schg's Ultum Nature Systems 45u nano

[Schg]

schg's Ultum Nature Systems 45u

 

Current full tank shot:

 

New items, still lots of empty rock!

08/22/2022

 

Current Equipment setup:

 

• Tank
  • Ultum Nature Systems 45u 9 gallon frameless aquarium (07/10/2022)
• Lighting
  • AquaIllumination Prime HD (05/20/2022)
  • Luxdium LUX Engine Gold puck upgrade (07/29/2022)
  • Aquatic Life 4 bulb Hybrid T5 fixture (08/26/2022)
  • ATI bulbs - 2x Blue+, 1x Coral+, 1x True Actinic (08/26/2022)
• Heater
  • hygger 100w mini aquarium heater (07/02/2022)
• Flow
  • AQQA 800 wavemaker pump with VIV glass lily pipes (07/02/2022)
  • VIV glass overflow (07/24/2022)
• Filtration
  • Fiji Cube Fiji-12 sump (07/02/2022)
  • Vivosun 800GPH return pump (07/05/2022)
• Auto top off
  • Magtool optical sensor ATO (05/25/2022)
• Control
  • Reef Octopus FW110 high amp float switch (07/31/2022)
• Live rock
  • 10lbs of Carib Sea Life Rock Base (05/17/2022)
• Live sand
  • 15lbs of Carib Sea aragonite sand (05/17/2022)

 

Filtration, feeding, and maintenance:

• Chemi-Pure Blue Nano (replaced every 2 months?)
• Mixed density filter pad (replaced weekly)
• 100 Micron polishing pad (replaced weekly)
• 4 gallon water change with Brightwell Aquatics NeoMarine salt (completed weekly)
• 4ml Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ (dosed daily)
• 1/8 teaspoon Reef Roids (weekly)
• Bulk Reef Supply 6 Stage 75GPD RO/DI system (currently reading 0 TDS)

 

Soft Coral:

• Green Ricordia (06/13/2022)
• Green Kenya Tree (07/14/2022)
• Pulsing Xenia (07/14/2022)
• Green Star Polyps (06/23/2022)
• Jawbreaker Mushroom (06/24/2022)
• Neon Green Star Polyps (06/28/2022)

 

Zoas and Palys:

• Oxide (06/12/2022)
• King Midas (06/12/2022)
• Incredible Hulk (06/12/2022)
• Punk Rocker (06/12/2022)
• Nuclear Green (06/23/2022)
• Unknown blue and green zoas (07/26/2022)
• Unknown red and green zoas (06/23/2022)
• Purple Heart (06/28/2022)
• Pandora (06/28/2022)
• Radioactive Dragon Eye (06/28/2022)
• Bloodsucker (06/28/2022)
• Utter Peace  (06/28/2022)
• Buttmuncher (06/28/2022)
• Utter Chaos (08/03/2022)
• Black Lotus (08/03/2022)
• Rasta (08/10/2022)
• Crown Royal (08/10/2022)
• Red Hornet (08/10/2022)
• Mohawk (08/10/2022)
• Vamps in Drag (08/20/2022)
• Sunny D (08/27/2022)
• Purple Death (08/27/2022)
• Captain America (08/27/2022)
• Ring of Fire (08/27/2022)
• CB Punk Rocker (08/27/2022)
• White Zombie (08/27/2022)
• Pink Diamond (pending)

 

• Rainbow Incinerator (wanted)
• Galaxy People Eater or Gaia (wanted)
• Sopranos (wanted)
• Purple People Eater (wanted)
• Wobbegong (wanted)
• Lunar Eclipse or Stiggy Marley (wanted)
• Hallucination (wanted)
• Leprochaun (wanted)
• Fruit Loops (wanted)
• Ultimate Chaos (wanted)
• Spiderman (wanted)
• Pikachu (wanted)
• Charmander (wanted)
• Hungry Eyes (wanted)
• Little Shop of Horrors (wanted)
• Fallen Icarus (wanted)
• Blue Hornet (wanted)
• Double Trouble (wanted)
• Foxy Loxy (wanted)
• Gatorade (wanted)
• Mauna Loa (wanted)
• Murder Hornet (wanted)
• Snozberry (wanted)
• Tremor (wanted)
• Gobstopper (wanted)
• Exosphere (wanted)
• Halle Berry (wanted)
• Frankies Acid Trip (wanted)

 

LPS:

• Mummy Eye Chalice (06/23/2022)
• Duncan (07/30/2022)
• Blue and Red Acan (08/03/2022)
• Dragon Soul Torch (08/20/2022)
• Bright Neon Green Torch (08/20/2022)
• Red-Orange and Green Blasto (08/20/2022)
   

