So after a few issues with the last 10gal I've decided to redo my 10gal.
Let me rephrase that, one issue, the stupid 1/4" crack between the foam wall and the aquarium caused by the zip tie cables (yes I siliconed it to the back wall). The hi fin I had in there decided it would be fun to hide back there, and I believe he got stuck, until he eventually found a way out, but wasn't eating at that point .

But, I will be redoing the tank. No foam wall, but a lot of DIY. The tank will be a different 10gal, and I won't just be transferring contents. I also am going to be using the same brand/model hood for the the other tank, but redoing it with 80mm fans installed slightly more professionally (vs. the 40s I'm running in the other hood now).

From what I understand you don't have to take standard 10 gal aquariums out of the budget, but this was a kit with my hood and filter, so I can deduct $10 from this?





Total:266 Remaining:84
Pics will come once I get everything in the mail and get everything set up. Should be a fun little setup when I'm done.

I sketched up a little stand. It'll be going on a dresser in my hallway, but a stand will be on top of that. ATO resovoir and all the wiring and elctronics crap will be hidden in this stand.
Here're the mock ups.
Front with tank:

Money shot: the back:

This should give me clearance to fill the ATO, but still give me roughly 2.3 gals for the ATO. This should be enough for a week or so. The stand will be stained, and trim will most likely be added. I'll also add a switch/button array to the side to control the fans, potentiometer for moonlights, ato kill switch for wc, and probably rewire a switch in for the lights. should be fun.

Cool idea!!

you only charge yourself $10

Just placed an order for some zoas to arrive sometime next week from tigahboy, and have my LR in a makeshift styrofoam aquarium with a 500gph pump and a light on top. Bought 8 lbs of it. Not the prettiest stuff, but it's got some coraline growth, and i'll play with layouts later.

Okay,
It's started:

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-15
Stand set up:

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-15
Half filled with water, and aquascaping stated.

By asting at 2009-11-15

Pistol Shrimp +3 hermits

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-15
Before you flame me, know that I took down my old 10 gal setup, washed out the tank, used a razor blade to clean the silicone off the back, and put new sand+lr in.
I had no other tank for the hermits (no crabs in my 29 kthx) and the pistol shrimp would get lost and it'd be impossible to get it out. The LR is cured as is the sand, and I used some seed water from my old system (+6 gals freshly made SW!), so I don't expect much of a cycle

nice start. i really like your stand, its nice and simple.

also if you dont mind me asking. how do you like your d40? im planning to move into dslr and was planning to get a nikon d40. was it worth every penny or would you have gone with something else.
thanks =)

Thanks.
It's hard to tell but the stand has a cheapo rattle can finish on it. It's shinier and a little darker in person. I tried to keep it simple because I no longer have a table saw, and did this all by hand with a skilsaw.

The D40 is a fantastic camera for the money. If I was spending the same amount of money (because the price hasn't dropped in the last year now that it's out of production) I would get the D40 again. I've also used a d70 for a year or two, and have extensive D300 use. The D40 is much better than the D70 (it is a newer camera). For aquarium use, fast lenses are good, and macros. I picked up a 55mm macro lens, completely manual, for like $40. The shots are only limited by the user then (although fish shots are a tad fast).

If the D40x/D60 is available for a tad more, I'd spring for that, because the ability to crop more would be nice (although it's censor size, not mp that truly matter).

If I had a few hundred more to spend I'd have goten the T1I by canon. The iso performance is fantastic, and the hd-video is something that seems more and more interesting to me. I have too many lenses and accessories to make the switch now, so the next midrange dslr by nikon will probably be my next upgrade.

Whatever you get, pick a beginner/midrange camera and then put more money into lenses you can use on later bodies. The camera bodies get outdated, a good lens doesn't.

good idea you have going on there. Looking forward on seeing what you'll do next

Where do you get a bucket of soy sauce that big? haha

^+1

i know what you mean it sucks not having tools. my previous stand i cut all the wood with a handsaw... not very fun or clean haha.

thanks for all the info on cameras. hopefully ill be getting one soon!

I think the lady that lived in my house had a restaurant or something. It was here when I moved in.

don't worry i didn't use it.


If you're going DSLR, and one of the major players, it's hard to go wrong.

Thanks, I plan on doing my ATo resovoir. The stupid float switches got caught in the mail, so I'll have to call usps and complain.

the cloudiness has settled a bit and here's the newest fts.


By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-15

I love how rough the bottom of my main piece of LR is. It provides tons of nooks and crannies.

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-15

Very nice.
Good Luck!

