My 5.5g pico with built in refugium

Sandeep · 12/06/2007, 02:48 PM

Here is my 5.5 gallon standard tank that I modified to have a built-in refugium. I wanted a clean and uncluttered look in the main tank without intake valves, powerheads, heaters and wires all over the tank. A couple of pieces of plexiglass to create the partitions of the fuge and a piece painted black taped to the front of the tank to cover the refugium.

I placed a coral island in the middle of the tank for a zen like uncluttered look with plenty of clearance on all sides allowing me to keep the glass clean from all sides and get to any detritus material easily.

It was pretty easy to make the surface skimmer intake using a hot knife placed on a oven element for a few minutes. It easily melted the slots in the plexiglass. I drilled a hole on the other side for the maxi-jet 400 out which provides the perfect amount of circulation and current in the tank. The fit is snug and the maxi-jet can easily be removed for cleaning and slid back into the hole in the plexiglass. You also see a nice ultra tiny Finnex Titanium heater in the powerhead compartment. Love the Finnex, especially the temperature control unit which is outside the tank.

The divider between the two compartments does not extend all the way down allowing water to flow from one compartment to the other. Here is a diagram I came up with which should make pretty clear how this works and how to build it with the 2 pieces of plexiglass required.

The top of the tank is covered with a piece of glass to significantly cut down on evaporation and placed on top of that is a Current USA 12" Dual Satellite hood which has two 18W Power Compacts. Here is what my desk looks like with my 5.5g pico on the left (with front black plexiglass cover removed) and my 20g nano on the right.

Agu · 12/06/2007, 03:14 PM

Nice work

3fins · 12/06/2007, 05:39 PM

WOW! That is WICKED SWEET!!

Agu · 12/06/2007, 07:39 PM

I tried to restrain myself but I have to comment. How do you dare put those tanks on that table

?

If it was just water you'd have over 200 pounds on there so obviously there's more weight than that on that table, and it's not evenly distributed.

buttons buster · 12/06/2007, 07:59 PM

ya it looks a little flismy

Michael L. · 12/06/2007, 08:46 PM

I'm working on the exact same thing with a 10 gallon, except I painted the side black instead of plexiglassing it, and my tank will be designed to be viewed from the side instead of the front so it's more symetrical.

thrillreefer · 12/06/2007, 11:54 PM

Beautiful work, very sleek and clean. Striking contrasts and colors.

Come on guys, give him a little credit here. It looks like the table actually has wrought iron legs (if you look below it on the left side I think you can see some thin metal cross pieces (though it could be wires)).

Sandeep · 12/07/2007, 08:44 AM

Yeah the table looks flimsy but it's actually not. It's got 5 steel legs which help distribute the load effectively. (I was a structural engineer - design of building & bridges, in my previous career, so no worries).

Capt_Cully · 12/07/2007, 06:02 PM

How do you get anything done on your computer??? I'd just stare at those tanks. Nice Job!

thrillreefer · 12/08/2007, 01:22 AM

No kidding. No wonder he's only got 8 posts so far...

warr40 · 12/08/2007, 07:06 AM

WOW what a great looking tank...i wish my 10g looked like that

Husky_1 · 12/14/2007, 01:02 PM

Nice setup

AVALover5498 · 12/14/2007, 03:03 PM

Wow, I really like that 5.5, Very nice!

-Chris-

Sandeep · 01/07/2008, 11:53 AM

The crabs in my 5.5 gallon pico-reef tank including an emerald crab, two porcelain crabs and a hermit crab. Here are some photographs of them.

mokujin22 · 01/07/2008, 01:07 PM

Very well done! I love the simplicity of the design.

It's a nice inspiration.

mnml · 01/07/2008, 01:29 PM

ooh la la, me likey!

mathias999us · 01/08/2008, 10:57 AM

Wow, I'm SO going to duplicate that.

Nice job.