SPS:

• Red Monti (06/13/2022)
• Unknown dark purple Acro (07/26/2022)
• Rainbow Monti? (06/23/2022)
• Forest Fire Digi (06/23/2022)
• Green Birdsnest (06/30/2022)
• JF Slow Burn Monti (06/30/2022)
• Jedi Mind Tricks Monti (08/20/2022)
• Oregon Blue Tort (08/20/2022)

 

Fish:

• Sharknose Goby (07/26/2022)
• Springers Damsel (07/31/2022)
• Hi-fin Red Banded Goby (08/06/2022)

 

• Green Banded Goby (maybe?)
• Tailspot Blenny (maybe?)
• Red Headed Goby (maybe?)
• Barred Tiger Blenny (maybe?)

 

Invertebrates:

• Astraea Snails (06/08/2022)
• Nassarius Snails (06/08/2022)
• Blue Legged Hermit Crabs (06/08/2022)
• Green Mithrax Crab (06/08/2022)
• Nano Conch Snails (06/19/2022)
• Rock Flower Anemone (06/19/2022)
• Halloween Hermit Crab (07/30/2022)
• Fuzzy Chiton (08/02/2022)
• Bumble Bee Snails (08/02/2022)
• Cortez Cerith Snails (08/02/2022)
• Dwarf Cerith Snails (08/02/2022)
• Dwarf Planaxis Snails (08/02/2022)
• Dwarf Trochus Snails (08/02/2022)
• East African Cerith Snails (08/02/2022)
• Limpets (08/02/2022)
• Money Cowries (08/02/2022)
• Nerite Snails (08/02/2022)
• Virgin Nerite Snails (08/02/2022)
• Pom-Pom Crab (08/02/2022)
• Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp (08/02/2022)
• Porcelain Anemone Crab (08/02/2022)
• Mini Carpet Anemone (08/20/2022)

 

• Sexy Anemone Shrimp (pending)
• Crinoid Squat Lobster (wanted)
• Acro Crab (wanted)
• Porcelain Crab (wanted)

 

Build Introduction:

I had started a thread on the current version of this tank, which started life as a 3 gallon cube before I decided a 6 gallon cube was better, but things are now shifting over to a 9 gallon Ultum Nature Systems 45u 9 gallon. The idea that inspired this change was to attempt to create an entirely clean setup, featuring only glass and inhabitants, but the cube was not an ideal shape to make this work how I wanted.

 

The current setup (a bit messy):

 

 

As you can see, I currently have glass lily pipes for my inflow and outflow to the canister filter I am using, which also connects to a pre-filter and in-line heater. This did not allow me to hide my auto top off, and I still needed more flow so a powerhead also had to be visible in the tank itself. I found a steal on a small sump from @marylynn7 and ended up picking that up, also purchasing a VIV glass overflow online, and ordered the UNS 45u. The idea is to have the glass overflow run to the sump and back, and then set up a closed loop using a separate pump and glass lily pipes, keeping all equipment inside the tank glass only.

 

 

My currrent setup won't fit the sump, so I snagged a small cabinet off Facebook marketplace, and will be refinishing it / prepping it for plumbing this weekend. The tank, plumbing, and glasswork should all be here within the next two weeks, so hopefully things will transition over soon.

 

Crappy photo of the current inhabitants:

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by Schg

[howaboutme]

Nice to see another UNS tank! They are very awesome. I guess you won't need my screen top? Do I see 75 in the future? 

[Schg]

46 minutes ago, howaboutme said:

Nice to see another UNS tank! They are very awesome. I guess you won't need my screen top? Do I see 75 in the future? 

 

Hah, I still plan on going with a second tank in the nearish future... I want to attempt to do a second entirely invisible build, like I did with an ADA 30C way back in the day: https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/207627-schgs-ada-30c-reef/

 

I actually want to do either a UNS 75s or 90l with this same idea, so its possible I may want the top!

[AlanM]

Nice.  I keep kind of looking at the UNS tanks for a peninsula next to my desk. I'm an experienced tank driller at this point, but it will still be stressful.  I don't think I have the patience for lily pipes, but yours look really great.

[howaboutme]

17 hours ago, Schg said:

 

Hah, I still plan on going with a second tank in the nearish future... I want to attempt to do a second entirely invisible build, like I did with an ADA 30C way back in the day: https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/207627-schgs-ada-30c-reef/

 

I actually want to do either a UNS 75s or 90l with this same idea, so its possible I may want the top!

