This started out as a frag tank, but some how morphed into a euphyllia dominated tank. Not that I'm complaining. The tank has actually been running for a little more than two months now.
This tank build was mostly sprung out of boredom, the need to tinker and I needed to get the 10 gallon frag tank out of the guest room so guests could actually sleep in peace and quiet without the hum of pumps. Plus I was convinced by my wife to do so before my in-laws came to stay with us. Getting a second tank for mostly euphyllia was also an excuse to make the Reefer 250 more an SPS dominate tank as well once all the torches, hammers and Frogspawn were gone from it.
I started with a stock IM 25 gallon lagoon I got used for a decent deal that had the stand and tank and an artfully acyrlic lid.
Since the tank was going to be out in the open and I hate visible clutter, I didn't want to see wires, dosing tubes, or HOB algae reactors sticking out of the tank. So I decided to drill it and add a sump.
Started by removing some of the neoprene glued to bottom of tank.
Made a template for the holes.
Holes drilled! Full siphon, emergency, and return.
Original stand had a "V" cut out in back, but I needed more space to access bulkheads. I also removed the center support they had. Stand was made to hold a 25g or 40g tank and it looked stable without the center for the 25g. So I ripped it out for the sump.
Got an Aquamaxx 15.8" cube to make a sump. I regret using such thin glass for baffles. I always feel the need to be a little extra careful working in the sump because fear of breaking them.
Here's a picture of the sump area after it was moved into the house before the apex system was installed.
Cured some Pukani rock in the garage for 30 days. Here's the scape I ended up with.
And yes, I was crazy enough to set up a calcium reactor on this dinky tank. I'm on a quest for zero WC for both my tanks and a carx was part of that plan so I didn't have to dose a lot of stuff. It's tucked away in the pantry with tubes going through the wall to tank that's right on the other side. Wife mentioned with a laugh, "Oh...that's why you were cleaning out the pantry last night....Fish Stuff." I definitely could have gotten a much worse response.
Here's the equipment list. Don't worry, I know this is overkill. No need to tell me.
- DT: Innovative Marine Lagoon 25 gallon
- Sump: Aquamaxx 15.8" cube
- EcoTech Vectra S1
- EcoTech MP10wQD
- Skimz SN147 Monzter Protein Skimmer
- BRS mini reactor for carbon
- 2x Aquamaxx fr-se media reactors for algae reactors with 35W LED strip lights 4:1 red:blue - each is run for 12 hours
- Radion xr15w Pro G4 with diffuser
- Neotherm 100W heater
- Apex 2016
- Neptune ATK
- Neptune AFS
- Neptune LDK
- 10 gallon Trigger systems Cyrstal ATO container
Items for calcium reactor
- Geo CR510 nano calcium reactor
- Neptune PM1 Module with pH double junction probe
- Masterflex 7523-80 Peristaltic Pump
- carbon doser co2 regulator
- 5lb co2 tank
Tasks still to do:
- install AFS and LDK
Here's the tank on Christmas day - Day 48 since the tank was started.
This tank build was mostly sprung out of boredom, the need to tinker and I needed to get the 10 gallon frag tank out of the guest room so guests could actually sleep in peace and quiet without the hum of pumps. Plus I was convinced by my wife to do so before my in-laws came to stay with us. Getting a second tank for mostly euphyllia was also an excuse to make the Reefer 250 more an SPS dominate tank as well once all the torches, hammers and Frogspawn were gone from it.
I started with a stock IM 25 gallon lagoon I got used for a decent deal that had the stand and tank and an artfully acyrlic lid.
Since the tank was going to be out in the open and I hate visible clutter, I didn't want to see wires, dosing tubes, or HOB algae reactors sticking out of the tank. So I decided to drill it and add a sump.
Started by removing some of the neoprene glued to bottom of tank.
Made a template for the holes.
Holes drilled! Full siphon, emergency, and return.
Original stand had a "V" cut out in back, but I needed more space to access bulkheads. I also removed the center support they had. Stand was made to hold a 25g or 40g tank and it looked stable without the center for the 25g. So I ripped it out for the sump.
Got an Aquamaxx 15.8" cube to make a sump. I regret using such thin glass for baffles. I always feel the need to be a little extra careful working in the sump because fear of breaking them.
Here's a picture of the sump area after it was moved into the house before the apex system was installed.
Cured some Pukani rock in the garage for 30 days. Here's the scape I ended up with.
And yes, I was crazy enough to set up a calcium reactor on this dinky tank. I'm on a quest for zero WC for both my tanks and a carx was part of that plan so I didn't have to dose a lot of stuff. It's tucked away in the pantry with tubes going through the wall to tank that's right on the other side. Wife mentioned with a laugh, "Oh...that's why you were cleaning out the pantry last night....Fish Stuff." I definitely could have gotten a much worse response.
Here's the equipment list. Don't worry, I know this is overkill. No need to tell me.
- DT: Innovative Marine Lagoon 25 gallon
- Sump: Aquamaxx 15.8" cube
- EcoTech Vectra S1
- EcoTech MP10wQD
- Skimz SN147 Monzter Protein Skimmer
- BRS mini reactor for carbon
- 2x Aquamaxx fr-se media reactors for algae reactors with 35W LED strip lights 4:1 red:blue - each is run for 12 hours
- Radion xr15w Pro G4 with diffuser
- Neotherm 100W heater
- Apex 2016
- Neptune ATK
- Neptune AFS
- Neptune LDK
- 10 gallon Trigger systems Cyrstal ATO container
Items for calcium reactor
- Geo CR510 nano calcium reactor
- Neptune PM1 Module with pH double junction probe
- Masterflex 7523-80 Peristaltic Pump
- carbon doser co2 regulator
- 5lb co2 tank
Tasks still to do:
- install AFS and LDK
Here's the tank on Christmas day - Day 48 since the tank was started.
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