Jgraz's Custom 15"x15"x12" SPS Nano

[jgraz]

For the longest time I've been trying to find a way to get another nano going without setting up a tank in another area (something my wife pretty much put the kabosh on). I really wanted the tank to be tied into my main system. I also wanted to clean up a bit around my stand. Since I don't have much room under my 90 I pretty much store everything next to it on the floor. Messy. I needed a cabinet next to the stand for storage. Needless to say my wife was on board. This also gave me the spot I was looking for to put the nano. I contacted Curtis for assistance and he was more then will to take up the challenge. Well now I have a place for the nano, an extra valve on my manifold and a bit of cash to move things along.

So My fist though is a 10gal tank. So I need a GH overflow. I find one used and in great shape. Then I come across this thread on RC.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2230774
Instantly I knew I wanted the same size tank. So I'm on the hunt and nobody has it. Me, not wanting to wait, start the wheels turning. I make a few measurements and realize I can fit something a little bigger. So I decided to build my own tank. The tank will be 15"x15"x12". It come out to just a bit over 10 gals. So I ordered the glass Thursday and picked it up yesterday. This should be interesting since ive never done anything like this.
Glass Unwrapped

I get it taped off

Pick up the last panel and

Guess I'm done for the weekend.

So here's a quick overview of the tank and equipment.
Tank: 15"x15"x12" custom built by me
Light: AI Nano Super blue
Glass holes nano overflow and return
Flow: As for now a pair of Koralia nanos but that may change to a MP-10 as things move along.
The rest of the equipment can be found in my 90gal build thread since it gonna be run in conjunction. I'll get more pics as things commence.

 

[Zippy69]

Cool . On YouTube there is a guy called rickets reef who shows how to make a tank. At the least his videos are fun and informative as his addiction... Hobby grows .

 

[jgraz]

Just checked it out Pete. Actually answered a few questions I've had on how to pull this off on my own. Thanks for the info.

 

[Baxreefs]

I have an itch to build a nano too. I'll be following! Bummer about the glass!!!

 

[ahvrivera]

ahhh man that a bummer.. Where did you get the glass ordered from? Been wanting to build a frag tank.

 

[dan_k]

Yea John this is a great idea for a frag tank if it works out for you I would be your first customer

 

[iTzJu]

ill be following along John, i will be needing a frag tank very soon and i want to try my hands into making one. looking forward for some great info!

 

[jgraz]

I have an itch to build a nano too. I'll be following! Bummer about the glass!!!

I've been wanting to start one for a while now. This one get the added benefit of the stability of the main tank. Nice

ahhh man that a bummer.. Where did you get the glass ordered from? Been wanting to build a frag tank.

Got it from Glass Castle in Lawrenceville, NJ. Nice to deal with but a bit on the expensive side though. Each piece was $15. Needless to say this will become a $90 tank now.

Yea John this is a great idea for a frag tank if it works out for you I would be your first customer

ill be following along John, i will be needing a frag tank very soon and i want to try my hands into making one. looking forward for some great info!

Dan I have no idea why I would need a frag tank. But this is not gonna be a frag tank hoping to make this a tank full of some of the named SPS that are out there

 

[jgraz]

Getting the new glass tomorrow. Also decided to go with RTV 108 instead of regular aquarium silicon. So that's on the way as well as the parts for the return. If all goes well then I'll have the tank built this weekend.

 

[govertical19]

good luck! I will be following to see how it comes out.

 

[jgraz]

Well if this thing hold water I'll be amazed. Never in my life did I think this would've so difficult. Well the RTV claims 24hrs for a full cure, so I guess I'll fill little by little tomorrow night or Monday and see how things go. I'm also gonna put a power head in there once it filled and let it circulate for a few days just to make sure all is good. Then if everything holds, I'll drill on Thursday.

Other news, I did find an MP-10 to use. I'll be getting it from my 90gal since I ordered the upgrade kits for my mp-20's. Thats it for now. Here is a pic, and yes, it is stuck to the table for now.

 

[Brando457]

my only concern would be it bowing out from the pressure of the water

 

[jgraz]

my only concern would be it bowing out from the pressure of the water

At running capacity it's gonna have just over 9gals of water. With 1/4" glass I should be fine. Considering I've been see a lot of people removing the rims on 10, 15, & 20H and L gal tanks, all of which have considerable thinner glass.

 

[MatteZ]

What's the tape on the bottom for?

 

[jgraz]

That was the tape to hold everything in place. There was some on the sides too. I took that off already, but like I said its stuck to the table pad I used. I'm just gonna wait a bit longer till I cut it away.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Looking good! Makes me want to build a tank too. A big tank.

 

[ahvrivera]

Did you only use tape to hold it together while building? or did you already remove the clamps when this pic was taken?

Looks great by the way. Nice job.

 

[jgraz]

Nope, tape only.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wow John! Looks real good. I like it. I also had a little deja vu episode with the RTV reminding me of my engine rebuilding days. That stuff can take major abuse with hot engine oils and still hold up. I use to use blue and yellow RTV.....good stuff.

 

[jgraz]

I was prepared to use regular aquarium silicon until I recently spoke with either Will or Ethen at AO(I don't know which is which). They pretty much talked me out of it and into the RTV. I'm very happy he did. The AGA silicon is very runny, I'm sure that would have been a complete disaster.