22 Gallon Long Reef Build

[gilber00]

Hello. I’m new to reef building and wanted to post my build to share my progress and for much needed advice. I started building my reef tank to model after the JBJ 10 g rimless tank. My display is a Mr Aqua 22g exquisite which I bought from Sevenports. Dealing with Sevenports was flawless. I built a custom internal overflow and filtration box. I had the center of the box for filtration. On each side of the center was to compartments for heaters followed by two outer compartments for return pumps. I used two Sicce Micro plus pumps. I was sitting around 300 gph. I have a Hygger 35w nano reef light. I’ll upgrade when I figure out my true needs. I cycled the tank and was about ready to start adding my lineup of fish until I decided to make major changes….

 

[Fish Fan]

Looks like a great start, good luck!

 

[barnacle_crusties]

I'd be a little worried about your stand sagging, but the tank itself looks great! Awesome scape.

 

[gilber00]

Well, my build was going well and I was a little uneasy about the book shelf as a proper stand, but I thought everything was going good. One day I went into my local aquarium shop and saw a biota mandarin and that changed everything. So I started my build over. My plan is to keep my display tank as is but add a sump tank and a new stand with a nice refugium to try to maintain a health supply of copepods in the hope of one day having a mandarin. I have started my new build with much of the leg work done, I’m just having a little trouble of how to put it all together.

 

[gilber00]

Well, this is what I am trying to reproduce. I made it with AI, now to bring it to life.

 

[gilber00]

I built my stand. It’s out of 3/4 maple plywood with solid 1x1 1/2 maple trim. I did it like that to stain it, but the solid maple wouldn’t hold stain at all. So I plan on painting it beach basket, it’s an off white color that I have for all my trim work in my house. I bought an aqueon 20g long for the sump. I was going to diy the baffles but found this kit on eBay and just liked it.

 

[gilber00]

I have my display tank cleaned out and sitting on my stand. I’m no sure if the sizing is right. Is the stand too big or is the tank too small. I want the tank a little farther forward because I wand my drain to go out of the back of the tank and through the top of the stand.