8 gallon NPS Reef

twentyleagues · Sep 15, 2025

BristleWormHater said:
So another beam here right?

In blue front and back either1 or 2 more between the horizontals. Basically making corners at all the corners. Sorry terrible with paint lol real and the program.

exnisstech · Sep 15, 2025

BristleWormHater said:
What pump are you running? I think im just going to copy your flow setup

I'm running the IOAIO nano pump.

exnisstech · Sep 15, 2025

The jebao DCW-1500 fits and is about the same price.

exnisstech · Sep 15, 2025

BristleWormHater said:
Starting this up because my nps sea fan has been suffering in my main tank and I need an excuse to start up this tank anyways. The tank was sent to me for free by @IOAOI a few months ago and Ive had it sitting around.
Anyways, this will be a fun thread! Im going to dedicate this tank to mostly nps (non-photosynthetic) coral, starting with lps like sun coral and dendrophyllia and if I can get everything to do well I may try nepthea and more sea fans. Havent decided on fish yet, maybe a croucher goby. Going to try some cool inverts too.
Here is the current setup, I custom-built this stand today, should be more progress later this week.

Way overbuilt. 1x3" screwed and glued and call it a day.

I think a styrofoam cooler would support this little tank.
Disclaimer: I am not a structural engineer

BristleWormHater · Sep 15, 2025

exnisstech said:
Way overbuilt. 1x3" screwed and glued and call it a day.

I think a styrofoam cooler would support this little tank.
Disclaimer: I am not a structural engineer

Oh wow that is scary! Is that a 40 gallon, how long has that been up?

exnisstech · Sep 15, 2025

40g breeder. It was up for over a year in two different locations. Then the folks here got me to thinking and I really didn't want to have to report back that it failed after bragging about it so I replaced it with a metal stand.
If you can sit on your stand that 8g tank isn't going anywhere.

JonoH · Sep 15, 2025

Keen to see how this turns out!

tbrown · Sep 15, 2025

exnisstech said:
40g breeder. It was up for over a year in two different locations. Then the folks here got me to thinking and I really didn't want to have to report back that it failed after bragging about it so I replaced it with a metal stand.
If you can sit on your stand that 8g tank isn't going anywhere.

I used mine as a ladder...

Aaron75 · Sep 15, 2025

BristleWormHater said:
So another beam here right?

While they are right, I'd leave it as is. It's a tiny tank, the screws can support it.

twentyleagues · Sep 16, 2025

exnisstech said:
Way overbuilt. 1x3" screwed and glued and call it a day.

I think a styrofoam cooler would support this little tank.
Disclaimer: I am not a structural engineer

tbrown said:
I used mine as a ladder...

I had a "dance party" on my stacked 125 stand. 3 people of +200lbs each jumping around on it. Not as much weight as a 125g full but there was 0 sway or lateral movement.

Aaron75 said:
While they are right, I'd leave it as is. It's a tiny tank, the screws can support it.

Yes you are all correct his stand will hold the 8g probably forever. My suggestion is more for future reference if doing it again for a different tank, I was suggesting if he wanted to fix this one now would be the time but its unneeded.

BristleWormHater · Sep 19, 2025

@exnisstech, you rigged yours up for a vca rfg nozzle right? I have one that I used to use on my 25 gallon, what did you use to hook that up? Trying to use 1/2in. plumbing.

exnisstech · Sep 19, 2025

I got one from @Projects with Sam . It uses parts of the original nozzle. The VCA uses locline that sticks out into the tank farther than I liked. He makes a nice cone shaped floss holder also that works well.

Forgot the pics

BristleWormHater · Sep 19, 2025

exnisstech said:
I got one from @Projects with Sam . It uses parts of the original nozzle. The VCA uses locline that sticks out into the tank farther than I liked. He makes a nice cone shaped floss holder also that works well.

Forgot the pics

Thank you, Ill contact him, how much did it cost? What size tubing are you using?
Im about to order some stuff from brs for this tank, I want to make sure I get everything I need.
Thanks for your help!

exnisstech · Sep 19, 2025

I can't remember the cost the but it was cheap. No plumbing needed. The rfg replaces the rectangular nozzle and all the other parts are reused.

BristleWormHater · Sep 19, 2025

exnisstech said:
I can't remember the cost the but it was cheap. No plumbing needed. The rfg replaces the rectangular nozzle and all the other parts are reused.

Talking about the tubing to connect the pump to the nozzle, mine didnt come with any, did yours? The connection looks to be for 1in. but I want to make sure before I order.

exnisstech · Sep 19, 2025

I used 1/2" ID silicone tubing. The tank is 1/2" and the pump I used was 16mm/5/8" but the silicone tubing was easy to work over the 5/8" barb.
I'm going from memory but I'm 99.9% sure I'm correct. Maybe @tbrown can confirm?

BristleWormHater · Sep 19, 2025

exnisstech said:
I used 1/2" ID silicone tubing. The tank is 1/2" and the pump I used was 16mm/5/8" but the silicone tubing was easy to work over the 5/8" barb.
I'm going from memory but I'm 99.9% sure I'm correct. Maybe @tbrown can confirm?

Ive got 1/2 viynl tubing and I cant work it over the the barb, is silicone that much more malleable?