Innovative Marine 50 Gallon EXT Lagoon

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

DYI Canopy for lights made from cutting board, LOL (just have to hang from ceiling):

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Sump:

Went with the EV 180 Aqua C skimmer. Touch of old school is really fun i think and fits well. I have extra Lifereef skimmer, but is a bit bigger. Either is likely over kill, but i love aeration these style skimmers provide moving so much water within the sump.

Eheim pumps for low maintenance and longevity.

Plumbing is coming along. All stainless brackets and T slot connections on the brackets were a little harder to find, but i was able to locate.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Monitor and doser:

(

(One more dosing pump set on the way)

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Start of plumbing:

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Waiting for more plumbing parts, so started the controller board:

The board will sit on top of the aquarium cabinet shelf like this pic with the vortech.

Here it's upside down. The box on the left will be below the aquarium shelf. Needed more space for a second doser.

The PVC material us great to work with. Cuts like butter, clean edges. PVC glue is all that is needed.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Getting there on the control board:

Should all fit..

Loads of space in the back for power bricks, cords, power module, etc.

 

[Reef.]

Remember if you run the MP40s too low, you loose the modes, they will just run at a constant speed.
For my MP10s it's around 30%.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Remember if you run the MP40s too low, you loose the modes, they will just run at a constant speed.
For my MP10s it's around 30%.

I better get some more sticks and create some dead spots! Thanks!

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Working on the control panel, really trying to get a ahead of cord and gear tidi tidiness.

The (stainless) hinges on the right should allow some access to cords and plugs and power packs. It's necessary to manuever the board into the stand too. Overall, this was best i could do with the goal of keeping literally everything in the cabinet on this small to midsize tank. I ordered a second GHL powerbar that will go next to thw the other. Might as well have most everything on the GHL.

This design is definitely affordable and will work on any Innovative Marine stand set up.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Any thoughts better ideas on plumbing the UV and chiller (over 100 this weekend i heard and our room a/c's will not keep up)?

Basically im thinking a close loop off the return. Nothing glued yet or cut to correct length:

Flow monitor for UV and Chiller:

If i hit 300 GPH, that should be good for pentair 50 watt UV and 1/10th hp artica chiller.

Add a second control bar to the control panel. Over kill but the power monitoring and ability to turn on and off basically everything will be handy for feed modes i think.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

UV is mounted securely. Same stainless mounts worked very well.

Slightly raised on one end says the instructions for air bubbles. Pentair didn't supply the UV bulb module in the package. Took me a few minutes to figure out that, so i have to reach out to Bulk Reef Supply i guess. Hopefully they get me sorted. This is the 50 watt. Fatter than you think it will be...UV did come with decent mounting brackets.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Plumbing 95% done. Just need to run soft tubing on manifold, skimmer, and to chiller and back to return when setting up. Man, glad i got a chiller. We hit 109F last week! A/C did not keep up.

And Costco "Session IPA" is well work 85 cents a beer!

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Corals are literally growing out of my 20 gallon nano, so need tp to finish this!

Need more hours in the day to balance work, fam, and reef!

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

I don't think i can fit anymore gear here, except, well, the filter roller! Lol.

Felt kind of like building a suitcase nuke--tight fit! But its in. Only issue have to re-route emergency drain a little. No big deal.

 

[TheWB]

I don't think i can fit anymore gear here, except, well, the filter roller! Lol.

Felt kind of like building a suitcase nuke--tight fit! But its in. Only issue have to re-route emergency drain a little. No big deal.

That’s ridiculous. I have the same stand with no sump and half the equipment.
‘You’ve used that space way better than me
Hat is off to you sir, well done.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

That’s ridiculous. I have the same stand with no sump and half the equipment.
‘You’ve used that space way better than me
Hat is off to you sir, well done.

Appreciate that!

A few minor tweaks I'll do this week or weekend. Minor things with an eye looking towards being able to maintenance the gear as easiliy as possible.

I wanted everything in or on the stand, as it's going in my office and i need a clean look, which was accomplished (except the chiller and ATO), so i knew things would be tight.

Happy that it's working so far. Fingers crossed. Still need to get up and running.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Getting there. UV installed. Everything plugged in. Modified emergency drain to soft plumb option. Just fits better. Waiting on some ethernet cords for GHL. Install filter roller tomorrow night.

Aiming for water in it and transfer of 20 gallon livestock into it this weekend is the goal!

Amazes me how many freaking cords a fish tank has! Lol! At least they're hiden and relatively safe from water. Managed to have only three cords coming from the tank (two ghl strips and non ghl power strip) not bad.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Filter roller and carbon filter mostly installed. Had to move KH director as it needs to be on top of or below a dosing pump. No big deal but it does have a ph probe that comes off its side (keep in mind if build controller box!) so slight mod to controller box.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Getting close!