Markushka's Master Build Thread

[Markushka]

Lights out.

 

 

ok here it is:

 

It all started when I decided to build a stand for a 20 long I had. Then I picked up a second 20 long from a local. The design evolved to hold two tanks. Then I acquired a third 20 long..... ok, now this is when you know you have a problem

 

one of the 20s has a pane thats cracked (either my cousins or my brothers doing) so i'm going to fix that up and use it as a fuge sump. It's not in the pictures, but it'll stand on the very bottom. I still need to get the glass for that, but it may be a few weeks before I get to it.

 

The plan is to plumb all the tanks together so as to make it one system, but housing different biotypes or something like that. The top 20 long drains via a DIY PVC overflow to the hex. the hex then overflows to the second 20 long. I plan to drill this second 20 long and have it go to the 20 long sump; from where the return pump will push the water all the way back to the top.

 

For now the second 20 will be a sump of sorts. you can see all the rock in there that will be in the system. I need to get off NR and scape! I had a plan for the inhabitants of all the tanks but i've changed it so many times already that i'm not gonna bother posting it.

 

so far the inhabitants are:

2x mandarins (top 20)

1x Rainfords (top 20)

1x Fuzzy Dwarf Lion (hex)

1x Banggai (hex, soon to be moved!)

1x Long-Spine urchin (hex)

1x Pincushion urchin (hex)

2x black mollies (both 20s)

1x small local eel (sump 20)

Green monti (top 20)

elkhorn (top 20)

Fungia (top 20)

2x BTA (top 20)

Asst. Zoas (top 20)

Asst. Palys (all tanks)

Mushrooms (all tanks?)

Macros (both 20s)

CUC in all tanks

 

I think thats it for livestock.

 

And now for more pics:

 

Top 20

the feeders were added today and are gonna be moved to another tank tomorrow. I was just to lazy to do it today.

 

 

the fungia, i'm trying to rehabilitate for a friend.

 

can you find the byropis? should be easier than finding waldo.

 

 

Female mandarin. the male was being reclusive.

 

sorry to those guys who read my contest thread too. I'll try to post different pic in oth threads to keep it interesting.

 

20 Hex

 

can you see me now?

 

20 Middle/Temp Sump

 

Trying to get a pic of teh damn eel!

If I cant see you, you cant see me!

 

Headstands next to beat up gorg

 

I'm too fast for you

 

I like teh bubbles

 

I think it's an american eel (Anguilla rostrata), it spawns in SW and then it moves to FW as it grows, so i'll be rehoming or releasing (Its wild caught locally) the little bugger soon.

[Pudding]

What are all those fish in the breeding net? Feeder fish for the fuzzy? And haha, did you use kyrlon primer for you stand?

[Markushka]

What are all those fish in the breeding net? Feeder fish for the fuzzy? And haha, did you use kyrlon primer for you stand?

Yup feeders for the dwarf and the nems and what ever else will eat them. I'm gonna try to breed the mollies tho to break my reliance on having to collect feeders.

 

I dunno the paint was supposed to be a greenish semi-translucent wood stain... but the can stood unopened in the garage for a few years. I stumbled onto it and decided to use it. This grey-blue opaque stain is what came out instead. It doesn't look half bad to me, and its water resistant.

[Markushka]

20 Long

 

Left side

 

right side

 

 

Rainfords

 

GBTA

 

Corals

 

Female Mandarin

 

Feather duster rock

 

little standing rock

 

 

Male Mandarin

 

20 Hex

 

 

20 sump

 

The whole system

[animalmaster6]

Very Cool

[Markushka]

Thanks, its not done yet! I need to fix up another 20 long as a sump/fuge to put under these two.

[Arkayology]

Glad to see you've found a way to keep track of all these tanks!

[Markushka]

Glad to see you've found a way to keep track of all these tanks!

 

 

haha yeah. they're all plumbed together and balance each other out. nitrates from the hex get absorbed by the macros in the top long. This leaves the levels at <10 (tho i'm suspecting near zero).

[animalmaster6]

What tank was that eel in?

[Markushka]

He's in the sump. I actually saw him out in the open again about an hour ago.

[animalmaster6]

Very Cool! How big is he?

[Markushka]

he's like a 1/4 thick but like 2" long. I wanna go down to the beach this weekend with my buddy and collect some stuff.

[animalmaster6]

What's the water temp down in NJ?

You can add it to yoyr sump for a tropical tank? Hmm

[Markushka]

don't know what the temps are now but I keep the tank at 77 or so. It does get that warm in the summer and the local fish are capable of handling it. It'll just be like an endless summer. Most of the stuff I collect are feeders tho.

[animalmaster6]

That's awesome.

 

I know some of the macros here in MA you can keep in tropical tanks.

 

What are your plans for the 20 Hex?

[Markushka]

Just lots of weed corals to fill up the rock. I may keep the banggai in there with the lion too. he's much better at catching the feeders than the lion. I do want another banggai tho.

 

and there are lots of macros that can be found furthur south too. macros are very adaptable to temps it seems. I've seen Gracilaria sp. and Ulva too. Shy found some codium. the harder part is QTing them.

[animalmaster6]

I've seen some Codium and Gracilaria around here.

[Markushka]

I really want codium but i haven't seen it locally. I know its out there tho.

[animalmaster6]

Reef Cleaners has it.

[Markushka]

I know, but I know I can find it locally and I really want to lol. all those florida reefers and others get to collect cool stuff. I want to too even if its only coduim.

[animalmaster6]

haha I know!

 

I need to get SCUBA certified or at least master free diving lol.

[Markushka]

Yes me too! I should have done it while I had a chance at rutgers.

[animalmaster6]

Yes it would be helpful for macros.

 

I want to go diving in Florida with gobies

[Markushka]

Haha! I'd love to go diving in florida sometime. I haven't been there in ages.

[animalmaster6]

I've never really had a chance to snorkel. Just started using goggles in the tidepools THat's how I find tony little clear shrimps and once a tiny little flounder!