Fluval Flex 32.5 Build - Drilled!

InstructorMoe · Dec 15, 2024

Hi everyone.

Just getting started on our Flex 32.5 build. This will have a couple of Bullet-hole clowns, maybe a nem, and probably a whole bunch of soft corals.

I picked up this used Fresh-water tank for a song. This is an upgrade project from our Fluval Evo 13.5 that we will be using as a sump/refugium now.

Today I have removed the rear chamber completely and drilled the rear wall for an Eshopps Eclipse overflow box.

Here is the video of me drilling the tank today......

link

Gumbies R Us · Dec 18, 2024

Congrats on getting it drilled!

InstructorMoe · Dec 22, 2024

Have the Eshopps eclipse mounted.

emkovar · Friday at 5:17 PM

Im looking at possibly getting a flex and was wondering what you were using as your sump. I was excited to see that the glass isn't tempered and that drilling was an option.

InstructorMoe · Saturday at 8:07 PM

emkovar said:
Im looking at possibly getting a flex and was wondering what you were using as your sump. I was excited to see that the glass isn't tempered and that drilling was an option.

Well, actually.... A Fluval Evo

InstructorMoe · 2025-01-05T00:01:54-0500

OK two posts in a row....

First.

I have a bit of an issue regarding the desk this is going to sit on. The tank is going to straddle two separate desks. and they are slightly uneven heights. So that's a no go for placing the tank directly on the desk surface. The bottom glass would surely crack.

So the solution I came up with is basically a 3 layer base to sit between the desk surface and the tank.

Bottom Layer: 1.5" T-STRUT extruded aluminium frame in a rectangular shape. I ordered these custom cut from a place in Montreal and they shipped them to me.

Middle layer: Sitting on top of the aluminium frame is a piece of 5/8" MDF and I have the ugly edges wrapped in black vinyl.

Top layer : The leveling matt that came with the Fluval tank in the box.

I will be shimming the edges of the aluminium frame to further prevent any flex in the frame, but I'm hoping there won't be any flex anyways.

ETA: Perhaps it would be wise to simply put a 1/4" shim the full length of both SIDES of the base and fully suspend it above the seam of the desk tops.

InstructorMoe · 2025-01-05T00:09:06-0500

Second....

I finally gathered the courage to drill the holes for the return bulk heads. I've been putting this off but I'm tired of having bad dreams about it