Sandeep · 02/09/2008, 02:30 AM

Some updated images of my pico-reef.

rear view of the coral island

some closeups

newest inhabitant a white spotted porcelain crab

and a updated picture of my desk, with my 5.5g pico-reef on the left and the 20g nano-reef on the right

danoreef · 02/09/2008, 06:20 AM

I have a 5 gallon tank laying around and I am itching to do a project. i am so happy to have stumbled upon your little DIY. It looks awesome and I am going to try to duplicate it. I don't know if I will Make any changes but I will post updates as I go.
Very nice little job.

vanmo92 · 02/09/2008, 10:39 AM

That is beautiful!

archifish · 02/09/2008, 02:06 PM

Simple and clear! good work

BradsOcean · 02/09/2008, 02:27 PM

I love how all the tanks are all perfect and spotless and nice, and then the bookshelves in the background are all cluttered and messy...lol...that is exactly how i am

aspinn · 02/09/2008, 03:09 PM

WOW amazing tank bud.... i love the nano =) you did a great job on it (i love the crabs especialy your newest!!!) well done bud!

it really is beautiful tank, whats your total stock list for that now? i can see you have ALOT of xenias, how often do you have to "Trim" them.... really nice job!

edit: and WEEEE!! 100 posts!!!

pnsnowboard · 02/09/2008, 07:26 PM

do you ever actually look at the computer

Brent F · 02/09/2008, 07:52 PM

Nicely done! Great job on the nano.

I too have a pair of nanos on my desk (16 gallon beside & Nanocube 6 above the monitor). I really like the setup because it is so easy to glance over at a tank.

12/06/2007, 02:48 PM	#1
Sandeep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 195	My 5.5g pico with built in refugium Here is my 5.5 gallon standard tank that I modified to have a built-in refugium. I wanted a clean and uncluttered look in the main tank without intake valves, powerheads, heaters and wires all over the tank. A couple of pieces of plexiglass to create the partitions of the fuge and a piece painted black taped to the front of the tank to cover the refugium. I placed a coral island in the middle of the tank for a zen like uncluttered look with plenty of clearance on all sides allowing me to keep the glass clean from all sides and get to any detritus material easily. It was pretty easy to make the surface skimmer intake using a hot knife placed on a oven element for a few minutes. It easily melted the slots in the plexiglass. I drilled a hole on the other side for the maxi-jet 400 out which provides the perfect amount of circulation and current in the tank. The fit is snug and the maxi-jet can easily be removed for cleaning and slid back into the hole in the plexiglass. You also see a nice ultra tiny Finnex Titanium heater in the powerhead compartment. Love the Finnex, especially the temperature control unit which is outside the tank. The divider between the two compartments does not extend all the way down allowing water to flow from one compartment to the other. Here is a diagram I came up with which should make pretty clear how this works and how to build it with the 2 pieces of plexiglass required. The top of the tank is covered with a piece of glass to significantly cut down on evaporation and placed on top of that is a Current USA 12" Dual Satellite hood which has two 18W Power Compacts. Here is what my desk looks like with my 5.5g pico on the left (with front black plexiglass cover removed) and my 20g nano on the right.

12/06/2007, 03:14 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Nice work __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

12/06/2007, 05:39 PM	#3
3fins Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 558	WOW! That is WICKED SWEET!! __________________ -James Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,but by the moments that take our breath away. ~Unknown ----->Danm My Spel Cheker<---------

12/06/2007, 07:39 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I tried to restrain myself but I have to comment. How do you dare put those tanks on that table ? If it was just water you'd have over 200 pounds on there so obviously there's more weight than that on that table, and it's not evenly distributed. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

12/07/2007, 08:44 AM	#8
Sandeep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 195	Yeah the table looks flimsy but it's actually not. It's got 5 steel legs which help distribute the load effectively. (I was a structural engineer - design of building & bridges, in my previous career, so no worries). __________________ 10g Reef Islands 50g mainly LPS reef

12/06/2007, 07:59 PM	#5
buttons buster Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,428	ya it looks a little flismy

12/06/2007, 08:46 PM	#6
Michael L. Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nanaimo B.C. Canada Posts: 80	I'm working on the exact same thing with a 10 gallon, except I painted the side black instead of plexiglassing it, and my tank will be designed to be viewed from the side instead of the front so it's more symetrical.

