Setting up new nano reef, filtration questions.

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Lepisosteus platyrhincus

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Nov 9, 2008
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Setting up a new 17.1 gallon rimless for nano reef. Was looking at an ac70 with the overflow box mod. Cost wise this clocks in at 85 bucks roughly with 300 gph. 110 is 500 gph but holds nearly 2 gallons of water and hanging that on a rimless makes me nervous as hell. Plus the cost is the same as an ac70 with the overflow box. Ideally I'd prefer a 10 gallon sump but I'm not drilling this tank and HOB overflows look ugly and are uber sketchy. Trying to minimize in the tank items and reasonable cost as a single dad of 3 going through yet another divorce.

Tank will be mostly zoas, GSP and probably frogspawn, xenia.
 
Lepisosteus platyrhincus said:
Setting up a new 17.1 gallon rimless for nano reef. Was looking at an ac70 with the overflow box mod. Cost wise this clocks in at 85 bucks roughly with 300 gph. 110 is 500 gph but holds nearly 2 gallons of water and hanging that on a rimless makes me nervous as hell. Plus the cost is the same as an ac70 with the overflow box. Ideally I'd prefer a 10 gallon sump but I'm not drilling this tank and HOB overflows look ugly and are uber sketchy. Trying to minimize in the tank items and reasonable cost as a single dad of 3 going through yet another divorce.

Tank will be mostly zoas, GSP and probably frogspawn, xenia.
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Im gonna assume this is the aquamaxx 17.1 which is roughly 24x12x14 and made with 6mm glass. I think the 70 would be almost as risky as the 110 on this tank. The 110 is bigger but also wider so the weight is better distributed across the rim ime.

I like the hob option. What i would do is install some support under the hob, such as a wooden block or board you could affix to the stand and take the weight off of the filter body and tank panel. This could be something as minimal as a length of 2x6. Then you would be fine running even the 110.
 
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Its actually lifegard but it also uses 6mm glass. I thought about supporting it externally. Basically running through all kinds of ideas atm, trying to work on a budget and safely while providing a nice new tank. Ac70 holds like a gallon, so I feel a bit safer with 8 lbs than 16.
 
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Lepisosteus platyrhincus said:
Its actually lifegard but it also uses 6mm glass. I thought about supporting it externally. Basically running through all kinds of ideas atm, trying to work on a budget and safely while providing a nice new tank. Ac70 holds like a gallon, so I feel a bit safer with 8 lbs than 16.
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Gotcha. Ive seen some people rig up ac hobs with the sponge on bottom, then a layer of live rock and a small led light to create a built in fuge type of deal. Ive always thought if i did that i would trim the ac foam block down to about 1-2" so it would fit more live rock. Obviously it would make the thing even heavier.
 
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Considered an internal all in one style filter?
Company called fiji cube makes all in one inserts. I've got their 40 gallon version on a rimless seapora tank and I'm happy with it. Plus all your other odds and ends (ATO sensors, heater) are hidden inside the box.
I am not sure about the weight on that 6mm glass. I have the lifegard 14 gallon peninsula tank and while I think they are very nice tanks, the silicon job is super skimpy to keep it visually appealing. I don't think I'd hang a big AC on mine tbh.
 
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Gourami Swami said:
Considered an internal all in one style filter?
Company called fiji cube makes all in one inserts. I've got their 40 gallon version on a rimless seapora tank and I'm happy with it. Plus all your other odds and ends (ATO sensors, heater) are hidden inside the box.
I am not sure about the weight on that 6mm glass. I have the lifegard 14 gallon peninsula tank and while I think they are very nice tanks, the silicon job is super skimpy to keep it visually appealing. I don't think I'd hang a big AC on mine tbh.
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I had not heard of these but just looked at them. Will definitely be a solid contender, thanks. Definitely not gonna stick one on the end but possibly one may work in the center.
 
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That looks incredibly clean. Definitely a solid option. Sucks to lose some internal tank space but definitely safer than any other options that iv seen so far..
 
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Gourami Swami said:
I have mine in the center, you can see it in my thread here: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/40g-rimless-aio-reef.728103/
It was about an inch shorter than I wanted for my taller 40 gallon, so I put some rubber feet on the bottom to make it fit. May have to get a little creative depending on your tank's dimensions. I think they are a solid option though.
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Checking measurements, the 20 gallon version looks good except its 2 inches shorter than my tank. Still the front runner for sure but that is frustrating.
 
Lepisosteus platyrhincus said:
Checking measurements, the 20 gallon version looks good except its 2 inches shorter than my tank. Still the front runner for sure but that is frustrating.
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That was the same situation for me, I had to get some rubber legs meant for chair ends from the hardware store and silicon them to the bottom on 4 corners like little legs. Then the sand fills the space and covers it so you can't see it. Doesn't bother me personally but I agree would be better if it fit perfect, they are made for the standard sized aquariums and take into account the plastic rim on those tanks
 
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