Jeff's 3g Pico Build

[Jeff.mcphail]

Let me just start by saying that I purchased this tank a little over a year ago for 10 bucks. Yeah! The idea was to be a budget build tank for my office with bits and pieces I already had lying around. Well... the budget part kinda went out the window with the addition of a 70w viper hqi. So other than that it has been pretty cheep and easy build.

Here are a couple pics of the tank just after I drilled it to accept a 1" bulkhead that I am using for both the drain and return.

[strapingyunglad]

lookin good so far. keep us posted wene you get it set up som more k.

[EnderG60]

Well thats about the smallest tank Ive seen drilled for a sump!

[thedeper]

Will the Viper make you overheat on such a small tank? I am very curious on this build b/c my gf wants a very small tank for maybe a goby/pistol combo.

[Jeff.mcphail]

Originally Posted by strapingyunglad

lookin good so far. keep us posted wene you get it set up som more k.

I am actually further along than just the drilling of the tank. I am working on a sump now.

Originally Posted by EnderG60

Well thats about the smallest tank Ive seen drilled for a sump!

Originally Posted by thedeper

Will the Viper make you overheat on such a small tank? I am very curious on this build b/c my gf wants a very small tank for maybe a goby/pistol combo.

I'm working on a 20g long for a sump and refugium so the little extra water volume should help maintain the heat issue.

[thedeper]

Any planned livestock yet?

[blind1993]

that would be a pretty sweet dwarf seahorse tank.

[Jeff.mcphail]

I was thinking a pistol/goby pair but the tank is going to be topless and shallow tanks make for carpet surfers.

[Jeff.mcphail]

Originally Posted by blind1993

that would be a pretty sweet dwarf seahorse tank.

Tooling with that idea as well but not too sure.

[blind1993]

Originally Posted by Jeff.mcphail

Tooling with that idea as well but not too sure.

just do it, get some info on them and look for a pair or two.

[Jeff.mcphail]

Next up on the list was the drain and return. I wanted to make this look as clean as possible so I used a drain large enough to incorporate the return into it without restricting the flow back to the sump.

I started with standerd piece if 1" pvc and a small piece of flexible tubing to fit inside the pvc for the return.




I notched the end of the pvc with my long lost dremel. If you have ever seen my garage then you would know why it was lost.



Then I drilled out a hole on the side to accept a small pvc elbow.



I found the elbow in a box along with my dremel and some extra parts to an old rena canister filter. Just added some superglue to hold the snug fitting hose in place.



I am using a return nozzle leftover from my last nano cube.



All glued together now. Here is a top down shot.



And installed in the tank with the bulkhead.

[TriGa22]

I cannot see the pics that were just posted, is it just me?

[Jeff.mcphail]

No I was having a problem loading the page too. seems to be fixed now.

[JetChris]

looks sweet dude, you should paint the overflow blizack

[TriGa22]

I agree with chris, it looks awsome! If you paint it black even better.
Yes the pics are now working.

[Jeff.mcphail]

Originally Posted by chrisjet

looks sweet dude, you should paint the overflow blizack

Just a step or two ahead my friend.

[Jeff.mcphail]

[Jeff.mcphail]

I thought the tank should be black as well.



Here is a pic of the overflow/return in the bulkhead. I glued in a small piece of pvc and taperd the edge to help ease the installation of the drain hose. The return hose will run inside the entire lenght of the drain hose into the sump.

[Jeff.mcphail]

And a side shot.

[glxtrix]

Awesome idea with the overflow and return in one. Looking really clean...I like!