No enough room in my stand

[SamSrEEfGY]

So. I bought a stand for my 40 breeder and I am going to change to a lps/softie tank with only a few fish. In my stand down the centre is a support beam that restricts me having a sump big enough for my tank, it will however fit a 5.5 (40x25x25cm) in each side, will this work? If so how would I go around this. If not would I be able to use a canister filter filled with ceramic media balls side by side with 1 5.5 sump as a fuge? Cheers guys

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

When I started out I had a stand with a brace in the middle. I was able to drill 2 smaller tanks add bulkheads and pipe to connect them.

 

[SamSrEEfGY]

When I started out I had a stand with a brace in the middle. I was able to drill 2 smaller tanks add bulkheads and pipe to connect them.

See I was thinking this but I'm not all to confident in stuff like this with glass aha, it's not to difficult is it? I'm on a really short budget so will probably be borrowing tools ect

 

[ScottJ]

Do you have room to the side of the tank? You could do like a 20 gal right next to it and hide it with like a big basket or something.

 

[PotatoPig]

Do you mean there’s a partition in the middle that splits the thing in two, or just a post at the front that splits the front opening in two?

If it’s the latter then you should be able to get a 20 gallon (regular) in by starting it vertical and then tipping it, and depending on opening dimensions may be able to get a 20 long in there diagonally and turn it once inside - try cut some card to the plan dimensions and see if it’s possible.

 

[The_Paradox]

Time to get creative. That’s all crammed into a 20x20 space and could have been a lot more efficient if it needed to be.

 

[BaliReefBox]

if you already have a drill a diamond bit is only a few $$$ and an union even less...tie the 2 together imo

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I left the middle support out when I built my stand. I put 1”x3” ‘s inside to reinforce it. That way I had enough room to put a 20 gallon tall sump and a 5 gallon ATO reservoir.

 

[The_Paradox]

if you already have a drill a diamond bit is only a few $$$ and an union even less...tie the 2 together imo

Or cut out the divider and just reinforce the remove section with 2 x 4.

 

[BaliReefBox]

Or cut out the divider and just reinforce the remove section with 2 x 4.

yep there are always many ways to achieve a good outcome.. the op stated he didnt have tools etc so I thought one tool a drill would be ez

 

[SamSrEEfGY]

Thank you guys for all ideas and feed back, yes it's a partition separating each side, I did think about supporting it with some 2x4 but didn't know how safe that would be but I'll try it and if all else fails I'll come back to the drawing board and see what else I can do... i cant have the sump next to the tank as i have a husky who malts unreal amounts so that wouldn't work without getting hair in. Again thank you guys and I'll give you all an update soon!!

 

[GARRIGA]

Sumps are great but a canister loaded with nothing but biological media as you suggested would work as well for a tank that can run dirtier and require less dosing, if at all. Just run a prefilter for quick floss maintenance, if needed. Post filter can house chemical filtration thereby not requiring maintenance of the canister which acts as nothing more than biological. Although maintaining a canister isn't as complicated as many seems to think it is. All required is shutting off the valve sending water to it long enough to empty a large volume then shutting off the valve sending water to the tank before turning the pump off.

If a skimmer is required then there are hang on the back solutions. Seen mention of using external skimmers on closed loop systems but not sure exactly how that would work and assuming the neck needs to remain above the waterline yet being closed loop means less evaporation.

 

[SamSrEEfGY]

Sumps are great but a canister loaded with nothing but biological media as you suggested would work as well for a tank that can run dirtier and require less dosing, if at all. Just run a prefilter for quick floss maintenance, if needed. Post filter can house chemical filtration thereby not requiring maintenance of the canister which acts as nothing more than biological. Although maintaining a canister isn't as complicated as many seems to think it is. All required is shutting off the valve sending water to it long enough to empty a large volume then shutting off the valve sending water to the tank before turning the pump off.

If a skimmer is required then there are hang on the back solutions. Seen mention of using external skimmers on closed loop systems but not sure exactly how that would work and assuming the neck needs to remain above the waterline yet being closed loop means less evaporation.

See this is what I was thinking with my canister filter, a fine gloss pad at the top and then just rammed up with media. I would end up getting a skimmer as I know canisters arnt great at taking that layer of scum off the top, then i also thought about if i shortened the intake to around 1/2cm below water level would it "skim" as much as an over flow?

 

[SamSrEEfGY]

Do you mean there’s a partition in the middle that splits the thing in two, or just a post at the front that splits the front opening in two?

If it’s the latter then you should be able to get a 20 gallon (regular) in by starting it vertical and then tipping it, and depending on opening dimensions may be able to get a 20 long in there diagonally and turn it once inside - try cut some card to the plan dimensions and see if it’s possible.

Yes there is a partition that splits it in two

 

[The_Paradox]

Sumps are great but a canister loaded with nothing but biological media as you suggested would work as well for a tank that can run dirtier and require less dosing, if at all. Just run a prefilter for quick floss maintenance, if needed. Post filter can house chemical filtration thereby not requiring maintenance of the canister which acts as nothing more than biological. Although maintaining a canister isn't as complicated as many seems to think it is. All required is shutting off the valve sending water to it long enough to empty a large volume then shutting off the valve sending water to the tank before turning the pump off.

If a skimmer is required then there are hang on the back solutions. Seen mention of using external skimmers on closed loop systems but not sure exactly how that would work and assuming the neck needs to remain above the waterline yet being closed loop means less evaporation.

I actually had a set up like that. Used a FX canister on one side of divider and a 5 gallon tank on the other. Pulled water from the 5g with the canister acting as the return pump. Having the 5g allowed me to dose into it as well as cache the heaters. It worked for years but in the end I ended up modifying the stand for 20g sump before I sold it.

 

[SamSrEEfGY]

I actually had a set up like that. Used a FX canister on one side of divider and a 5 gallon tank on the other. Pulled water from the 5g with the canister acting as the return pump. Having the 5g allowed me to dose into it as well as cache the heaters. It worked for years but in the end I ended up modifying the stand for 20g sump before I sold it.

That's exactly what's been going round my head just didn't think it would work. Thank you

 

[The_Paradox]

That's exactly what's been going round my head just didn't think it would work. Thank you

It actually worked really well. Just keep in mind you with need additional/more powerful power heads. That’s the only reason I eventually switched. I wanted a completely open loop system due to addition of anemones.

 

[SamSrEEfGY]

It actually worked really well. Just keep in mind you with need additional/more powerful power heads. That’s the only reason I eventually switched. I wanted a completely open loop system due to addition of anemones.

Ahh I currently have a bta but hes happy and sound at the min I'll get some guards for when it comes to it

 

[The_Paradox]

Ahh I currently have a bta but hes happy and sound at the min I'll get some guards for when it comes to it

I think I just have the worst luck. Had two anemones grenade themselves. Both times was right after split and both times guards or sponges were in place. It always amazes me how something with no brain could sit around and figure out ways to kill itself and torture me simultaneously.

 

[GARRIGA]

See this is what I was thinking with my canister filter, a fine gloss pad at the top and then just rammed up with media. I would end up getting a skimmer as I know canisters arnt great at taking that layer of scum off the top, then i also thought about if i shortened the intake to around 1/2cm below water level would it "skim" as much as an over flow?

Skimmer isn't taking a layer of scum off the top either. Need to actaully filter the surface for whch their are options but it's easier to just increase flow and that will reduce surface scum which isn't affecting the tank other than gas exchange. Only an overflow setup will skim that surface biofilm.

Could add an overflow and have that feed the canister. What I'll be doing with my build via an AIO type setup. Reef ready tanks can also be used with canisters.