So I ran into a few problems with the water test. Nothing too major, already coming up with some ways to fix it. The main problem is that when the tank is full, it bows outward pretty bad. The silicone split up by the upper part of the back wall.
Click to view attachment
My original idea was to make a cross brace. I cut notches in a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe to fit over the sides as a brace to see if it would help. Definitely helped the bowing a little but it still bowed out where the back wall is enough to where the silicone broke its seal. I might try to make a similar PVC brace right next to the wall to keep things together more...

Other than that, everything looked really good. There were no leaks in the silicone other than that and the flow and everything worked out perfect. Water levels were all on point and the overflow will work just fine.

As for the return, I'm just running a return hose to the middle of the tank under the sand. It will just have a single outlet behind some liverock or some such.

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

This last one shows the PVC brace going across the top...painted it black to at least somewhat blend in. Thinking maybe I can hang some LEDs from them and run the wires through the pipe. Unfortunately the pipe just isn't close enough to brace that joint well enough.

Looks neat.

Well I got the leak fixed after two more water tests. Even with a brace it still bowed out so I ended up just siliconing the crap out of it on the back side. Not the prettiest corner but I think it's about the only way I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not too worried if it leaks a few drops...just didn't want the waterfall coming through like before. Anyway, I have sand and some water in it now. Going to the lfs again this afternoon to get the rest of the water and a few more chunks of liverock. Picture update soon...

Unfortunately haven't had the time to take more pictures yet...but the tank is cycling. Got a few good chunks of live rock in there.

Should I be running my carbon while the tank is cycling or wait until afterwards?

I'll finally have a day off tomorrow that I can work on it a little more and get some pictures taken.

I don't think it really matters that much aboout the carbon. I "believe" I ran my without during the cyle but I could be wrong. I know I started my protein skimmer about midway through the cycle as well.

Did you sovle your lighting issue? B/c I found an LED light on ebay that might work perfectly for you.

i'd be scared of a coffee table's worth of saltwater all over my living room floor.

So far, it doesn't look like I'm going to have to have a light...at least not right away. The sun shines in two windows on either side of the tv onto the tank. I did find a cool LED light on ebay...might be the same one you were talking about. It's an 8" square or something like that with a ton of LEDs and it's only like 3/4 of an inch thick or so. probably wind up working perfect if I can find a way to stick it to the glass so I don't shock everything inside. If that's not what you were looking at, let me know. Still open to any ideas.

I've seen the one you are talking about and that probably would be better than the one I had in mind:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-LED-LIGHT-TUB...3DLVI%26ps%3D54


I was actually thinking about using this one on my tank for a sunrise effect before my T5's came on. I was planning on attaching it to the T5 ficture I have above my tank; but I also thought that it might work on yours as well.

Any updates?

If you're still looking for ideas:

Would it look weird in this particular room if you did a pendant light, maybe a fancy lookin fixture? That may be an alternative to trying to stuff lighting in strange places.

Another alternative to your corner/side AIO idea (if your not already 100% committed to it) is to place a "tank" made out of plexi in the middle detached from all the walls. Throw chemi-pure and a DIY skimmer in there and you're set.

Or you could even build a box on one side to eliminate the bowing problem.

What I would do:

Turn it into a freshwater tank... sorry, but as far as maintenance goes this would be a PITA as a SW tank.

My Neolamprologus pulcher is by far he coolest fish I have. You may be able to get away with a couple of these and some Neolamprologus similis shell dwellers in your size tank.

Pulcher:


Similis:

Ok....so first of all, sorry for the lack of updates. Has been a very hectic month and am actually starting a new job tonight. Finally have had some time to snap a few pictures so here we go. Right now, tank is cycled and have about 20 lbs of live rock in there. Also have an Antennata Lionfish. So far everything is doing really well.
Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Get more pics up when you can!! Pretty sweet

Nice! Such a great idea!

Thanks guys! Yeah so far it's turning out even better than expected. There are a few minor problems that came about but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Overall I couldn't be happier though. It looks awesome in the middle of my living room.

I'd love to see a picture of the whole room with the tank!

Great build!

Ask and you shall receive...eventually. Also added a spiny box puffer. I know he'll outgrow the tank but he'll survive for now. Then he'll move up to the big tank. Got some time to figure it out. Happiest little fish I have ever bought I think.
Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Sorry about the quality everyone...someday I will get a real camera instead of just my crackberry

I love your cat stalking the lion fish

Yeah, he tends to do that. stalks all of the fish in both tanks. I put up little plastic pieces to keep his paws out just because I don't know how much damage a lionfish would do to a cat. Speaking of the lionfish, I haven't been able to get him to eat since I got him about a week ago. I've been trying the frozen krill that my puffer has been tearing apart but the lionfish just doesn't seem interested in. I didn't really want to get him used to eating silversides because I don't want him to eat every fish I put in there. Any ideas? Is he still adapting?