 

Nice! I think I've seen that tank. Very cool. Good luck w/ build.

 

50 minutes ago, AlanM said:

Nice.  I keep kind of looking at the UNS tanks for a peninsula next to my desk. I'm an experienced tank driller at this point, but it will still be stressful.  I don't think I have the patience for lily pipes, but yours look really great.

 

Drilling the UNS was stressful but it wasn't too bad at all. Do it!

[Schg]

2 hours ago, AlanM said:

Nice.  I keep kind of looking at the UNS tanks for a peninsula next to my desk. I'm an experienced tank driller at this point, but it will still be stressful.  I don't think I have the patience for lily pipes, but yours look really great.

 

Yeah, I honestly was pretty torn between drilling this one and doing the glass pipes, as I already have a 400GPH Fiji overflow I could use... but I think I'm going to try this out and see how things go, worst case I can always swap tanks back temporarily and drill it. It's not like I'm moving a lot of content around with only 6-9 gallons!

 

And you should do it, this will be my first one, but I have seen them in person and they look amazing.

 

1 hour ago, howaboutme said:

 

Nice! I think I've seen that tank. Very cool. Good luck w/ build.

 

Drilling the UNS was stressful but it wasn't too bad at all. Do it!

 

Thank you! I honestly have to saw that your tank inspired me to want the 75S, that aquascape is just great. It will probably be 6 months minimum before I start making moves on that next build.

[Schg]

It's here!

 

 

 

Ultum Nature Systems really makes a killer looking tank, I'm stoked to get things switched over to this. I need to finish up the stand ASAP, and hoping my glassware comes in soon.

[YHSublime]

I vote you drill it. Looking good, and like the addictions taken ahold again! 

[howaboutme]

Nice! Those mitred corners sold it to me. To be honest, because this tank is so small, I don't think I mind the lily pipe approach. Looking forward to seeing the progress, especially on maintenance. How do you keep algae out of those pipes?

[Schg]

3 hours ago, YHSublime said:

I vote you drill it. Looking good, and like the addictions taken ahold again! 

If I hadn’t already bought all the glass stuff, I probably would consider it. I at least want to try out this clear setup and see how it looks / does. 

 

3 hours ago, howaboutme said:

Nice! Those mitred corners sold it to me. To be honest, because this tank is so small, I don't think I mind the lily pipe approach. Looking forward to seeing the progress, especially on maintenance. How do you keep algae out of those pipes?

Yeah, I think if I had gone with a bigger one, I would likely want to drill it. This size should be perfect for what I’m going for. 
 

I’ve done it plenty in the past with planted tanks, it honestly isn’t super difficult to take off and clean once or twice a week. I am cleaning the pipes on my current set about that much. 

[Schg]

I'm going to work on the stand tonight, trying to get that finished so I can prep everything else for once the glass arrives. I was thinking about putting a channel along each side of the tank, wide enough to support up to the 1" tubing necessary for the overflow. This might seem like overkill, but it would give me the flexibility to add, subtract, move, etc, any of my tubing for this setup as I need to. All tubing is going to be on the sides, I don't want to mount anything directly on the back glass here.

 

 

I'd likely brace directly underneath the tank for some extra support, although I doubt it will need it. Thoughts?

[YHSublime]

I wouldn't brace, personally. I also would probably only route one side with holes, and at half of what you've mocked up (towards the back of the tank.) 

[Schg]

18 minutes ago, YHSublime said:

I wouldn't brace, personally. I also would probably only route one side with holes, and at half of what you've mocked up (towards the back of the tank.) 

 

Only problem with going that route is I really limit myself on flow locations. The idea behind this is to be able to move my lily pipes around to get optimal flow, that is assuming this closed loop wavemaker works with the lily pipes... it may not!

 

Edit: Another option I was thinking, just keeping the overflow in one spot (might move it to a corner instead of center):

 

Edited July 11, 2022 by Schg

[Schg]

Prepped the stand for paint, and just threw down a coat of primer. I can't guarantee any of this will be the best job, but if I care enough about the stand long term, I'll just make a new one that really meets my needs. This is just going to be a rattle can job on a cheap used piece of furniture at this point!

 

[YHSublime]

Still looks good. Those cutouts aren’t as aggressive as imagined. Looks functional!

[howaboutme]

Agreed! Nicely done and love the rustic-ness of the stand. It's a nice contrast to the sleekness of the UNS.

Edited July 16, 2022 by howaboutme

[Schg]

10 hours ago, YHSublime said:

Still looks good. Those cutouts aren’t as aggressive as imagined. Looks functional!

