Hampton
Active Member
I was tired of not having enough room to support my 90 in the cabinet below. I was tired of not being able to control what happened on the back wall due to not being able to reach it. I was tired of using too much electricity with 2 250 MH's, T-5's, a Snapper closed loop pump... I was tired of fighting algae due to lack of support systems. I was tired of not being able to reach in a touch the bottom.
So, I designed a tank to fit a small end table between two couches. Some of you may have seen this in another forum, but I am finding this one to be more friendly. I had it built out of acrylic and drilled with 6 holes, 5 for a closed loop in the table below, and one for overflow and return. I installed bulkheads and cut into the table, then I plumbed it below for the closed loop. I built an overflow that uses the 100% skimming concept with my own horizontal tooth design (no vertical teeth to block skimming). It is lighted by a Kessil A360W on an Apex controller for the daily sunrise through sunset cycle. I then built a return tube within the overflow tube and plumbed that through the living room wall to the sump below the sink.
Below the sink, I routed electrical outlets on a GFI and isolated a Neptune Apex Controller/Power Supply high in the cabinet. I installed 2-part dosing on a timer. The skimmer is isolated to its own, dry, overflow sump with return routing to the main sump in case of a run-away skimmer (skimmers gone wild). I have an Obama bulb in the sump to grow the macro-algae natural filter media. There are two small fans, temp probe, pH probe, return pump, heaters in there too. All return water flows through an elevated blue filter floss which is held in a plastic bowl with slots cut into the bottom (Olive Garden to-go container). I change the blue filter every couple of days.
Everything is controlled via the Apex. The temp is +/- .7 degrees per day, 78.6 - 79.3. pH is just above 8 and consistent - I may try to raise it a little. Old corals are regaining color nicely. Newer corals are maintaining color, and all are growing. I have two new fish and two that have been members of our family for about 8 years (since "Nemo" came out).
Here's the build:
So, I designed a tank to fit a small end table between two couches. Some of you may have seen this in another forum, but I am finding this one to be more friendly. I had it built out of acrylic and drilled with 6 holes, 5 for a closed loop in the table below, and one for overflow and return. I installed bulkheads and cut into the table, then I plumbed it below for the closed loop. I built an overflow that uses the 100% skimming concept with my own horizontal tooth design (no vertical teeth to block skimming). It is lighted by a Kessil A360W on an Apex controller for the daily sunrise through sunset cycle. I then built a return tube within the overflow tube and plumbed that through the living room wall to the sump below the sink.
Below the sink, I routed electrical outlets on a GFI and isolated a Neptune Apex Controller/Power Supply high in the cabinet. I installed 2-part dosing on a timer. The skimmer is isolated to its own, dry, overflow sump with return routing to the main sump in case of a run-away skimmer (skimmers gone wild). I have an Obama bulb in the sump to grow the macro-algae natural filter media. There are two small fans, temp probe, pH probe, return pump, heaters in there too. All return water flows through an elevated blue filter floss which is held in a plastic bowl with slots cut into the bottom (Olive Garden to-go container). I change the blue filter every couple of days.
Everything is controlled via the Apex. The temp is +/- .7 degrees per day, 78.6 - 79.3. pH is just above 8 and consistent - I may try to raise it a little. Old corals are regaining color nicely. Newer corals are maintaining color, and all are growing. I have two new fish and two that have been members of our family for about 8 years (since "Nemo" came out).
Here's the build:
