New (to me) 20 long reef

[Pntbll687]

So, I found this on FB for a whopping $10.
It's gonna be the start of my next build. A 20 long reef tank, will be mixed reef, mostly plating montipora on the sps side.

The previous owner used it as a fuge. The bulk heads are drilled a little too low for my liking. I'm considering doing dual diy overflows in the style of the h2overflow. Or one long overflow that connects the two bulk heads.

Right now I think the overflow will sit high up so the waterline is above the frame. The returns will come over the back and hang on the frame.

 

[Pntbll687]

I have an already made stand. It's by R&J enterprises. I'm not a diy guy when it comes to wood working, but will diy pvc stuff.

I will be transferring stock, rock from a 29g. One stubby clown, and a fire fish. I have about 40lbs of rock cured in the 29 and about 15lbs in another tank that will be used in the display and the sump.

I'll be going bare bottom on this build, and contemplating letting some zoas grow on the bottom glass.

 

[samnaz]

Nice. I currently have a 20L, great little tanks they are.

 

[Pntbll687]

Nice. I currently have a 20L, great little tanks they are.

I have one running now as well. It's not drilled, and the hang on equipment is getting old.

Currently I have a 29 and 20 long in my office, and a 200g in the family room.

Three tanks is just too many for me to pay attention to. So the 29 and non drilled 20 long will go, and this 20 long will take their place.

 

[samnaz]

Good plan. What HOB equipment do you have on the current 20L?

 

[Pntbll687]

I have a aquatop cyclone skimmer and currently running a aqueon 400 canister filter. Only a coarse filter pad and about 10lbs of rock in the canister. It's a frag tank right now, and only a few crabs in it.

I have run aquaclear filters in the past, and have a new seachem tidal filter but never tried it out.

My plan for the new tank is low tech.
- T5 lights
- two return pumps, with a total of four outlets. Which will come over the top and hang on the frame.
- heater
-skimmer

I'm even considering running a 5g bucket converted to a canister filter, as well as a small sump. I could pack the bucket with 30-40lbs of rubble which would provide lots of surface area for bacteria.

Just throwing around ideas now. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Pntbll687]

Here's some pics of the stand with tank. It's just in my garage for the moment.

Need some help with cleaning the glass. I've soaked the tank in vinegar, used some cleaners, and even tried a magic eraser. But there is a line across the top that just won't come off. Any ideas are much appreciated.

And no the strainer that's in the one bulkhead will not stay that way, I was test fitting it.

 

[Pntbll687]

Small update.

Back and bottom painted black. And roughed in the inserts and returns. Everything will be painted black and glued together.

Still trying to get the staining of the glass. I've tried vinegar, muratic acid in both 10:1 and 5:1 solution. Even tried Ajax cleaner. I saw the Joey the king of diy on YouTube use a product called barkeeper's friend, so I'm going to try that next.

The stains do disappear when the tank is wet.

Also on the returns. I'm not sure on the return pumps yet. I have a mag12, and two marineland pumps, both rated for 700 gph.
Right now I'm leaning toward the mag12, but plans could change

 

[Pntbll687]

Update

Plumbing is done. I shortened the returns that are in the tank to just blow along the back of the tank.

Adjusted the ball valve on the drain and ran the tank all day yesterday with no problems.

Plan for today is to get one final coat of paint on all plumbing, move stand and tank up to my office.

Pics to come...

 

[Pntbll687]

Got the tank in position this morning, then transferred everything in the last two hours.

I'll post more pics tomorrow with some light on it.

I'm not happy with how the scale came out, but I really just wanted to get everything transferred today, and tweak the coral placement and scape in the next couple of days.

 

[Pntbll687]

Everything is transferred. All fish are doing good and eating.

The scape needs some work. Also had my plating montipora chip while moving, now I gotta find places to mount the new frags.

The sump is a Rubbermaid bin with about 40lbs of rock rubble in it.

I had a coralife skimmer on the old tank, but might go the diy route for this tank. Or try to go no skimmer.

I have another 20lbs of rock available, I might crush it up and add it to the sump.

Overall the system is larger than the previous tank, which was a 29g tank and 10g sump. This is my first bare bottom tank, and the look is different, but I'm sure it will grow on me.

 

[Pntbll687]

Update

Here's a full tank shot

Added a auto feeder, feeding hikari marine s pellets twice a day on the lowest setting. Drops in about 8-10 pellets at a time.

Haven't really touched the scape, but it's ok for now.

No skimmer on this system. Water changes done every two weeks, usually 5-8g, have kept everything happy.

Some stn on the montipora, enough for me to notice but not enough for me to care, or do anything about it. I've come to the realization that I'm not a sps guy, I much prefer the movement of some lps and softy over the static look and feel of sps. But I'll keep the montipora in there.

On a side note, we took our 18 month old son to the aquarium in Camden NJ last weekend. He LOVED IT!! We literally had to pry him away from some displays. I then put blue planet on for him to watch the other day, same reaction .I think the boy may need a tank of some kind in his room.....