My Custom 16g Nano dropoff

[mrwizard421]

Hi everyone I saw the Innovative Marine 20g dropoff peninsular and fell in love but after making a cart with tank and all goodies with the cart at about a grand. I looked at my fiancé and said I need to rethink this .. So after collecting tanks for the past 3 years or so. I decided to take a nicer 20g I had and build the dropoff within it. I then took an old sump I had built, cut out the baffles and disassembled the tank saving 3 of 5 pieces of glas from the sump (the other 2 I got a little crazy with lol) the best tool I used was a butter knife I had bent to a hook so I could get under the old silicone and pull up and cleaning the excess with a razor after full disassembly.. I then cut pieces making the shelf and riser then drilled a 3/4 hole on one side for a return and drilled many 1/4” holes for drainage into the media basket I then built a 2 baffle 3 chambered All In One tank /sump setup. Painted the backside of the chambered wall with plasti dip it is non toxic when dry and quite durable. The Exterior of the tank was taped prepared and cleaned then I sprayed with Enamel prime and paint. It’s sprayed with about 15 coats. After a full day of drying and some I cleaned the tank maybe 30 times with a heavy distilled vinegar and water solution.. put my pump and return nozzle together filled again with a 3/1 water /vinegar ratio plugged in the pump checked for any flow issues then flew to my LFS got a bag of Hawaiian Black and 16# of dry rock.. came back rinsed a few more times then put the tank in final location started diluting my salt and water and rinsed the rock well!! Did some scaping filled the tank and hopefully everything goes well.. let the cycling begin.. also I had some 1/8 pvc board laying around decided to make my own media box drilling holes in 3 small pieces to make a 3 stage Media basket. Well Thanks for reading please comment and Sorry I didn’t take pics of the cut glass my fiancé was the one who suggested I show everyone but after I had disassembled it and cut the glass then she saw my vision lol so please tell us what you think thank you everyone..

 

[MaddyP]

Wow! This looks fantastic!! Great job!

 

[Orbela]

Wow inspired!! This looks good. Did you de-rimmed the top and what size is the 20g is it a regular, long, or high. Awesome job!! You did a really good job looks like a store bought tank.

 

[andrewkw]

Looks great! and you've given me an idea for a future project.

 

[mrwizard421]

Thank you very much!!! I did take the rim off (that wasn’t too easy). It was a regular 20g. 12x24x16 and the sump I broke up was the same

 

[mrwizard421]

Wow! This looks fantastic!! Great job!

Thank you!

 

[mrwizard421]

Looks great! and you've given me an idea for a future project.

Thanks.. go for it!!

 

[peterj66]

Great work, very creative!

 

[mrwizard421]

Great work, very creative!

Thank you

 

[Kev311]

Neat idea! Props!

 

[Sorcha2]

Wow. Any plans for stocking?

 

[mrwizard421]

Wow. Any plans for stocking?

Hi.. I will be installing the Kessil 160we blue tuna and spectral controller!!! Yayyy lol .. but with that light my reef options are quite varied but wanted to do maybe a flower bed of zooanthids coming up to some mushrooms then a nice hammerhead in the front I also wanted to keep Some candy canes on the shelf and get some birds nest up on top ( but that may need constant pruning) not sure!! As for fish a paired Percula couple maybe a small goby .. and a peppermint shrimp or 2..

 

[mrwizard421]

Update.. I have used Ammonia Hydroxide ( common pure cleaning ammonia with no additional additives). For 16g I used 22ml of ammonia to get the tank to an ammonia level of 4.0..

 

[George Lopez]

Very nice I wouldn't have though of doing this

 

[mrwizard421]

Update.. going for a fishless cycle so I have used Ammonia Hydroxide ( common pure cleaning ammonia with no additional additives). For 16g I used 22ml of ammonia to get the tank to an ammonia level of 4.0 @ 9pm EST last night I have just checked 12 hrs later ammonia levels are at 4.0.. does anyone know any other tips for this cycling process.. I have the temp set for 85*f ph 8.0 dkh 10 Nitrite 0.25ppm Nitrate somewhere between 0-5.0 ppm.. yesterday morning about same time levels of Ammonia nitrite and nitrate were 0. So in 12 hrs the cycle has begun.. that’s pretty dang good with new dry rock and only caribsea sand to facilitate biological

 

[Fishyj]

Awesome job. Did you make up a filter tray?

 

[mrwizard421]

Yes I did.

 

[mrwizard421]

also added my ATO..

and keyline digital thermometer.. I have the temp up some to promote bacterial growth

 

[Xdub4314]

Bringing up an old thread lol. How is the aquarium doing? Any leakage or bowing? I really want a sip drop off too but like you said they are so expensive.

 

[Reef-junky]

Very clean

Nice work!