Ike's 37G Build

RedDevil.258

RedDevil.258

Active member
Ike's 37G Build- Closed loop/SQWD Return-

Hello Reef Junkies!

So it's been a while in the making but I am in the final stages of completion on the 37G cube that I bought from Dre(thanks Dre!).

Originally I had drilled out my BC29 and added a sump with a overall capacity of 15 additional gallons. But I just was not happy with the BC29. So with the extra stuff I had in my collection and a few drawing later I was drilling away! This is what I have come up with.

Heres the BC29. Drilled and rimless. Just not happy with the look. :-/
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I have always wanted to try a closed loop in a smaller tank but I wanted it to be clean/natural looking. I didn't want extra powerhead/vortechs hanging in the way. I also wanted a rock structure in a pillar form. This is what I came up with. As you can see the vertical portion is drilled every inch in a spiral pattern. The entire base will be covered buy 3 inches of LS eventually so all that you will see is the pillar.

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This is the pillar with the rest of the rock work. I used 3/4 PVC to make a very strong base, drilled and hammered an opening thru the rocks and stacked them up to my liking. I have extra PVC on top to allow a cap and capping rock to hide the top. Once coraline starts growing I hope I will not see too much of the PVC. If there are large exposed areas I will just glue rock to the surrounding rock to hide it.
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After I figured out how to stack it and let the water flow I had to drill the tank. I knew that I wanted to hide everything, from the front perspective and really minimize the plumbing parts from the side. The return is from Glassholes.com it's rated at 700G and is plumbed with 1.5 PVC....Big stuff!
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The two returns will be split and I know this is a big risk.....but I am using the SQWD. I have read many reviews about this and know that they don't last to long but I hope that it does what I want for the time being. As you can see it is really busy back here so this tank will always be in a corner.
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This is the closed loop section of the build. Again I have mixed feeling about this. The pump is a MAG5. I have had MAG pumps leak by when I used them externally. This one is fairly new and I have never taken it apart so I am crossing my figures. If it ever fails I can isolate it completly from the tank with the valves.
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This is the return pump its an older model Little Giant. I had to drill the sump that I built and drilled the stand so that I could mount the pump. I also had to modify the square filter holder to allow the larger diameter drain. Not perfect but it works. I have some extra acrylic that I will use to make a cover. Just in case the drain splashes.
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Well I fit test everything today and started cementing everything together to make it permanent. Will have more picture up this weekend. I plan on filling it by friday and running it till saturday. I would like to hear your feedback.
 
Awesome set up bro.. Cnt wait to see it up and running.. What light will u be using on this tank?
 
Well its been a couple of weeks and I haven't updated everyone. Well after the water test outside of course I found only two leaks. Patched those up right quick let it run overnight outside and blamo new setup. View attachment 3740

This is what it looks like now. Don't expect a long cycle because I kept all the old LR & sand from the BC29 and new rock in a tub together. Still I am planning to wait a couple of weeks before I add anything more complicated then a CUC. View attachment 3741
 
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So the PVC worked as planned and the CL is running beautifully. Water movement thru the PVC structure is a little lower then I had imagined with a Mag5 but it is gentle and constant. Still have a couple more pounds of LS in the temporary holding tank for my wrasse. So all the exposed support will be cover soon enough. I hope to have about 6" of sand.
 
U should go with coralcompulsions par 38 bulb bro.. U should go with his 37 watt bulb..
 
Me too! That's why I broke down the biocube 29. Now the tank matches the stand, height wise!

Nothing new to update, just letting the tank settle, and age a little bit more before I stock it back up. Have decided that this set up will be mainly be a FOWLR. Thank you for the comments.
 
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