept me awake at night.

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And this is a overall tank shot, still v raw as I haven't done any rockscaping.

[Harlequinmania]

The sump concept is interesting, mind to share more photos with us?

[wilsontantw]

Indeed a nice display cutout for ur sump... quite an interesting design.

Hopefully there's a comb between the sump display area to prevent fish/chaeto from flowing into the return pump area.

Keep the pix coming.

Oh yes... where's the chiller pump?

[peacemaker]

Nice idea on the display fuge. I'm trying to figure out how the sump works. The flow is in a horizontal S shape?

[engineer]

I like the concept of having a 'viewing window' of your sump. Interesting!!

[zico]

If there is something I dislike about this hobby, its rock scaping. Damn stressed doing it.

Spent half the afternoon working on the rock scape. Back aching now.... !

The sump concept is interesting, mind to share more photos with us?

Ok. Here it is.

Hopefully there's a comb between the sump display area to prevent fish/chaeto from flowing into the return pump area.

Oh yes... where's the chiller pump?

Yes, there is a net before every compartment's overflow.

Chiller is on the side, outside the cabinet. Am using my old tank's chiller. As it is underpowered, I will have to upgrade to a 1/5Hp or 1/10Hp soon.

I'm trying to figure out how the sump works. The flow is in a horizontal S shape?

Nope, no "S". The drain pipe goes into two seperate route.

Ok this is how it works.

Draining down pipe --------> Mechanical filter ------> Skimmer + Biopellets FR--------->RETURN PUMP

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-------> Refugium --------------------------------------------------------->RETURN PUMP

I have 2 downline... 1 goes to refugium directly. The refugium then flows directly to the return pump compartment w/o going through the skimmer and filter floss. I design it this way so that the refugium will be deep. I like my refugium big as I am a firm believer of raising macroalgae to suppress Po4 and nitrates.

A big refugium will also help me grow more copepods. Furthermore, due to its depth, I can try my hand at raising a species tank in there. Probably seahorse or even frog fish. The prospects of having a 2nd display tank in the form of a display refugium (or species tank) was tantalizing. Seriously I wouldnt dare do this w/o Iwarna's Victor assurance that his tank maker can do this and they have done it before. I left it to Victor to figure out where the cabinet door needs to be "cut" coz an inch in miscalculation will ruin the whole cabinet.

[vinccc2009]

If there is something I dislike about this hobby, its rock scaping. Damn stressed doing it.

Spent half the afternoon working on the rock scape. Back aching now.... !

Ok. Here it is.

Yes, there is a net before every compartment's overflow.

Chiller is on the side, outside the cabinet. Am using my old tank's chiller. As it is underpowered, I will have to upgrade to a 1/5Hp or 1/10Hp soon.

Nope, no "S". The drain pipe goes into two seperate route.

Ok this is how it works.

Draining down pipe --------> Mechanical filter ------> Skimmer + Biopellets FR--------->RETURN PUMP

|

|

|

-------> Refugium --------------------------------------------------------->RETURN PUMP

I have 2 downline... 1 goes to refugium directly. The refugium then flows directly to the return pump compartment w/o going through the skimmer and filter floss. I design it this way so that the refugium will be deep. I like my refugium big as I am a firm believer of raising macroalgae to suppress Po4 and nitrates.

A big refugium will also help me grow more copepods. Furthermore, due to its depth, I can try my hand at raising a species tank in there. Probably seahorse or even frog fish. The prospects of having a 2nd display tank in the form of a display refugium (or species tank) was tantalizing. Seriously I wouldnt dare do this w/o Iwarna's Victor assurance that his tank maker can do this and they have done it before. I left it to Victor to figure out where the cabinet door needs to be "cut" coz an inch in miscalculation will ruin the whole cabinet.

That's what I always wish to have....

You really tantalize me....:-)

[Kakani]

Nice tank and nice setup...

[spkentchai]

Indeed a nice display cutout for ur sump... quite an interesting design.

Hopefully there's a comb between the sump display area to prevent fish/chaeto from flowing into the return pump area.

Keep the pix coming.

Oh yes... where's the chiller pump?

Yes very interesting way to show the sump tank....very neat and give me ideas for my next project...lol

[zico]

Thanks for all the compliments.

Just added a small wavemaker in the refugium as the water movement is too muted.

Here is the rockscape so far. Subject to further changes. Siong and sianz doing this.

[Admiraltian]

Your setup is really nice and interesting.

[lawchan77]

really like the display refugium idea! :thumbsup:

[zico]

My tank so far. Added a mushroom first.

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[Admiraltian]

My tank so far. Added a mushroom first.

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Can't wait for u to stock up, will be camping here for more pics.

[jquek]

My tank so far. Added a mushroom first.

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Looking good. I like your sump tank idea.

[Ingwe]

looks good! I currently have a 2 feet tank with a 1 feet refugium display as well.. hoping to replicate that with my upcoming 3x2x2 project. Yours is beautifully done bro

[zico]

Haa. Same dimensions as mine. Feel free to call me to discuss over kopi or something . I learn a bit through from this tank.

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[cool guy]

Any update on ur tank bro...

If u need help on scaping let me noe k...

[zico]

Bro. Nothing much to update . Added zoas and a favia. Some fishes added. Intend to go real slow on stocking. Think Nx week i will be ready to plant more zoas that i bought and still left w some reefers. Hee...

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[CY2010]

nice tank setup,man. keep us updated on the progress

[Digiman]

Nice tank!!! I fell in love with the refugium!

It will be a good idea for my future setup but i'll not use it as refugium, i'll convert it to a deepwater nano fish setup!

[Admiraltian]

Nice tank!!! I fell in love with the refugium!

It will be a good idea for my future setup but i'll not use it as refugium, i'll convert it to a deepwater nano fish setup!

Will deepwater fishes required even lower temp? It will be a challenge to maintain 2 different sets of temp for both display & refug tank.

[zico]

Latest DT and refugium picture.

Refugium is working well as a nutrient export so far I doubt i want to turn the refugium into a species tank anymore.

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