New 24G SCA Floating Reef - Rando WWC stock

[WirelessMike]

As 2020 forced us to work remote and live in home offices for most of the week I began to think about how I could have a reef tank to enjoy during the day. After measuring, thinking, and measuring again I realized my home office would only be able to house a smaller AIO. I also wanted to do something different with this tank and somewhat unique from what I had tried before. I searched the web for hours to gather ideas and came across a really cool article about a floating reef design. So away we go!

(I did not come up with the idea for a floating reef or the steps listed. I actually found a step by step guide on 2 websites from the original designers tank. I will add that link for anyone interested.)

Planned equipment:

24 Gallon AIO from SCA
AI Hydra 16 HD
Eheim Jager 75w heater
A jigsaw puzzle of rock pieces
12x12 piece of 1/4” acrylic
Small Protein Skimmer
DIY tank stand

the first piece arrived 2 days before my birthday thanks to my wife asking for a list of ideas. (It happened to be idea #1) the packaging was great and I am really thinking about upgrading my 65 to a 90 SCA after I get some hours under my belt with this smaller one.

Next up was a stand. I knew I was going to make a stand as I couldn’t find anything I liked to purchase and I really wanted a simple design. Luckily with a little bit of lumber and a 5 y/o helper we got it built and painted in a few hours on a weekend.

 

[polyppal]

Nice start! I used to have that same tank, liked how they built it with such generous compartments in the back for skimmers/etc

 

[WirelessMike]

So after a few pauses in progress....a bathroom leak, sick dog, and other moments of life getting in the way I was able to find some time to continue the progress.

the first step was an acrylic shelf to hold the floating reef. Luckily I got 2 pieces of acrylic. The first bend wasn’t perfect and I wanted to get it right. So number 2 came out great. Just under 90° bend.

next up was 3 holes to promote circulation and allow access for fish to the floating cave.

 

[WirelessMike]

Now it was time to secure the acrylic so we would have a shelf to build our reef on. This required silicone, a 2x4, and a 1x2 to hold it up while the silicone cures. I let it cure for 48 hours before adding the base rocks to the acrylic. At this point I was crossing my fingers that I knew how to follow directions. Lol

It was also at this time that I was told we were painting the entire upper level of our house. That’s why you can see all the clutter in the reflection. My office became the holding room for everything that was in the way of painting.

more to come...but first dinner.

 

[WirelessMike]

So after the silicone cured it was time to add a few base rocks. I used silicone to hold them onto the acrylics just like the original creator suggested.

and then we await another 24 hours to let the silicone holding the rock cure. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby right?

after a day of curing I was ready to start building out the edge and bottom rock structures. I also spent a good 24 hours rearranging loose rock and scaping to find a look I liked. For this I would use Holdfast to secure the rock. Also when doing this you want the structure to be mostly hollow.

 

[WirelessMike]

And finally today I had a bit of time to really work on the project. After about a stick and a half of Holdfast, and a ton of different pieces of small rock, the structure finally took shape.

lessons learned during this were to use a pencil to work the Holdfast into tight places. I also found it useful to add dabs where it connected and then around that connection to hold the rock securely. This was my first time working with Holdfast and i was impressed with the strength of the bond. So after letting all the bonds dry I added sand.

hopefully tomorrow we start adding water. Heater is on the way by Monday. I have a spare I can use if I get water in until it gets here. Then order the lights and start the cycle. Can’t wait to get some stock in there, but slow and steady wins the race.

 

[WirelessMike]

As promised earlier here is the article that got me traveling down this path. Obviously I’m not anywhere near this guy’s level.....but hey a dude can dream. Lol

How to Build a Floating Reef Aquascape | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine

Thinking about creating your own reef tank? Read aquarist David Notter’s tips for building a floating reef aquascape in this exclusive TFH interview.

www.tfhmagazine.com

 

[Oldsman]

Very well done! Thats gonna look amazing when your inhabitants start growing

 

[WirelessMike]

Very well done! Thats gonna look amazing when your inhabitants start growing

Thank you! Can’t wait to get through the cycle and start adding some bright colors.

 

[mcqueenokc1]

So after a few pauses in progress....a bathroom leak, sick dog, and other moments of life getting in the way I was able to find some time to continue the progress.

the first step was an acrylic shelf to hold the floating reef. Luckily I got 2 pieces of acrylic. The first bend wasn’t perfect and I wanted to get it right. So number 2 came out great. Just under 90° bend.

next up was 3 holes to promote circulation and allow access for fish to the floating cave.

Where did you get the acrylic?

 

[WirelessMike]

Where did you get the acrylic?

I actually ordered it on Amazon. It was like $15 for 2 12x12 sheets. (They are really 11 3/4 x 11 3/4) but I couldn’t complain when the shipping was free and they were cheaper than local hardware stores

 

[mcqueenokc1]

I actually ordered it on Amazon. It was like $15 for 2 12x12 sheets. (They are really 11 3/4 x 11 3/4) but I couldn’t complain when the shipping was free and they were cheaper than local hardware stores

Did you mold them together?

 

[WirelessMike]

Did you mold them together?

It’s one piece. I used a heat gun and warmed it until flexible. I had it wedged between 2x4’s with clamps and used a 1 x 2 to bend it once it was warm and starting to flex. Ideally you want it to be a lil less than a 90° angle when bent. That way the weight of the rock will bend it to about 90. Does that make sense?

 

[WirelessMike]

Ok. So we had to back peddle a bit. Big shout out to my buddy @sp1187 for voicing concern over the possibility of malfunction with my stand design. After draining the tank and reinforcing the stand to carry the weight on 2x4’s and not on the screws we are giving this another go. Luckily he caught that before it was too late and there was already livestock in the tank making changes harder.

so after making these changes, changing my RO filters, and a night of waiting we have water back in the tank to get this thing cycled and ready to come to life. Can’t say thanks enough to members that have become friends and always have other reefers best interest and safety in mind!
On a side note, light will be here tomorrow. Can’t wait to update as the last pieces come in and livestock begins to be added.

 

[reefd00d]

Post a pic with water!!

 

[WirelessMike]

The water is in. 10 days now and cycling. Also picked up a Prime on here so added a lit picture even though I’m not running with lights on during the cycle.

 

[sp1187]

The water is in. 10 days now and cycling. Also picked up a Prime on here so added a lit picture even though I’m not running with lights on during the cycle.

looking good

 

[zukihara]

Lookin' good!

 

[WirelessMike]

looking good

Thanks @sp1187

 

[WirelessMike]

Lookin' good!

Thanks @zukihara I appreciate it