55G Corner Tank Reef Build!

[Obiwandza]

Hi I’m obi,
I’m pretty new to the site, and I’m new to salt water aquarium!

i stumbled across this 54g corner aquarium with stand on Facebook marketplace for a free.

I’ve done a bunch of research and discovered the corner tanks aren’t really ideal because of the limited space in the stand to set up a sump and equipment.

However, because I have these things in my home I felt slightly invested, so I decided to custom build an L-shaped sump tank to fit the dimensions of the stand.

Im currently in the process of buildings and bonding my acrylic sump tank. I ran out of acrylic sheet, but I have 2 more panels and the eurobracing to cut and attach.

I’ve posted pics of the tank, stand, and partially completed sump tank.

im not sure if I want to make my own baffles or buy a baffle kit.

I also have a list of what I’m planning to run for my equipment, I’m open to critique and input and suggestions as I know absolutely nothing about salt water reef tanks!

• Protein skimmer - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquamaxx-fc-80-in-sump-protein-skimmer.html
• RO/DI -
  4 Stage Value Plus 75GPD RO/DI - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-stage-75gpd-plus-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html
• Overflow Box -
  Prodigy Overflow Box M - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/prodigy-m-low-profile-overflow-box-700-gph-eshopps.html
• Return Pump -
  Syncra SDC 3.0 WiFi Controllable Pump (260-800 GPH) - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/syncra-sdc-3-0-wifi-controllable-pump-260-800-gph-sicce.html
• Heater -
  300W Titanium Aquarium Heater System WiFi - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/300w-titanium-aquarium-heater-system-wifi-bulk-reef-supply.html

NOT FIGURED OUT

• Lighting??
• 2 koralia powerheads (550 gph)??
• 40lbs caribsea sand??
• 50lbs live rock??

Fish

• 2 clown fish
• 2 cardinal fish
• yellow watchman goby
• 3 green reef chromis
• tail spot blenny

Coral

• Undecided
  
  
  
  

 

[blaxsun]

That'll work for the sump!

 

[Obiwandza]

That'll work for the sump!

I chose the sump as my starting point because I found threads talking about building a custom L-shaped sump but no pics, instructions, and the posts were like half as old as me n no longer active so asking for guidance left me more lost than I started.

i literally designed it in my head….sketched it out on my iPhone, bought a plexi sheet and started cutting and this is what I originally mocked up

Then I quickly realized to make the “L” the base couldn’t be multiple pieces bonded together because it would be likely to fail from the weight and pressure of the water (determined just from common sense) so I decided to buy another acrylic sheet and cut the L shape and use that as my base….once I was happy with that I used the panels I’d cut for my mock up and they ended up becoming the wall panels.

I’ll probably go get another sheet or 2 of acrylic to finish up this weekend. Taking my time because i want it to work! That would be a big ego boost to come into this part completely blind, concoct an idea for a sump, build it (this is my first time working with acrylic, and my first time building a sump), and it work perfectly on my first try lol..

 

[Obiwandza]

lol

UPDATE!!:
finally finished my homemade L-shaped sump last night…it was a task that I enjoyed!


Before y’all rip me apart let me set this straight:

1) I know little about saltwater aquariums…I’m basically researching as I go

2) This is the first attempt at making a sump tank, and I had no knowledge of how they worked until I started building this one

3) I’m not a carpenter I literally built this in my living room of my apartment all with hand tools my skills with acrylic and the bonding agent developed as the build progressed so there are some scuffs from sand paper, some adhesive stains, some slightly uneven edges but nothing wrong that I can see as of yet that will affect the performance!

The structure itself has been finished for about a month, I have leak tested it twice and am very satisfied.



I got the baffles in place last night but I need to seal the sections with a thicker bonding agent since silicone does not work here (the only store in town that sells what I need is closed for the holiday ‍)



Next weekend I plan to drill my display tank and install my overflow. THIS is the part I’m most concerned/worried/scared about…..I’ve never drilled glass and I don’t wanna mess this up!

Also because of the amount of vertical space I’m thinking of building a stand to be able to incorporate a larger reservoir underneath for the ATO

Wish me luck!