Taichimaster's 20 Gallon Rimless LED Rebuild

[taichimaster]

The title says it all...I ran out of things to do with the bigger tank so I thought, why not rebuild the 20 gallon in my office? I kept the same dimensions and didn't go with a cube because then I would have to get another stand.
I had Matt custom build me a 3/4" rimless with a 10gallon sump. He threw in a sock holder which is nice. I had the overflow box built on the outside with two 1" drains. I figure I am going to try the Herbie Method so that things can be quiet just like my sumpless 20 I have now. Here is the list of things I am planning on doing.

20 gallon 3/4" Acrylic Rimless
10 gallon sump
Bubble Magus NAC3 Skimmer
1260 Return Pump

18 LEDs DIY Light Fixture.
9 Cree cool whites
9 Cree royal blues
I will be putting in the order for this in a few days. I have to find time to switch over to the new tank first.

I also plan on splitting the return and make a manifold out of the return line.
that way I can put 2-3 valves on there for media and fish acclimation

On to the pictures....

This little skimmer is impressive...looks similar to my bubble king that I paid a fortune for. let's hope it works the same....the reviews says it does.
For $100, I can really complain though>>>

Nice details.....flow control meter that my BubbleKing didn't have

More to come later in the week....

 

[Skimmy]

copule of things....
the 1260 is WAAAAY to much flow for your sump, you are wasting extra watts there...
I know it sounds nice to use one pump to accomodate your media filters and sump, and that a great idea, BUT!!!
you only need to feed 3x-5x through the sump, so that would be 60-100gph!!!
and then a media reactor shoulnt be fed any more than 100gph max, so that leaves you with alot of extra flow valved off through the sump...not good.

my suggestion is to use an eheim 1250 and use that to feed both your media reactor and provide sump throughput, or better yet, use a very small pump on the media reactor seperately so that you can KNOW instead of guess how much flow is going through it, and then an eheim 1048 for the return.

the nac3 should be good for that tank for sure.
but dont you want a new SWC 120 cone skimmer for that???

and have you seen these inexpensive pre-made LED fixtures?
http://www.reefshops.com/lighting/moon-lighting/

 

[ashton]

Nice peter I really like the look of that 20g tank. What bubble magus is that? I've got the NAC6 on my 55 and that thing rocks. Pulls out some nasty stinky gunk and you definitely cant beat the price on them either.

 

[taichimaster]

copule of things....
the 1260 is WAAAAY to much flow for your sump, you are wasting extra watts there...
I know it sounds nice to use one pump to accomodate your media filters and sump, and that a great idea, BUT!!!
you only need to feed 3x-5x through the sump, so that would be 60-100gph!!!
and then a media reactor shoulnt be fed any more than 100gph max, so that leaves you with alot of extra flow valved off through the sump...not good.

my suggestion is to use an eheim 1250 and use that to feed both your media reactor and provide sump throughput, or better yet, use a very small pump on the media reactor seperately so that you can KNOW instead of guess how much flow is going through it, and then an eheim 1048 for the return.

the nac3 should be good for that tank for sure.
but dont you want a new SWC 120 cone skimmer for that???

and have you seen these inexpensive pre-made LED fixtures?
http://www.reefshops.com/lighting/moon-lighting/

Thanks mark for the insight. I have the 1260 sitting around and didn't want it to go to waste. I will throttle back the return to reduce the flow. I think the SWC skimmers are using the same pump Atmann 1100 as the Bubble Magus. Wanna sell me the SWC for the same price? I will buy it

 

[taichimaster]

Nice peter I really like the look of that 20g tank. What bubble magus is that? I've got the NAC6 on my 55 and that thing rocks. Pulls out some nasty stinky gunk and you definitely cant beat the price on them either.

Thanks Ashton...It is the Bubble Magus NAC3...Smaller footprint than I thought, but oh well....

 

[TJL]

Hey Peter,

Thats going to an awsome nano for your office, Matt does some amazing work w/ acrylic. I'll will definately have to check it out when up & running especially w/ the LED lighting on it.

Todd

 

[roscoe]

Nice Peter! I will have to make the trip to your house when you have that thing set up.

 

[iroll253]

That is so clean looking

 

[taichimaster]

Found some time before work to run some plumbing. Hopefully I can finish the manifold and start the tank switch tonight or tomorrow.

 

[user 2204]

Very nice tank. Goning to look awesome when it is done and can't wait to see it stocked and lit.

One question, Don't you think that 3/4" is a little over kill on such a small tank? Of course you're going rimless, I guess I may have answered my own question. *lol*

Cheers,
Alex

 

[taichimaster]

Alex,
You are right. I had to go 3/4" because it was rimless. Heavy son of a gun.

Very nice tank. Goning to look awesome when it is done and can't wait to see it stocked and lit.

One question, Don't you think that 3/4" is a little over kill on such a small tank? Of course you're going rimless, I guess I may have answered my own question. *lol*

Cheers,
Alex

 

[mfinn]

I just checked out this thread and I have to say, that is a really sweet looking tank, setup.

 

[FreakinReefin]

I hate it. You should too. Definitely throw it out in an alley somewhere and I'll dispose of it for you

 

[taichimaster]

Got More Plumbing Done Today. This is moving really slow

 

[taichimaster]

So I finally got this thing filled up with water. I lost a few corals and a Sunburst Anthias during the move, but oh well. The corals were not happy. I got home late so here are some Actinic shots of the tank and corals.

I decided to put starboard in and man, it really reflects the light. I like it.

Full Tank Shot

Ric Garden

Neon Corals

Pink eye Cyphastrea

Red hornet knock offs

Favorite Ric

Last but not least, The Sump....

The Skimmer is doing really well but for some reason the air intake was SOOO LOUD!!!! I put a pill bottle over the tube as you can see to silence it. Worked like a charm.

 

[roscoe]

Looking good Peter.

 

[moto826]

looks real good

 

[BCT182]

Real nice man. I'd love to set up a tank at work.

 

[baseballkid5]

I think theres supposed to be a silencer with the setup and a screw that screws to the lid of the skimmer cup. Thats like the one i have and it has that attachment and it works great, But if the pill bottles working well. Then theres no problem.

 

[taichimaster]

Yeah,
I looked into it. Apparently, the Bubble Magus NAC3 doesn't come with a silencer. The NAC6 does and some other models do to.

So Far I am happy with with. We will see once it breaks in.

I think theres supposed to be a silencer with the setup and a screw that screws to the lid of the skimmer cup. Thats like the one i have and it has that attachment and it works great, But if the pill bottles working well. Then theres no problem.