Red Sea E170 Max ATO to Fuge conversion w/out drilling

[ethankap]

I recently upgraded my E170 to the in-cabinet sump, and since I had an optical external ATO, decided to make the ATO tank (1.5 gallons or so) a chaeto refugium. However, I couldn't find a place to drill the glass, and I didn't want to risk doing it myself.

Since the ATO tank is essentially a really nano tank, I looked to see if I could find an overflow that fit. Marine Depot made one! And it was a perfect fit. My shopping list:

Cobalt Aquatics MJ600 pump (https://www.marinedepot.com/Cobalt_...rheads-Cobalt_Aquatics-3C00059-FIPHFF-vi.html)

Some suction cups and clips for the tubing (https://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_S...cement_Parts-Eheim-EH4014100-FIFRRPSA-vi.html)

Marine Depot Overflow Box Nano (https://www.marinedepot.com/Marine_..._Aquariums-Marine_Depot-MD8143-FIOFEB-vi.html)

I still have to put a barbed slip adapter on the bulkhead from the overflow, so for now I have it draining into some filter sponge. I'm adding a Kessil A80 Sun LED as the light, and some rubble rock, chaeto and seeding copepods this weekend.

Let me know if you have any questions. Very happy with the mod and was pretty easy to do, just had to pre-fill the ATO reservoir before starting and balance some water levels.

The nano overflow draining (currently) into a sponge to deaden the noise. I'll be having it drain into the main sump once I fit an adapter.

 

[Bob Escher]

I did the same with my JBJ 45 Gallon see my threads in my sig line

 

[ethankap]

I added the chaeto and some TiggerPods last night, and a Kessil H80 Flora will go in on Saturday. Right now just have a goose neck full spectrum LED on it at night until then. I added some rubble rock to the bottom of the refugium and the rest on the sump bottom so they are seeded if I need to use them in the main tank for mounting frags. The only issue I had with the nano overflow was when I added a slip/barb connector with a ¾ tube. The down flow exceeded the fill rate of the overflow, so I had to remove the tube, keep the slip fit to lessen noise on the water and put a filter sponge to catch it. Not a big deal. I also altered the filter sponge in the overflow to dampen the gurgling a bit.

All told, easy cheap mod, no glass cutting needed and works well.