Good idea or soon to be disaster?

BlackFish · May 7, 2016

Well..I came across this candy machine, and I thought about making it into a pico tank. So, of course I would like to hear ideas of how you all here on R2R would go about transforming it into a reef. Lighting, filtration, stocking or any other ideas. I would like to try to keep the lid if possible, to keep the look of it, but i have no problem drilling holes in the back for the plumbing. I was thinking of tieing them together into a single sump, sealing the bottom, using a HOB overflow, and water proofing the underside of the top. I have no idea how im gonna do the lights. I'd like to keep a softie or two maybe even an LPS. Let me know what you would do. Thanks

NeiDan · May 7, 2016

I have ideas or input, an awesome idea! I'm going to keep an eye on this thread.

BlackFish · May 7, 2016

Lay them on me man! How would you do it?

TheEngineer · May 7, 2016

Cool idea. I'd be worried about the metal corroding.

BlackFish · May 7, 2016

icecool2 said:
Cool idea. I'd be worried about the metal corroding.

I plan to remove the metal rod that is used to lock down the lid, to use some type of sealant on the underside of the lid, and to plug the bottom.

NeiDan · May 7, 2016

BlackFish said:
I plan to remove the metal rod that is used to lock down the lid, to use some type of sealant on the underside of the lid, and to plug the bottom.

You should probably give the stands and lid a corrosion resistant coating to be safe. I could imagine that over years small spills and slight spray could add up. For the bottom maybe just silicone a square of acrylic?

tomtom2245 · May 7, 2016

The one thing I might be concerned about is stability. What's the possibility of them toppling over when filled with water/sand/rock?

JPergamo · May 7, 2016

Would be really cool if you made one side a display fuge for the other side the pico. Maybe you can sit the machine next to some sort of cabinet to hide the sump. Like take a small section of the end of some other piece of furniture that you can plumb to with air line or something easy to hide.

jdl513 · May 7, 2016

May be worth filling those with dry sand to see if the stand needs reinforced. If works the hard part would be establishing variable flow.

BlackFish · May 8, 2016

Gluing a peace of acrylic on to the bottom was what I had in mind also. The base and post are pretty heavy, which makes it surprisingly stable. I think the makers where thinking of all the little kids pushing and pulling on it to get there candy out

. But I will definitely do a stability test.

BlackFish · May 8, 2016

JPergamo said:
Would be really cool if you made one side a display fuge for the other side the pico. Maybe you can sit the machine next to some sort of cabinet to hide the sump. Like take a small section of the end of some other piece of furniture that you can plumb to with air line or something easy to hide.

If I did a display fuge on one side, do you think I would still need additional external filtration?

JPergamo · May 8, 2016

BlackFish said:
If I did a display fuge on one side, do you think I would still need additional external filtration?

That was kind of where my though process was going, maybe you can get away with minimal equipment to hide if you did a fuge on one side and did strict water changes. I think it could look cool with the reef in one and the reefs surroundings in the other. Just an idea though. Very cool project!

BlackFish · May 8, 2016

JPergamo said:
That was kind of where my though process was going, maybe you can get away with minimal equipment to hide if you did a fuge on one side and did strict water changes. I think it could look cool with the reef in one and the reefs surroundings in the other. Just an idea though. Very cool project!

I like the idea of it all being self contained. Thanks for the input.

BlackFish · May 8, 2016

Any ideas on lighting?

revhtree · May 9, 2016

I say...do it!

BlackFish · May 9, 2016

Can I get a bump?

melypr1985 · May 9, 2016

I dont see how you can keep the integrity of the lids and do an overhead light. You could probably just put the lids on for visitors or pictures and keep the light over it the rest of the time. Or maybe light it from the front or one of the sides? That's a puzzler. For sure seal everything on it that's metal. It will start corroding quickly with the saltwater. I have a cast iron stove/fireplace and I put my tank near it. It's already getting spots on it that I will need to have fixed..... and it's 4 feet away!!

BlackFish · May 10, 2016

melypr1985 said:
I dont see how you can keep the integrity of the lids and do an overhead light. You could probably just put the lids on for visitors or pictures and keep the light over it the rest of the time. Or maybe light it from the front or one of the sides? That's a puzzler. For sure seal everything on it that's metal. It will start corroding quickly with the saltwater. I have a cast iron stove/fireplace and I put my tank near it. It's already getting spots on it that I will need to have fixed..... and it's 4 feet away!!

I agree about the lids. Maybe I could do a LR wall on the back and one side and the light it from underneath? I will for sure be giving a new paint job.