28 g Bowfront Internal Fuge/Filter + Faux Reef

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Pherball

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Apr 2, 2012
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I'm building an internal fuge/filter in my 28 bowfront. I used plexiglass so I could put a nice bow in it to match the front (and so I could fit my hand in it). I'm going to build a faux reef cement wall over it to hide the pumps on the sides. The middle will be a fuge for growing food, plants, and a few delicate guys. As an after thought, I think leaving the center of the reef wall open to be able to see into the fuge would be pretty much awesome!

If I had thought of the window before I glued it in place I would have used a thin cast acrylic. I'm not worried about the integrity as the wall will be sandwiched between the cement and the filter baffles. If I had used acrylic, it wouldn't scratch as easy.

This will probably eventually get scratched, but until then I'll enjoy the view. Eventually it will prolly be overgrown with coralline. This is gonna be a prototype for bigger and better.

So here's a peak at my design:
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I've decided 2 smaller pumps on each side would be better for flow and possibility of adding a wave timer later. So:
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And here's two days worth of building:

I had to cut out the middle support. I'll glue in a clear support later.
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I cut myself on the sharp plastic so we both got transformer band-aids.
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Fitting... The 2 pieces of paper are the footprint of the pumps I ordered.
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I had to drill 4 holes for the return tubing and on the 4th one it cracked! So hears my patchwork. Yes, that's the support I cut out earlier.
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I went out an bought another piece of plexi incase the patch didn't hold but it seems pretty strong.... Glued in place:
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AAAAaaaand drying:
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I put 4 pieces of tubing in to keep the holes open when I add cement.


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Pherball

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Apr 2, 2012
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Day 2

Here's some other prep to keep things clean...ish:
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Decided I should use some plastic to protect my plastic
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The next part I couldn't get a lot of photos of the process because you have to work fast with this stuff! ...and I didn't want crud on my iPhone.
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That's a barnacle shell at the bottom. I'll probably take it off later

For the faux reef, I used 1/2 a quick set polymer cement and 1/2 crushed oyster shell from the feed store. The cement is the kind they use to patch water leaks and is safe for potable water. It should also have a lower ph. It isn't as porous as the Portland cement most people use so I tried adding some salt rock to the mix but it didn't seam to help. we'll see. you have about 1 to 2 minutes work time with this stuff so you have to be quick!

More later...


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greech

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May 13, 2009
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Interesting. I saw your other post and wasn't quite sure how you were going to pull this off. look forward to seeing the finished product. Those are some small pumps! What kind are they?
 

Pherball

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Apr 2, 2012
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It's the Mini Jet 606. They run about $15-$20 a piece. 160 gph x 4 = 640 gph turnover in a 28 gallon which will be about 20ish gallons minus the filter area. Since the pump and return line are completely submersed, there should be no gravity to work against and, at least in my head, they should pump at full capacity. If I run them on a timer and they burn out, they would be cheap to replace.

BTW the 100 gallon project from previous post is on hold right now :)


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Pherball

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Apr 2, 2012
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Drying nicely!
I don't like the bottom of the window. I'm going to break it out and use the piece to make a shelf. I'm also going to build a pocket coming out from the window at the height the sand will be on the other side of the window so it looks like the sand is coming through. It will be higher than the rest of the sand creating a lil shelf. Crabs may dig this out, but i guess we'll see.


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Pherball

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Apr 2, 2012
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Pumps arrived today! 160 GPH out of this thing??

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Gluing baffles. Learning as I go. Tape would have been brilliant! From the top you can see I angled them so from the front you can't see the the baffle walls through the "window".

Please excuse my crappy iPhone pictures...


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greech

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May 13, 2009
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Looking good but I don't see any water :popcorn:.
 

Pherball

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Apr 2, 2012
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Here you go Mr. Greech:
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Pumps are working great! Super quiet! One of my baffles seams to be about 1/8th inch short. I'll just put a bead of glue across the top to fix it. Also need to make some adjustments to the pump tubing. In the tiny space the tubing is kinking a lil. Maybe there is a way to put elbows in. Also the seals around the tubing didn't take very well. MORE SILICONE! It's now drained and drying for adjustments. The PH after 24 hours was around 10. Not bad.


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TL1000RSquid

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Apr 6, 2011
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Are you planning to make a slotted strip to go across the top of the overflow? looks like you have the room for it and can glue it on the backside of the wall otherwise you'll have fish getting over the wall.
 
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