Need Suggestions - 18 inch cube for Display Refugium

[ZsWithTheFishes]

Hi all,

I'm looking for suggestions on an 18 inch (max) cube for a display refugium off of my main 220. I plan to have the display return diverted to the fuge & having the tank drain into the sump. I assume I'll need an overflow & to drill the thing, which makes me hesitant, so it would be nice to have something in which that work has already been done.

Below is a poor quality phone-drawn depiction of the plan, refugium in blue on bottom left, sump in red, and plumbing in grey:

 

[JoshH]

What's your budget? I would say your best bet for your requirements would be to go custom. There are a ton of acrylic manufacturers and glass tank manufacturers that would do it for probably relatively cheap(especially the glass).

Also from a purely nutrient standpoint it might be better to T off your main siphon into your Fuge then have it drain into the sump. Provides the dirtiest water for your algae to grow.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

I would prefer to stay in the 200 range. I could get an Aquamaxx low iron for ~170 and diy from there.

Realistically, I could swing up to 300. Or 500 if there was something unexpectedly compelling about this display.

One consideration - I'd be concerned about acrylic scratching with it being at that height in my house.

 

[JoshH]

I would prefer to stay in the 200 range. I could get an Aquamaxx low iron for ~170 and diy from there.

Realistically, I could swing up to 300. Or 500 if there was something unexpectedly compelling about this display.

One consideration - I'd be concerned about acrylic scratching with it being at that height in my house.

Definately a concern of acrylic scratching, being on the outside of the fuge could be buffed out but only so much. I would contact Glass cages or another reasonably priced aquarium builder and see what the price would be. It's a simple glass box with a couple holes in it I can't see it being insanely expensive. Might be tight with shipping.

You could even build one yourself if your relatively handy but the cost might quickly get out of hand if you're going the glass route with tools and such.