Concept Tank Build (1 Viewer)

[Dsophia]

I've started fabricating the next generation of the show refusium (pictured below) some of you have seen in a few of my posts.

I wanted to start a thread on the build process to get input from you guys along the way. Here's the new design rendering.

The aquarium is the section in front with the sump connected behind and refugium on top.
The concept is to create a tank that's not only an all in one system with minimal plumbing and equipment, but also integrates water flow much like the show refugium.
The show refugium is just under six months old (tank is seven) and has progressed the life in the system exponentially. Pods are abundant, mysis shrimp have made their appearance, and my macro grows too fast to keep up with. I believe the water flow is to blame, and I'm doing my best to innovate that theory and place it into an aquarium that can be enjoyed more often than it has to be maintained.

I'll update with pictures of the progress as it... progresses

 

[sergio nuncio]

This is really super cool, I almost didn't open the thread.. Great idea if you can get the bugs worked out.

I'll follow this thread and progress.

 

[malira]

This is cool idea. I'm definitely following.

 

[jskeen]

Been anxiously waiting on this thread since the first one! Can't wait to see how it goes.

 

[Dsophia]

Most of the acrylic is cut.

 

[Dsophia]

Most of the sump chambers are in place. Just the refugium, and main tank sections are left. Then the protein skimmer design/installation, and plumbing.

Also let me know if anyone is interested in possibly field testing one of the first two tanks. There would be some material costs involved, but nothing too terrible.

 

[jskeen]

That would be a big heck yes on the testing over here on the east side.

 

[Dsophia]

I'll keep you posted on the process and costs. There are also some variables and controls we would have to establish while testing the tank.
Once everything is built and settled, we can see where we stand. There's also the possibility of building a third if anyone else is interested. Just post on this thread or send me a PM. I should have a few more updates after this weekend. Just waiting on my acrylic supplier to fix a mistake on their end.

 

[Dsophia]

This tank will need a controllable pump for one of its tricks. If all goes well, it should support even SPS without having to install power heads.

Let me know if you have a controllable pump lying around I can test with, and how much you'd sell it for. Should be somewhere between 400gph and 1500gph. The Jebao DC-6000 looks to be in the ballpark.

 

[Dsophia]

The tank is taking shape.

As long as the pump makes it in time, Wednesday should be test day.

 

[Jhwku]

That looks really awesome. Can't wait to see it in action. How does the water return to the main display? A water fall from the fuge?

 

[Dsophia]

That looks really awesome. Can't wait to see it in action. How does the water return to the main display? A water fall from the fuge?

It returns through a chamber along the back and bottom of the refugium. It should also contribute to the water flow in the main display, but I'm sure it'll need some tweaking.

 

[brandonmc]

hit me up with the costs of testing if your still looking for someone, i may be able to work something out.

 

[Dsophia]

hit me up with the costs of testing if your still looking for someone, i may be able to work something out.

Shot you a PM

 

[Dsophia]

The pump wont make it until the weekend at the earliest, so filling it with water will wait until then.
In the meantime I'm finishing up the plumbing on this one and starting the designs for tank number two.

 

[Dsophia]

https://vimeo.com/128029055

 

[Dsophia]

It runs like a dream. Current reaches every corner of the tank. I just have a few more chambers to build, lids, and flame polishing.

 

[Traclly Le Tran]

Looks even cooler in action. Nice.

 

[raheel]

Love it I wish you posted this 2 months ago I was not going to spent $1500 on my tank.

 

[jskeen]

what is the total tabletop footprint of this at a nominal 35 gallon capacity? Does it include the skimmer in the tabletop design? How do you access the skimmer for cleaning and maintenance? Are there provisions for additional support machinery (reactors, sterilizers, ect)? Could the system be attached to another system/external sump/ato/awc devices?

I see this as a very unique stand alone system, but for someone into the hobby enough to appreciate it, they are most likely to already have at least one other system of some size up and running, and the ability to run a couple of hoses and exchange water on a continual or occasional basis to take advantage of existing filtration/dosing/skimming from another, likely larger capacity system would be a big plus, and could eliminate the need to engineer a bunch of support equipment into a small space.

Just my opinion, anybody else have one?