Claude Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Crossing over from F/W because of this tank, it was an inspiration for me to check out nanos Bought a 22 lt (6gal) tank Here is my progress The space i have to work with Proposal I want to have a sump so i built an overflow box Modded the overflow a bit Hung some T5's above the tank This is it to date I am pushing about 5wpg but i am mainly gonna stock softies at the moment, i am also going to keep a prawn goby/pistol shrimp combo Thanks for looking, comments welcome Hopefully after a bit of cladding this is all that will be on display Hallide off, fuge lit with a pc (in hood from aquaone tank) probs will run the PC in reverse tandem with the T5's, because the sump and tank are so close, the fuge will recieve light from the t5 during the day and be lit with the PC at night, that should be adequate? Link to comment
Open Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 man, this is gonna be awsome.... Link to comment
Claude Posted November 2, 2005 Author Share Posted November 2, 2005 The overflow box has been tested for 2 1/2 days now, constantly running and there appears to be no probs, i have tested it for;- integrity - no leaks, baffles work great (i'm actually getting a lot of skimming action already with tank empty!) power outages - if the pump cuts out the tank drains to about 1/2" below the full level as i have put a hole in the inlet to prevent too much reverse siphoning and flooding of the sump power outage then back on again - i have tried this a number of time (and this is what worries me most) - but everytime i try it the overflow system never breaks siphon and kicks in straight away. clogging - i've tried to clog the overflow up by sticking some sand in and whirling it around, lots of rubish comes through the overflow and ends up in the sump (which is nice) I'm using a feature of the overflow box as a failsafe, alot of people strive to stop their overflows 'gurgling', mine does gurgle slightly but i use it an an audio check to make sure the system is still working. here are some update photos (they are cloudy because i've been trying to clog the system up and i added a 400 lt/hr powerhead to mix things up a bit). Made a few modefications to the alcove before after with luminaire on i'm pretty pleased so far considering i know sweet fa about DIY (i have learned alot tho!), also i so far the whole project has cost me approx £100 and i'm ready for rock and water now who said this marine malarky was expensive? The tank has been checked for leaks, failsafes and integrity and all is GOOOOOD I have a refractometer on the way which i picked up from ebay too for £12ish i'm on the look out for any old cpu fans as well, i think i might stick a couple in to the vent the alcove when temps get too high Link to comment
ezramore Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 hey i have a prawn goby too but have had no luck getting a shrimp to pare with him. What kind of shrimp is that, and where can i get one. Link to comment
beerz4us Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 dont go into the light lol looks great nice work Link to comment
Claude Posted November 2, 2005 Author Share Posted November 2, 2005 Well its a slippery slope from here, i've put together the final components needed for my nano reef and here they are Overflow box (now a bit less bulky and sporting a milliputted sucker to keep in from flying away ) Miracle mud Sump Left = inlet with mechanical filtration (plus space for rowaphos etc) Middle = refugium (deep bed of m.mud then coral gravel, then coral sand) Right = Equipment bay, loadsa space in here, will probs build a skimmer in the future Sump is lit with a PC bulb from original Aquaone hood Live rock added and everything running successfully Night lights Link to comment
Claude Posted November 2, 2005 Author Share Posted November 2, 2005 Wide shot of unit now Door open, guts out The total flow through the system is;- Maxi Jet400 in the main tank, (hidden by aquascaping) - 400lph Variable flow from the eheim pump in the sump (between 120 - 1000 lph) - set at about 600lph = total 1000lph = display tank (22lts) water is turned over 45 times every hour = total water (display plus sump - 50lts) - 20 tomes per hour Lighting is by means of 2 x 14W T5's - therefore lighting provided is (for the display tank = 6gals) 4.6wpg Cheers for looking, hope i haven't missed anything out, comments, suggestions, critiques, etc etc are more than welcome cheers Most important bit is that total cost is only approx £150 at the moment Link to comment
empty sound Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Looking great so far mate. I'm curious to know what you used for your overflow box, the containers specifically. I'm going to be building one myself, and was swithering about builing it entirely out of perspex, but how much were those containers and where did you get them! (I'm British too btw, Scotland) Good luck with this, i'll be following. Link to comment
