25G Modified Waterbox Peninsula with a sump build

[wpapaslow]

Nice looking tank Whiskey! I do have a question though. When you were breaking out the original overflow, do you recall what the material was? Glass or acrylic? I'm asking because I plan to update mine to filters in the sump and would like to redesign the overflow to mimic the newer design and free up some more display space. So far you've got the most "modified" waterbox I've seen. So hoping you can help.

Cheers!

 

[Wiskey]

Nice looking tank Whiskey! I do have a question though. When you were breaking out the original overflow, do you recall what the material was? Glass or acrylic? I'm asking because I plan to update mine to filters in the sump and would like to redesign the overflow to mimic the newer design and free up some more display space. So far you've got the most "modified" waterbox I've seen. So hoping you can help.

Cheers!

Thank you! The Overflow in mine was most definitely glass, in fact not only was the back wall, but all the baffles were glass as well. It was incredibly well glued in there, and I used an old pair of extraction gloves to keep my hands safe while clearing it out.

Whiskey

 

[wpapaslow]

Thank you! The Overflow in mine was most definitely glass, in fact not only was the back wall, but all the baffles were glass as well. It was incredibly well glued in there, and I used an old pair of extraction gloves to keep my hands safe while clearing it out.

Whiskey

Wow, you weren't lying, those panels are really glued in there! I managed to pull the panels and all baffles without breaking one, so that's cool. Going to drop the big panel off at a glass shop today. Fingers crossed that everything breaks where it's supposed to!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Been a little while since I updated this thread. The tank is doing well, and I put together a video tank tour on YouTube of all the corals, and the system that's keeping it running. You can check that out here:



Thanks for watching!
Whiskey

Really like the way your tank is turning out!!

 

[Wiskey]

Wow, you weren't lying, those panels are really glued in there! I managed to pull the panels and all baffles without breaking one, so that's cool. Going to drop the big panel off at a glass shop today. Fingers crossed that everything breaks where it's supposed to!

You are not kidding! I think I broke 20 Scapul blades getting that sucker out, and the reason I used the knife is that that is floss and wire just kept getting cut or breaking. I used to worry about Silicone failing, after that experience and realizing how hard it holds on, I have zero concerns now.

Good luck with it!!! I'm super impresed you didn't break any of it!! Mine started cracked so I didn't really care, but I broke EVERYTHING lol.

Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

Really like the way your tank is turning out!!

Thank you!!!!

Whiskey

 

[wpapaslow]

You are not kidding! I think I broke 20 Scapul blades getting that sucker out, and the reason I used the knife is that that is floss and wire just kept getting cut or breaking. I used to worry about Silicone failing, after that experience and realizing how hard it holds on, I have zero concerns now.

Good luck with it!!! I'm super impresed you didn't break any of it!! Mine started cracked so I didn't really care, but I broke EVERYTHING lol.

Whiskey

It's funny, I got the glass cut Friday. Had to use your pics to prove to each of the three glass shops I went to that it wasn't tempered glass! The third one was finally willing to take my request. 10 minutes later and I had a new overflow.

 

[Wiskey]

It's funny, I got the glass cut Friday. Had to use your pics to prove to each of the three glass shops I went to that it wasn't tempered glass! The third one was finally willing to take my request. 10 minutes later and I had a new overflow.

Haha! That's awesome. Glad the pictures helped!

That's a great overflow you have there! It's sleek and I really like the design. You get a ton of tank space back too! Did you drill the back for a drain to the sump?

Whiskey

 

[wpapaslow]

Haha! That's awesome. Glad the pictures helped!

That's a great overflow you have there! It's sleek and I really like the design. You get a ton of tank space back too! Did you drill the back for a drain to the sump?

Whiskey

That's what's weird about this series. It's basically an AIO but with a sump. So they left the filters in the overflow, and basically had a 3 chamber sump for whatever you want. I'll be modifying that too to fit a reefmat.

This is a Pic of a slightly smaller model with two filters instead of the 4 filters this had.

 

[Wiskey]

That's what's weird about this series. It's basically an AIO but with a sump. So they left the filters in the overflow, and basically had a 3 chamber sump for whatever you want. I'll be modifying that too to fit a reefmat.

This is a Pic of a slightly smaller model with two filters instead of the 4 filters this had.

Oh! I get it now. Wow, that is a weird design! I would much rather have more in tank space, and that stuff in the sump like you are doing. The reefmat in that thing is going to be Killer! Do you have a build thread going?

Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

While I'm busy updating things, I figured I should update this thread as well! I was doing a Youtube series on the Algae issues this tank was having, and I'm due for a final update going over everything I was doing to address the issues because I'm happy to report that the problem is (almost) completely gone! I really only have algae on the output nozzle and the overflow teeth where the hermits can't get to at this point which is absolutely fantastic. For anyone interested here are the first two videos:
First one with lots of Algae -
Second one with less Algae -

And here is where the tank is at now. I'll come back and post the last Youtube video when I make it in the next couple days.

 

[Wiskey]

I have a updated video for everyone! This is the 3rd and final part in the series about the algae outbreak in the 25G, it is now almost completely resolved. Here's the update!



Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

It's been a super long time since I did anything to this tank, but every time I travel it makes me think of all the outstanding projects I've let go. When I started this tank it was with an APEX classic, that was only as thick as the modules which connect to it, and fit perfectly in the controller board. That fried it's network card (and has no wireless) about 2 months into this tank and had to be replaced with the 2016 model which is about 3x as thick. BUMMER! That didn't fit, so it had to be mounted inside the sump area. This made access to the dosing stuff difficult, and I didn't like it's proximity to water, so I finally took the 6 hours required to rip all the electronics, and the board out so that I can recess the mounting location for the Apex. I'm very happy with the result.

Old Location:

Guts everywhere:

Final Result:

Whiskey

 

[MDAquatics]

This is maybe my favorite build thread ever. Im super into the DIY aspect of it and it's how I like to roll myself. I've been wanting to do a similar project with a tank and this may be the nudge I need.

 

[Wiskey]

This is maybe my favorite build thread ever. Im super into the DIY aspect of it and it's how I like to roll myself. I've been wanting to do a similar project with a tank and this may be the nudge I need.

Thank you!!! I've been building stands a long time, some ideas worked well, some didn't, but it's fun to try and make it a little better every time you do a new one. Link your build here if you get started!

Whiskey

 

[MDAquatics]

I will. The stand is one of my favorite parts of the whole project. I can get by although Im admiringly not an expert woodworker. IM wanting to do something similar with breaking out an AIO because I just can't find a tank that I like set up for external.

 

[Wiskey]

I will. The stand is one of my favorite parts of the whole project. I can get by although Im admiringly not an expert woodworker. IM wanting to do something similar with breaking out an AIO because I just can't find a tank that I like set up for external.

Yeah!! People really aren't making Nano's with sumps for some reason. I think the sump is more important with the smaller tank, not less important. Some AIO's are really easy to remove, this one on the other hand was really built well. I had this vision of just slicing the silicone and taking it out, but that was not at all the case.

Whiskey