SanClementeEric
Community Member
To "save space", yet to still be able to tinker and grow in the hobby, I thought I would try a tiered system. Originally, I started with the idea below and thought I'd even have a tank on the very top, maybe a divided fish holder type of tank for, let's say, breeding clownfish or something like that.
I took my existing 2' x 2' frag tank (middle shelf, right) and added a bigger sump (90 Gal, bottom shelf).
After I figured height would be a problem considering lighting space needed, I thought about putting a 4' x 2' frag tank on the top shelf. The frag tank on the left side of the middle shelf is not tied into the system, it just has a small internal pump.
At some point, I decided I wanted to put a 55 gallon tank that I picked up in the office too. This particular tank sat dry for awhile in the spot it's in because it's not drilled and it took me awhile to get all the pieces together for a hang on the back overflow. Currently, the sump you see under the 55 is no longer there. I've tied the 55 into the shelf system. Those are water bins in the right corner of the room and that green bottle is phyto.
After this heat wave in Southern California, I now have a chiller tied into the system. Concerns about electricity and after some words of advice in the form of listening to Christine and Gary of Reef Threads podcast talking about Sanjay's studies of using a DC controlling pump and of sitting in on 02manyfish's talk (from Unique Corals) about running his lights at night because electricity rates are lower, I've begun to run my lights at night too. I'm looking into getting a DC return pump and am looking into what could be better for wave type pumps too.
I took my existing 2' x 2' frag tank (middle shelf, right) and added a bigger sump (90 Gal, bottom shelf).
After I figured height would be a problem considering lighting space needed, I thought about putting a 4' x 2' frag tank on the top shelf. The frag tank on the left side of the middle shelf is not tied into the system, it just has a small internal pump.
At some point, I decided I wanted to put a 55 gallon tank that I picked up in the office too. This particular tank sat dry for awhile in the spot it's in because it's not drilled and it took me awhile to get all the pieces together for a hang on the back overflow. Currently, the sump you see under the 55 is no longer there. I've tied the 55 into the shelf system. Those are water bins in the right corner of the room and that green bottle is phyto.
After this heat wave in Southern California, I now have a chiller tied into the system. Concerns about electricity and after some words of advice in the form of listening to Christine and Gary of Reef Threads podcast talking about Sanjay's studies of using a DC controlling pump and of sitting in on 02manyfish's talk (from Unique Corals) about running his lights at night because electricity rates are lower, I've begun to run my lights at night too. I'm looking into getting a DC return pump and am looking into what could be better for wave type pumps too.
