Pilg0re Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Hello All! It's my 5 year anniversary this month with this site and what better way to celebrate with a new tank? I have a 3 Gallon picotope running for over a year at the moment and I wanted to upgrade to a sumped system, yet still offered the challenges of a nano. At first I'll start off with my goals for this build and then I'll go over the equipment that will be going into it. Goals: - Ability to keep a frequently fed but low waste SPS/clam/zoa nano tank for maximum growth. I want to explore if this will have a positive effect on coral growth. - Hand pick the best of the best acros for color, this means skipping the good deals but drab corals. I may not be able to stock it so quickly which is fine as I'd like to only keep the best of the best. - Not only maintain beautiful acros but increase their colors as well. These are my main goals for this tank and I think with the equipment I've chosen and the maintenance schedule I've laid out I should be able to accomplish this. Lets talk about equipment now: Tank: 11.4 G Mr. Aqua Chic Rimless Aquarium with Modular Marine low profile beananimal overflow Sump: Advanced Acrylics sump Skimmer: Cadlights PLS 50 Elite Lighting: Nanobox Reef Tide from my Picotope. It's currently being upgraded to the latest LED pad. Flow: Ecotech Marine MP10QD Return: Tunze 1073.008 (this may not be enough flow for my return so if not I'll step it up to the larger model With this equipment I think I'll be successful in accomplishing my goals. Finally some pics, the tank just came in today and I've only had time to paint the rear panel black and put some water in it for a leak test. The stand, it's from Ikea and while it feels sturdy I placed L brackets on all 4 corners for additional reinforcement Leak Testing Reflection of Picotope Bad self portrait with tank haha I'm excited to share my tank's progress with you all and I always welcome your thoughts/ideas/suggestions as this build progresses. Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sweet, I went from a picotope to this tank as well, I'll be fallowing along Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sweet, I went from a picotope to this tank as well, I'll be fallowing along Awesome! Where in California are you located? I'm in West LA Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I'm up by Fresno. I'm really curious on what your scapes gonna be like. What kind of rock are you gonna use? Also if that tunze pumps the same pump I have you should be fine with it and the mp10 Link to comment
k4ndyk1ng Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 looking forward to see this progress Link to comment
BattleAthletics Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Did you already get the overflow? Link to comment
Reefkid88 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I love these tanks. This is going to be a solid build. Tagging along for this one !! Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 I'm up by Fresno. I'm really curious on what your scapes gonna be like. What kind of rock are you gonna use? Also if that tunze pumps the same pump I have you should be fine with it and the mp10 I'm using BRS dry rock, I've used them in all my builds and I really like how nicely they fit together when building a scape. I've never used glue to attach rocks together before but I plan on using some putty to hopefully create an overhang looking forward to see this progress Thanks! I'll try to give updates as frequently as I can Did you already get the overflow? Not yet, I should hopefully be getting it this week though. I love these tanks. This is going to be a solid build. Tagging along for this one !! Awesome! Thanks! Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 Hey, when I took those pics I also shot a quick video just to give an introduction but I think I'm going to make a series during the entire process. Let me know what you think? Hmm I'm having trouble embedding the video despite using the share code, any tips? Introduction Video Link to comment
Red_Blenny Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Looking good already, a nano SPS tank is very rewarding (and sometimes it makes you want to pull all your hair out). A sump makes thing so much easier too. Hey, when I took those pics I also shot a quick video just to give an introduction but I think I'm going to make a series during the entire process. Let me know what you think? Hmm I'm having trouble embedding the video despite using the share code, any tips? Introduction Video ^Like that? Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 Looking good already, a nano SPS tank is very rewarding (and sometimes it makes you want to pull all your hair out). A sump makes thing so much easier too. ^Like that? Yes! Thanks! not sure why I couldn't get it to do it. But yeah, My 3G is a real challenge at times with having to dose and whatnot but I feel like this will allow me to tweak and play with parameters more rather than just fighting to keep everything in a range that keeps my corals growing haha. Link to comment
SandBed Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 The initial look of the setup is great. The red stand is a nice choice. Any pictures of the sump and plumbing etc? Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 The initial look of the setup is great. The red stand is a nice choice. Any pictures of the sump and plumbing etc? Sump is being delivered today so I'll post pictures tonight and the plumbing should be delivered tomorrow but considering UPS says it still hasn't shipped it will probably be Friday. Unfortunately the estimate for the overflow from Texas is the 24th . I don't know why it would take so long though. Link to comment
Red_Blenny Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Yes! Thanks! not sure why I couldn't get it to do it. But yeah, My 3G is a real challenge at times with having to dose and whatnot but I feel like this will allow me to tweak and play with parameters more rather than just fighting to keep everything in a range that keeps my corals growing haha. Just go to the share tab on the youtube video, and copy and paste the link given to you on the share tab onto the a post here. NR will automatically turn it into an embedded youtube video (another reason why NR is so bad arse) Good thing you live in SoCal, there's so much nice LFS there and so many nice SPS pieces to cherry pick from... Of course, some internet venders have some SPS pieces that are pretty nice too. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Just go to the share tab on the youtube video, and copy and paste the link given to you on the share tab onto the a post here. NR will automatically turn it into an embedded youtube video (another reason why NR is so bad arse) Good thing you live in SoCal, there's so much nice LFS there and so many nice SPS pieces to cherry pick from... Of course, some internet venders have some SPS pieces that are pretty nice too. Hmm, I couldn't get it to pop up when I tried but I'll have a new video and pics up soon so I'll try again. That's mostly why I love living out here, having Vivid aquariums as a semi LFS is really too tempting haha. I have been checking out Atlantis aquarium's and Jason Fox's page though, some really really nice stuff. Going to wait until my tank is nice and stable before I drop that kind of dough though. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Video will be posted shortly but here are the pics! Link to comment
ImNew:] Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Sweet start. im currently using the same stand. The L bracket is a good idea, wish i thought of it haha. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Sweet start. im currently using the same stand. The L bracket is a good idea, wish i thought of it haha. Haha I mean after the wiggle test it felt okay but I with earthquakes I'd rather be safe than sorry, you could still totally do it too I bet. Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Damn thats a sweet sump I'm gonna have to check out advance acrylics. For my upgrade to but I need to bulid the stand first... And buy a new table saw Link to comment
Red_Blenny Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I like Advance Acrylics stuff, they make some quality stuff.... My tank was made from them (and its overbuilt according to them lol) Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Damn thats a sweet sump I'm gonna have to check out advance acrylics. For my upgrade to but I need to bulid the stand first... And buy a new table saw I've noticed there's always "one more thing" I always need to buy too before it can really be done haha I like Advance Acrylics stuff, they make some quality stuff.... My tank was made from them (and its overbuilt according to them lol) Agreed! I heard nothing but great things about them so I didn't hesitate to order. Nice tank though! Nothing is overbuilt in my mind, just makes it nicer! Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Here's the video review! Link to comment
k4ndyk1ng Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 this is looking great following along im interested to see the new mp10 too Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 this is looking great following along im interested to see the new mp10 too I know they just changed the driver for this model but I'm excited hear, or not hear in this case, the difference. Link to comment
k4ndyk1ng Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I know they just changed the driver for this model but I'm excited hear, or not hear in this case, the difference. The black looks sleek too, I'm looking at getting some 40s but it is the 40s or coral... I hope the qd are better than the original because the mp10 are so loud sometimes Link to comment
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