my tank plans:
mostly PVC plumbing for a clean look.
turning a 30 gallon tank into a fuge and sump inside the stand.
building a hood to house the lights
custom LED + T5 lighting for full sunrise/daytime/sunset/nighttime effects

now that i have the tank and stand, my next step is to plan out the sump and hood.
looks like its time to install autoCAD!

fish i plan to keep:
2 clowns
3-4 PJ cardinals
1 copper band butterfly
1 fox faced rabbit fish
1 dwarf angel.
1-2 cleaner shrimp

built the skeleton of the canopy today, will finish it up next weekend.

got 50 lb of dry rock today and tested out some set ups, wasn't easy since right now the tank is backwards and now where it will actually be.
Pre setups:


post:





ill still need about double what i have. will probably end up buying some live rock right when i set up the tank.

still working, been busy though.
canopy is done until i get lighting and gotta paint it black still to match stand.

sump is finished:

yep, put the finishing touches on my diy 30+ gallon sump.

dimensions: 36.5" x 16.25" x 15.5"
dimensions of each compartment from left to right (largest to smallest): 15.25" x 15" 9.75" x 12" 8.5" x 12"
bubble chamber: 1.25" x 15"

total gallons: 27.8 gallons
gallons per compartment: 16 gallons, 6.33 gallons, 5.5 gallons

total price:
plexiglass pre-cut to my dimensions: free
Weld-On #4 + applicator bottles: ~$10
cost of a sump like this via eeeebay or store: $250-400
net savings by DIY (and by knowing the owner of a glass/acrylic shop): $210-390

album: http://forums.d2jsp.org/img.php?i=308730&a=6
http://forums.d2jsp.org/img.php?x=215649

http://forums.d2jsp.org/img.php?x=215648

http://forums.d2jsp.org/img.php?x=215654

http://forums.d2jsp.org/img.php?x=215660


to those who made it thus far, and do not know what it is. This will be the Sump/fuge for my 75 gallon aquarium. and will be housed inside the stand of my tank.
water will drain from my main tank into the compartments of this one below.
the largest chamber will contain a deep sand bed (6"), and beneficial algae (both work as a biological filter).
the middle section will be where my test probes and heater will go.
the final, smallest chamber, is where the return pump will pump the water back into the main tank above.

sump is done, and holds water without a leak after a 24hr test.

my ReefKeeper Lite aquarium controller came in the mail today!
it will allow me to have automatic dimming lights, Ph monitor at all times, and will temperature control my tank by turning the heater on/off depending on the water temp.

tank stand in position, with skimmer and sump plumbed.

heres the skimmer in my stand, next to my sump.



heres my cabinet with the doors open.

fuge section on far right, the sump section with temp probe in the center, and return section on far left.

the lighting and canopy are done.


here is the sump with 40lb of sand in the fuge.

(the light from above is coming through because the main tank has no sand bed, this will change soon.


soon as my new pump comes in the mail the return plumbing will be finished and the tank will be filled.

wow i am not keeping up to date on this at all.

so heres whats goin on now:

my 75 gal tank has 2/3 of the lights working, dimming on/off.

and is also aquascaped and cycling.


I drilled holes into my old tank so that it is now reef ready. it will be set up with a return, drain, and closed loop.


tho, the loc line seems a tad oversized in such a small depth tank.