66 Gallon Rimless and DIY Stand

[wil-yuhm]

After having moved from CA to ID I took near half a decade off from hosting a Reef tank. I also haven't worked with wood for near two decades. Some basic hand tools, lumber, pallets, hardware ordered from Amazon, and a couple of weeks later the top of the tank awaits the stain to dry and a polyurethane coat. At the moment the 66 rimless tanks sits on the floor cycling. Three weeks into cycling having used dead sand, live sand, dead rock, and purple as well as pink algae strains. I'll need to drain the tank either tonight or tomorrow, bring the stand in from the garage, lift the stand into place then refill.

Here's my DIY stand project using old pallets to skin the 4x4 and 2x4 framework. Yes I should have used a throw cloth for the floors. I plan to clean the over splatter tonight. The front doors are sliding barn style:

Lights are temporary and will remain as spares on the parts shelf. I also plan to add a sump and unclutter the rimless tank's clean appeal.

 

[blaxsun]

Do you plan to run a sump with the new cabinet?

 

[wil-yuhm]

Do you plan to run a sump with the new cabinet?

Yes, one day. I need to research sumps (last time I owned a sump was twenty years ago) and then decide whether to DIY my own.

 

[wil-yuhm]

DIY stand project finished. Waiting for water to clear after a drain and refill for the stand transplant:

 

[wil-yuhm]

Water cleared much more today after drain and refill for stand transplant.

 

[wil-yuhm]

The Mangrove tree lost its top tender shoot/leaf in the pet store display aquarium. The clerk discounted the tree 50% off so I couldn't pass over. I'll lower the tree down to the sand bed in time as the tree grows.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Temporary solution to provide "spot lighting" to the Mangrove tree. 6500 kelvin plant LEDS to supplement the reef lighting. The Mangrove tree needs nurturing. Couldn't find any information on how to stimulate new shoot/branch/leafing so I pruned the top like any other tree.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Made my own aquarium lid using Lexan Plexiglass and custom clips around the tank to hold the lid in place. To finish off the lid two handles were added to take on and off the lid. The Lexan has been coated to prevent yellowing over time. The lid should help evaporation as well keep certain species of fish from jumping out of the tank. A provision was made (a notch) for the young Mangrove tree to grow out through the lid. No more salt spray around the tank!

 

[Zuma]

Very cool build, is it sump-less and what are the dimensions of the tank?

 

[wil-yuhm]

Very cool build, is it sump-less and what are the dimensions of the tank?

20 h x 20 d x 40 L.
I am undecided at this time whether to go with a sump or a bigger tank with a sump. Currently the Fluval FX4 provides the main filtration. I'd like to clean up the rimless tank and go with a sump to unclutter the tank. I received this 66 gallon tank for free because of a corner chip and undecided whether to trust the chipped tank investing more or to replace with another larger tank.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Just purchased the "SunSun HW-3000 UV 9W 5-Stage External Canister Filter." Was looking for the most cost effective way to add an effective UV sterilizer to my 66 gallon tank. If this canister filter with UV light lives up to advertiser claims this has to be the best deal possible. I was looking at various UV sterilizers and pumps as well as UV sterilizers and Canisters to act as filter/and pump and stumbled across this gem. I also appreciate the filter's surface skimmer. This product will replace two units and add an additional function.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Not a sump but the filtration and UV sterilizers will do for now. Plan to clean up the hoses and wires sometime soon.

Blue knuckled hermit crab.

Photogenic clown fish (one of two).

 

[wil-yuhm]

Woke up to a nearly sterile or clean tank this morning after 24 hours of running the 18 watt sterilizer. At least a 90% reduction in both diatoms and cyano. My sun rises above the ocean:

 

[Zuma]

UV's are great and fairly inexpensive; I'm surprised there not more widely used in reef tanks.

 

[wil-yuhm]

UV's are great and fairly inexpensive; I'm surprised there not more widely used in reef tanks.

I assumed most reefers use UV sterilizers to control disease and undesirable algae.

 

[wil-yuhm]

New leds added. Very impressive for the price point:

 

[trevorhiller]

DEEEP Sand bed, you don't see that too often anymore. I like the sloping look though. Cool tank!

 

[wil-yuhm]

DEEEP Sand bed, you don't see that too often anymore. I like the sloping look though. Cool tank!

Thanks! The slope was added to help root the young Mangrove tree. To note the water was slightly cloudy for the picture because I stirred up the sand bed. After half a day running the more intense lighting I observe less undesirable cyano than before. Next on the purchase list is a gyre type wave maker.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Updated after 6 months July of 2022 - January of 2023
Desirable levels of Diatoms and nuisance algae
Maybe time to add more coral etc
Under tank canisters Fluval FX4 and Sunsun 3000 plus 18 watt sterilizer
At this time I prefer not to invest more for a sump/refug. Maybe instead after couple of years may upscale to a 250 plus gallon tank and sump/fug. I'll decide whether to use this 66 gallon as the sump/fug for a larger tank rather than large tank kit.


Two clowns
Two Pajama Cardinals
One Lawnmower Blenny
Pencil Urchin
Few Bumblebee snails
And hundreds of baby snails at this time (Cerith)
Small colony of polyps
Kenya tree
Curly Q anemone
Traces of fauna/sponges
As well appearance of Mermaid's wine glass (macro algae)

 

[quentin17110]

After having moved from CA to ID I took near half a decade off from hosting a Reef tank. I also haven't worked with wood for near two decades. Some basic hand tools, lumber, pallets, hardware ordered from Amazon, and a couple of weeks later the top of the tank awaits the stain to dry and a polyurethane coat. At the moment the 66 rimless tanks sits on the floor cycling. Three weeks into cycling having used dead sand, live sand, dead rock, and purple as well as pink algae strains. I'll need to drain the tank either tonight or tomorrow, bring the stand in from the garage, lift the stand into place then refill.

Here's my DIY stand project using old pallets to skin the 4x4 and 2x4 framework. Yes I should have used a throw cloth for the floors. I plan to clean the over splatter tonight. The front doors are sliding barn style:

Lights are temporary and will remain as spares on the parts shelf. I also plan to add a sump and unclutter the rimless tank's clean appeal.

Really like the homemade stand