55g Build Log Reef tank NEED HELP

[MCheck]

Hello Everyone, My name is Matt and I am going to take my 55g freshwater tank and turn it into a saltwater tank. I have done countless hours of research and still find my self lost in many topics, so i would like as much help as possible to guide me through this process. So lets get started, What i have is an old meta frame 55g tank with slate bottom. I have cut a piece of acrylic and sealed it over the slate because the slate bottom is just no good for keeping a water tight seal. I have a 300gph Pump attached to my DIY PVC pipe canister filter. I have a 100w Marineland water heater. So what can i do with all this... Here is where my questions arise, from what i have heard a sump/refugium is the way to go, i have an old watertight 10g fish tank that i can use for the sump will that be enough. Also will i need a protein skimmer? I know nothing about them and what to look for. Next question is what kind of filtration do i need in the sump if any at all? I will use the pump from my old canister filter to power the sump.

Does this sound good or completely off any help or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks Matt

 

[MCheck]

DAy 1

Well Today was the first build day for my tank i decided to start with the stand. I also added some pictures of the tank and pump just so you can get an idea of what i am working with.

Here is the tank:

The tank is a mess .. i advise strongly against anyone looking to get turtles they are destructive messy animals and deserve to be in the wild or a pond which is were i am putting these little buggers haha. But this is my tank that i will be converting into a saltwater. The left pipe is intake and the right is output both leading to canister filter.

Canister Filter:

Pretty simple design ill be using that pump for the new sump.

Ok Now on to the stand i used 2 X 3 's and 2 1/2in screws.

Here are the top and bottom pieces.

And here are the legs

And the complete frame for the stand:

so i have extra wood should i put more legs in or is it sturdy enough?

anything at all i love to hear

 

[thereef]

I would use a 20 long for the refug. Devide in half and send the water the planted side. Use a good light in the 6700k range to lite it and run it on a reverse photo period. This will help balance the ph. Yes to the skimmer and only use the canister for media not biological. I would put a good phosphate remover in side of it and change a needed. Put some propeller style pumps on the inside and move about 1100 to 2000 gph around the inside of your tank. Have fun and be patient.

 

[thereef]

Put a support in the middle of the top frame perpindicular to the main runners. that will tightin it up a bit. and put a solid back on it to square it up. Make sure it is level so use a piece of foam between the stand and the tank.

 

[MCheck]

Thanks for your feed back.
For Day 2 i installed more support to the stand frame i think it has got plenty now here is a picture.

So thereef you think i should keep the canister filter cause i would really like to do away with it. But i will take your idea into consideration. As for the paneling the stand i would like to do that eventually but funds are tight but i will think about at least panaling the back to make it even more square.

Next phase is sump and overflow box. the overflow box seems straight forward and i should be able to build one pretty easily. The sump has got me confused. TheReef you said i only need 2 chambers but i am confused as to what you mean. Chamber one is refugium and chamber 2 is return pump.. I was gonna go with Chamber one overflow input carbon bag and protein skimmer. chamber 2 refugium. chamber 3 return pump machanical filtration..but any other ideas would be much appreciated.

A few questions about Protein Skimmer
I know i am going to need one, but i would like to get the live rocks and live sand going so i wont be putting fish in for awhile. So is it ok to wait on the skimmer?

Also just to fix any of misconceptions.. If i get porus rock and just regular sand, and add a few live rocks will all the reef plant life spread to the sand and rocks?

Again thanks a million i will continue to post updates for my tank as i go along..
Matt

 

[Cheech]

Thanks for your feed back.
For Day 2 i installed more support to the stand frame i think it has got plenty now here is a picture.

Nice stand... Looks very sturdy.. .

So thereef you think i should keep the canister filter cause i would really like to do away with it. But i will take your idea into consideration. As for the paneling the stand i would like to do that eventually but funds are tight but i will think about at least panaling the back to make it even more square.

Personally I wouldn't use a cannister filter. But to each his own... If anything, since you have it you can use it as extra water flow, running it empty. But you don't want to restrict anything going to your main tank.