 

4 hours ago, howaboutme said:

Agreed! Nicely done and love the rustic-ness of the stand. It's a nice contrast to the sleekness of the UNS.

Yeah, I also ended up doing 3/4” for everything except the overflow hole itself, which is 1 1/2”, which I think looks better overall. The above design was also based off the stand I was going to build, which is slightly smaller than what I ended up getting. 
 

Agreed on the contrast! It looks pretty good painted as well, although I still need to finish that up (today if I can get to it after a birthday thing I’m going to). 

[Schg]

Picked up a cheap set of close up filters to see if I could photograph the coral a bit better, which did seem to help a tiny bit. I realize more than being able to get close up to the coral enough, I honestly just can't seem to get the colors on the AI Prime to my liking for photos.... I had this issue on the IM10 that I had way back, and was able to photograph WAY better on the NanoBox Reef that I had.

 

Honestly, I just kind of miss that light in general... I might try to sell my AI and buy one of them again, or trade or something. It is the light I was definitely the happiest with overall out of anything I've owned.

 

Anyway, the only two photos I got that were okay... I feel like my photography skills have just gone way downhill on reefs lol.

 

 

[Schg]

Getting ready to make the switch:

 

The stands paint is dry, inside and out (minus the doors, I am still working on those...), so I can technically move things over if I want to. I am torn between waiting on the glass plumbing to come in and testing everything or just moving it over now and continuing to use the canister filter for now, which I am more inclined to do. I picked up 10lbs of new sand last night, and will add a little bit of (rinsed) sand from the existing tank, along with some crushed coral for the future goby/pistol shrimp combo to utilize in their home.

 

Tank mostly set up, just waiting on a few more things.

 

I am still waiting on a bit of other plumbing pieces to make my life easier with the closed loop setup, as well as a new smart power strip to at least make it easier to turn things on and off as I need to (I don't have controller money right now). I'm itching to get this tank filled though, as I have things starting to grow to rocks that I don't think I will want them on when I have a different aquascape.

 

Next picture posted will probably be a filled tank!

[howaboutme]

Looks good! Is that the fijicube sump? looks like the one I have. Just be careful w/ the return section. It's tight, depending on the pump you use. My main issue was the line from the pump up to the bulkhead if you don't have your pump lined up perfectly (which is next to impossible). I used a flex tube to a fitting that I did not glue to the bulkhead. This way, i can unscrew from pump outlet, detach it, take out pump and then take the flex tube out. Otherwise, getting the pump out w/ the tube attached is nearly impossible, same for installing.

[Schg]

5 minutes ago, howaboutme said:

Looks good! Is that the fijicube sump? looks like the one I have. Just be careful w/ the return section. It's tight, depending on the pump you use. My main issue was the line from the pump up to the bulkhead if you don't have your pump lined up perfectly (which is next to impossible). I used a flex tube to a fitting that I did not glue to the bulkhead. This way, i can unscrew from pump outlet, detach it, take out pump and then take the flex tube out. Otherwise, getting the pump out w/ the tube attached is nearly impossible, same for installing.

 

It is! I appreciate the insight, I have a replacement bulkhead coming in this week for the return spot since I wanted a threaded one to use a barbed fitting that will connect vinyl tubing from my pump to the bulkhead. Hoping it works out fine, but we will see!

[YHSublime]

Looking good. 

 

I just got a smart strip this year, and by that I mean just a wifi connected one. It's perfect, and you can set timers on each outlet without having the bulkiness of the manual ones. 

[Schg]

On 7/19/2022 at 4:16 PM, YHSublime said:

Looking good. 

 

I just got a smart strip this year, and by that I mean just a wifi connected one. It's perfect, and you can set timers on each outlet without having the bulkiness of the manual ones. 

 

Yeah, you are actually what prompted me to buy one, it really just is so convenient. We also have a strange wall switch situation that basically nullifies a whole walls worth of outlets, so I will be switching our ceiling mounted light to this power strip and get those outlets back!

[Schg]

Glassware came in! I am super impressed with the quality of the VIV stuff, I hope it ends up working well once I fill it up. I need to heat up the tubing a bit to get it in a better position, but overall I think things look CLEAN as H-E-double hockey sticks! I am so stoked to transfer this over, but I need to buy some 3/4" tubing for the return line of the closed loop.

 

 

I know the outflow tubing for the closed loop is pretty darn long, but I wanted to get more flow so I opted for the 17mm version.

[howaboutme]

Looks great! Is that light stand conduit?