supertech99 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) Hello guys, After selling my big reef, I knew it would not be long before I got the itch again. This tank is purpose-built to house the SA black and white clowns and GBTA. Having said that, I always take things to the umpteinth degree. We will see where this goes. The plan is: 15gallon Aqueon column tank Theo heater internal overflow box Fluval C4 hob with chemipure eliete ?lbs of pukani rock from BRS DIY LED build for BTA (after tank has been up for a few months) I'll be building on a budget but I should be able to buy at least one item per month Comments are welcome Edited May 21, 2012 by supertech99 Quote Link to comment
patback Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Sounds good. When I née to get new bulbs for my t5 I want to go DIY LEDs. Any plans for corals? Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) So I cut a 4in pvc pipe in half with my tablesaw. Painted it and the back of the tank black. I left the back of the overflow chamber clear so I can see what's in there and just in case I decide to ever put cheato in there. I cut the teeth with the saw as well. The paint and the silicone is cureing now. I will probably do a fresh water test with the filter this week Edited January 8, 2012 by supertech99 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) I may go with some candy canes, a frogspawn, or mabe a torch. Nothing too expensive I really want the GBTA to go where he wants. here is the fw test, looks good. just need sand heater and salt. Edited January 10, 2012 by supertech99 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 Washing sand sucks! so I have heard some bad stuff about hydor heaters. I need suggestions on a 50-100w I can't seem to find anything good. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 Nobody has anything to say :-( Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 (edited) I thought I would add some of my fav pictures from my 75gal Oceanic Reef to sexy up this thread. Edited January 15, 2012 by supertech99 1 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Here are a few from my 5.5gal office pico 2 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 I am thinking about ordering a AquaTop heater from Walmart online. They have the adjustable heater for 20 and one with a thermostat for 28 in 100W. I don't think the thermostat will help me much since the heater will be in my small overflow I will want a thermostat in the main tank area. What do you all think? And no shipping! http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aquatop-HT-100-1...er-1ct/16401599 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aquatop-D2HT-100...er-1ct/16401611 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Well I finally got it salty, no heater yet but will fix that tomorrow. I am going fo a sacked look that will hopefully put the bta front and center. I am not sure if I need to make it taller. Gonna let it sit a bit and reevaluate. What do you think of my scape? Quote Link to comment
urbaneks Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 New tank looks good as long as I turn my computer screen over to view the pics. If you could reorient your photos it would should improve your thread. Quote Link to comment
Chris George Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I like the scape. Very nice ridge-like rocks. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks for the encouragement. I picked up a loaner heater from my mother-in-law for the cycle till mine comes in. I took the pics sideways on my cell, not sure how or if I can rotate them now. now to wait.........till the end of Feburary i am guessing since everything was dry rock and sand. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 My temporary heater is only bringing things up to 75, is that gonna be sufficient to grow bacteria? Quote Link to comment
Deckoz2302 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Dude, the 4 inch pipe overflow thing is genius, I wish I had thought about that when I had my chii Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Dude, the 4 inch pipe overflow thing is genius, I wish I had thought about that when I had my chii Thanks, it was a pain to cut but working really well. I actually could have cut the teeth deeper but i was worried about water level being below the black trim and looking tacky. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) Last day off (9 days on-call starts tomorrow) and wanted to get some rubble in the tank before the cycle got too far along. I was able to pick out some amazingly porus peices and chopped them with tile nippers. I am just using some FW flake food to kick off the cycle. I also discovered that my SG is 1.030 so I need to get that down some too. I have not even started testing for anything yet, figure ill start looking for nitrate in about 2 more weeks. Edited January 28, 2012 by supertech99 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 My Aquatop heater should be in today, Ill post pics of it and talk about my perceptions of quality/value. I now need a powerhead. I had planned on a nano 425 due to space considerations. I'd love a MP10 but don't have that kind of scratch right now for the tank. My LFS had the nano 425 for $43.00. Needless to say I will be buying online again. Are their any other good options for a small footprint powerhead for a tank that is 13x13? I was thinking a koralia 550 would be too much flow and size. Ive seen little aqueon powerheads that the size looks ok but they just have suctioncups and not sure about quality of aqueon products. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Quote Link to comment
kevinlogan42 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) I am running the same tank I have two of the koralia 240 and and Ac 70 hob and I think that the water movement is just about right. Using the two 240 helps even things out with how tall the tank is. I have them set at different levels one angling up and on down. Kevin Wish I had thought of the pvc I could of gotten rid of the hob filter and pressed the tank up against the wall. I like the way you think. Edited February 6, 2012 by kevinlogan42 Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 I am running the same tank I have two of the koralia 240 and and Ac 70 hob and I think that the water movement is just about right. Using the two 240 helps even things out with how tall the tank is. I have them set at different levels one angling up and on down. Kevin Wish I had thought of the pvc I could of gotten rid of the hob filter and pressed the tank up against the wall. I like the way you think. Thanks man! Do you have a tank thread? I'd really like to see what you have done with it. It is a challenge thats for sure. Thats a good idea with the 2 240s. Do you think a 550 would be too much? What about the new pico powerheads with a flo deverter attached to the front? Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Got my heater, I was suprised it survived after I saw what the box went thru. The heater was well packaged and appeared solidly built. Its apperance was not "refined" but I am very pleased with the value for $15 shipped. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Bought some goodies, I decided on the aqueon powerhead because of the ball joint for positioning. I've had a koralia nano before. They are difficult to position exactly were you want them. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 20ppm nitrates, did a 1.5g water change but will do a larger one this weekend and plan to get a crab and snail in too. Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 6 gal W/C over 5 days nitrates under 10ppm with 3 crabs. Added a small Sustainable Aquatics Fancy Ocellaris clown fish. I got a few pics of him, none of them good. Ill try to snap some more when he settles down a bit. Quote Link to comment
ecogirl22 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) Keep it coming. I'm thinking about setting one of these up! If you can get any under the hood shots that would be great:) Do you think the stock 20 watts T5 would be enough to grow freshwater plants? I have no idea....Are all those pics with LED+ Stock, or just LED or are some w/ just stock? Edited February 15, 2012 by ecogirl22 Quote Link to comment
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