Upgrade from IOS Tank

[tunicate]

Thanks to bro OooFishFish that I'm on the road to upgrade from my existing 2 footer IOS nano.

Below is the setup I received consisting of the 2 feet cube tank plus cabinet.

Need some work on the overflow...

As you can see, there're some missing stuff. So I went to Kelantan Rd & had me ordered a new 17"x19"x16" sump tank(The biggest I can fit in the cabinet with an external return pump). Thanks to bro thc for selling me his Aquabee 3000. I plan to use this to power the return.

Next, I visited Sun Hee Hardware not once but 3 times for the pipe fittings. They're helpful & offered advise to a plumbing 1st timer like me. I messed up the initial assembly & had to return for a new set. Oh btw, Sun Hee Hardware is at Clementi blk 354. It's actually not too far from C328.

With below assembly, I'm not able to direct overflow water into the horizontal "arm". All the water goes straight down into filter sock.

[tunicate]

Below is a pic of my sump together with the modified plumbing. This way, I can regulate the flow on both outlets.

[tunicate]

Silicon both the overflow netting in main tank & refugium(shown in previous pic).

Return piping also assembled. (I was asking for a pair of 45 degree elbows for the last 2 turn, but the hardware shop doesn't carry them.)

[dominik]

Silicon both the overflow netting in main tank & refugium(shown in previous pic).

Return piping also assembled. (I was asking for a pair of 45 degree elbows for the last 2 turn, but the hardware shop doesn't carry them.)

the hardware shops at 354 should have. There are two hardware shops side by side, one of them have more pipings stuff than the other.

[tunicate]

I think Sun Hee Hardware is the one with more pipe fittings. The space is so cramp you walk sideways along the aisles. Nevertheless, I'll ask around for 3/4" 45 degree elbows.

[DUCADOS]

Ya. Should use 45 degree elbow n avoid using 90 degree if can to minimise head lost for your return pump.

[tunicate]

Another headache is that I need the new setup to sit at the exact spot where my current IOS tank is. I allocated one whole day for below move:

(1) Prepare containers for LR & fishes.

(2) Move LR from IOS tank to temporary container.

(3) Move fishes from IOS tank to temporary container.

(4) Siphon out tank water

(5) disassemble power strip from cabinet.

(6) Move Cabinet & tank

(7) Return water, LR & fishes to IOS tank.

(8) Power up pumps & lightings.

(9) Shift new setup to desired spot.

[peacemaker]

Tank shifting is always a PITA, but usually worth the effort.

[tench1]

And its time for a better scaping!

[tunicate]

Talk about scaping, I'm planning something like below. This is something not possible in my nano tank.

I've some existing tonga branches that I can use to place between the 2 piles of rocks for support, but worry that it may clutter up the design.

Any suggestions are welcome?

[tench1]

lol, link taken away. u print screen and load pic here?

[tunicate]

Retry.

[tunicate]

Oh btw, I've also assemble the hood & cabinet door.

Gave them a coat of paint on the inside surface to make them more water proof.

[tunicate]

Migrated LR.

[tunicate]

Finally, migrated all LR & fishes. Used cable ties to secure some of the tonga branches. Hopefully, coralline would cover them up after some time.

FTS

Channel in between the 2 piles of rocks

Sorry about the poor photo quality.

[tunicate]

This is how the sump looks like now.

Left side is refugium containing LR & a basket of chaeto.

Right side filter sock & skimmer compartment.

Front & last compartment contains a basket of bio filtration + carbon

[tunicate]

A short clip I recorded of my tank inhabitants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdlwU8hgdk

[tunicate]

I rescaped a few tonga branches to get the mushies nearer the light.

left view

front view

right view

[nuj244]

Migrated LR.

so you did not cycle anymore? just right away transferred your LR to the new tank? How about your fishes, did you also transfer right away?

[tunicate]

so you did not cycle anymore? just right away transferred your LR to the new tank? How about your fishes, did you also transfer right away?

Reused water form old tank + added newly mixed salt water. I did not cycle.

Fishes transferred after new rock-scape confirmed.

[tunicate]

sorry I lost the link.

[tunicate]

Assembled a diy frag try from computer parts, pump mountings, nettings, & cable ties.

Installed rear of my tank with some mushies frag.

[tunicate]

It's been eons since my last update. Here it goes...

(1) Corals

The mushies are doing well on my frag tray.

Under full lighting

Under blue LED

I got myself a few zoas some time ago, & surprisingly they're still alive.

Also wanted to try GSP, hence got one from Ah Beng a few months ago.

Could not quite capture their luminescence under blue light. Believe me, it's much better than what you see on camera.

(2) LR

If you compare with my previous FTS, you'll notice I've done a little rescape to bring the corals closer to the lights, & to accommodate the piece of GSP.

(3) Equipment

I've switched to LED to give myself some experience with the new technology. I've replace 4xT5 with a LumenAqua 300 & 2 additional strips of DIY blue LED. Overall it's not as bright as the T5, but the shimmering effect is undeniable. My tangs needed a few days to get use to the new lighting.

[tansh]

I love ur rock scaping.Maybe consider putting some LPS coral since using max300 led.

[tunicate]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I plan to add some hardy corals, but at a very slow pace.

BTW, NO3 reading has dropped from 80ppm to 10ppm after introducing chaeto into my sump for half a year. Thanks Wilson

At this level, it's still not not suitable for many coral types. I hope to reduce it further.