Sick man, just sick.... cant wait to see where this tank goes!!!! already looks amazing

Anyone have anymore suggestions for the tank? Not really sure what else I can really have in there...but I'll take any ideas. My only other goal is to get some chaeto or something for the fuge I built into it.

i say do a DIY led panel just so you can keep corals in the middle... build a box put the LED array in it. and then put something on top of it...

I think I'm just going to keep this as a fish only. Keep my other tank for the corals as I don't have a lot of free time anymore. My only issue with the tank is that my lionfish still isn't eating the frozen krill. I didn't really want to try silversides as I didn't want to get him used to eating fish...but it's been quite awhile that I've had him and has no interest what so ever in any of the food that I have. Any suggestions?

Sorry if this has been addressed before, but there are some LED panels on ebay that are pretty cheap and look great over a tank. I've seen them lighting a few people's fuges and they do a good job. There are white and blue mixes and just plain white ones. You could do what was suggested above and put a nice little center piece above the LEDs and you'll have your light hidden.

Very bad ass tank BTW...or table...what ever you want to call it.

Really cool tank!

you better feed him something dude...

I found this information on the Lionfish info sheet Reefkeeping.com






Nutrition

The biggest challenge faced by a lionfish owner is providing a proper nutritious diet. Of all the problems I see with lionfish, improper nutrition and its results are the predominant health issue for captive lionfish. In the wild, lionfish eat smaller fish and invertebrates. Unfortunately, in the home aquarium lionfish will readily accept live wiggling feeder fish like feeder goldfish or rosy red minnows. The reason this is a problem is that only freshwater feeder fish are available to hobbyists and they do not provide the proper nutrition. In fact, a lionfish fed exclusively with goldfish will frequently die prematurely due to a number of feeder fish-associated problems. A study by Toonen et al (Toonen, 2000) demonstrated that freshwater feeder fish of the carp family (like goldfish, rosy reds, etc.) are very high in fats and lack all the marine based highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) required for proper health of marine fish. Of all the freshwater feeding choices available to the hobbyist, ghost shrimp are the best of what's available. Ghost shrimp can be enriched in marine-based HUFAs by being fed any marine flake food or marine plant material, and I have not found a lionfish yet that will ignore a ghost shrimp. The best way to ensure a lionfish remains in proper health is to feed it a varied diet of fresh and frozen seafoods. With that said, I would recommend to anyone keeping a lionfish to establish the fish in the aquarium by temporarily using freshwater feeders such as ghost shrimp, guppies, mollies, rosy red minnows, and goldfish for 2 weeks up to 1 month maximum. After this establishment period, the lionfish must be weaned off these feeders and onto marine-based prepared foods.

However, this is where another problem begins. Most lionfish require their food to "look" alive for them to eat it, and this wiggling motion by potential prey items triggers their innate feeding response. One of the better methods to wean lionfish onto prepared foods is to starve the fish for 3 or 4 days, then introduce a small intact lancefish or "silverside" (this is a saltwater minnow packaged in 25, 50, or 100 packs and commonly available at most local fish stores). I find it best to impale this silverside onto a clear acrylic rod (the feeding stick) and "wiggle" it away from, but in full view of the lionfish [Figure 17]. The key point is that you have to convince the lionfish that this dead food is actually alive. Some people impale the silverside on a chopstick, or use their fingers (I do not recommend this method) and wiggle it. Once weaned onto prepared foods, I recommend rotating through many marine based foods, such as chopped gulf shrimp (with their shell on), lobster tail, crabmeat, strips/chunks of marine fish (available at the grocery store), and chunks of squid and octopus. I also recommend supplementing these foods by adding a few drops of a vitamin (such as Zoe™ or VitaChem™), and marine HUFA boosters like Selcon™ or Zoecon™.

It may take time to encourage a lionfish to eat non-living foods, but this weaning process is the most critical key to success in lionfish husbandry. In my experience a "hungry lionfish is a brave lionfish," and the use of starvation prior to offering prepared foods is often a key to success. If feeding live foods is desired, grass shrimp (harvested from saltwater), fiddler crabs, small shrimp or saltwater harvested minnows are good choices. Additionally, it is usually easier to get a younger lionfish to switch over to non-living foods than an older animal.


I think wiggling dead things sounds like a good idea. And fun!!! Good Luck and Best wishes.

wow, that is by far the most information I've been able to find about the situation. I was actually already planning on picking up some silversides tomorrow when the fish store opens. Might have to pick up some live shrimp or something if I have to. They have peppermint shrimp there for like 1.99....don't really want to pay that much but if it gets him to eat...I dunno. I just feel bad. I'll figure something out though, I really don't want to lose him or have to take him back to the store. You guys have all been amazing though, thank you so much!