Next phase is sump and overflow box. the overflow box seems straight forward and i should be able to build one pretty easily. The sump has got me confused. TheReef you said i only need 2 chambers but i am confused as to what you mean. Chamber one is refugium and chamber 2 is return pump.. I was gonna go with Chamber one overflow input carbon bag and protein skimmer. chamber 2 refugium. chamber 3 return pump machanical filtration..but any other ideas would be much appreciated.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2/carlo2478/tank/IMG_0009.jpg

Here is a popular design for a sump/fuge. This is mine actually. It's fail safe, and does the job (for what I need it to do)... 1st chamber on the left is the water coming from the tank... That's where I fit my skimmer (make sure you decide what kind of skimmer, in sump, hangon type, external... I used this one because of limited space... it's a tunze.)

Then it goes through a bubble trap (the divisions).. center area, I used as my fuge, where I went for a deep sand bed and chaeto. This area can be used any way you like.. dsb was my preference, not everyone sets it up this way, but generally, it is where most people will setup their fuge area. Onto the chamber on the right, this is where my return pump is. I don't use reactors for either carbom or phosphate (again cause of limited space). when needed, I use a filter bag with the media of choice, and wrap it around the intake of the return pump.

A few questions about Protein Skimmer
I know i am going to need one, but i would like to get the live rocks and live sand going so i wont be putting fish in for awhile. So is it ok to wait on the skimmer?

It's fine to wait for a skimmer. Quite a few people have full skimmerless reef tanks. Personally, I'd wait on the skimmer until you can get something decent. No need to rush on getting one for now, at all.

Also just to fix any of misconceptions.. If i get porus rock and just regular sand, and add a few live rocks will all the reef plant life spread to the sand and rocks?

Yep, it'll take a while, but it will. Don't get any rock though. Go for base rock, dead live rock, stuff like that. For rock, check craigslist... there are always deals on there from people who got fedup of the hobby. lol.

Again thanks a million i will continue to post updates for my tank as i go along..

no prob.. Keep asking questions and good luck!

 

[Cheech]

almost forgot. the one thing I think is prob. the most important thing to have on a reef system is excellent water quality... Before spending money on reactors, skimmers, etc, get an RO or a RODI unit. You won't regret it.

Also, if you like the sump divisions I posted, let me know the size of your sump, I'll draw out a layout for you so you'll have a general understanding of the materials and sizes you'll be needing.

 

[Cheech]

Here's my setup.. .

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144398

it's a basic setup and I think you'll generally get a good idea of what you'll need.

Best advice I can give you is do your research before you buy!!!

I made about 43000 mistakes when I started out, cause I was too eager to get everything done.

 

[MCheck]

CEECH thanks a bunch for the input i will take it in the best i can.

Today and tommorow i will be working on my DIY overflow box. it is pretty straight forward and easy to make so i will post pictures as soon as i am finished with it. I did how ever encounter a huge problem today.

PROBLEM With STAND:
Well i built the stand according to the specs of the 55g fish tank, its demensions read 13 wide 48 long now i built the stand with those same demensions , but the inner space inside the stand measure 10 1/2in. From what i have found there is no 20g tank that i can get with that kind of width the least i can get is a 12in. So i formulated a few solutions maybe you guyz can help me pick one out.

1. Replace the width edges with 15 1/2 inch ones this will leave me with an inside space of about 12 1/4in which would be able to fit my sump in.

2. Place the sump somewhere outside the tank....not the most pleasing of ideas plus it takes up more room. This maybe a last resort.

3. DIY a sump this could be fun i just not sure how to diy a tank. Few questions on it, would it be cheaper then buying a 20g sump. Do i go glass or acrylic, what thickness does the glass or acrylic need to be. If you guyz think you can help me through it then i will go with this solution.

Thanks again for all the feed back i will continue to post pictures and progress as i go along.

PS.. Craigslist did have a bunch of cheaper live rock so i should be set on that.

 

[Cheech]

what if you remove the back center brace, fit the 20G centered to the stand, and replace the center brace with putting one on either side of the sump? (personally I'd have done that with the front as well, so when you open the doors you don't have a center brace blocking you from working on your sump)