Alucards Invert Haven

[Alucard]

Current FTS

Been a while since I've built a tank. Moved states, got a new job and finally settled enough to start something new! Chose a 20g long because I've always loved the size and I can customize it like crazy without going out of budget. Also had this size twice before and it always works out great. Anyways on to the good stuff:

AGA 20g Long
Garage sale bookcase/stand
No brand HO 4 bulb T5
Dual T38 Bulbs from Rapidled
Tunze Osmolator ATO
Vortech mp10wQD
AC110 Sump
AC110 Fuge
Aquaticlife 115
35lbs LR from Reefkeepers

I cleaned up and stained the bookcase and added some nice hardware to it. It's super sturdy and could probably hold ten times this weight, no worries there. As for the lights, I went this route because it seems leds and t5 play very well together and I love the shimmer from leds. The par38s are in drafting lamps mounted on each side of the stand so I can position them wherever i need. They are run through separate dimmers as well so I can adjust them if it is too much light. I also built a heavy duty industrial mounting point for the t5 with some iron pipe and drift wood. I live close to the beach so it was easy to find great pieces.

 

[Alucard]

Better view of the scape. I used epoxy to hold everything together, it's super strong

Top view

 

[Alucard]

Got some shims and wood today. Started making a control board to mount everything to and hide all the wires. Going to start putting water in later!

All level

Top portion will have controls, etc. Bottom will have power strip and plugs.

 

[revhtree]

Cool following!

 

[Alucard]

Cool following!

Thanks rev!

Finished and mounted the control board, wasn't easy to get all the wires to fit nicely in but I got it done.

I'm not sure about mounting the mp10 on the left side as it is just ever so slightly blocked by the left island. I was thinking of putting it on the middle of the back wall, any ideas? It's filling up with rodi right now, can't wait!

 

[Alucard]

Water and sand in!

 

[Alucard]

While the water is cleaning up I decided to get the Tunze all setup. Came to find out that with everything mounted right the water level will be well below the rim. Best fix I could think of was the make a brake out of acrylic to raise the unit up a bit.
Turns out 1/2" craftsman socket wrench handles are the same size as a 20g long rim!

Works like a charm!

Also had one grommet left over from the control board, used it to secure all the wired in the ATO bucket

The mp10 seems to be working OK except a little sand spot where the flow is redirected by the left island. Nothing else right now!

 

[Alucard]

Some updates! Got some macros from @_divad , looks great! Also changed the rocks a bit to more suit the flow of the mp10. Added some the middle island and put a frag rack on the back for now.

New toy

Current fts

 

[Alucard]

I like to go to the beach every couple days to look for drift wood and shells, it's pretty close so kinda easy to do. Found some interesting stuff today, here's some pics

This was pretty cool, anemone caught himself a crab!

My little helper

There's always a bunch of these crabs under every rock, all different sizes too

A baby eel perhaps?

Thanks for looking, tank updates soon!

 

[revhtree]

Great build and nice tank!

 

[Alucard]

Great build and nice tank!

Thanks, cycle is still under way. Macro is helping with excess nutrients, gonna hit reef cleaners up for a cuc soon

 

[DustyXB9Reefer]

Very good lookin scape! Looks like West Coast weather?

 

[Alucard]

Very good lookin scape! Looks like West Coast weather?

Thanks! Close, washington. It actually gets pretty nice where I'm at but the wind can be really cold.

 

[Chrisfish]

Really nice thread, looking forward to seeing your tank stocked. Your pictures of your trips to the beach are awesome.

 

[DustyXB9Reefer]

Thanks! Close, washington. It actually gets pretty nice where I'm at but the wind can be really cold.

Is Washington not on the west coast? Hehehe I was thinking northern Oregon. I'm in Northern California. The coast is totally different from the beach down south. Either way I'm excited to see how your tank turns out!

 

[Alucard]

Really nice thread, looking forward to seeing your tank stocked. Your pictures of your trips to the beach are awesome.

Thanks! Hoping to do anemones and shrimp, maybe some other oddball inverts, can't wait. Ill make sure I post more beach pics when I can

Is Washington not on the west coast? Hehehe I was thinking northern Oregon. I'm in Northern California. The coast is totally different from the beach down south. Either way I'm excited to see how your tank turns out!

Well they call it the pacific northwest out here. I actually moved from norcal in november!

 

[Alucard]

Tank has been developing quite the diatom situation lately so I will probably need a cuc soon, otherwise doing great. Also went back to the beach and took some more pics.
Luigi made some new friends

Found this big piece of wood that looked ancient

As you can see we have lots of drift wood to pick though

Also found a lot of these little anemones in the rocks

Nice piece of driftwood I found

Current fts

 

[Chrisfish]

Great pictures, as I told you before I love the pictures of the beach and your companion. and your tanks not bad either.

 

[Alucard]

Great pictures, as I told you before I love the pictures of the beach and your companion. and your tanks not bad either.

Haha thanks man, I'm glad someone enjoys it! I also found some attempted panoramic photos from another nearby beach that is a bit larger.

 

[Alucard]

Ordered a CUC! Starting off small with a couple snails and hermits so I'll have some pics of those in a bit. For now I found some pics of my old 40b I had some time ago. Never posted it here, enjoy!