Wfduncan89
Community Member
Hello everybody,
I decided to start a thread for my 30 gallon innovative marine. Join me, if you would like, as I embark on this journey to turn this tank into something worthy of the bit of open real estate that I was graciously given permission by the bos...I mean my loving significant other.... to utilize.
Quick Background... I have 3 tanks set up currently (75 gallon planted fresh doing fine, 25 gal lagoon reef that was doing great, now its hanging in there, and a 75 ish gallon failed reef turned fowlr) that I just can't maintain and have been neglected over the last year or so as I switched careers and life became quite busy. I only planned for one tank, I don't know how this happened. SO... the plan right now is to breakdown and sell the two saltwater tanks, and turn a 30 gallon innovative marine ext that I found on the side of the road into a manageable, well thought out mostly LPS with a few easy SPS reef tank. I will keep what coral I can salvage from the 25 and (subject to change) keep a clown fish, 6 line wrasse, royal gramma, and ...a golden dwarf moray that is really cool but I have no business owning such an expensive species that I really can't afford.
The Plan... Drill the 30 gallon and build a DIY sump out of a 20 gallon tank, build a stand, and design the aquascape to meet the needs of the eel as well as the coral. The eel has been happy in the 25 gallon AIO, but I feel the extra volume of a 20 gallon sump and the extra space from the display will be beneficial. The design will keep things simple, but will take future upgrades into account. I'll pick and choose what equipment I want to keep as I break down the other tanks, and then sell whatever I don't need.
Where we are at today... I have already broken ground on the build. Right now I have begun super gluing marco rock formations(I'm curing some and will add rock from my current tanks to help the cycle), I have built out the stand, sump, and plumbing but haven't glued anything. The sump will have room for a skimmer, reactors, refugium, and/or algae scrubber as needed. The stand will have room for an enclosed area for wires/electronics/etc, and room for a dosing pump and containers. The ATO will have to sit outside of the stand with the current design as I don't want the sump area jam packed with too much stuff.
Equipment:
-1x Kessil AP700 or 2 x AI Hydra 26
-1x Reef Octo Skimmer (not sure which one, ill update later)
-several inkbirds to use for stand fan and heater
-random heaters to choose from, may upgrade to titanium eventually
-several older model jebao and tunze powerheads/wavemakers
-2x refugium lights
-2xjebao return pump
-PC fan for ventilating/cooling the sump cabinet
-2xADJ 8 switch power bar
-2 x kamoer dosing pumps
-tunze osmolator 3 nano ATO
-5 gallon ATO reservoir
The Red Sea that I will be shutting down and selling. This thing has been a pain and I can't wait to get it off my hands. This is before "downgrading" to FOWLR
This is the 25 lagoon just before the "crash". It is now plagued with GHA and Bubble Algae. Biggest lost here were both the leptos, they were some of my favorites. Most of the coral is hanging in there, but not very happy at all. Working to get it back on track before the new build is up and running.
This guy suffered some while I was training for my new career, but overall its been doing ok. This pic was taken close to its "peak" but it doesn't look terrible now.
My little helpers.
Drilling the return nozzles. Scary.
Successful.
Had some very slight chipping around the edge of the hole, but I don't see it causing a problem.
The early stages of the layout.
The guts. I'll add some more union valves and an elbow and extension to the emergency drain in the middle. It's 3/4 inch pvc leaving the return pump and 1/2 inch at and past the gate valves and for the drains(I wanted to go 3/4 inch pvc for the drains but the modular marine overflow had 1/2 drains so I went with it).
This will be my "control panel". The switch board(or whatever you call it) will be mounted with another one towards the top.
She holds water. Return pump worked. Tweaking the gate valves and overflow should have things running smoothly.
The project from hell that has been slowing the build down some. It will be nice grilling out and having bonfires out here though.
I'm not sure yet about the aesthetic design of the stand. Cabinet style doors? One big door hung with magnets? Open? Paint color is up for debate as well.
Poor quality pic, but general idea for the aquascape. May glue and raise everything up a 1/2-1 inch with pvc or small marco rock. I want good flow but also plenty of area for the eel to hide.
Updated design.
Looking down on the new design. This is before gluing. I'll be adding more little ledges, filling in gaps, and whatnot as I go.
That's pretty much where we are at with things. Soon I will finalize the plumbing, aquascape, and stand "frame" build, and glue everything. Then Ill have to decide on paint scheme, doors, and how I want to apply trim (I have made some mistakes with this already sooo...may need to get creative). After that we clean up and get things wet. Let things simmer. Decide which lights to use. Add the coral/livestock from the other tanks. Sell the other tanks and equipment and use some of that money to fund stocking the tank.
Things have moved slowly towards the build becoming a reality. I'm not a rich man and this build has been in the planning stages for years. But things are rolling. The gears are turning and we are making it happen.
