TheReefArchitect
Community Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2020
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I feel like I’m joining scouts with all the badges out here Here comes my attempt at a build thread.. condensed into a few stages as I’ve sort of already started oops..
Back Story
Last year I was a huge freshwater (planted tanks) fanboy but had a spare nano tank lying around so I thought I’d ‘dip my toes in’ not really understanding that that’s not really a thing in reefing (I’m okay with that)
Absolutely caught the bug and within a few months I was planning on chucking in fw tanks and focusing solely on marine i soon outgrew the nano (55L) and planned on turning m 3foot trop tank into rather a decent sized marine setup. Fast forward a few more months and the ‘big’ tank was looking rather tasty! Blastos growing plenty of new heads, as with acans... that’s when I noticed BRYOPSIS (boo) I wasn’t immediately phased and thought I’d be able to get round it via vibrant (it helps, just not 100%)
things took a turn for the worse when I (very) nearly lost it all - using far too much 2part epoxy to fix frags to the rock. A full tubes-worth in one go (learning curve)
with the already high costs of the hobby and the tank now not running exactly as I’d hoped (semi bodged sump & siphon return kit) interest and morale took a hit!!!
The thought came to downsize and consolidate into a smaller - purpose built setup that is both more manageable and exactly how I want it...
after looking at tanks available, or what could be custom made I decided on an All Pond Solutions full optiwhite nano (600x400x400) (aps being a UK based website offering mainly cheap and cheerful alternatives to more well known brands)
The tank in possession being a similar style to ADA whilst being half the price - I paid £75 ($98 approx.) for a full optiwhite tank, show quality silicone and thick glass at 8mm!
After much deliberation I’ve opted to run both the charge & drain overflows from Ultra-Reef and intend on drilling the tank myself very soon.
The stand is a reinforced kitchen cabinet in gloss turquoise to match my homes decor. The total for tank and stand (inc reinforcing) is £75 tank - £91 stand = £166 ($218)
The plan is to use the funds raising from selling the larger tank to fully cover the costs of the new one. However due to the big tank being in use I’m having to lay out the money and pay myself back once it’s fully swapped over. The bottom line of this DIY needs to be form, function and reasonable costs!
I decided to splash out slightly more than planned and treat myself to the new AI Hydra32 - the prime was My first choice but for the extra £100 it more than covers me for keeping everything.
it was a huge choice - Hydra vs. XR15 - although having never used radion my previous experience with AI and their Primes as well as the hydra coming in white helped sway my decision #teamai
so including the Ultra-Reef overflows (charge on sale @ £50 and picking up a second hand ‘new’ drain @ £40) and the hydra @ £345 the running total is just over £600 - a total I feel I would be hard pressed to equal if I was buying straight off the peg.
that’s the updates so far.. and I enjoy blabbing on too much so apologies for the essay.. but nobody else listens
next on the list is to drill the return holes, plumb the tank into the sump and then the fun starts - aquascaping!!! Attached photos from all my previous tanks to the new nano in order
Back Story
Last year I was a huge freshwater (planted tanks) fanboy but had a spare nano tank lying around so I thought I’d ‘dip my toes in’ not really understanding that that’s not really a thing in reefing (I’m okay with that)
Absolutely caught the bug and within a few months I was planning on chucking in fw tanks and focusing solely on marine i soon outgrew the nano (55L) and planned on turning m 3foot trop tank into rather a decent sized marine setup. Fast forward a few more months and the ‘big’ tank was looking rather tasty! Blastos growing plenty of new heads, as with acans... that’s when I noticed BRYOPSIS (boo) I wasn’t immediately phased and thought I’d be able to get round it via vibrant (it helps, just not 100%)
things took a turn for the worse when I (very) nearly lost it all - using far too much 2part epoxy to fix frags to the rock. A full tubes-worth in one go (learning curve)
with the already high costs of the hobby and the tank now not running exactly as I’d hoped (semi bodged sump & siphon return kit) interest and morale took a hit!!!
The thought came to downsize and consolidate into a smaller - purpose built setup that is both more manageable and exactly how I want it...
after looking at tanks available, or what could be custom made I decided on an All Pond Solutions full optiwhite nano (600x400x400) (aps being a UK based website offering mainly cheap and cheerful alternatives to more well known brands)
The tank in possession being a similar style to ADA whilst being half the price - I paid £75 ($98 approx.) for a full optiwhite tank, show quality silicone and thick glass at 8mm!
After much deliberation I’ve opted to run both the charge & drain overflows from Ultra-Reef and intend on drilling the tank myself very soon.
The stand is a reinforced kitchen cabinet in gloss turquoise to match my homes decor. The total for tank and stand (inc reinforcing) is £75 tank - £91 stand = £166 ($218)
The plan is to use the funds raising from selling the larger tank to fully cover the costs of the new one. However due to the big tank being in use I’m having to lay out the money and pay myself back once it’s fully swapped over. The bottom line of this DIY needs to be form, function and reasonable costs!
I decided to splash out slightly more than planned and treat myself to the new AI Hydra32 - the prime was My first choice but for the extra £100 it more than covers me for keeping everything.
it was a huge choice - Hydra vs. XR15 - although having never used radion my previous experience with AI and their Primes as well as the hydra coming in white helped sway my decision #teamai
so including the Ultra-Reef overflows (charge on sale @ £50 and picking up a second hand ‘new’ drain @ £40) and the hydra @ £345 the running total is just over £600 - a total I feel I would be hard pressed to equal if I was buying straight off the peg.
that’s the updates so far.. and I enjoy blabbing on too much so apologies for the essay.. but nobody else listens
next on the list is to drill the return holes, plumb the tank into the sump and then the fun starts - aquascaping!!! Attached photos from all my previous tanks to the new nano in order