If you go the live shrimp route, and have a small spare tank, you could consider freshwater cherry shrimp. I've got a 5 gallon planted tank with only those guys in there, and they breed like rabbits! They are herbivores, but sure you could feed them some marine algae (it's what I give them when the tank is low on algae). I started with 5 a few months back, and now there are dozens of babies with no real effort on my part other than WCs and a tiny section of green algae sheets once every week or so.

I actually like that idea. But as the one post said, anything freshwater isn't giving them the nutrients they need to survive long term. I do have a spare 10g setup from when I had a goldfish years back...I'll have to see what tomorrow brings with going to the lfs

So I threw in half of a silverside today and the lionfish devoured it before I could even try to make it look like it was still alive. Didn't really want to get him started on fish but it's only going to be him and the puffer so I think I'll be ok.

I think you could mount that ebay led light pannel under the glass with some silicone if there is some space between the water line and table top.

I thought about that too but then I have something permanently attached to the removable glass...plus there's not enough space between the glass and waterline for me to be comfortable with. Right now I just have an old fluorescent from a goldfish tank sitting on top. Not working out too bad, don't mind something sitting there either. I might just try to get one of the LED light panels to put on top and make a cool centerpiece out of it.

Don't get on here much... so didn't see this sooner...

I have thought about this kind of system as a reef tank for years... glad to see someone is able to give it a try.

My orginal idea for a setup like this was to have a center overflow box that would have the chambers in it. Reason being the bowing problem and the ability have lighting for it different then the display. By creating a sump area that is black plexi it wouldn't get lighting from the display and could have a "center piece" on the table for the lighting of the fuge during night hours.

The display would have an LED home made fixture mounted under the table (because they can last much longer and you don't want to change lighting under the table much). The main display lighting would be a custom made "ring" attached to the tank but under the table top. The thought is it could act as a brace and handle lighting for the tank on a 360 degree basis from the top sides of the tank... pointing all the lighting into the tank, while creating a glow for the table top.

Just a few idea of what I have thought about over the years... I friend of mine had one of these as a Koi tank in her living room for years... I try to get her to pass it on to me, but it started to leak after a few years of moving from house to house.

Rays FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you know what would look really cool with this?? a long rectangular like flower pot with a 1" gap with 3w crees on the bottom.. maybe like 24 leds ?? think that would be a pretty cool way to light it up..

also wouldnt you have to clean the top alot??

Surprisingly enough I don't have to clean it that often. It will get a little bit of condensation under where the return pump comes out but that's about it. I have a pretty decent amount of surface movement so it's hard to look through the top of the tank anyway...

hmmm that was the only doubt i had with it... what about salt creep??

That's the weirdest thing...even from what little moisture builds up on the glass...I've never had a problem with salt creep. I don't really understand why...maybe because I don't have a high temperature light evaporating things as quickly? The top of the glass needs cleaning more than the bottom...just because it's a usual breakfast spot for us.

odd... i would figure it would be a pain to have a glass top like that.. maybe it's cause it's so high above the water... but maybe your right about the lighting deal... cause if it does evaporate it's going to suck to have to clean that weekly..

dude what kind of board is that?? looks like a mid 60's Hobie fin on the back

Close....it's a 1961 Holden. 9'8". Still working on trying to find someone to professionally restore it, it's a little tore up in a few places...but it was in Bill Holden's personal collection, bought it from his son after he died a few years back

Dunno if you're all set on lighting.. just seen these.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=21598

HERO.

wonder how bright these are...

bright! here's a thread with some pitchers
http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/kees...aquarium-2.html

So as much as I enjoyed setting up this tank, I unfortunately am going to break it down. I got a little over excited about it and realized I barely had enough money to keep my reef tank going, let alone start up a new tank. So all of the rock is going into my 55 reef and sand and fish are going to the lfs. I might have a friend that will take the tank, not sure what he is planning for it. Also just don't have room in my small apartment. We are rearranging a few things and it's hard to have 2 tanks in a 600sq ft apartment...Thank you all for all of the insight, I definitely have learned a lot from the process.

If anyone lives in the St Petersburg, Tampa Bay area and is interested in the tank, feel free to bargain with me, I will probably let it go for a pretty good price. I will be tempted to deliver a short distance but will not ship. Right now it still has water and sand in it. I will probably be keeping the pump as well.

GREAT TANK! If noone seen this thread!!! im picking it up this today or sometime this weekend and i got so many ideas that i cant stop smiling! Props to lnglostsurfer! Great WORK! And i was reading about your post in september. And i was the one who bought the fu man chu if it was at pets + hahaha