12/06/2007, 11:54 PM	#7
thrillreefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 308	Beautiful work, very sleek and clean. Striking contrasts and colors. Come on guys, give him a little credit here. It looks like the table actually has wrought iron legs (if you look below it on the left side I think you can see some thin metal cross pieces (though it could be wires)).

12/07/2007, 06:02 PM	#9
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	How do you get anything done on your computer??? I'd just stare at those tanks. Nice Job! __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

12/08/2007, 01:22 AM	#10
thrillreefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 308	No kidding. No wonder he's only got 8 posts so far...

12/08/2007, 07:06 AM	#11
warr40 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: long island Posts: 442	WOW what a great looking tank...i wish my 10g looked like that __________________ ---click my red house to see my 40 Breeder reef--- Current Tank Info: 10g reef and 40B reef(pending)

12/14/2007, 01:02 PM	#12
Husky_1 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South FL Posts: 1,541	Nice setup __________________ Out of the hobby, but thinking of rejoining Current Tank Info: 92 Reef, 10 Reef

12/14/2007, 03:03 PM	#13
AVALover5498 Zoa Freak Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sioux City, IA Posts: 752	Wow, I really like that 5.5, Very nice! -Chris-

01/07/2008, 11:53 AM	#14
Sandeep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 195	The crabs in my 5.5 gallon pico-reef tank including an emerald crab, two porcelain crabs and a hermit crab. Here are some photographs of them. __________________ 10g Reef Islands 50g mainly LPS reef

01/07/2008, 01:07 PM	#15
mokujin22 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 215	Very well done! I love the simplicity of the design. It's a nice inspiration. __________________ 26 gallon bowfront sps: 10 gal sump/fuge w/ MAG 5 return on SQWD, SEIO 820, 2 MJ900s and MJ600 on wavetimer, CPR HOB skimmer, Aquamedic 250W 15K MH, URI 18" VHO x2 Current Tank Info: 110 Afr Cichlid, 45 Planted, 26 Reef, 20L turtle, 29 Planted, 8 Biocube (in the works)

01/07/2008, 01:29 PM	#16
mnml Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ladera Ranch, CA Posts: 2,383	ooh la la, me likey! __________________ Tran Current Tank Info: Waterbox 130.4

01/08/2008, 10:57 AM	#17
mathias999us Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Forest Lake, MN Posts: 531	Wow, I'm SO going to duplicate that. Nice job. __________________ Mathias Current Tank Info: RSM250 + 28HQI plumbed to basement fish room with 2 100g stock tanks and 55g fuge

02/09/2008, 02:30 AM	#18
Sandeep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 195	Some updated images of my pico-reef. rear view of the coral island some closeups newest inhabitant a white spotted porcelain crab and a updated picture of my desk, with my 5.5g pico-reef on the left and the 20g nano-reef on the right __________________ 10g Reef Islands 50g mainly LPS reef

02/09/2008, 06:20 AM	#19
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	I have a 5 gallon tank laying around and I am itching to do a project. i am so happy to have stumbled upon your little DIY. It looks awesome and I am going to try to duplicate it. I don't know if I will Make any changes but I will post updates as I go. Very nice little job. __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!

02/09/2008, 10:39 AM	#20
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	That is beautiful! __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

02/09/2008, 02:06 PM	#21
archifish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 11	Simple and clear! good work

02/09/2008, 02:27 PM	#22
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	I love how all the tanks are all perfect and spotless and nice, and then the bookshelves in the background are all cluttered and messy...lol...that is exactly how i am __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

02/09/2008, 03:09 PM	#23
aspinn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Northern BC Posts: 154	WOW amazing tank bud.... i love the nano =) you did a great job on it (i love the crabs especialy your newest!!!) well done bud! it really is beautiful tank, whats your total stock list for that now? i can see you have ALOT of xenias, how often do you have to "Trim" them.... really nice job! edit: and WEEEE!! 100 posts!!!

02/09/2008, 07:26 PM	#24
pnsnowboard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: aurora CO Posts: 867	do you ever actually look at the computer

02/09/2008, 07:52 PM	#25
Brent F Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: . Posts: 947	Nicely done! Great job on the nano. I too have a pair of nanos on my desk (16 gallon beside & Nanocube 6 above the monitor). I really like the setup because it is so easy to glance over at a tank.