My Custom 22G Rimless AIO

[chrishet]

I have a thread over on RC but that site is getting so slow these days it is almost unusable...plus I need to meet more folks here in Atlanta, so here I go....

About 5 months ago I decided to design and build my own AIO tank for my office. I have a Cadlights 22G mixed reef, which is a nice tank but the curved glass made photography a challenge...plus I learned a lot about AIO's using this tank and had a few ideas of my own...

Here is a link to my now old tank thread on RC http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1529407">22 Gal Cadlights Nano Reef Project</a>

Here were my design goals for the project:
• Maximize surface water agitation each individual chamber
• Removable walls for maintenance
• Removable media trays
• Refugium
• Bubble-trap on exit
• Temp/pH Probe holder
• ATO/Dosing Pumps return hose holder
• Water level sensors – both over and under for automation/alarms
• Solid overflow - no teeth - to maximize surface skimming action

Here is a drawing of my design. I am new to acrylics so I took my time and learned as I go. I ordered the sheets from Tap Plastics. The back wall is 1/4 inch black and the chamber walls are 3/16th inch black. The entire back of tank is painted black except for a small area to support a magnetic LED fuge light.

[IMG]http://hetlage.com/tank_pics/aio_design.jpg alt="" />

Here is my equipment list so far:

• Glasscages.com 22 Gallon 24x15x14tall Tank - Starfire Glass on 3 sides
• Cadlights 96Watt 24 inch T5HO Fixture w/moonlight LED's
• Tunze Silence 1073.020 634gph return pump
• Echotech Marine MP20 Propeller Pump
• Neptune Systems Apex Controller
• Deltec MCE300 HOB Skimmer
• BRS Auto Top Off Dosing Pump - 50ml per minute
• Drews Dosing Pumps (2) 1.6ml per minute
• Autotopoff.com ATO Sensors
• JBJ Nano-Glo LED Refugium Light
• Azoo Cooling Fan
• Visi-therm Stealth 150W Heater
• The Filter Guys Ocean Reef 75gpd RO/DI

Additives:
• BRS ROX Carbon
• BRS HC GFO
• BRS 2 Part Solution - Alk / Ca / Mag

Here is a shot of the new tank from Glasscages.com...SOLID!

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[chrishet]

Here are a few pics of the build...

Glasscages.com Starfire tank - butt naked and heavy!
http://hetlage.com/tank_pics/tank_day1_1.JPG" alt="" />

Removable baffle walls...still need to cut wall heights.
[IMG]http://hetlage.com/tank_pics/tank_day1_2.JPG" alt="" />

Here is a view from behind the wall...
[IMG]http://hetlage.com/tank_pics/tank_day1_3.JPG" alt="" />

Cutting the grooves for the baffles.
[IMG]http://hetlage.com/tank_pics/tank_day1_4.JPG" alt="" />

 

[chrishet]

Of few pics getting ready for glue-up.....

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[chrishet]

...here is a short video of my water test...

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">YouTube - Custom All-In-One Water Test</div>

 

[chrishet]

and here is a quick video of my 22 Cad before the transfer yesterday...

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">YouTube - Cadlights_Second_B-Day.wmv</div>

 

[chrishet]

and yesterday, January 2, 2011 my new reef became self aware...

a quick, first, full tank shot...

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[glxtrix]

Ooooh....sure is pretty!

 

[chrishet]

Thx...a few more things to finish up but I do like the look of this tank so far...I'm building a nano Bio Pellets reactor this weekend...will post pics of this build as well.

I ended up not building a media rack, just added a few blocks in chamber 1 and one level if egg crate...the only thing I will use this rack for is filter floss. The Bio Pellets reactor will be in chamber 1 and will feed directly into the skimmer input chamber - this was done by design. In chamber 2 I will have a second reactor for carbon...from what I understand I won't need GFO if I use the Bio Pellets, but if I do I will use the reactor in chamber 2 and run both GFO and carbon...make sense?

 

[acroholic]

That is beautiful Chris. Nice work. Your Glasscages tank is overbuilt to say the least. Is that 3/8" or 1/2" glass on there? I have a 100 gallon Glasscages 3 sides starfire cube, and your tank looks like a mini-me version of it.

 

[chrishet]

Yea I have to agree...I was shocked when it came off the truck with 1/2 inch glass, 1/4 or 3/8 would have been plenty....but it looks fine and is solid for sure.

 

[atlorange]

Great job. Looks fantastic.

 

[superclown]

This makes me want a rimless

 

[chrishet]

Thx all...I got the last parts needed for my Media Reactors today and will, hopefully, get these built this weekend...My original plan was to use the manafold idea shown in my tank test video, but after further consideration I think it will be simplier to just use small powerheads to drive the reactors...I think my idea for these nano reactors will go over well in this SIG. I'll post pics of the bulld..

 

[justin003]

Very Nice! You have shown that good quality work and attention to detail goes a long way. Your design has improved several flaws present in a manufactured AIO setup and have given me some ideas on how to rectify those flaws in my own setup. Thank you.

 

[chrishet]

Here is a quick video of a bio pellets reactor I made this week...

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">YouTube - bio_pellets.wmv</div>

 

[gixxer600]

I like the entire set-up for sure and nice skills with the DIY. But what is the purpose of the reactor and what does it benifit?

 

[sharkbait]

What was the total cost for all of this?

 

[chrishet]

gixxer600;598958 wrote: I like the entire set-up for sure and nice skills with the DIY. But what is the purpose of the reactor and what does it benifit?

Thx

"BRS Bio Pellets work by providing a solid carbon food source for the denitrifying bacteria." The Bio Pellets must tumble or they will bind together, thus the reactor. The output of the reactor should be near the input of the skimmer to extract the waste produced, thus increasing the efficiency of the skimmer and overall reduction of nitrates.

 

[chrishet]

ICEMAN832;598961 wrote: What was the total cost for all of this?

For the reactor? probably $50...but I have enough materials to make 5 or more...

 

[brianjfinn]

Nice job! Good design, too.