20L again

[leaffish75]

okay Im redoing my 20L. I got a new tank and had a hole drilled in the back and the overflow box is beening built. (should be done by Friday). Ill be turning the old 20L into a refugium. Today im starting on the stand. Ill post some pics when im done with the stand.

 

[Kris]

Can't wait to see how this turned out. What kind of stand are you going to make? Something simple?

 

[leaffish75]

Im 90% done. Its made from 2x4s and 1/4" plywood. I have to make the door and stain it.

 

[Kris]

Awsome. Pics when done please

 

[leaffish75]

I'll try for pics soon. I finished the stand. its alright looking. I have the internal overflow box siliconed in with 1" bulkhead. i put the foam stuff in the back of the tank and coated it with sand. Im now waiting for the new bulbs and pump to come in. ill be redoing the hood and running 3 actinic vho bulbs and one 10K bulb. for the pump i went with the quiet one 3000 pump. it seem to have the least amount of heat transfer. I should have it swaped out with in a week!. okay so it will be a 20L with a 10 gallon sump/refugium. Cpr bak pak skimmer with phos ban reactor and kalk drip if needed. once up and running ill work on the new hood. my old one will surfice all though the color will clash being its black and my stand is staind dark oak.

 

[drty811]

sounds great.....nice to hear that someone else is using a 20L.

 

[leaffish75]

I had trouble mounting the vhos on the hood. i keep screwing the endcaps to far apart or to close so im mount acrylic brackets that will hold the bulb and the end caps wont have to be screwed in. this way the bulbs can be stagered.
kind of like

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----0000000000000

 

[drty811]

i had mine like that too, but my ballast fried so i changed my whole set up to CF.

 

[drty811]

did you have the back or the bottom drilled for the overflow?did you also have a hole drilled for a return?

i had the bottom drilled one on each end,overflow and return. it looks nice and clean and lines up with the bottom 20L perfect. hopefully ill have pics before this weekend.

 

[leaffish75]

I had the to back drilled for the drain. I wasnt sure if the bottom was tempered and the owner of the store wasnt around to tell me if it was. I'm running the return over the back.its not as clean but you cant really see it. the overflow box doesnt take up much room either. I wanted to use my old 20L for the refugium but when i finished my stand i forgot to make the bottom to fit the 20L so i had to use my 10.

 

[leaffish75]

okay i was working on the hood which my measurements were way off since i went from 3/4" plywood to 1/2inch, and i grab the old camera to get pics of the stand and tank for you guys and gals when it started hailing. So sorry I didnt get any pics. I did get some hail to the face and did get time to take down my 9 gallon tank. Ill try again today

 

[drty811]

hail huh, that sucks. i worked on my set-up for like four months. im just picky so i changed my mind alot. good luck with everything. cant wait to see pics, hopefully ill have some soon.

 

[Jen]

I look forward to pics also, want to see what you are up to.
Jen

 

[leaffish75]

got some pics. dowloading now.

 

[leaffish75]

stand -

stand open -

the sump/refugium -

 

[leaffish75]

back wall -

close up -

back yard shot

 

[jthyge]

How did you make that background??

It will look great when cowered wiht coraline

 

[leaffish75]

"great stuff" foam spray then i coated it with south down sand while it was wet to give it a slight natural look.

 

[jthyge]

Okey, thats nice... Can that be bought online?? Liven in Denmark...

Is it really reefsafe??

 

[leaffish75]

I'm not sure. I know most harware stores carry it. its used to seal areas around pipes. Yes its reef safe. it is enhert when it drys. It will break down over time do to exposure to uv light but how long it unknown. They make a black pond foam. you can order it online. do a search for it. the pond foam looks better and last a lot longer. this stuff has been used in major aquariums for years.