10g shallow build

[David M.]

Hey all, this was originally designed for dwarf seahorses but my wife doesn't really want to be held accountable (responsible) for feeding while Im gone on work trips. Completely understandable. Anyways, still building out the tank and trying to decide what will go in it. I already have a build going in the seahorse subgroup, but ponies are on hold so I'll make one here.

Got the tank from a local reefer, 19x29x7 so about 10g

Drilled two 1 1/8 holes in the tank on opposite ends of the tank for 1/2 bulkheads.

Bit melted to the acrylic cause my drill ran out of juice... That was scary

Success

Baby gate cause I have destructive babies

Drilled holes in stand to match

Rounded out to make them prettier

10g sump below. Fit like a glove. Not planning on baffles.

The bulkheads I got from my LFS said 1 1/8 inch holes, but they didn't fit. So I had to order new bulkheads from glass holes. Still waiting on that. Need a return pump still... Not sure what I'm gonna get yet.

For now I'm at least sure I want zoas/palys & leathers. Probably nothing more. No clue what I want in here stock wise, since it's so shallow I want no chance of jumpers.

Not sure which light to use, probably t5. Maybe LED cause its cheap.

I have a PSK-110H skimmer that's WAY overkill. I'll use it if I get something messy like a wartskin Angler or something. If not I may just run without a skimmer.

Hope y'all enjoyed so far, more to come.

 

[kendavjac]

Looking good so far.

 

[David M.]

Thanks kendavjac. I'm trying to figure out how to connect pvc to loc line, or loc line directly to the bulkhead for the return. Not quite sure how that works. Anyone got some tips?

 

[jduck]

Loc line has a threaded adaptor. So if you used threaded bulkheads you can do that. Or to pvc you would need a slip/threaded coupler.

 

[David M.]

My bulkheads are slip x slip. So I'll have to use pvc, to maybe a 90 pvc that's slip x thread.

 

[revhtree]

Gonna be a cool tank!

 

[David M.]

Thanks! Still no clue what's going in it... Lol

 

[David M.]

Just so happens my LFS had the exact loc line I needed! And got an email from glass-holes, my bulkheads shipped out today. Should be here by Friday then I can get this thing wet!

 

[David M.]

Bulkheads are in... And they fit!

I have a 500gph return pump that I think will work for a bare bottom frag tank (which it will be for a while).

Just need to get the pvc hooked up and cut, then find a light and I'll be in business! The cycle will be nonexistent, using a whole lot of rock from my reef.

I do however still need to find a light... I want something cheap, but will also really make the corals pop cause this tank will be a top down viewable thing. I've thought maybe par38.

 

[David M.]

Got everything plumbed up

First water test!

Turns out the return pump I had was pushing too much water for the 1/2 inch overflow so I need to find a new return pump. Almost had water everywhere.

 

[David M.]

Should have checked this first. I'm pushing over 500 gph (540?) through 1/2 when it can only handle 420 gph. Also the overflow was LOUD. I'll have to pick up the stuff to durso this sucker.

 

[DustyXB9Reefer]

That's gonna be a very cool tank. Regardless of what you don't know is going to be in there haha.

 

[David M.]

Thanks! Just frags for now. Until I sell all them off. Eventually I want it to be a shallow softie reef.

 

[David M.]

Just picked up a 317 gph return pump. This one absolutely should work, but we'll see. Hopefully I'll be able to get it running and cycling tonight. The only thing holding be back now is a light.

 

[David M.]

New pump works great. Definitely gonna need a durso though...

 

[David M.]

Got the durso finished but it still can't handle a 317 gph return pump. Water level still rises top quick. I'm really confused because it's supposed to handle a 420 gph gravity flow... Help

 

[David M.]

It was actually the street 90 reducing to fit inside the 1/2 pvc. I took that off and it works fine now, just loud. I'm picking up a 3/4 elbow, and I'll sand off the inside to fit around the 1/2. That should solve my problem.

 

[DustyXB9Reefer]

I'm still new to reefing but couldn't you just put a gate valve in line of the return pump?

 

[David M.]

I have one. Trying to avoid using it so it can stay a closed loop.

 

[David M.]

Looks like I should have done a 3/4 overflow. At least I know for next time. The overflow is back to the original boring open ended pvc, and lll get a glass holes overflow skimmer to keep snail's out.