6 gallon Marineland Cylinder Saltwater Build

Discussion in 'Nano Reefs' started by wlyon, Mar 13, 2013.

  1. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    Since my Fluval Edge had a leak I decided to get a new tank to replace it using the same sump and stand I already had. Once I broke down the edge I found out that the "leak" was actually just a spot in the overflow box that was splashing... But I like the new tank much better to be honest.

    For plumbing I decided to drill the back of the tank for the return and build an external overflow for the drain. Mainly because the tank is so small I didn't want to lose any space with a standard in tank overflow box.

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    In the tank I have roughly 8-10 lbs of sand and about 8 lbs of live rock. The live rock all came out of either my edge when I broke it down or from the sump of my big tank. While the sand I've had in a bucket ever since I bought to much for my big tank about 8 months ago. I tacked the rocks together with super glue so they wouldn't shift and I could remove them if need be.

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    Now just to add water and let the cycle begin!

    View from front
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    View from my desk
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    Tank is run with a Maxi-Jet 600 and an Aquatic Life Nano skimmer rated for 30 gallons in a 5 gallon sump with two sections.
     
  2. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    So far no issues! Tank has been up and running for 4 days with no leaks, pretty quiet, and very little evaporation so I'm thinking I will be ok with no ATO.

    Over all Look of the system
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    This is the lighting that is built into the hood. I would love to find a way simply swap out these LED's for some reef capable ones but so far I haven't found out a way without either burning the plastic canopy from a heat sync or having them splashed since they hover about an inch over the water level.
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    Filtration is pretty basic, a 3/4" drain into a filter sock (just for the cycle), aquatic life nano skimmer rated for 30 gallons, baffles in the middle for bubble trap, nano heater with a maxi jet 600 return pump in the second section. The only thing fancy about the sump is the last baffles has holes drilled in it so that if the sump starts getting low I wouldn't have a 8" water fall causing noise. I accidentally did this in my large tank when the glass baffle cracked allowing water to spill through the crack instead of falling over the top of the baffle. Which keeps the first section full, the water level between the baffles about half way, and the second section low. Causes a lot less noise and less bubbles from the "waterfall" when the sump is lower.
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  3. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    I am definitely following along on this one. I love the build. Thanks for sharing.
     
  4. Uperepik

    Uperepik Administrator

    Hey try the ecopico led strips by ecoxotic.
    I bet they would work.
     
  5. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    Had to get dog food and came home with two damsels that would easily fit on my thumb nail at the same time. They make the tank look a lot bigger than it is, haha. They ate well tonight but dart around to much to get a picture so far.
     
  6. Andy

    Andy Guest

    You can pull off keeping two damsels? I have to know how!
     
  7. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    I'm not sure if that is sarcasm or not haha
     
  8. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    So I have decided to go with the Kessil A150 that I have over my frag tank currently since I am wanting to go with a strip light on that tank. I hate being able to see lights over a tank and like to hide everything and make it look more aesthetically pleasing. So since a canopy isn't an option I'm thinking gut something like this to fit the kessil where the light bulb would go, and flip it upside down of course.

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    Has anyone ever done something like this before?
     
  9. Uperepik

    Uperepik Administrator

    I have, kinda. You know you could just use a led bulb. They have standard screw in bulbs that use 5,9, or 12-3w LEDs. And you can get the spectrum customized. The 9x3w is only around $30 on eBay. Them you could sell me the kessil, haha.
     
  10. Uperepik

    Uperepik Administrator

    By the way, your overflow mod on this is awesome.
     
  11. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    Thanks, this is the third time I have used this method on a nano tank. So I have slowly gotten better at it. Cutting te notches with a dremel tool adaptor was my newest trick.

    I haven't worked on the tank much since it has been cycling however I have almost finished my light fizture. I took a wall lamp and lengthened it so it would shine directly over the tank instead of the overflow box. Ill post pictures after my trip this weekend.
     
  12. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    I finally got the light fixture finished, and I'm very happy with it. I took a outside wall light, and was able to modify it using a 12" extension from a ceiling fan that I cut down to 9 1/2" I also drilled a hole on the top of the fixture to ensure adequate air flow to keep the Kessil cooled.

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    With just the kessil the light is pretty blue, so I am also using the LED's that come built into the tank to tone it down a bit.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 26, 2013
  13. whippetguy

    whippetguy Super Moderator

    Looks very cool!



    Sent from John's Tapatalk
     
  14. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

  15. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    Yes, with out gutting the fixture a regular light bulb will fit and it was rates for 70 watts or higher I believe. Only thing is that's its made to be wires to the house so you would have to wire a plug and cord to it which would take two minutes tops.
     
  16. wlyon

    wlyon Guest

    While moving my tanks I decided to fix some things on the system to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
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    My newest addition! It's about 4 inches fully puffed up.
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