2.8 pico with overflow DIY

[Patio]

About two years ago the obsession of the picture perfect reef began. This last month my apartment leasing center decided that my well established tank had to go. My guess is they did not like the look of the 20 gallon sump with all the plumbing to the main tank. 30 days without a reef means no form of therapy in my life.(or lots of time staring with mouth open) I decided a few days back I needed some sort of reef in my life. That's when I came up with the idea of a pico tank I can conceal if need be. I work from home and decided a desktop tank would be perfect...

This last weekend I started to fabricate an overflow for my 2.8 pico
The plan is below.

I intend on the overflow doubling as a surface skimmer (very important especially for a pico) and a refugium. I found these micro jet pumps on MD..com they will be my two return pumps.

With only 2.8 gallons to work with I want nothing but reef to show in the tank. ie. powerheads, heaters, HOB.

I will post pics of the tank and the acrylic fabrication Tuesday afternoon.

hope to hear some good input.

Thanks

[Patio]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153452

[Mikeeal]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Mikeeal/Misc/beggar_signwelcome.jpg

Sounds good. Can't wait to see some pics.

[Carl_in_Florida]

[welcome]
Patio

[Patio]

Thanks mike and carl!
I am posting pics soon, maybe an hour

[Patio]

Heated the acrylic with two heat guns around my template
I made sure to use a straight edge to bend close to perfect
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153502&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153503&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153504&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153508&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153508&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153507&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=153506&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

[Mikeeal]

Lookin real good. Time to fill it with some water. What's your plan for corals, and what lighting are you planning on?

[Patio]

right now i have two 10 watt screw in corallife bulbs. I will take a pick of my desk and show you where I plan on mounting my 20k 70w MH. I will start that project next weekend.

[chocolateblnt]

why are you making us click links ... open a photobucket account please!

[Patio]

im on it

[Patio]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/1st.jpg

<a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/3rd.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a> http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/4th.jpg http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/2nd.jpg <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/3rd.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a> http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/5th.jpg http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/almostlast.jpg http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/last.jpg

[chocolateblnt]

Sick ... I plan on Pico'ing my desk in the future :D ... what are you gonna put in it? Is that last picture like a hooray we did it picture? :D Also why did they not like your tank ... I don't understand, I would fight like hell to keep my tank up?!

[Patio]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6692317#post6692317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chocolateblnt
Sick ... I plan on Pico'ing my desk in the future :D ... what are you gonna put in it? Is that last picture like a hooray we did it picture? :D Also why did they not like your tank ... I don't understand, I would fight like hell to keep my tank up?!
Well I did sign the no pet clause in the lease. I later thought what if I get rid of the fish? technically I wouldn't be breaking a no pet clause. Oh well.

I plan on putting in a little of everything. My biggest interest would be the smallest brain I can find. As for a few months down the line with some more mods, SPS dominated. Or as dominated as a 2.7 could be.

Next weekend I am planning on the 20K MH hood built into the top shelf of the desk. (I will fill you in with pics when I can)

[Patio]

as for the high five, yes that was the finishing move with my friend. That was our first acrylic fabrication. Not as awsome as building a custom motorcycle like OCC but it was fun.

[Patio]

I got my pumps in the mail I am now working on the plumbing ill post some pics soon.

[Patio]

I should have some more work done tonight

[Patio]

Just made the slots wider on the overflow and now it is turning over perfectly

[Patio]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture002.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture008.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture007.jpg

[supernareg]

lookin good man

[aural]

that is looking sweet! did you make the tank as well?

I cant believe that your apartment complex made you get rid of your other tank. Fish arent like cats and dogs that will mess up an apartment. (i guess unless you are really clumsy with a a 5 gallon bucket of saltwater)

[Patio]

So I want to do my rock work today. I was thinking doing a reef wall across the back but I am having trouble getting any adhesives to work with the rock. They stick to the tank fine, not the rock. I have tried aquarium epoxy and it just is not cutting it. Egg crate is to thick and I will loose to much display room. Now I am thinking I am stuck stacking my rockwork, and I am bad at aquascaping. Any suggestions?

[Patio]

Aural: I bought the tank from lfs for $15 you can buy the same tank online. He sells the tanl seperate for 25 http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=1340

[Surfzup2k4]

dude, you had the slots cut so nicely.... now they look like total a$$. Why didn't you take time to make it look nice? Idea is awesome though, and goodluck with it. Can't wait to see pics with it stocked.

[Patio]

you know it had to be done with the 200X turnover. Those pumps are rated over 110gph. you should see the flow it is sick. When the pumps are on you cant even see the slots because the water is so ripply and fast. It looks good guys. They are ugly because I had to route them to about an inch. I might get some video for you to see.

[Surfzup2k4]

all that flow really might not end up being a good thing.....

[Patio]

the nice thing about the pumps is you can control the flow. I actually use a coat hanger to ajust it because I have hands to big to fit down the overflow

[Patio]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture2005.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture2004.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture2006.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture2007.jpg

[Surfzup2k4]

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[Agu]

Nice job :thumbsup:

How's the evaporation? Seems like you'd really have to top off pretty often.

[vanmo92]

kool

[Patio]

This is my second pico and yes day one the evapo is about the same which is at least a cup and a half. I think this week i will get to my 70wmh and next week work on the auto top off, then stock it.

