Not sure about any of you but we have to reef on a budget. We’re both retired and therefore on a fixed income. We were very lucky to get our “new” tank from a fellow reefer for free. My husband built the stand (it doesn’t have the finishing touches yet). We built our “hybrid” T5/LED fixture, DIY sump.
Would I love to have a custom aquarium with an entire water room and a gorgeous cabinet? Sure! Who wouldn’t but were happy with this and hope that some of what we’ve done will give others ideas for their own DIY project.
Details:
Tank is 60” across x 18” wide x 22” high
Sump 40 breeder from Petco
Sump baffles were made with 18” x 18” unglazed ceramic floor tiles cut to heights and secured with marine safe silicone. We used heavy bookends to hold them upright while silicone set
Stand was built with standard 2x4 lumber and 1/4” plywood
Light fixture was built with 2x4’s for frame then 1x1’x for trim and 1/4” plywood on top. Pics attached for ballusts used (non dimmable but if I had it to do over I would’ve splurged for the dimmables)
Equipment is:
Return pump Jebao 15000 (too large for system but got it used)
Jebao SLW-30 wave pumps x 2
ATI t5 bulbs
LED lights Vipraspectra 365W set at 36% x 2 and 1 Reefbreeder approximately 12” above water level
RedSea Reefmat 500
Small skimmer is set in same section as Reefmat
Small acrylic fish trap holds my chaeto and we have a grow light mounted behind the sump shining directly into the back of the sump on an opposite schedule from the display
We have a CoralVue Hydros x2 but will expand as funds allow. I have temp probe and Coralvue ATO attached to it currently. Chaeto light and skimmer are controlled by programmable power strip (CoralVue Hydros also)
In lieu of building a hood which can limit access to tank and hanging height of lights we opted for a less beautiful but much more workable solution. Ceiling mounted curtain track and short light blocking curtains (see pics). I’ve pinned them up and still need to hem them but to access tank or light fixtures I just have to ouch a curtain over and unrestricted access to top of tank.
Hyggar 800w Heater with external controller plus Inkbird with Eheim 300w backup heater
I think that’s everything
I do run a bubble 24/7 into the DT
Would I love to have a custom aquarium with an entire water room and a gorgeous cabinet? Sure! Who wouldn’t but were happy with this and hope that some of what we’ve done will give others ideas for their own DIY project.
Details:
Tank is 60” across x 18” wide x 22” high
Sump 40 breeder from Petco
Sump baffles were made with 18” x 18” unglazed ceramic floor tiles cut to heights and secured with marine safe silicone. We used heavy bookends to hold them upright while silicone set
Stand was built with standard 2x4 lumber and 1/4” plywood
Light fixture was built with 2x4’s for frame then 1x1’x for trim and 1/4” plywood on top. Pics attached for ballusts used (non dimmable but if I had it to do over I would’ve splurged for the dimmables)
Equipment is:
Return pump Jebao 15000 (too large for system but got it used)
Jebao SLW-30 wave pumps x 2
ATI t5 bulbs
LED lights Vipraspectra 365W set at 36% x 2 and 1 Reefbreeder approximately 12” above water level
RedSea Reefmat 500
Small skimmer is set in same section as Reefmat
Small acrylic fish trap holds my chaeto and we have a grow light mounted behind the sump shining directly into the back of the sump on an opposite schedule from the display
We have a CoralVue Hydros x2 but will expand as funds allow. I have temp probe and Coralvue ATO attached to it currently. Chaeto light and skimmer are controlled by programmable power strip (CoralVue Hydros also)
In lieu of building a hood which can limit access to tank and hanging height of lights we opted for a less beautiful but much more workable solution. Ceiling mounted curtain track and short light blocking curtains (see pics). I’ve pinned them up and still need to hem them but to access tank or light fixtures I just have to ouch a curtain over and unrestricted access to top of tank.
Hyggar 800w Heater with external controller plus Inkbird with Eheim 300w backup heater
I think that’s everything
I do run a bubble 24/7 into the DT
![20210421_184648[1243].jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2784/2784715-6292b7bf3d1699323419edb377f5472b.jpg)
