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Casper's Low Tide Tank (20 gal long)


awcasper

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FTS 2/16/11

 

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START

 

Hey good folks, I don't get a chance to post here much, since I'm usually on my local forum and chopping it up with Kraylen on his, but I still have love for NR.

 

I started with a 29 gallon tank four years ago and have since switched to my 65 gallonTruvu, Casper's Land End Tank.

 

 

But a man cannot reef alone. He needs a good lady, education, some money to afford said lady and education. I've decided to downsize to a 20 gallon long. I want something I can clean in two minutes without getting my elbows wet. Everyone knows salty elbows are the number one cause of unsuccessful scratcher tickets.....

 

I have the intertidal mud flats of Singapore as my inspiration. I'm a sea grass, favia, zoanthid, and invert kind of nerd, and Singapore has the stuff to charge up my raging nerd fantasies.

 

Large colonies of favids dot the landscape.

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No rock wall here. Just sand and rubble.

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Zoanthids growing on a rock. Notice the seagrass growing in the sand.

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(Images ninja'ed from a Singapore nature blog)

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After jacking an unused 20 gallon long from my buddy, Adolfo, I began to scheme... er... dream up some ideas.

 

I found a nice overflow box at Will's place (Sustainable Reefs). He wasn't using it, either. A visit to Lowe's hardware store and a sloppy paint job later:

 

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I ordered a Reef-Smart LED fixture from Planet Aquaria. It's the 90 watt model, the lowest they had. It was rated for a nano tank. I'm making a nano tank. I didn't know this thing could light up my 65 gallon 36"x 18"x 20"). Color me impressed.

 

 

 

Ah, yes. Some more pics.

 

 

Blue light:

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White light:

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From the top:

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It looks alright?

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It makes my corals glow:

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The goniastreas look tight:

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Zoanthids sitting pretty:

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Sunny d's and candy apple reds:

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Pastel war and peace:

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And strawberry wines on the sand bed:

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  • 4 weeks later...

Finally got around to moving the tank. Kept the same stand and fuge, but switched the 60 gallon for a 20 long. Thanks to Jimmy from Neptune's for coming by and giving me a hand.

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Contents of the 60 in a 40. Thanks to Pat from Watsonville for the tank.

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It took me two days to get everything moved. The sand was sitting dry overnight, so I have to recycle it. That's what happens when you take a break to go watch Strikeforce.....

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Overflow

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Plumbing (still need to clean up the cables).

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DIY light shield. Staring directly at LED's is no fun.

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During the move, I lost one of my pistol shrimps. Very sad.....

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hey awcasper, this is staf0s from R2R. Got your PM with the picture. Crazy that they did that. Whats the word on them now?

 

Cool tank btw

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we'll figure something out if they dont make it. I dont like to see a trade gone sour. The magicians and pink n golds survived. They look great too.

 

When i get my upgrade setup ill make sure to buy some frags off of ya

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Captainb: Nice to meet you, man. The Bay has a bunch of reefers.

 

Jeremy: All good, bro. Good to know the zoas are doing well. We'll figure something out in the future.

 

aj: Super deep is how I roll, haha. I just need something that doesn't take some much time.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

So lazy to update, but here we go:

 

Got my zoa rocks transferred.

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Inverts ready for action: red legged hermit, porcelain crab, 2x bumblbee snails, nassarius, and blue legged hermit.

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Sexy duo.

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FTS

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Actinic Shots

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Building the mushroom garden.

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Video of Loc-line return.

 

Quick feed.

 

 

Shroom I got from my buddy, John Vu.

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Inspiration.

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Right side.

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Hydor Flo on a Maxijet 600 is too much flow for the left side.

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Purple Montipora Digitata from Neptune Aquatics.

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Green base, orange polyps Montipora digitata from Neptune Aquatics

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Inspiration:

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Black hi-fin goby:

 

 

FTS

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Best seat in the house.

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Side.

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Columbellid snails from corallineadam

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Lobophyllia from Neptune's. I call him Captain Planet.

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Snailvin checking out the new Rhodactis inchoata from Neptune's.

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New favias from Aquatic Collection in center. I can't believe I bought two of the same piece without knowing it....

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Updates: switched out the MJ 600 for a 400 to cut down on the moving sand. Had to take Captain Planet out. The only spot on my rocks is too much light for him.

 

 

Gobies:

 

 

FTS.

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Mushroom update.

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Zoa rock.

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Redid my light holder.

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Forget this, I'm going to bed.......

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I think it's looking really good so far! I would recommend making a screen top instead of the eggcrate. It looks much nicer and allows for more light transfer. Fairly easy to make!

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