My DIY 3.5 pico build...

scaast · #1 08/27/2007, 08:44 PM

I wanted to take a shot at building a tank for my office. it's made of 1/4" acrylic, false back with fuge. two return chambers house maxi-jet 400's. Lighting is a 2x40watt Orbit light w/ lunar lights. I'll add the Southdown sand, liverock and sps when it's cycled.

gluing the false back in place

with false back in place

after the back is painted up

Up and running...no leaks!!

3fins · #2 08/27/2007, 08:45 PM

That is so cool!

yankeereefer · #3 08/27/2007, 09:24 PM

Looks like some very nice work-

Kudos to you!

ckprax · #4 08/28/2007, 12:36 AM

That is an awesome looking tank!

Zeezorm · #5 08/28/2007, 12:51 AM

what did you use to cut the acrylic and what did you use to glue it together?

scaast · #6 08/28/2007, 01:10 AM

I had it cut at a local shop, they use a laser to cut the teeth for the overflow. I used weld-on #4 and the thicker weld-on #16 to seal the edges.

scaast · #7 09/15/2007, 10:10 PM

couple of weeks into it.

buttons buster · #8 09/15/2007, 10:22 PM

Is the whole tank 3.5 gallons, or just the display?

scaast · #9 09/15/2007, 10:55 PM

just the display

InLimbo87 · #10 09/16/2007, 12:08 AM

Wow very cool little setup

Jean-yus · #11 09/16/2007, 12:58 AM

Thats pretty nice, Im guessing thats a 5-6g tank if you include the rest of it with the display ?

Id like to see more pictures of it setup.

scaast · #12 09/16/2007, 01:17 AM

Yeah...total volume is approx 5 gallons. I'll post pics as the tank matures.

saltman123 · #13 09/16/2007, 02:56 AM

Sweet Tank!

scaast · #14 10/14/2007, 07:52 PM

Finally got it on the bookshelf and setup. zoas and gsp aren't opened up all the way since I just moved the tank.

geno606 · #15 10/14/2007, 08:11 PM

dude that is one cool looking tank!

hyewiz · #16 10/14/2007, 08:57 PM

Nice tank what are dimensions?

scaast · #17 10/14/2007, 09:16 PM

The tank is 20X8X8...the main display area is 20X5X8...total volume is about 5 gallons and the main display is approx 3.5 gallons total.

spleify · #18 10/14/2007, 09:29 PM

Looks awesome, I love how you did the back section.

workstoomuch · #19 10/15/2007, 11:21 AM

Hey that is pretty slick looking. Hmm, I'm having new ideas on how to spend money.

scaast · #20 10/15/2007, 03:04 PM

It didn't cost much at all...acrylic was maybe $40...the overflow was laser cut at the acrylic shop. Then it's just two maxi 400's and some 1/2" locline fittings. The light and sand I had laying around...of course you don't need an 80 watt orbit light for a 3.5 gallon pico tank.

Kapow3000 · #21 10/21/2007, 07:39 PM

Love the tank. Do you use a filter? What kind?

scaast · #22 10/21/2007, 08:06 PM

I do have a filter on it...I don't really need it due to the live rock in the middle chamber. I use the filter to remove any debris that may get into the chamber. There is only a piece of foam inside the filter.

saltman123 · #23 11/03/2007, 04:40 AM

Let's see some updated pics!

scaast · #24 11/23/2007, 09:52 PM

Here are a few updates...coming along pretty well so far.

mayo-92 · #25 11/25/2007, 01:23 PM

how are you filtering this because i saw a hang on filter before and now there isnt one and i would like to make one of these as a school project for a GCSE so have you got anything that could help me with the design and making of aswell as this although this post has been very helpful and do you have a refugium in one of those compartments

tank is looking great by the way