[Patio]

my temp is staying lower than my previous 2.5
under my 20w
77.8 lights off
79.9 lights on
old tank
82.6 off
85.8 on
Probably because of the over flow
I hope I can keep these temps with the halide and fan

[kaserpick]

really awesome setup! Keep up the good work.

Thumbs up!
Kaserpick

[petergordet]

tank looks good man. i cant wait to see it under some good lights. shimmer yo!!

[louist]

Very cool Patio, I like what you have done with this tank, especially the DIY overflow with the two little cute pumps. I worry myself sometimes calling pumps "cute" :D

Watch the evaporation though, salinity swing could be outside of acceptable range with small volume of water. This is especially true when your halides are on and you have fans blowing. Good on you for having planned an ATO.

[Patio]

the diy stuff is as much a hobby for me as the reef keeping.
thanks.

[Patio]

So my light is set up and ready to mount! Tomorrow I am cutting the top of my desk to make hinged opening for tank access from above. Here is a pic of my old set up which is being replaced by this project. You can see I will be mounting everything so it fits in a cubie in my desk shelf. The second pic is the 70W MH 20K that I will mount tomorrow. My auto top off will sit on the shelf to the right of the tank.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/Picture2001.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/1.jpg

[Agu]

That's pretty radical :thumbsup: . What happened to the old tank ?

[Patio]

It's still running. Something to look at while the new tank cycles. I didn't like the lack of surface skimming or the look of anything visable. The old tank had 20w 50/50 runs to hot and I dont like the look of the black tank framing.

I met one of the guys who runs http://www.catalinaaquarium.com// today and they might help make a custom tank that will fit the demensions of my desk cubie perfectly. I bought the current tank I am working on from them.

[chocolateblnt]

that's cute ;)

[Patio]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6744940#post6744940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chocolateblnt
that's cute ;)

we are talking about the light, right?

[Patio]

Today after work I am starting to mount the light into my desk. I will post some picks tonight. I am excited to see the 20K over all the flow of the tank, should shimmer nicely.

[Patio]

For some reason my 70W MH is not fully turning on, just flickering and sounding like its going to blow up.

[Agu]

Take pics of the explosion ;) !!!

Sounds like a bad connection (hopefully), or a ballast that can't generate the power to get it started (hopefully not ).

Also is the reflector grounded ?

[Patio]

I got it. The connection was a hair to far apart so I tightened it up a little bit.

[Patio]

so I got the light to work and installed it and a 4 inch fan. I monitored the temp for two days low of
76 without light and fan
102 with light only
78-80 with light and fan
I am going to install a second fan and watch temp with both on. I figure I would hate to lose my livestock because a fan stopped and the tank turned to a spa.
Hopefully two fans wont be to cold, but i doubt it.

I will have some new pics of the lighting. It looks awsome.
I dont own a cemera, so I am at the mercy of my friends camera.

[petergordet]

bump

[Patio]

Here are some new pics. I got my american dj power strip so I will never have to unplug anything again. The new tank shot with halide. The other tank is where i'll keep all my hermit crabs for the mantis shrimp.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/hood.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/hermit.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/full.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/frag.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/fan.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/dj.jpg

[Patio]

I just finished building a cabinet for the switch bar. Camera is charging now. I will post pics asap

[samtall]

You are straight up unreal player.

[Patio]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6835048#post6835048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by samtall
You are straight up unreal player.

Thats the best compliment yet. Thanks. LOL

[petergordet]

bump

[Patio]

who is this guy bumping for me?

[Patio]

I am very happy with the switchboard. I did my first water change since having it. All it took was a couple of flipped switches and no unplugging. WORD!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/switch.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/workplace.jpg

[spline9]

Sweet.
Clever with the pic of the same view in the monitor. Heh.
If youre worried about heat, look into getting an IceProbe chiller. I got one for my Eclipse System 3 reef tank. I was impressed with its initial performance. Works like a champ.

[Patio]

80.2

[Patio]

We will see what happens in the summer. When the fan is off and lights on the water can get 102. we shall see when the summer comes.

[Schaefer]

"Your tank" is the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life.

Stolen and modified from a fortune cookie. Cool tank.

[chocolateblnt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6858088#post6858088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Patio
who is this guy bumping for me?

lol bump ;)

[BeachBoy]

wow very nice tank

I love DIY!

E.

[Kinetic]

pat, that's sweet! I like how it's totally integrated into the shelf =)

[Patio]

Thanks guys.
I will get my medical grade dosing pump next week and keep the upgrades coming. I figure it is all I can hide in my apartment so why not add some nice accessories and really enjoy it. So far it has been a lot of fun.

[Patio]

Got the doser in the mail and should set it up soon. It will be a good idea to be home all day to try and get the drip rate as best I can.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/Ishtar10/dose.jpg

[davidryder]

pretty awesome setup

[Kinetic]

very cool how it came in pink ;)

keep up the good work

[Patio]

The pump makes a little noise, but I will be able to tuck it away under my desk where I cant hear it.

[MarineGirl411]

hey anymore updates??? I was wondering how you drilled the teeth for the overflow. Any other ideas besides using a router if that's how you went? Great tank. Very cute! =)

[rljlll]

the rock work go to HD and buy AquaMEND it is in the Epoxy/glue aisle

[pllb]

nice!

[Toygrr]

what did you use for the TT fans, im gonna build a custom hood and wanter like 92mm or 80mm TT fans on it, but im unsure how to supply them /w power.

if you could share yur tricks ill be on my way! :D and btw, very cool thread, ill refer to it when i start a pico!