Taking the plunge

[dowsetts101]

Hi all...new to the forum (obviously) so thought that I'd do a quick intro post. I've been into aquariums for around 20 years, and in that time I've been running freshwater tropical sand planted tanks.

I've been kicking around making the change to marine reef tanks for a while, but a recent tank wipeout when I was on holidays has given me the push I needed.

I've currently got an Aqua-One UFO-880 tank. It's one of those corner , curved front aquariums. Around 320 litres (85 gallons). I'm going to keep the tank, drill for a sump in the cabinet (then rebuild the cabinet) and start to build up the equipment.

I'll try to keep a bit of an update going...as I suspect I could do with the advice and suggestions.

Look forward to bing part of the forum.

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and to the salty side of the hobby.

 

[dowsetts101]

Welcome to R2R and to the salty side of the hobby.

Thanks mate...not quite salty yet...but getting there!!!

 

[kschweer]

Welcome!!

 

[4FordFamily]

Welcome home, you will love it here!

Please keep us posted with your build!

 

[cromag27]

Welcome!

 

[PJS]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R and welcome to the marine side

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R

 

[dowsetts101]

So time for a bit of an update on my build. It's been slow going over the last few months...work has been pretty hectic, and it took me a while to drum up the courage to drill my tanks!!

Drilling my tank
Decided to go for a Durso style overflow with an additional emergency overflow. So drilled 3 holes in the tank...2 x 1" and 1 x 1 1/4".

 

[dowsetts101]

Stand
I was holding off doing anything else until I had successfully drilled the tank...with that done, I turned my thoughts to the stand and sump. As the existing Aqua-one cabinet was made of flat panels, there wasn't much space for a sump.

I decided to rebuild the stand, keeping the top and bottom (for the curves to match the tank) and provide the maximum open space I could achieve for the sump.

As it's a large span, I was a little nervous, but adopting the use of 4"x2" and glueing and screwing (as well as dowels here and there) I'm pretty happy with the carcass that I'd don't up.

Lots of work still do go on it...the curved doors will take a while when I get to them, but happy with the direction so far.

 

[dowsetts101]

Sump
I don't have a massive amount of space in the stand for the sump, but by making the front a free span, I've gained a bit.

Due to the shape of the stand (quarter circle) a rectangular sump wouldn't be a good use of the space, so I've gone with a rectangle with the 'corners chopped off'

I'm going a skimmer, with a small fuge and then return. I'm in two minds about the fuge...doesn't seem much space and potentially taking space from the return pump chamber.

I got the glass cut at the local glaziers...and assembled the first stage of the sump today...and how shall I say this...."a blind man would be happy to see it!!!"

It was an unmitigated disaster...I thought I was all prepared, but I stuffed it up.

I'll give it time to cure and clean up the excess...but I'm thinking that I may need to pull it all apart and have another go!!!

 

[dowsetts101]

Overflow

I've had to go for a larger overflow thank I would have liked, but such is life.

I've gone for a gray smoked glass divider for the overflow, in 10mm. I'm going to get a strip of acrylic to cut for the overflow teeth.

 

[dbl]

Now that's what I call progress! Nice work.

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Welcome to the addiction.

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R! Nice start!

 

[dowsetts101]

I've been staring at the sump on my workbench whilst it's been curing this week...and it's driving me nuts already...so I think that means this weekend I'm stripping it down and having another go...what's a bit of silicone and time versus me looking at it under my tank for the next 10 years thinking...I should have redone it!!!

 

[glb]

Welcome and wow! You're takin diy to a new level!

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Your doing great, take your time. Remember nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

 

[dowsetts101]

Thanks guys. I've now broken down the sump and have spent the day stripping all the silicone off it and it's now a 'flat pack' again.

Hopefully this time I do a better job of it!!!