Wes' 50l DIY Build.

[Wes1984.]

Hello! I've been on thenanoreef.co.uk for quite a while and thought i'd come say hi here too.

This is shortened version of my build....happy reading.

 

Current FTS - 08/04/2013


The beginning: 29/09/2012
Ok time to start a thread on my new project and challenge.Hope you follow along with me and any ideas or advice welcome.Challenge to myself:Build a stable well functioning reef tank and keep the cost down as much as possible with diy and recycled bits, but still try keep it stylish and maybe even unique. Oh i wanted an all in one and as minimal equipment around it as possible or at least hidden away. Tired of falling over containers an buckets etc and fish stuff everywhere and sumps and all of it. I'm sure you all can relate. And most of all try not to rush any of it. I tend to get excited and want to see the end product.lol
So i managed to find 3 glass panes all the same length. Took it out of some pasty warmer draw type thing that was heading to the skip.
Best size tank i could get out of it was 25"x10"x12" (13gallons/50l) which was pretty much the exact size i was trying for.IDEAL!!

Cost list so far: (i'll keep editing this)
Glass: FreeGlass cut and de-edged: £10.00
Aquarium silicone: £5.00
Acrylic 5mm purple sheet for false wall: Free ( Cut off from a sign writer i know)
Acrylic crafters paint 59ml: £2.50
Black gloss spray paint: £2.95
STC 1000 Temp controller Diy build: £22.50
Arcadia 4x 24w light unit: £35
Chinese 800l/hr return pump: Have lieing around. Will use this till i upgrade it possibly to an eheim compact.
Koralia Nano 900: use from my current tank.T5 tubes : £25.90
100w heater: old one rediscovered so free
Wood for stand: doors and top: £9.95
Tmc V2 ATO: £35.00
Caribsea Arag-Alive Bahamas Oolite 9kg: £15.00
2x 10l food bucket: £5.20
Bubble Magus NAC QQ: £55.00
-----------------------------------------
TOTAL COST TO DATE: £224.00

Spent the last 2hrs putting the tank together. How nerve racking is that!!Woah!Managed to do a pretty decent job i think.few bits to clean up once its all cured. Sticking to my patience regime im going to leave it until tuesday or wednesday and then do a water test. Fingers crossed!!! That'll b another stressful moment.Ok no more babbling heres a few pics for you:Glass cleaned with vinegar water and then nail polish remover..All edges masked off with tape to contain silicone and reduce the mess...kinda.lol

All silicone done and smoothed down. Tank held together with masking tape until silicone sets enough.

Few days later the silicone was cured and i started assembling the side chambers to house my equipent.

Water flows over into the 1st chamber which holds my protein skimmer and heater, flows under 1st baffle and over 2nd into chamber 2 which has return, floss and seachem seagel as well as media basket.

 

Next was stand etc and all bits and bobs, heres the finished product. with the light fixture.

transferred all my stock from my aquanano 40 over to the new tank and looked like this.

All equipment neatlyish tucked away out of sight....

 

 

And now after 6 months up and running this is where i am at.

 

Fish:
1x percula clown,
1x white tiger goby,

1x blue striped pipefish
1x red firefish.

Inverts:
1x Blood shrimp, 1x Cleaner shrimp, 1x porcelain crab, 1x pom pom crab, feather duster.
2x nassarius snails, 1x conch snail, 1x trochus snail,
2x red legged hermits, 1x micro blue legged hermit

Corals:
Xenia, Duncan, various mushrooms, various zoas and palys, gsp, Candy cane, Acan, cabbage leather, organ pipe, montipora digitata,

 

And an up to date FTS and some stock pics:

 

So thats my progress over the last 6 or 7 months. if you'd like to read my entire build process with loads more pictures and the ups and downs etc then follow this link...

http://thenanoreef.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?11870-My-DIY-Nano-Reef-recycled-tank-build-challenge

 

The tank is doing really well and im in the process of setting up a pico but taking it very slow, still getting equipment together so far from wet. I will be replacing the T5 unit on my tank in the next couple weeks or so for 2xpar38 quadspec bulbs and a Fiji par bulb. Cant wait to see it under Led's.

 

Hope you like. Please comment and any advice welcome!!

[Wes1984.]

Couple of new pics and up to date Fts

http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/wes1984/media/IMG_0324_zpsac35c2b5.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/wes1984/media/IMG_0326_zps9427bb51.jpg.html'>

 

Torch has doubled in size since i got it

.http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/wes1984/media/IMG_0328_zps9266b32a.jpg.html'>

[ZachS]

sweet build, Ive always wanted to do a diy glass tank but don't have the kahonas to do one

[Wes1984.]

So i just found my little tiger goby all dried up and on the carpet. RIP lil guy.
Not very happy right now. And i have no idea how he got out as i have all of it covered up. ergh.

Fts:


Little shuffle round on my zoa garden but doing well. The little duncan frag is for my pico when my bulb arrives.
Can you see the scaredy cat peeking lol.


Love my acan. Colour is always changing.


My silly conch....gotta love him.


And my turbo that has a garden of moss/algae on his back lol. Well funny to watch on the glass.

[Wes1984.]

Thank you Brad @marinereefled !!
New upgrades to my tank's lights. Looks amazing!!The corals stand out so much more!!
Whats in the box?


ALL OF THIS!!!!Wooop woop!


Bulbs are top quality!


Picked these up too from a friend


And Here we go!



My 2 tanks side by side. New quadspec mini on the 8l pico as well


Very chuffed tonight!!lol.
Ordered a piece of acrylic to make a new lid to fit with the new lights. Dont want any more carpet surfers and i'll be picking up a little tailspot blenny first thing tomo morning as well so defo need a nice tight lid.

[Kayleen]

awesome build

[Wes1984.]

And my new little guy is here. Settled in pretty quick and found lts of hiding places for himself.
http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/wes1984/media/IMG_0401_zpseec613ad.jpg.html'>
http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/wes1984/media/IMG_0397_zpsda21a255.jpg.html'>

[Wes1984.]

Had a good look for the crab and pipefish and moved a few rocks to try find them but i'm pretty sure they are gone no idea where and maybe they will turn up fingers crossed but pretty certain. They been missing for about 4days now. Proper gutted.

 

My new lid for the tank. Made today.

 

New fts with proper camera: