Burrito's 5.5g Rimless AIO build!

burrito · 03/08/2009, 12:27 AM

so after having a nanocube and a 2.5g a few years ago in college, i am back to start a new tank.(both the others were sold after various dorm room move hassles)
RIP

so with the inspiration of others on the forum i have decided to do a 5.5g rimless AIO. i've never done a DIY project before but i figured what the hell.

ill be documenting this with as many pictures as possible, and im sure ill ask the advice of many of you all in the process.

Hardware

5.5g tank from petco $15
18' nova extreme 2x18 $49
Theo heater 50w $15
Maxi-jet 600 $18
API test kit $18
Coralife thermometer $6
Acrylic sheets(Home depot) $4
aquarium sealer $5

oopss safety first kids!

all cleaned up

cutting the false wall

burrito · 03/08/2009, 12:27 AM

photo limit

spray paint(kyrlon fusion)

i suck at silicone i have a lot of clean up when it dries

ok. 1 HUGE!!!!! oversight was i forgot to drill the hole for the PH. any ideas how i can go about making a hole with the false wall in place already?

can i water test it tomorrow? or is it too early.

davenia7 · 03/08/2009, 12:36 AM

dude... im more worried about ur finger removal attempt and now ur talking about power tools?

burrito · 03/08/2009, 12:39 AM

haha its all good, my fingers fine. i rock climb on a regular so my hands are used to bleeding alot.

but about that hole... or lack there of.

AVALover5498 · 03/08/2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by davenia7
dude... im more worried about ur finger removal attempt and now ur talking about power tools?

Haha, I was thinking the same thing.

But seriously, if the new tank looks anything like your old tank it's gonna be sick!

-Chris-

twizzlerman77 · 03/08/2009, 03:29 AM

dremel should help with the hole cutting.

1DeR9_3Hy · 03/08/2009, 12:57 PM

I did that on accident when i did a 5.5 (forgot the hole for the ph).

I heated up a metal object that was large enough and near the size of a round metal file (the tapered ones work best for this), then slid the file in and got to work. The benefit to this is you get a perfectly round hole and if you go slow you can get a hole that will be just the right size.

burrito · 03/08/2009, 02:25 PM

so i heated up a 3/8th drill bit and made a nice hole that way, then filed with sand paper untill the hole was just big enough for the maxijet. if there is any water leak with the maxijet hole should i silicone it or would that be shooting myself in the foot later on.

burrito · 03/08/2009, 04:36 PM

i still have to clean up a bit but its done

maddmaxx · 03/08/2009, 05:09 PM

looking good. i have the same light on top of a 5.5 foam build i did. you'll like the performance on it...

1DeR9_3Hy · 03/08/2009, 07:09 PM

If there is a small water leak around it dont worry. If you are losing a ton of flow then drain it, dry it, and silicone it.

burrito · 03/08/2009, 09:47 PM

ok so the PH hole is great and i did another water test with it on. its a MaxiJet 600. as you can see in the pictures below, the flow is too much for comfort, even after i added 2 more slits(with a hot knife at this point which ruined the look of the teeth but oh well)

so my question is, to bring the water level down about 1cm do i make the slits deeper(they come down about an inch right now)? wider? or will spliting the output hole with some locline into 2 heads reduce the flow enough to bring the water level down. like shown.

also do hardware stores carry locline?

so any ideas?

Sugar Magnolia · 03/09/2009, 09:19 AM

Yeah, that water level is a bit high. Use the dremel and lower those teeth another half inch. If you have a decent reef store around you may be able to find loc-line, otherwise it's going to be online. From all the 5.5 builds I"ve seen, most seem to have to split their return to reduce the flow. What if you used a MJ 400 instead? It would reduce the flow from 160 gph to 106 gph.

I've got a 5.5 and a sheet of acrylic waiting for warmer weather for my build. What dimensions did you make the back portion?

burrito · 03/09/2009, 12:02 PM

Would spliting the line be effective enough that I wouldn't have to cut the teeth more?

camero678 · 03/09/2009, 07:46 PM

what are you planning on keeping in there? (types of coral and any fish possibly)

2_zoa · 03/09/2009, 08:28 PM

Splitting the return will not do anything for the water level. The pump will still pump the same amount. You will have more control on where it goes.

You can make the notches wider if you don't want them any deeper to reduce the friction/pressure. That will lower the water level a little bit. If you look at the pic of the water flowing through the teeth. You can see how much more water is going through the one the is more wide then the others. Maybe you can break or cut out every other one to keep a clean look.

It should run more quiet as well. Less water splashing noise.

burrito · 03/10/2009, 11:49 AM

so i widen the slits and flow is perfect putting the water level about 1/2cm from the rim. it looks great. rocks and water go in tomorrow!

as far as stocking i think i will stock sps and zoas. my fish ideas is inverts and a yellow clown goby.

or inverts and a pistol/goby combo.(is the tank big enough for this combo)?

but cycle first.

camero678 · 03/10/2009, 05:59 PM

wat is your maintenance schedule going to be? How much water will you change? Will there be any other filtration.

2_zoa · 03/10/2009, 06:39 PM

Glad it worked out for you.

burrito · 03/10/2009, 10:11 PM

camero- i plan to do 1-2 gallon water changes a week. no other filtration. there will be some sponge right under the skimmer to get out debris though

jewcy240 · 03/10/2009, 10:23 PM

This is a little of topic but, how does the kyrlon fusion paint hold up in the long term? btw nice build.

burrito · 03/11/2009, 09:23 AM

and we have rock sand and water!!!!

requisite cloudy tank pics

[IMG]

water is just under the rim, im a little worried though about something getting caught in the skimmer... i may just snap a tooth or 2 off just to be safe.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/11/2009, 01:02 PM

Looks great!

FiSHy sAy HeY · 03/11/2009, 01:45 PM

looking good

BlAcK_PeRcUlA · 03/11/2009, 02:02 PM

That is awesome.
Bump and subscribe.

03/08/2009, 12:27 AM	#1
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	Burrito's 5.5g Rimless AIO build! so after having a nanocube and a 2.5g a few years ago in college, i am back to start a new tank.(both the others were sold after various dorm room move hassles) RIP so with the inspiration of others on the forum i have decided to do a 5.5g rimless AIO. i've never done a DIY project before but i figured what the hell. ill be documenting this with as many pictures as possible, and im sure ill ask the advice of many of you all in the process. Hardware 5.5g tank from petco $15 18' nova extreme 2x18 $49 Theo heater 50w $15 Maxi-jet 600 $18 API test kit $18 Coralife thermometer $6 Acrylic sheets(Home depot) $4 aquarium sealer $5 oopss safety first kids! all cleaned up cutting the false wall

03/08/2009, 12:36 AM	#3
davenia7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Goose Creek, SC Posts: 238	dude... im more worried about ur finger removal attempt and now ur talking about power tools? __________________ 5 gal. salt nano 20L salt nano 55 gal. malawi cichlid community

03/08/2009, 03:29 AM	#6
twizzlerman77 Short Bus Rider Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Union, Mo. Posts: 1,937	dremel should help with the hole cutting. __________________ !~-Bryan-~! ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> Current Tank Info: 29 gallon RR, 15 gallon sump, 175w mh, two 24" T5's.

03/08/2009, 12:57 PM	#7
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	I did that on accident when i did a 5.5 (forgot the hole for the ph). I heated up a metal object that was large enough and near the size of a round metal file (the tapered ones work best for this), then slid the file in and got to work. The benefit to this is you get a perfectly round hole and if you go slow you can get a hole that will be just the right size. __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

03/08/2009, 05:09 PM	#10
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	looking good. i have the same light on top of a 5.5 foam build i did. you'll like the performance on it... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

03/08/2009, 12:27 AM	#2
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	photo limit spray paint(kyrlon fusion) i suck at silicone i have a lot of clean up when it dries ok. 1 HUGE!!!!! oversight was i forgot to drill the hole for the PH. any ideas how i can go about making a hole with the false wall in place already? can i water test it tomorrow? or is it too early.

