corner bow build thread

[creatureteacher]

I bought a used 38 gal corner bow and thought I would try a little custom build. I took some black acrylic, bent it over a home made template in my oven and built my filtration system so I didn't have to use a sump below the tank ( I used that space for a chiller). The system is very low tech with a skimmer, two alternating powerheads and an overflow chamber for mechanical and chemical filtration. The lights are one 65w 50/50 and 96 leds.

 

[creatureteacher]

I built the stand using the old pressboard stand as a template (modified) and the cover...I just winged it.

 

[MofoCorals]

Great work.

 

[JayM]

nice, but I wouldn't call it 'low tech', especially with 96 LED's

 

[Turbosnail]

Looks great!

 

[Bruno]

Nce job!!!!!

 

[s_kelley]

Wow nice DIY, love how your cabinet matches everything else in the room.
So there is no sump right just the overflow chamber where the skimmer is?

 

[newenglandreef]

what temp did you heat it to and for how long? Great job!

 

[creatureteacher]

Yes, the overflow has a chamber in it for media and then flows into an area with 2 powerheads, a heater and the skimmer. I also have the intake and outflow for the chiller in there. I don't have any rock in it yet, but the flow seems really good.

Wow nice DIY, love how your cabinet matches everything else in the room.
So there is no sump right just the overflow chamber where the skimmer is?

 

[creatureteacher]

I experimented a bit with smaller pieces but settled on 200 degrees. It doesn't take long (abot 6-7 minutes) and I would advise you watch it to make sure you don't ruin it. I tried it on broil for one of my experiments and it bubbled the acrylic. The template is important too. If it has any imperfections like ridges, etc. the acrylic will pick it up.

what temp did you heat it to and for how long? Great job!

 

[creatureteacher]

here's a couple of pics of the tank 4 weeks after I added rock. It is cycling fine and I am now getting some macroalgae growth. Now for the CUC.

 

[frank180reef]

impressive

 

[creatureteacher]

update on corner bow build

Here's a couple of pics of my 36 gal corner bow about 4 months after I started it. Things are doing well and I've seen some growth on some of the SPS corals. Waiting till after Christmas before adding any more SPS. Any suggestions for some other colorful but hardy corals?

 

[SteveDola]

acans, candy canes, hammers/frogspwn can all be very colorful and hardy. I think a nice lobo/trachephila (open brain) coral would look very nice on the sandbed near where that yellow fish is.

good lookin tank bTW