OK, so I ordered the custom 2.5 gallon tank and 2.5 gallon refugium from Paul at First Class Aquatics last week (he is really a great guy buy the way!)... so I'm cutting it close on the entrance time limit, but he said he'll have it to me on time... YAY! While I wait for it, I am preparing everything else:

Got the Hofer Gurgle Buster overflow standpipe put together and ready to put in.

Got the Reef Crystals to mix into DI/RO water (got that too).

Got my 2.5 gallon minibow sump... was gonna use it as the display, but I then realized it is made of very poor quality/scratchable plastic, and so it has been religated to the dark depths of the stand.

Got my Wetworx in-sump nano-skimmer built and running in a bucket with water change water from the bucket of uncured LR I got cooking (got to get it over that new-acrylic-skimmer phase, ya know).

Got some beautiful Indionesian LR cooking.

Got my CLS with SCWD built up (yeah, I know OMsquirts are better, but I had this around).

Got my plumbing figured out, and all the pieces and fittings ready to go. Not going to give away these secrets until I post the money shot.

Got the Iceprobe with controller... not planing on using a heater since there will be so much heat generated by pumps (Mag 2, MJ1200, and MJ400)

Got the 70w 14K MH regent setup forthe diplay, and the 27w CF 6500K setup for the refugium, and I've got a fan to cool the canopy.

Got my Nimble Nano magnet cleaner.

Got some cabinits from HD for stand and canopy... you'll see what I mean.

Got my little baby boy, just born on Sunday night, to bond with while I put it together.

Got the whole world in my hand.

Cheers,
Jared

Congrats on the baby boy!

Congrats on the new arrival... I was wondering when your entry would show up.

Ya, about time! I was beginning to worry.

Congratulations Jared! <lighting up a cigar>

Looking forward to seeing your setup!!

I got jelous of everyone else posting startup photos, so here are some pics of the stuff I have so far...

the LR
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the Wetworx (UnderTheRadar) skimmer
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The 27w retrofit I made out of a 28/32w Hamilton retro. Just had to shave off some of the bulb receptical so it would fit in, and cut the reflector down to size. pictured with it is a 28w bulb for lenth comparison.
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This is the Lights Of America bulb I found at HD for it... 6500 K, and bright as he11!!
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Can you tell what these parts might make?
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The CLS with SCWD, the intake will have different plumbing.
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Claifornia reef float switch with AquaLifter pump for ATO system.
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Coolworks IceProbe... got the controler too, but I didn't have it on hand for the pic.
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And some Krylon Fusion to paint any visible PVC... (this is a hint to the question in the 5th pic)
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Oh, and like I said, I've got a little helper now... or at least a vocal observer.
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Thanks for looking,
Jared

manifold loop for returns.

And the prize goes to... the Tigah!

lol... did you remember from our chat, or did you really just look at them and say, "yep, that's a manifold right there!"?

The latter. I don't recall you mentioning it in the chat.

Entry pic?

I still don't have the tank (it is being made by Fade2black, aka: Paul, at First Class Aquatics), thus, I still don't have an entry pic.

I will be cutting it close, but I should have the entry pic up and the tank started by the 5th (the last day to enter).

Cheers,
Jared

Nice. I have a custom tank from Paul. If you send him an extra $20, he'll ship it out earlier. That's what I did.

Trust me, he's getting it to me pretty fast... I mean, hell, I did just order it on the 12th, and he is almost finished with it. Just waiting on some special matterial I wanted that he didn't have in stock.

Nice Jared!

I cant wait to see the tank up and running! Congrats on the new baby...I will have to remember to bring you a celebratory bottle of wine

thanks man... !

I saw you half filled your tank... you got the rest of your ro/di made yet?

Jared

I was gonna go with 1/2 CPVC manifold too, but decided it was slightly too bulky for a 2.5g, which is why I went with the 1/4" circle flow loc-line kit on mine. Would be nice to see how yours turns out though, as I didn't even bother to mock one up.