03/08/2009, 12:39 AM	#4
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	haha its all good, my fingers fine. i rock climb on a regular so my hands are used to bleeding alot. but about that hole... or lack there of.

03/08/2009, 02:25 PM	#8
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	so i heated up a 3/8th drill bit and made a nice hole that way, then filed with sand paper untill the hole was just big enough for the maxijet. if there is any water leak with the maxijet hole should i silicone it or would that be shooting myself in the foot later on.

03/08/2009, 04:36 PM	#9
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	i still have to clean up a bit but its done

03/08/2009, 07:09 PM	#11
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	If there is a small water leak around it dont worry. If you are losing a ton of flow then drain it, dry it, and silicone it. __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

03/08/2009, 09:47 PM	#12
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	ok so the PH hole is great and i did another water test with it on. its a MaxiJet 600. as you can see in the pictures below, the flow is too much for comfort, even after i added 2 more slits(with a hot knife at this point which ruined the look of the teeth but oh well) so my question is, to bring the water level down about 1cm do i make the slits deeper(they come down about an inch right now)? wider? or will spliting the output hole with some locline into 2 heads reduce the flow enough to bring the water level down. like shown. also do hardware stores carry locline? so any ideas?

03/09/2009, 09:19 AM	#13
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yeah, that water level is a bit high. Use the dremel and lower those teeth another half inch. If you have a decent reef store around you may be able to find loc-line, otherwise it's going to be online. From all the 5.5 builds I"ve seen, most seem to have to split their return to reduce the flow. What if you used a MJ 400 instead? It would reduce the flow from 160 gph to 106 gph. I've got a 5.5 and a sheet of acrylic waiting for warmer weather for my build. What dimensions did you make the back portion? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/09/2009, 12:02 PM	#14
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	Would spliting the line be effective enough that I wouldn't have to cut the teeth more?

03/09/2009, 07:46 PM	#15
camero678 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: laurel de Posts: 168	what are you planning on keeping in there? (types of coral and any fish possibly)

03/09/2009, 08:28 PM	#16
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	Splitting the return will not do anything for the water level. The pump will still pump the same amount. You will have more control on where it goes. You can make the notches wider if you don't want them any deeper to reduce the friction/pressure. That will lower the water level a little bit. If you look at the pic of the water flowing through the teeth. You can see how much more water is going through the one the is more wide then the others. Maybe you can break or cut out every other one to keep a clean look. It should run more quiet as well. Less water splashing noise.

03/10/2009, 11:49 AM	#17
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	so i widen the slits and flow is perfect putting the water level about 1/2cm from the rim. it looks great. rocks and water go in tomorrow! as far as stocking i think i will stock sps and zoas. my fish ideas is inverts and a yellow clown goby. or inverts and a pistol/goby combo.(is the tank big enough for this combo)? but cycle first.

03/10/2009, 05:59 PM	#18
camero678 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: laurel de Posts: 168	wat is your maintenance schedule going to be? How much water will you change? Will there be any other filtration.

03/10/2009, 06:39 PM	#19
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	Glad it worked out for you.

03/10/2009, 10:11 PM	#20
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	camero- i plan to do 1-2 gallon water changes a week. no other filtration. there will be some sponge right under the skimmer to get out debris though

03/10/2009, 10:23 PM	#21
jewcy240 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 126	This is a little of topic but, how does the kyrlon fusion paint hold up in the long term? btw nice build. __________________ Pm me if you got any questions. Current Tank Info: 24 gal jbj nano cube

03/11/2009, 09:23 AM	#22
burrito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 08876 Posts: 224	and we have rock sand and water!!!! requisite cloudy tank pics [IMG] water is just under the rim, im a little worried though about something getting caught in the skimmer... i may just snap a tooth or 2 off just to be safe.

03/11/2009, 01:02 PM	#23
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Looks great! __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/11/2009, 01:45 PM	#24
FiSHy sAy HeY Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 253	looking good

03/11/2009, 02:02 PM	#25
BlAcK_PeRcUlA Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: LA Posts: 2,483	That is awesome. Bump and subscribe.