"ālea iacta est"
I decided to start a thread for my 30 gallon innovative marine. Join me, if you would like, as I embark on this journey to turn this tank into something worthy of the bit of open real estate that I was graciously given permission by the bos...I mean my loving significant other.... to utilize.
Quick Background... I have 3 tanks set up currently (75 gallon planted fresh doing fine, 25 gal lagoon reef that was doing great, now its hanging in there, and a 75 ish gallon failed reef turned fowlr) that I just can't maintain and have been neglected over the last year or so as I switched careers and life became quite busy. I only planned for one tank, I don't know how this happened. SO... the plan right now is to breakdown and sell the two saltwater tanks, and turn a 30 gallon innovative marine ext that I found on the side of the road into a manageable, well thought out mostly LPS with a few easy SPS reef tank. I will keep what coral I can salvage from the 25 and (subject to change) keep a clown fish, 6 line wrasse, royal gramma, and ...a golden dwarf moray that is really cool but I have no business owning such an expensive species that I really can't afford.
The Plan... Drill the 30 gallon and build a DIY sump out of a 20 gallon tank, build a stand, and design the aquascape to meet the needs of the eel as well as the coral. The eel has been happy in the 25 gallon AIO, but I feel the extra volume of a 20 gallon sump and the extra space from the display will be beneficial. The design will keep things simple, but will take future upgrades into account. I'll pick and choose what equipment I want to keep as I break down the other tanks, and then sell whatever I don't need.
Where we are at today... I have already broken ground on the build. Right now I have begun super gluing marco rock formations(I'm curing some and will add rock from my current tanks to help the cycle), I have built out the stand, sump, and plumbing but haven't glued anything. The sump will have room for a skimmer, reactors, refugium, and/or algae scrubber as needed. The stand will have room for an enclosed area for wires/electronics/etc, and room for a dosing pump and containers. The ATO will have to sit outside of the stand with the current design as I don't want the sump area jam packed with too much stuff.
Equipment:
-1x Kessil AP700 or 2 x AI Hydra 26
-1x Reef Octo Skimmer (not sure which one, ill update later)
-several inkbirds to use for stand fan and heater
-random heaters to choose from, may upgrade to titanium eventually
-several older model jebao and tunze powerheads/wavemakers
-2x refugium lights
-2xjebao return pump
-PC fan for ventilating/cooling the sump cabinet
-2xADJ 8 switch power bar
-2 x kamoer dosing pumps
-tunze osmolator 3 nano ATO
-5 gallon ATO reservoir
The Red Sea that I will be shutting down and selling. This thing has been a pain and I can't wait to get it off my hands. This is before "downgrading" to FOWLR
This is the 25 lagoon just before the "crash". It is now plagued with GHA and Bubble Algae. Biggest lost here were both the leptos, they were some of my favorites. Most of the coral is hanging in there, but not very happy at all. Working to get it back on track before the new build is up and running.
This guy suffered some while I was training for my new career, but overall its been doing ok. This pic was taken close to its "peak" but it doesn't look terrible now.
My little helpers.
Drilling the return nozzles. Scary.
Successful.
Had some very slight chipping around the edge of the hole, but I don't see it causing a problem.
The early stages of the layout.
The guts. I'll add some more union valves and an elbow and extension to the emergency drain in the middle. It's 3/4 inch pvc leaving the return pump and 1/2 inch at and past the gate valves and for the drains(I wanted to go 3/4 inch pvc for the drains but the modular marine overflow had 1/2 drains so I went with it).
This will be my "control panel". The switch board(or whatever you call it) will be mounted with another one towards the top.
She holds water. Return pump worked. Tweaking the gate valves and overflow should have things running smoothly.
The project from hell that has been slowing the build down some. It will be nice grilling out and having bonfires out here though.
I'm not sure yet about the aesthetic design of the stand. Cabinet style doors? One big door hung with magnets? Open? Paint color is up for debate as well.
Poor quality pic, but general idea for the aquascape. May glue and raise everything up a 1/2-1 inch with pvc or small marco rock. I want good flow but also plenty of area for the eel to hide.
Updated design.
Looking down on the new design. This is before gluing. I'll be adding more little ledges, filling in gaps, and whatnot as I go.
That's pretty much where we are at with things. Soon I will finalize the plumbing, aquascape, and stand "frame" build, and glue everything. Then Ill have to decide on paint scheme, doors, and how I want to apply trim (I have made some mistakes with this already sooo...may need to get creative). After that we clean up and get things wet. Let things simmer. Decide which lights to use. Add the coral/livestock from the other tanks. Sell the other tanks and equipment and use some of that money to fund stocking the tank.
Things have moved slowly towards the build becoming a reality. I'm not a rich man and this build has been in the planning stages for years. But things are rolling. The gears are turning and we are making it happen.
"ālea iacta est"
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