Well i figure a little update is due.
My tank is cycled. I'll be adding a turbo or two in the next week. I really want to wait it out and get my nano conchs in there, but they haven't reproduced yet (they're currently in my fuge of my 29).

Okay so new additions:
Zoas:
I got all of these from tigahboy, and I'm loving them so far. They look fantastic and have great colors. I have 10 small frags, some larger than others, and a few repeats. The idea was to move a couple to my 29, but I might grow them out in the 10
partially open:

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29




I got a pinkbar goby (so my shrimp could have a buddy). I added him wednesday, and just today i saw them running around together. It was a great sight. He's roughly 2", but is pretty inactive, and if size becomes too much of an issue i can move him to my 29 (but i don't plan on it). He is pretty funny, and I seen him poking out, and when i feed he'll dash out to grab mysis shrimp. Due to the tank location he freaks out everytime i walk past to go into my room. I figure i'll have a pretty brave fish by the end of the contest.

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29
Poking out in front!

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29

Relatively ftsish shot. Has some of the zoas in it.

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29

i also added a few pep shrimps to clear my tank of aiptasia (were a few pieces on my lr which i added unknowingly and they spread). They're clear now, and the shrimp might go as i caught them poking at zoas earlier.

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29
CREEPIN ON THE ZOAS

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29


And just for fun:
KING OF THE HILL

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-11-29


Well that's it for now. Sorry for the bad quality pics. I need to pick up a mini mag float, as the razor shiskabob cleaner isn't working as well as i'd like.

FTS coming when the aquascape shot is due.
Also, i updated pricing, but apparently we're using liveaquaria pricing. I'll find them on the site and reprice, as i'm sure i've overcharged myself (i'll link when i do so). I didn't think I'd spend so much so soon.
Well i updated a few pricing things.

Future plans:
Tanaka's pygmy wrasse, maybe a few acans, and a couple custom reflectors for my longer coralife bulbs (I'll add pics of the lighting setup when i redo it with the larger fans).


Final question:
I can get tanaka's pygmy wrasses locally for $40 from just about any LFS, however Liveaquaria only carries it at the diverden section, for a much steeper $70 usually. do i still charge myself the .75*70=52.5? Just seems steep, but i really want this fish for an active swimmer fish.

Great pics! I would really like to set up a pistol shrimp goby team tank, but one can only have so many tanks set up, right???

There's a limit?
My wallet has a limit, which is why I keep trying to figure cheaper ways of maintaining tanks.

I have a 30 FW planted tetra tank, a 10 gal Neon+betta tank,
my 29 marine, and now this 10.
I'm thinking about bringing out the 90 from storage

And I love the pistol goby pair. Maybe it's just this goby as compared to when I had the red hifin. This one will set right out front, lunge for food, and do other interesting things.

My 46g bowfront Tanganyikan Cichlid tank and new NC6 keep me busy enough....

need aquascape pic
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...p;#entry2550883

I'm so tempted to pick up a picotope for the under $40 shipped. So tempted...
The last thing i need is another tank.

Just for fun.
Wally and waldo:

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-12-03

I love them. I also love how my fish is at the front of the aquarium 4/5 times I walk up to it. I love him/her!

Aquascape shot:

By asting, shot with NIKON D40 at 2009-12-03
And where's waldo?

Fun stuff. I love these shrimp goby combos, I just setup a 18g tall with a Yasha Haze and Randall"s pistol, so sun to watch.

I like the algae outbreak! Sweet!

JK

Nice tank I like that Goby!

ha the algae is bad. I need to get some CuC
The diatoms aren't as bad as I've repositioned the knano. I figure 1-2 redlegged hermits and 2 turbos and I'll be set. I'll probably add in a week or so.

for the aquascape shots if you did'nt like the one you had PM me a new one

asting, your tank is awesome, love the new additions from the last time i have been on here.
I really love your zoas, especially the with the gr skirt and looks like orange ring.

5
FTS
and thanks redknee

I still have yet to add CuC
I'll add a few snails, but the diatoms are completely gone. Looking stable.

at least it's clearing up, and thats a good thing lol

yeah. I want to get a few hermits. The ones i have are scavengers. I need to get some mowers!
I do enjoy seeing the peps fighting over a piece of food, before it falls into the goby's hole where a mouth shoots out to gobble it up.
Good stuff.

oh i bet that is a funny thing to see, lol.

it's funny to see my 4 sexies do the same at feeding

Need A FTS today after the 16th of this month you will be DQ if no FTS is Posted on the main Thread
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=214206