jgraz's SPS 20H build

[jgraz]

Well my wife put the kbosh on my upcoming 75 build so my nano is coming early. Shooting for a SPS heavy nano, though i may need to add a few Zoo's too.
Here the plan:
DT-20gal high
Sump/Fuge-10g
Glass holes super nano overflow
Glass holes 1/2" return
SICCE SYNCRA 1.5 return pump
Skimmer- either the Bubble Magus 3+ or 3.5 not sure yet if the cone design is worth the extra $
I have 2 Koralia 425's for extra flow
Lighting- I have one of the 120w LED units and I may add 12"stunner strip with magenta/blue for added effect.
I'm hoping to also fit a small container of sort in the cabinet for the ATO.

Did I miss anything? Feel free to offer any input, its all welcomed. Also any input on the skimmer would be welcomed. Im considering those because of the small footprint in an otherwise small sump and they are both 20% off at BRS in a group buy im in.
I have a good share of this already but I have to wait for christmas for the order from Glass Holes. Until then Im gonna be collecting components and coral for the project.
Thanks
Graz

 

[mnat]

If you can find one used or on sale, look for an mp10. We have had a 20H off and on for years and the koralias can take up a lot of room. If you are going to go for a SPS heavy tank, the mp10 will give you more than enough flow and takes up barely any real estate. Also, you will have to dose the tank somehow to keep all the SPS and do it fairly regularly with that size tank. You might want to plan ahead for that.

 

[jgraz]

I'm already on the lookout for a mp10, and it's on the christmas list. I was actually considering a closed loop of some sort but don't know much about them yet. I really want a little in tank as possible. But the mp10 might still take up less room. As for dosing I'm gonna add later. I want to get the basics first and add as I go along.

 

[jgraz]

Ok opinions needed. I got my skimmer in the other day, a BM nac3.5, and my overflow, return, and return pump are on the way. Yesterday I was at a LFS and they were giving away 10G tank to the first 50 customers so I go t that too. Now I getting ready to build the sump and I have noticed an issue that I need help with. If my calculation are correct between the skimmer, return pump and baffles im gonna use about 13" of the 20" available in the 10G. Not sure If that remaining room filled about 9-10" high will be enough for an effective fuge. Im considering just cutting the fuge altogether and just having 2 sections in the sump. What does everyone think.

The 10 gal in that cabinet leaves NO room for an ATO tank. I dont mind filling daily but in a small space that might be risky. So I was considering in place of a fuge I could make the last compartment for an ATO storage.

Lighting: Originally I was planning on using an LED I have on hand. The light has 40blues and 15 whites 20K, running at 2watts each for 110 total watts. 60* optics.
Recently I came across an ATI sunpower 6-bulb only 4 months old that I can get for a great price so im considering that also.

What do you guys think about all this. Any and all opinions welcomed

 

[TanksNStuff]

First off, your skimmer will need 8"-10" depth for "optimal" operation. I think 10g tanks are about 12" tall, so that should be ok. I would try to design the sump baffles so you have closer to the 10" height in the skimmer section to be safe. (You can always raise the skimmer if you need to later, but you won't be able to lower it... and the baffle will dictate the water level.

Just keep in mind that you need some room in the sump to avoid a flood if the power goes out or when the return pump is offline. If you only have 2 sections (skimmer and return) then your return section will be as high as your skimmer section. If you made the baffle 10" high to accommodate the skimmer, then you only have 2" height left across the top... which is like 2g or so of spare room for flood protection. Not sure that will be enough, but maybe it would.

If you're using 13" of the 20" of the sump for skimmer / return sections, that leaves about 6" length or so left over (after baffles / bubble traps). If you used that for an ATO container, that would give you about 3.7g (assuming you fill it to the top). That would probably last you a week for that sized tank if the skimmer doesn't run real wet. If you do this, I'd suggest a couple things:

1. Make sure your silicone seals on the baffles are perfect. You don't want Ro/Di slipping through a tiny crack (or tank water running into the ATO supply). If there is any space at all, water will find it.
2. You'll want to make a lid for the ATO section so it doesn't drop due to evap. I recommend having the baffle height level with the top frame (usually there's a ledge to hold a lid) so you can make a lid with a lifting handle to close it off. Maybe add a foam or rubber gasket material all the way around to get a better seal?

