2.5 Gallon custom build!

SFMMcoasters · #1 05/05/2007, 03:45 PM

Ever since I took out my aquapod from my room, to get a 90 gallon for our family room- I've been longing for something to have in my room. So I've started a 2.5 gallon project that is nearly completed. I'll get pics up soon!

- Custom wood stand and canopy
- 2.5 gallon aga display
- 2.5 gallon aga sump
- 12 inch 9w actinic + 9w daylight PC
- Builtin overflow

Do you guys thing this will be enough lighting for simple zoa's and shrooms? More?

SugarFox03 · #2 05/05/2007, 05:46 PM

That would be plenty for softies, and maybe some LPS. Can wait to see pics!

circusordie16 · #3 05/06/2007, 12:34 AM

definitely enough for softies and most lps and maybe some easy sps like montiporas. sounds like great plans.

SFMMcoasters · #4 05/06/2007, 04:03 PM

Well these pics dont really do the tank justice. It looks alot nice in person, I'll try to get better pics once more is built. I'm waiting on a drill bit I ordered in the mail so I can make holes for the overflow and the return.

Front pic, without hood

Back view so you can see sump

SFMMcoasters · #5 05/08/2007, 10:53 PM

Lights arrived in the mail today, they fit in the hood PERFECTLY. I'm still waiting on this drill bit though, then it'll be up and running!

storrisch · #6 05/08/2007, 11:54 PM

you can drill the holes with a dremel bit from Home Depot.

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94206

here is a link to the 2.5 I am working on. I just need to get around to getting the stand and canopy built and adding a few baffles to the sump

SFMMcoasters · #7 05/09/2007, 12:40 AM

That looks pretty cool, youve got almost the exact same design as me. I could do the hole with a dremel, but I ordered the diamond drill bit for $5.99 to be sure of a good hole.

brucej · #8 05/09/2007, 03:14 AM

Hey tank looks good! Is that a diy sump? If so could you do a step by step. I have 3 gal pico would love to have a sump for

Rosseau · #9 05/09/2007, 10:53 AM

looks good.

Can you give us a shot from the front showing the front of the canopy?

SFMMcoasters · #10 05/09/2007, 07:18 PM

Here is the view from the front

And this shows how perfectly the little CurrentUSA fixture mounts in there.

Here is a pic of the sump, its a very simple design. Water will fall through the overflow hole on the left, hit some filter floss that will be on that egg crate. Then a few baffles for trapping bubbles. Then a return pump and heater in the larger right side area. I will probably throw a bag of Chemi-pure in there somewhere too.

fishymann · #11 05/09/2007, 08:27 PM

looking nice. whered you order the lights from?

SFMMcoasters · #12 05/09/2007, 11:24 PM

Lighting is here
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345
On sale for 38.99

SFMMcoasters · #13 05/17/2007, 03:12 PM

Wowie! So The tank has been running for 4 days. I drilled hole in the back for the return and actually had a small hairline crack that was about 1 inch. I decided to patch it up with silicone just to make sure. Then I ran the tank.

Jump to last night- I wake up at 3AM to look over and see sparks flying like mad out of under my desk. The tank leaked and all the water went down onto my powerstrip. Huge burn marks on the wall and carpet... LR dried up by now i'm sure. I've gotta get a whole new tank, and redrill it and re-setup everything! Bleckkk

MSU Fan · #14 05/22/2007, 09:28 PM

man - that really sux. I was using this as a guide to make a future nano, but now I am nervous about drilling the 2.5 in the basement! Hope the next tank goes better!

reefman13 · #15 05/22/2007, 10:32 PM

Man................what a bummer...............good luck with the next one..........

fishymann · #16 05/23/2007, 07:52 PM

that my friend is why they suggest loops when you use electrical cords, very sorry for what happened

. At least your not discouraged, and this time use what you learned from the first drilling. At least the tank is cheap!

SFMMcoasters · #17 05/23/2007, 08:11 PM

Well I drip loops. Just not enough to stop all this water. It was not dripping, it was dribbling, and splashing, and getting everywhere. It was inevitable. I wish I got these tanks for cheap- Where do you find yours?

Mine were 14.99 at Petco. Pretty expensive considering the 10 gallon is 9.99 at Petco.

fishymann · #18 05/23/2007, 08:55 PM

at my LFS the aga 5g is 10$ i think the 2.5 is a lil cheaper (8$)?

circusordie16 · #19 05/24/2007, 01:46 AM

$10 at petsmart

SFMMcoasters · #20 05/28/2007, 11:40 PM

Alright! We re-drilled and everything is going great! It's finally set up! On to the pictures.

Enjoy

SFMMcoasters · #21 05/30/2007, 10:00 PM

Cycle is almost complete. For stocking I'm thinking about a peppermint shrimp. A Catalina Goby (hopefully, if I can find one), and some zoanthids.

Steven0000 · #22 05/31/2007, 12:47 AM

how big is that bulkhead?

the guys over in DIY told me that even if i did drill a hole for my 10g sump(which i changed to a 20) that it would eventually crack because the glass was so thin

good looking tank though

SFMMcoasters · #23 05/31/2007, 07:01 PM

Bulkhead is 1/2 inch. I've got a 290 gph return pump shooting through it with about 9 inches of headloss. The flow in the tank is INCREDIBLE.

The glass is very delicate though. I cracked the first tank I tried to drill as I said. So be careful. I dont think it should crack once its already safely running.

majestic sea life · #24 05/31/2007, 10:06 PM

NICE!!! Funny thing is I have had almost the same setup for about 2 years now. Yours is going to be an awsome lil tank.

SFMMcoasters · #25 06/02/2007, 03:11 PM

Well the cycle is completed. I'm starting to brown out. I think i'm going to get a neon goby, but my LFS has this teeny tiny 1/2 inch Maroon clown! I'm DYING to get him and keep him for as long as possibe... its so tempting.