55g Build Design

Equipment: 125 Coralife portein Skimmer, Eheim hobby pump return pump 1250. I will later add 2 reactors. The sump will contain DSB with some chaeto and mangroves.

Here are my designs for my aquarium base and sump/refugium.

Base frame: 5'8" x 3' x 1'. A side cabinet will be added on-top of the base, to the right of the tank.
The right-hand side of the lower base will hold the sump with my 29g QT to its left.



Her's a cut-away of what it will look like. 2x4 Construction with 3/4" plywood, and then PVC composite.



Sump Plan:
The sump is a 20g long, sump/refugium combo. - both flowing towards the center return.
-Side View


-Top View



Comments/suggestions are welcome.
Updated info/pictures will be added along the way.

 

wow that looks awesome
i still don't understand how you guys make such detailed pictures in sketch-up

 

thanks. Well I've known this program for a few years now, so I think I've had plenty of time to learn it.

 

Here's the thread link to my stocking list.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/tropical-fish/55g-stocking-list-88691-2.html

 

Does this sump plan look too complicated? I didn't think so at first but the more I look at it, It seems like it would be a difficult build.. It has 1.5" baffles, but that's a lot of glass. Hopefully it will eliminate the microbubbles I've planned for one overflow on each end and return pump in the middle. I have not yet got the materials, so idk about cost of glass either.:-[ I can get the 20g for $20 form my LFS.

 

Nice sketches, but I did have one concern. For you stand, I would at least have the top two pieces of wood sit on top of the uprights, verses sitting on that "shelf." It will be much stronger IMO and less of a chance something will happen.

 

Thanks. I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. But here's my recently updated design for the stand. It's a lot more built-up.

(tech. difficulties lol I'll upload pic asap)

I lowered the opacity so you could get a better idea of the setup.

 

Here's the new design for the frame.

 

Oh I see what you mean, at the leg and top-of-frame joint. I Actually have this same frame design now on my 29g but with less bracing. That shouldn't be a problem. The 2 top, side bracing rests on that "shelf" of a 2x4. The 2x4 is screwed to the weight-bearing upright leg brace. This will pull the tank's weight,resting on the uprights, inward, holding them(the legs/uprights) together on the legs, keeping weight balanced toward the center. rather than directly on the uprights.

 

Here's my equipment list.

MY SHOPPING CART - Foster & Smith Aquatics

Aquarium Systems Synthetic Sea Salt Instant Ocean 50 gallon mix
$15.99 x2 = $31.98

Carib-Sea Aragamax Sand 30 lbs
$15.99 x2 = $31.98

Eheim Hobby Pumps Model 1250
$94.99 x1 = $94.99

Hydor Koralia Evolution Pumps Evolution 1050
$41.19 x2 = $82.38

Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures 48" x 8" Saltwater; 216 watt
$211.99 x1 = $211.99

PhosBan Reactor 150
$43.99 x2 = $87.98

Power Center Single
$23.99 x2 = $27.98

Titanium Probe Grounding Probe
$14.39 x1 = $14.39

Titanium Tube Heaters 300W
$30.39 x2 = $60.78

UV sterilizers 9W Turbo-Twist UV
$101.98 x1 = $101.98

Versa-Tops 24"
$14.99 x2 = $29.98

Anything else I should need, aside from an RODI?

I'll also have 45 lb Fiji LR and 25 lb rubble LR from Live Aquaira. Those will be a total of $327, including shipping.

EDIT: I will get 30lb. base rock and use the 8lb lr iI have to seed it.