My new 4ft Reef attempt

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Location
Port Elizabeth
Hey guys, So ive been in this hobby for about a year now since I sold my 200 gallon malawi tank. Have been keeping a 80 liter diy tank for the last year since im a student and doing my BTech in architectural technology which I will finish in 25 days (hopefully).

Ok so I think im quite ready for a bigger setup which will be
DT: 1200mm(L) x 600mm(W) x 620mm(H) which will be drilled in the rear pane with 2 x 50mm holes and a centered overflow box which is 115mmx 300mm which will allow me to get my hands in for whatever reason.

The Tank will be constructed out of 10mm float glass which is sitting in my flat for about 4 months now.

Sump: No idea yet. wanted to use my 80 liter tank and convert it. but when i realized that 6mm glass is so cheap, why not design a big one.

Refugium: Also no idea yet. Dont want it to be part of the sump so will build a seperate tank as well.

Lighting: All 3 watt LED's Diy setup yet to be built.

As i am a student there really isnt a budjet but will do with what I can get.

Will post pics later of building the stand and my spectacular welding skills. :m01:
 
Ok this is the stand build. The stand is 1200 x 600mm x 900mm high which will give me a nice eye level view of the tank.

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IMG 20140208 WA0000

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IMG 20140209 WA0000

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stand looks good
but your bicycle got flat tires.
 
Taking shape nicely. Is that chipboard that you have used. If yes , I strongly advise against and rather use marine ply. The chipboard will swell eventually .
 
Yes it is chipboard, going to replace it soon, or maybe paint it completely black with plascon velvaglo which should make it completely water proof.
 
Ok so this is the tank im running at the moment. All of the live stock and LR will go into the new tank.

Have 2x Occelaris Clowns
1x Fire fish
2x Cleaner shrimp

Some Zoa Frags
Corkscrew Anemone
Toadstool Leather
Pumping Xenia

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Ok so a while back I did a rendering of what the new tank will look like with the existing tank converted into a sump and a separate refugium.

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What do you guys think?
 
Love your 3D drawing... That looks awesome
 
Do u guys think that this pump will be strong enough to use as a return pump for a 446 Liter display. Reason being I have one lying around and dont want to go spend alot of money on another return pump.

Lifetech AP3500



Max flow rate 2500 L/h, Dont think this is true though. Will probably have alot of head loss due to my stand being 900mm high.
 
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That pump might actually after head height loss be too small

It is only a 2500L/h pump if not mistaken
 
That pump might actually after head height loss be too small

It is only a 2500L/h pump if not mistaken

Yes im thinking the same thing. Saw some return pumps there at builders, will go check the prices out.

What would you say is a good enough flow rate for the return for this 446 Liter display? If im not mistaken I think I read that you need about 10 times turn over of total volume in a hour.
 
hi glue devil is the silicone I have used to build my previous tank 91x50x41 and my new tank 170x60x41 and have had no problems.. 1 piece of advice I can give is that if you use clear silicone the algae tends to grow on the silicone and it looks like you have green corners.. if you could I'd order some den braven black silicone. nice anenome you have there
 
hi glue devil is the silicone I have used to build my previous tank 91x50x41 and my new tank 170x60x41 and have had no problems.. 1 piece of advice I can give is that if you use clear silicone the algae tends to grow on the silicone and it looks like you have green corners.. if you could I'd order some den braven black silicone. nice anenome you have there

Yes I would actually like to go with black but the thing is, Den Braven Aqua silicone is nowhere to be found in PE, and if u do order you can only buy in bulk which is like 24 tubes, and I read a thread the other day that the supplier in joburg doesnt stock it anymore. So ive kinda given up on th black silicone idea. Do you know of any other manufacturers who makes black silicone that is safe?
 
@Mario ArchTech a friend of mine once ordered a few tubes from idol marine maybe you can give them a call and find out a way to get some to you
 
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Ok so thing are moving really slow, Im moving to a new place at the end of the month with a nice outside garden space, perfect for building the new tank. super exited. Gona go buy the glass bracing for the tank next week so will post a update soon.
 
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