I mocked one up and ran it at 2' of head off a MJ1200, and it should make a TON of flow with great distribution... and since I decided to go with a canopy instead of a pendant, the manifold won't be seen much anyway.

I thought about the 1/4" loc-line myself, but the outlets make too sharp of a stream IMO. I noticed you plan on trying to drill them out some more... good luck with that!

Jared

yeah it is up and running...I havent mixed in any salt, Ive just been experimenting with temp via fans and a ranko controller..

I've got the tank running at a consistent 78 degrees with about +- .5 degrees fluctuations.

Once the rock re-cycles (I baked it in the sun for the last 3 weeks) and I put it in the tank you will have to come by and check it out!

When is the custom 2.5 coming in? Sounds like Dennis might get a run for his money...LOL

as if!

but you never know...

^^^

lets get some updates......

OK, updates:

still waiting on the tank

buying some more plumbing/cabinetry stuff this weekend

got a free Cali blue tort. frag from Aaron (the manager of the LFS I work at).

trying to keep up with being a dad, student, and reefer.

WOOO HOOO! Paul is sending out my tanks on monday! (yes I said tanks: main display, and display refugium.... ooohhhhh, ahhhhhh!)

entry pic wednesday next week.

alos started pre-assembling some of the plumbing and paiting it blrack with the Krylon Fusion... wow, that's some nice spray paint! I mean, I suck at spray painting, and I still managed to paint everything so far with no drips, overspray, or screwups.

Jared

Good luck Jared, sorry to hear about the stand

Congrats on your new baby, I hope that he's not being too hard on you at night.

You have quite an impressive list of kit to fit on to your pico, I'm green with envy. Can't wait to see it all set up.

Best regards

Ann

Naw... I get plenty of sleep, it's my wife who's staying up constantly to feed him. I mean, I get up the 2-4 times a night he feeds, but I just burp him and change him, and I go back to bed... I'm really not a bad husband, I just don't have the right equipment to feed him, and I just cant seem to lul him to sleep the way Anna can.



Yeah, I cant wait to see it up either!

Thanks for looking,
Jared

OK, so it's gonna be even closer than I thought, but the tank will be here thursday. I'll post an official entry pic then, and have the tank up and running by Friday/Saturday (they will probably run into one continuous day for me )

B ythe way, Paul at First Class Aquatics is da' man! he had to put my tank on hold while he went on an emergency business trip... but when he got back, he busted it out, and shipped it xpress two day at his additional cost to meet the quote he originally gave me. wow... now that's staying true to one's word! For all your custom nano needs, look up fade2black here on n-r.com, or check out his site, First Class Aquatics

Thanks,
Jared

jmorris,whats the cutoff day for tank pictures? my tanks on the way,and hopefully it arrives in time!

The cuttoff is supposed to be this Saturday., You have to have the entry photo AND a pic of the tank actually set up. The entry photo by Saturday is easy for me (the tank gets here tomorrow... yay!!), the setup by saturday is making me sweat!

If you can't squeeze it in by then, talk to Gil, maybe he'll give you an extention a) for senority, and, since you've been talking about entering since the begining. Hope it works out for 'ya.

I'm tired of wating for pictures....lol...hurry up!

Oh yeah...I need some advice from you at some point...I'm having some slight issues...PM sent with contact info.

FINALLY!

From left to right: main tank, refugium, sump
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width
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height
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depth
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And in other good tank-related news, the supposedly "back-ordered" stand actually showed up today too... woo hoo!

setup pics by 11:59pm Saturday.

Jare

It looks amazing, good luck to you. I hope you can get it going by Saturday.

This is going to be one kick-ass setup.

Slick.... tandem thing going on there?

amazing, yes; kick-ass, yes; slick, yes... but what do you think of my movie and sock choice?

Jared

p.s. - thanks everyone!