Claude Posted November 3, 2005 Author Share Posted November 3, 2005 I used a large and small 'Lees' specimen box Link to comment
Claude Posted November 8, 2005 Author Share Posted November 8, 2005 its amazing how much time i've spent looking at some rock ...... what you reckon, more or less? Link to comment
Incubus Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 It looks great¡¡¡ Congratulations Nice feathery worm. Link to comment
Claude Posted December 17, 2005 Author Share Posted December 17, 2005 Nearly a month on and here we are ^^ Clicky Link to comment
blooper74 Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Just remember slow is better. I would check more into that Odyssee light system you have. I have heard nothing good about them, even peoples catching on fire. Just my 2cents. Looks nice though. Link to comment
Claude Posted December 17, 2005 Author Share Posted December 17, 2005 I don't have an odyssee light system :\ Link to comment
blooper74 Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 My appologies I mis-read the name on the lights. My bad. Link to comment
Claude Posted December 19, 2005 Author Share Posted December 19, 2005 I've changed the inlet to make it less of an eyesore and make it look more tidy I was SO against getting a clown fish, due to the whole nemo thing. I couldn't refuse this little fella tho when i saw him, and i'm pleased i got him he compliments this already colourful tank so much Link to comment
Claude Posted December 19, 2005 Author Share Posted December 19, 2005 Some vids for those who are interested A fly by of the whole set up;- My tiny frag of xenia which will hopefully attach itself to the overflow box. Postitioned so high up so it doesnt grow too long (long gangly stuff looks awful imo) Overflow system, showing; vid 1 - it in action, vid 2 - internal box (note bag of coral sand needed to stop it floating away!), external box, drain, mechanical filter compartment with floss. This one is showing modded seaclone skimmer/venturi in action, also you can see the gravity drip fed plain RO top up lines Link to comment
Nuhtty Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Exceptional. You do very nice work. Link to comment
Claude Posted December 19, 2005 Author Share Posted December 19, 2005 Hey thanks i'm in the same field as you (nearly!) I'm a 4th year med student in UK Link to comment
Claude Posted December 24, 2005 Author Share Posted December 24, 2005 I don't really have an actinic look on the nano, althogh one of the T5 bulbs is actinic and the other is marine white, i cant switch them independently, so i've attached some cold ray cathode tubes to the luminairre. Works quite well i think Under normal Under cathodes Videos Feeding my troops with frozen brine shrimp and mysis. Keep an eye out for the stunt emerald crab (mithrax sculptus) in the background Feeding the corals and fish the same stuff Plate coral feeding. I love this coral, it looks so static, but notice the shrimp being swept towards its mouth by its short sweeper tentacles Mithrax crab, never stops eating, also seems to try and eat his own eyeballs at times Pistol shrimp, despite being blind, knows where the food is at (who needs a goby!) i find it facinating how my two nano fish find company in themselves, despite being a totally different species and inhabiting different strata of the tank, they always seem to spend time together, whether this be out of curiosity or comfort its very cute :lurve: Link to comment
Claude Posted December 31, 2005 Author Share Posted December 31, 2005 imgs:- Vids:- After my pistol shrimp collapsed part of my reef, i had to rebuild it tonight, filling in his tunnels and moving his piles of stones. He 'clipped' me on one occasion, luckily i was wearing gloves. Anyway after the reshufle i had the cam and hand and caught "the adventures of Rodney and his mighty claw!" Check it out Part #1 A poor little blue legged hermit falls into the path of Rodney, knowing that he's not in a fun loving mood tonight i decide to help the hermit out Part#2 I have done some good in the world, the hermit can now reight himself and make a bolt for freeeeeeeeeedom! Part#3 erm, maybe not :\ Check this out, listen and watch as he trys to disable my cocktail stick (this is what he did to my thumb!) Well, this will be the last pics i will post this year folks .... and no vids this time i hope you enjoy Link to comment
Regal Tang Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 best scooter blenny i have ever seen! hes so like puffy and perky =)! good luck with your fish...p.s. i would like to talk to your about your scooter blenny! Link to comment
Fish Stick Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I bet you sit there and eat Jammie Dodgers and look at that tank all day long....don't you? Link to comment
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