Our new nano tank

[May&Bruce]

Been out of the reef scene for only a year, after selling off our 150 Gal 5ft tank, so time to get back into it, but with a Nano as I travel a lot (and May needs to be able to take care of it while I am away). Designing it myself. Design is complete now and have bought many components. Will order the tank and sump this week and will post pics once I have the tank. Will be keeping fish and some LPS. Details are:

Tank: 18" wide x 17" x 16" high. (= 70 litres or 18 gal approx). Low iron/Starfire glass on 3 sides. Odd tank size is to suit the cabinet we have already bought.

Sump: 15"w x 11" x 12"h. Custom design to fit skimmer, mech filter, bio filter and return pump.

Cabinet: 100 cm high Teak cabinet. (we have lots of teak furniture, so cabinet must blend in).

Skimmer: Bubble Magus 3.5 needlewheel skimmer (has internal pump).

Return pump: Aquabee UP 2000.

Chiller: Will be a Hailea HC 130. Will use the return pump also for the chiller.

Lighting: MaxSpect 60W LED lighting. (I may modify the circuitry so that I can independently switch some of the LEDs to achieve a "twilight zone").

There will be no internal power head, as the return water outlet angle will be adjustable to cause water movement in the tank, and using the Aquabee 2000 will ensure a sufficiently high water flow.

The concept is simplicity and low maintenance, while not skimping on water quality. We are trying to keep the budget (inc. all above equipment, tank, cabinet, etc.) to below S$1,500 (not including sand, rock and livestock).

[May&Bruce]

Tank. 8mm glass, crystal glass on 3 sides

[May&Bruce]

Tank and teak cabinet. Cabinet is solid wood.

[May&Bruce]

Bubble Magus needlewheel skimmer

[May&Bruce]

Sump, 5mm glass. I had the inner pieces cut so that I could complete the design myself. Sump inside the cabinet

[May&Bruce]

Tank intake and overflow under construction. Black overflow box casing is from 3mm acrylic sheet from Dama Plastics in Ubi.

[May&Bruce]

Costs so far:

1. 
   
   
2. Tank, Crystal 3 sides - 40cm H x 46cm W x 43cm $236.00
   
3. Sump - 30cm H x 38cm W x 28cm D $51.00
   
4. Cabinet, Teak - 100cm H x 50cm W x 40cm D $300.00
   
5. Skimmer, Bubble Magus 3.5 $150.00
   
6. Return Pump, Aque Bee UP 2000 $116.00
   
7. Lighting, Maxspect 60W LED $268.00
   

Total $1,121.00

Only other major items are a chiller and live rock!

[May&Bruce]

I will do a water test tonight - check for leaks, tank water height, etc.

This weekend will buy live rock, sand, salt and start the tank cycling.

[jem]

awesome DIY work bro! do a review on the BM 3.5 soon please!

hmm if you are stocking low on coral i dont think the return will be enough as you are doubling it up to use it for the chiller as well.. lots of headloss there..

how about adding in a VORTECH MP10?..

and i hope you plan to add a durso pipe to your overflow

for some reason, the setup reminds me of ELOS system

cant wait to see everything in action!

[May&Bruce]

awesome DIY work bro! do a review on the BM 3.5 soon please!

hmm if you are stocking low on coral i dont think the return will be enough as you are doubling it up to use it for the chiller as well.. lots of headloss there..

how about adding in a VORTECH MP10?..

and i hope you plan to add a durso pipe to your overflow

for some reason, the setup reminds me of ELOS system

cant wait to see everything in action!

Well, ELOS gave me the idea!

Yeah I know what you mean about the headloss, but the aquabee 2000 is overkill on its own. I'll try it and if I need a second pump then no worries, i'll put one in.

[peacemaker]

Bro, the green tint on your crystal glass seems a bit... too green. I might be wrong, but I thought its usually kinda grey or dark when viewed at an angle? Are you able to see clearly to the other end when you look from the edges of your glass panel?

[raydiative]

Great Job.. This is going to be one fantastic Nano... Keep the pics coming!

[Guest may&bruce]

Bro, the green tint on your crystal glass seems a bit... too green. I might be wrong, but I thought its usually kinda grey or dark when viewed at an angle? Are you able to see clearly to the other end when you look from the edges of your glass panel?

I know what you mean but I think its the photograph colouring. Looking through the edges of the 3 sides is definitely clearer than the rear side.

[May&Bruce]

Water test completed last night. No leaks but more importantly the overflow size is perfect, and if the power fails the sump can hold all water that drains back down through the pump.

Btw the Bubble Magus skimmer is very quiet and the Aquabee 2000, is extremely quiet. I'll do a review on the Bubble Magus in a month or so once I can fully evaluate it in real operation.

[May&Bruce]

Will buy salt, sand and live rock this weekend and start cycling the tank.

Also going to get a Hailea HC-130 chiller. Anyone have any experience with the chiller? I am particularly interested in how quiet it is.....

[OooFishFish]

Hi bro, i got to say its a very nice n neat setup. At first i thought u will use a overflow box like the skimz overflow box but instead u DIY an IOS. Good DIY skills for the IOS n SUmp.

[peacemaker]

I know what you mean but I think its the photograph colouring. Looking through the edges of the 3 sides is definitely clearer than the rear side.

Glad to hear that. Looking forward to your updates!

[blue33]

Hi. May i know where you make your cabinet? Looks very solid make. Thanks!

[May&Bruce]

Hi. May i know where you make your cabinet? Looks very solid make. Thanks!

Its not custom made. It is simply a solid teak cabinet that we found and was approximately the right size. We looked around a lot of teak furniture places before we found this cabinet. Cost $300 and bought from an Indonesian teak furniture place in Lam Soon Building, Hillview Ave.

[May&Bruce]

Picked up a chiller yesterday from Dr Evil (Hailea 130) - surprised how noisy the cooling fan is in it Anyway, you get what you pay for.

Tank now full we water, sand and rock. Used Caribsea live sand together with live rock so I expect the cycle time to drop significantly, but I wont be adding anything livestock until it is fully cycled.

Will post a pic or two later

[Harlequinmania]

Keep the photo coming .. What do you intent to use to kick start and cycle your tank ?

[OooFishFish]

Yeah bro, keep the photos coming. Been checking ur thread everyday. share share ur updates.

[May&Bruce]

Will add some more pics this weekend as the rock scaping is done and the tank is cycling.

I used Caribsea live sand and have 7kg of live rock. Started cycling last weekend and threw in a market prawn yesterday to kick start the cycling.

[May&Bruce]

Here's the lighting system - Nice little LED system from DE Lightings - works well and does not get very warm at all

[May&Bruce]

Rock scaping done last week.