Icedgxe’s Versa 42g build

[icedgxe]

Well, it’s that time again. My Nuvo 10 has been running for around a year and a half. I have slowly been gathering equipment, knowing I would upgrading once we moved. It’s that time. I have been putting it together already for a while now so I’ll post pictures of the progress and try to bring everyone up to speed.

I am going to be keeping things pretty simple this time as far as filtration and automation goes. My 125 from years ago was automated and had a kalk reactor, calcium reactor, bio pellet reactor, uv sterilizer etc. It was great at the time, but I found myself spending more time monitoring/maintaining equipment and less time enjoying the tank. With this one, I want to go a bit back to basics as I have found success with reeling things back in. I will post equipment list soon as well.

Tank arrival day:

 

[Scubafrog]

Can't wait to see more pictures and your opinion on the Versa. I have been looking at the 42 & 68 but am hesitant because of all the bad reviews.

I was looking at just getting the tank and stand and having a 3rd hole drilled for an emergency drain and maybe a Trigger sump.

Good luck with the build. Will be following.

 

[revhtree]

Following and your grass is nice!

 

[icedgxe]

Can't wait to see more pictures and your opinion on the Versa. I have been looking at the 42 & 68 but am hesitant because of all the bad reviews.

I was looking at just getting the tank and stand and having a 3rd hole drilled for an emergency drain and maybe a Trigger sump.

Good luck with the build. Will be following.

Most of the reviews I have read have been towards their customer service and plumbing. The tank build quality looks great. Stand could be better and there are no instructions. I was able to find a basic set online and was able to get it together with minimal effort. They did forget to send the return pump but Marinedepot sent me one even though it’s drop shipped. Great customer service. Plumbing is not nearly as bad as what I have heard. I did a test run today and do need to figure out how to silence the splashing in the overflow.

Following and your grass is nice!

Thanks! It’s Zenith Zoysia sod that was layed around January/February of last year when the house was built.

 

[Scubafrog]

Yep, most issues that I have read about are with customer service, no instructions, and shipping issues. I think ordering through MD is a smart choice because their customer service seems a lot better and they will quickly try to remedy any issues.

 

[icedgxe]

Here is an equipment list. I don’t think I am forgetting anything.

Ro: Spectrapure 90gpd with dual tds meter
Tank/stand: Cadlights 42G Versa on white stand.
Sump: Stock three chamber with filter sock holder. I will not run filter socks but I am going to get a filter cup in place of one to run floss.
Ato: Innovative Marine Hydrofill Titanium with aqualifter pump. It is connected to a wifi outlet to only run 9 times a day for 2 minute intervals. Cadlights ATO resevior.
Skimmer: RLSS R5i
Return pump: Rio+ 2100
Heater: Jager 125w running on Ink Bird temp controller
Electrical: Grounding probe, GFCI/AFCI, 12 outlet Amazon surge protector, and ADJ 4 outlet switch strip.
Lighting: 24” Reefbrite supra t-5 with Nanobox large retro. Stock bulbs for now. Can’t decide on bulbs between two c+, 1 and 1 c+ and b+. Or go even whiter to 6700’s or 10k. I prefer a 12k-14k crisp white.
Flow: Current USA eflux wave kit. One 600gph and one 1100gph.

I have had the skimmer for about a year just waiting on the new build.

Putting stand and skimmer together:

 

[icedgxe]

After putting the skimmer together, I decided to turn my attention to getting the lights out together. The Nanobox large retro comes pre-wired with the led’s mounted to heat sink along with the fan. I needed a way to mount the led’s to the Reefbrite Supra. I made two wood pieces that would span the extra length of the fixture. I then used a series of L brackets to mount the wood pieces to the heat sink and then to the Supra. I think it turned out pretty good.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Looking good already! Can't wait to see this get wet!

 

[icedgxe]

Looking good already! Can't wait to see this get wet!

Thanks!! It is already wet, but Pictures will have to wait until I bring everyone up to speed. Soon!

 

[icedgxe]

After finishing putting the lights together, I turned my attention towards the floating canopy. I also performed a leak test in the garage around this time as well.

I don’t have many pictures of this process but I built the canopy out of 1/2 pine and stained it Dark Walnut to match other furniture in the room. I painted the inside white and build a section to use the lights bluefish controller and drivers. Drilled necessary holes and loomed the wires.

 

[Steven Garland]

Ohhhhhhhhhh,this is going to be goooood !!! Definitely following along !!

 

[icedgxe]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the pictures!

 

[icedgxe]

Next I went ahead and brought the tank/stand inside and started putting things together. I knew I wanted a tray to put underneath the sump and was on the hunt. I found a tray from a gardening store that looked like it would be the perfect size. Once it got here, I test fitted it and it fit perfectly. This in turn did create one issue. The Ato container did not fit now due to the lip of the tray. No problem, mini stand to raise it up!

I also needed a place to put the power strips and cables. I thought about building or buying a pieces to sit next to the tank. After much contemplation and discussion with my better half, we decided that it ruined the look of the whole setup. I went to the drawing board and came up with building a shelf compartment to hold and isolate the electronics.

 

[Zoaeasy]

Looking good. Just a word of advice. Check the trim piece above the doors. I would suggest sealing it . The piece on my Versa 60 completely delaminated after about 5 months. I'm posting this so that you may be spared the same fate! Otherwise good luck and following along.

 

[icedgxe]

Looking good. Just a word of advice. Check the trim piece above the doors. I would suggest sealing it . The piece on my Versa 60 completely delaminated after about 5 months. I'm posting this so that you may be spared the same fate! Otherwise good luck and following along.

Is it the laminate on the front coming off? I’ll have to keep and eye on mine. Unfortunately the tank is already up and running so there isn’t much I can do about that piece now. Thank you for the heads up though and I will keep an eye on it for sure.

Ps- I stopped by your build thread and your 60 looks fantastic!

 

[Zoaeasy]

Is it the laminate on the front coming off? I’ll have to keep and eye on mine. Unfortunately the tank is already up and running so there isn’t much I can do about that piece now. Thank you for the heads up though and I will keep an eye on it for sure.

Ps- I stopped by your build thread and your 60 looks fantastic!

Thanks ! I really like the tank and will post some updates with corals. Just battling with Cadlights to get a replacement. I would suggest perhaps painting even the exposed with clear waterproof varnish .

 

[icedgxe]

Thanks ! I really like the tank and will post some updates with corals. Just battling with Cadlights to get a replacement. I would suggest perhaps painting even the exposed with clear waterproof varnish .

That’s a great idea. Thanks! I hope they make it right for you too. Keep me updated (if you don’t mind) on how it turns out.

 

[icedgxe]

Now that the tank was in place, I wanted to go ahead and get the light mounted. I used to L brackets mounted to studs. I then cut two slots in the back of the canopy to slide onto the brackets. I drilled holes in the top of the canopy and ran bolts through the top and through the holes in the L brackets to secure the canopy to the brackets.

 

[icedgxe]

After getting the light mounted, I began running wires, mounting equipment and painting the light brackets. After I got the equipment installed and everything situated, I checked the table level and it was slightly off. Not be much st all, soI created a thread asking for opinions and decided it was better to shim it. Once I got everything where it needed to be, it was time to begin filling the tank. Once it was filled, I added salt and let it run for a day. To be continued...

 

[Natedogg559]

Looking great!