If you used it for a fuge instead, you'll have even less volume since it won't be to the top. If you made it say 8" high, that would give you only 2.5g. That doesn't seem like a whole lot for a fuge, but if you think about it, even if you didn't put any macro or LR in there... you're still adding about 10% to your total system volume. In a small system, that extra 2.5 gallons could make a big difference.

I'd vote for making the extra space a fuge section... even if you just keep a few pounds of LR and extra water. This would also allow you to have a lower baffle on the opposite side of the skimmer baffle, which would give you a bit more flood protection volume. You wouldn't have room for an ATO this way, but you can just top off manually with Ro/Di when needed.

As for your lighting, I'm not sure you would need much more than the 120w LED. It should be plenty to grow just about anything. If not, adding a magenta and a royal blue stunner strip should be really good. I'm not familiar with that ATI sunpower, so can't comment on that.

 

[jgraz]

The very advice i was looking for between this and some on another forum from a member here also nonetheless, I am in fact gonna go with the fuge. Thanks George, and NyteGTI. Im leaning more towards the led cause well I already have it. But sometimes I can't help but spend money, you know.

 

[jgraz]

Ok here are some aquascapes I came up with. Opinions please.

My wife likes the 3rd one. I I between on the 2nd and 4th.

 

[downbeach]

I'm getting a "Page not found" when I try to access the links.

OK, they just appeared, after I posted my reply????

Of those pictures, my vote would be for the 3rd one...the arch. Looks great.

 

[jgraz]

Thx my wife won't even consider the others. Those particular pieces are also full of hole just eating to be plugged with coral.

 

[howze01]

I like the 3rd as well. For some reason, women have a much better eye for this kind of thing than we do.

 

[TanksNStuff]

I like both the 2nd and 3rd. The Arch one is coolest, but the 2nd may have slightly more "shelf" space for flatter coral placement.

Seems like 3rd is becoming the most popular vote though.

 

[mnat]

My wife does all of our aquascaping and it always turns out well. I also like the 3rd one.

 

[jgraz]

Thanks for the help guys. Guess my wife wins again.

By the way I just looked at some of my past posts and this iphone is killing me. Makes me sound like and idiot.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Yea, I have to spellcheck my auto input on my phone all the time. Sometimes I wonder how the heck it thinks you are trying to say what it "corrects" lol.

 

[jgraz]

Well i have a nice 5 day weekend so I started the sump today and ran into a bit of an issue. After my so called careful planning and my awful measuring I just noticed that I will not be able to fit a fliter sock in the skimmer area. Here is the sump as of right now only 1 more piece of glass to place.

and top view

Do I really need one? I was thinking about placing the skimmer in the middle section and killing the fuge altogether. There is not much space in there to begin with and I was only gonna do LR anyway. Should I put the LR and a sock in the first section and skimmer in middle? What do you guys think?

 

[TanksNStuff]

I think you'll still have room in that chamber for a filter sock. You won't be able to fit one of those big acrylic sock holders that they sell... but the top rim is only 4" diameter. The sock itself can be as narrow as like 2" if you spin it the right way.

You can just add a PVC TEE and Cap to your drain line like mine... it doesn't take up much space at all:

PVC pieces without sock (The clear tubing below the TEE helps release the water below water line to minimize micro bubbles)

Slide the sock on, then 1/4 turn counter-clockwise

With Sock hanging on the TEE

These were taken when I used the fabric style socks. I now use the mesh type and they're much easier to slide on/off and also easier to clean.


I'd also suggest aiming your skimmer pump intake at a corner opposite the side the sock is on too. That way the turbulence and bubbles that's created at the sock won't affect your pump.

 

[jgraz]

Thanks George for the pic. Im gonna see what I can come up with but I just may go without.

I also made some more progress today. Baffles held and sump and sections are water tight.

And the 20H is drilled and overflow and return are installed. I was nervous about drilling. Afterward I realized it was really nothing to it.

Next up: Plumbing. This part worries me. I can handle electric but plumbing, we'll see.

 

[jgraz]

painted and ready for plumbing

 

[jgraz]

Well the plumbing is done. Hopefully, I get some pics up soon. Made a few changes from suggestions in the "plumbing assist" threat I had. We will see how it goes. The can of glue for the PVC says 2 hr curing time. Does that mean I can add water after that?
Also on a side note, the nem that I bought from Xavier a few weeks ago split. I now have 2 GBTA, one is about 1" the other 1.5" I did not know they would split that small. Anyway I get some pics ASAP.

 

[NJ Reef Farm]

Looking good