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My journey to Acrylic Nano Drop Off Tank

Jameshong

By Jameshong,
in Members Tank & Specs

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Jameshong Newbie

Jameshong

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How time flies...have been in saltwater hobby for almost 10 years .. finally came to a difficult decision that I have decommissioned my entire 3ft tank due to my tight working schedule...... sigh :( !!! Sigh after another Sigh...my nano System 45's lousy Chi-na made cabinet started to warp after a year and the cost of the new cabinet seemed too high to justify based on the various cabinet quotations received which may lead to another decom.

After discussing with my wife, I have decided to DIY a simple IOS nano tank to continue to upkeep my hobby since I am still very passionate in marine and also a DIY fanatics in person. With her support and family understanding, my blood starts to boil and the brain juice rejuvenated again..... :yeah::yeah::yeah: !

The next million dollar question will be : what type of tank and material to use to construct a simple nano tank and how to create one that is very original and unique to my personal taste? I have seen so many nano tanks in the web but none of them caught my eyes till I saw bro gargamelron's thread " PROJECT RED CLIFF" in the SRC Members Tank & Specs which ready aroused my great interest.

Although there are a few negative remarks on cliff down/drop down tank which are related to leaking issues but I still go ahead to DIY using acrylic sheet because I believed that as long as there's a well planning and preparation with overkill material used, leaking problem should be easily overcome...not to mention mine is just a nano tank only.

From initial plan to materials purchased and hands-on implementation, it took me almost 1-2 months to materialize the building of the nano tank and finally completed it on 27th July 2013 :groupwavereversed: .

While waiting for some of the equipment's arrival from oversea, please feel free to have a peek at my nano tank's DIY track at :

Equipment and stuff :

  • Display Tank - Acrylic Nano Drop Off Tank - IOS (~56L)
    • 1st shallow is L40xW36xH22cm(10cm IOS) and drop off is L22xW36xH42cm
  • Return Pump - Eheim Compact 1000
  • Protein Skimmer - Resun SK300 (China Made)
  • Aquarium Chiller - Nano Thermoelectric Aquarium Chiller, 200W (China Made)
  • Wave Maker - Sobo WP-50M (3W, 3000L/H, China Made)
  • Bio Media - Polyplab Bio Sphere (not sure yet)
  • Background - Aquarium Artificial 3D backdrop (China Made)
  • Live Sand - Natures Ocean Live Aragonite Black Sand or CaribSea Instant Aquarium Tahitian Moon Reef & Marine Substrate.

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Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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Jameshong Newbie

Jameshong

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Thanks all.

Lighting added into the list.

Equipment and stuff :

  • Display Tank - Acrylic Nano Drop Off Tank - IOS (~56L)
    • 1st shallow is L40xW36xH22cm(10cm IOS) and drop off is L22xW36xH42cm
  • Return Pump - Eheim Compact 1000
  • Protein Skimmer - Resun SK300 (China Made)
  • Aquarium Chiller - Nano Thermoelectric Aquarium Chiller, 200W (China Made)
  • Wave Maker - Sobo WP-50M (3W, 3000L/H, China Made)
  • Lighting - Ecotech Radion G1 or my
  • Bio Media - Polyplab Bio Sphere (not sure yet)
  • Background - Aquarium Artificial 3D backdrop (China Made)
  • Live Sand - Natures Ocean Live Aragonite Black Sand or CaribSea Instant Aquarium Tahitian Moon Reef & Marine Substrate.

post-1182-049500100201281969137_thumb.gi

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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Admiraltian Collaborator

Admiraltian

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Nice setup & DIY skills.

Display Tank : 36" x 20" x 20" Herbie overflow box design, Sump : 36" x 21" x 17", Frag Tank : 16” x 20” x 16”, custom built by Tank Culture.

Lightings : Ecotech  Radion XR15 Pro x 2 for Main Display Tank, Inled R80 x 1 for Frag Tank.

Chiller : Dalkin 1hp compressor with build-in drop coil.

Skimmer : Skimz Octa SC205i Protein Skimmer.

FR : H2Ocean FMR75 Fluidised Media Reactor with Hailea HX-2500 (Feeder Pump) running Rowaphos.

CR : Skimz Monzter E Series CM122 Calcium Reactor.

BPR: Marine Source Biopellet  Reactor with Continuum Reef Biopellet Fuel. 

Main Return Pump : SICCE Syncra ADV 9.0 & Jebao ACQ-10000 Water Pump.

Wavemaker : Jebao MOW-9 x2 for Main Display Tank & Jebao SLW-20M  Sine Wave Pump for  Frag Tank.

Water Top Up: AutoAqua Smart ATO Lite.

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Jameshong Newbie

Jameshong

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Nice setup ! May I know where u get your cabinet ? Or is it diy too?

Hi bro,

This is a cost saving project so not going to buy or custom make any cabinet but I will cannibalize the un-used side drawer table + some DIY to create a low height stair case shaped cabinet just for this drop-off tank lor.. ... :P !

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Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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Jameshong Newbie

Jameshong

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Bro why not get a 1/15hp chiller? Save you the pain of worrying about tank during Singapore hot spells.

I have one arctica 1/15hp chiller but It broke down and due to budget constraint, so I'll be getting one TEC chiller to try out soon.

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Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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Jameshong Newbie

Jameshong

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Nice setup & DIY skills.

Wow, this is already starting to look awesome!

Great job. Will camp here to see your setup.

Cannot wait till ur tank fully stocked.. its gonna be awesome

Nice DIY bro

Job well done!

Neat!!!

WOW!!! Superbly done!

definitely one of the most interesting build! cant wait to see it set up!

awesome !! great job.

Thanks ! .

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Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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erikokelf Newbie

erikokelf

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Wow extremely impressive build. Just wondering will the fine sand create a sand storm if you place a wm inside?

2x2x1.5

======

Maxspect Gyre

Maxspect Razer 120w 16k

H2O FR with Rowa

Eheim Universal 2400

BM Nac 5.5

JBJ Arctica 1/10Hp

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Jameshong Newbie

Jameshong

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Wow extremely impressive build. Just wondering will the fine sand create a sand storm if you place a wm inside?

Tried. As long no direct flow, there will be no sand storm.

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Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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