Excellent news! Good luck setting it all up.

Best regards

Ann

ITs gonna be pimp

Sacto (and Rocklin) represent!!

Give me half an hour more, and the setup pic will be up... fresh water fill still, but salt water goes in tomorrow. Sorry, I'm coming in late, but there was a leak in the tank I was not able to see in the leak test, and so I had to disassemble half way, fix said leak, then re-setup. please do not delete.

Jared

ok, almost there... a little more trouble with that leak than expected ( Paul did a great job on this tank overall, I just rushed him a little, and so a leak is not too surprising, lol!)

Again, Gil, please do not delete! I'll have it up by 3am, I promis!

Jared

OK, the moment we've all been waiting for... my tandem sps/macro(refugium) pico contest entry! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

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Still just fresh water, but I've got salt mixing as I type, and will have live rock, macro, and a couple of snails in by (later) morning

Pics of plumbing and such to come... stay tuned!

Jared

I love it.... absolutly fantastic!

Double the fun! I'm looking forward to seeing more of this set-up.

Best regards

Ann

LR in and aquascaped in both tanks, and the fuge is alredy teeming with macro! Pics when I get home from work (YAY! work after 0 hours of sleep for two days in a row ... stupid boxes of water... you ruin my life! )

The good news is that I got the leak fixed, and everything is working like a charm. I still need another powerstrip for all the dam "kit" (as Ann would say) I have on this little system though. Also, I have a 4" fan from hamilton helping to cool/ventilate my stand, and it is LOUD! Anyone know of a good quiet four inch fan? I have already cut the hole and installed this one, so any advice must be regarding a 4" (four inch) fan.

Corals go in in a couple days when I'm good and sure things have stablized entirely. Mexican Red-head Goby is going in as soon as I see decent pod production out of the fuge.

By the way, did I mention how much this system already kicks ass?

Jared

Looks great Jared! Very cool!!

hey man let me know when youre ready for some frags....im not in the contest so i'll just help you out ha ha ive got tons of orange digit with green base, i may just drop off the fragging piece at aqua life after you come pick up your frags

Looking good! Cant wait to see everything full of life!

OK, so some aquascaping shots. Pardon the fuzzyness, I was still dealing with micro bubbles. The next set of pics should be much clearer, as i have eliminated the bubble problem by packing the sump full of LR

The sps tank:

Left side Click to view attachment Front Click to view attachment Right sideClick to view attachment

The Refugium:

Left Click to view attachment Front Click to view attachment Right Click to view attachment

And the only "added" inhabitant so far, not counting hitchhikers (like a nice size bristle worm in the fuge... nice cooked rock right? ).
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Also, my fish choice may change, as my friend just informed me she may have some really neat little gobies which may edge-out the very cool red-head goby in cuteness/coolnes points... we'll see .

EDIT: The goby she has and is suggesting is the red stripe goby, Eviota guttata:


this is the red-head goby, Elacatinus puncticulatus, the one I had planed on originally:


It's too tough for me to choose... So, maybe you guys can help!? Which do you like more, red head or red stripe?


Tech pics to come soon (in the next week or so, after I get it all organized in there! lol!)

Stay tuned,
Jared

I feel neglected... Nobody has anything to say about my aquascaping, fish choice, or just the setup in general? Doesn't anybody love me?

Wait a sec... Are you all too busy "oooh-ing" and "ahhh-ing" over Tigahs tank to care about mine? Well then, if that's the case, I understand... I have trouble carign about my tank when I look at Tigah's too!

But seriously, does anyone have any opinions? I could use constructive criticism.

Thanks,
Jared

I like the red head goby....

I really dig your refugium with all the different types of macro...Keep up the good work...

I'm partial towards the red stripe, but it's hard to say without an intank picture like the red head has.

The piping in the corner confuses me though since it would look like an over flow return but i need to see a fulltank to really understand.

hey man, id go with the red stripe, more colurful