Newlinta Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Well, Ive never done anything like this before,but...here goes nothing...lol Started putting this together a few weeks ago with stuff I had laying around. The tank WAS a 7 1/2 gallon that i cut down with an angle grinder. Its now 15 1/4L x 9 3/4W x 5H...though the back is still full size(12 inches). These are inside dimensions and it should hold 3.2 gallons without sand,rock,etc. This is BY NO MEANS a biotype...it is my "artistic" impression of a lagoon setting at high tide. It will include a waterfall,a mangrove forrest,macroalgae,coral,cuc and a "feature" fish or invert...yet to be determined. EQUIPMENT; tank(unknown maker) 15 1/4L x 9 3/4W x 5H Elite mini 25 watt heater Tetra internal power filter 2-10 gallon(85gph) 13 watt 6500k cfl bulb(for mangroves) 2-3 x 1w cool white and 3-4 x 1w royal blue gu10 LEDs 2 hydor pico evolution power heads LIVESTOCK; 8lbs dry rock/2lbs live rock 8lbs live sand 7 mangroves several macroalgaes...ochtodes,halymenia sp, unidentified red macro cuc...3 ceriths,3 nerites,1 nassarius,limpets,bristle worms feature fish/Invert...Yellow clown goby,2 sexy shrimp 3 colors of gsp Photosynthetic gorgonian Pulsing Xenia Blue sympodium 20+ types zoanthids 5 acan lords 3 ricordias 2 acan echinata Orange sun coral FTS FES below water line shot It has been cycling for 2 weeks now,though I just added more sand for the mangroves on the left side before I took the pics...sorry. We'll see where this idea ends up... Enjoy(and wish me luck)!! Link to comment
got2envy Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 good luck! looks cool already Link to comment
altolamprologus Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Wow that looks very nice! Seems like it would severely limit stocking options though Link to comment
Degener8 Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 I think its a great idea. I like that its your impression and not a biotope specifically. This should be a true testament to your view of what a lagoon is. Gonna track this one. I think its a great idea. I like that its your impression and not a biotope specifically. This should be a true testament to your view of what a lagoon is. Gonna track this one. Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Thanks for the comments/encouragement...we'll see where this goes. I "planted" the mangroves throughout the upper left side this morning and may put a macro or two in pretty soon. It's not done cycling but they should all be able to handle any ammonia/nitrate spike if I even get one. I'm excited to see how this tank progresses! I have this vision in my head...I just hope I can make it look like what I see rattling around in my brain...lol I'll post new pics soon. Thanks again, Tim Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Well it's just past 2 weeks into the cycle and params are as follows; PH 8.0 Ammonia 4.0ppm NO2 between .25-.50ppm NO3 5.0ppm The mangroves are in, a small chunk of ochtodes is already attached to rock after 48 hrs, there are a few misc zoa hitch hikers on a piece of liverock and a piece of caulerpa taxifolia is growing. I may use tha caulerpa to represent kelp/seagrass...but will probably try and get some prolifera to use instead of the taxifolia...just wanted to see if it would grow. Here are some pics... Link to comment
boxboy Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 This is really cool. Great job. Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 More pics... Mangroves Ochtodes(it's purple in my tank instead of blue) "waterfall" Link to comment
altolamprologus Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Man I love this tank. I think you need a school of mini dartfish for this Link to comment
Mini-Dude Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 This is great! How did you accomplish the waterfall if I may ask? Link to comment
miniwhinny Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Oh wow..this build is really original. I'm loving it Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Yet more misc pics... Overhead shot... Still have to decide what lighting to do for the deep/center part of the tank. Most likely gonna use a par 30 bulb... Also gonna add a few low rock formations to use as "patch reefs" in the center area in front of the caves. I'm having alot of fun with this already and the cycle still isn't done...lol Enjoy, Tim Link to comment
Mini-Dude Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 this is gonna win for pure ingenuity Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Thanks everyone... I'm just having fun trying to actualize my "vision" of a lagoon... Sort of winging it as ideas form in my head...lol Also trying to keep it inexpensive(as I'm unemployed at the moment). The waterfall is a cheap tetra internal filter(from walmart). Runs about 85 gph and has enough room for floss and chemipure or purigen,if needed.It's suctioned on the back wall and the "mountain" is built around it. It leaves the back right corner of the tank for the rest of the equipment. Just got a hydor pico evolution mini pump to put back there...have to position it to flow out through the caves so there's circulation out front for corals/macros. I really wish there was some tiny schooling/shoaling fish to put in there...that would be awesome!!! Not having much luck finding anything suitable though...lol I'm definitely open to livestock suggestions... Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Not much to report here... Just waiting out the cycle. I did push the mangroves and front left rock back a bit...trying to get a little more room in the lagoon area. Put the hydor pico power head in...does the trick as far as adding flow...just enough,I think. Mangroves are sprouting new leaves...woohoo! Here's a few pics... FTS... FES... Mangroves... Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Anyone have any interesting stocking ideas? I was thinking a fiddler crab or two,but most info I've read says they're brackish not full saltwater...plus I don't know if they're "reef safe." Any input on this would be appreciated. I'm open to invert or fish suggestions... Link to comment
JamesHL88 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Jealous I love it. Nice work hiding the equipment. I like the high black backround. Is the equipment easy to service without disturbing the rock scape? I dont know exactly how much water volume your workin with but i think a green clown goby would be a neat inhabitant if it has enough room. If not then maybe an ornamental shrimp. +1 to fiddler crabs or anything that would scale ylthe dry rocks. That would be fun to watch. And i would pass on the powerhead and keep it super low flow. Mushrooms especially expand crazy big in low flow. Xenia pulses harder in low flow. And zoanthids dont minds low flow so it doesnt limit you too bad. Im just assuming you werent planning on putting sps in it since its a lagoon. Edit: just read that u added the pico powerhead so i guess that doesnt create too much flow. Gonna be following this neat little tank. Link to comment
Jacob042426 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Anyone have any interesting stocking ideas? I was thinking a fiddler crab or two,but most info I've read says they're brackish not full saltwater...plus I don't know if they're "reef safe." Any input on this would be appreciated. I'm open to invert or fish suggestions... Fiddlers are reef safe and can be kept in full salt, but they are the most amazing escape artists and woulnt last a week in this tank without escaping. Link to comment
JamesHL88 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Fiddlers are reef safe and can be kept in full salt, but they are the most amazing escape artists and woulnt last a week in this tank without escaping. Tiny electric fence Link to comment
Newlinta Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Lol...escape was also a concern with the fiddlers. Plus I have 3 cats and 6 dogs that would love to "play" with them... The power head is in the back right corner of the tank behind the rocks...flows out throughout the cave...the macro in the front right corner has a gentle sway to it now...definitely not overkill...probably considered medium flow. The tank has about 2 3/4 gallons of water in it... Still looking for interesting/unique stocking ideas... Link to comment
Jacob042426 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Maybe just catch some little minnows at the beach? Link to comment
Cheese-Lover Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Pacific blue eyes. An Australian fish that gets used in freshwater tanks over there. Unique and attractive... Wont jump. Wont hide. Isn't fussy with food. Not overly messy. Very unique in an american tank... At least I think so... Link to comment
JR! Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 very well done. one of the best under 3 i have seen Link to comment
gearhead364 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I had a fiddler in an old brackish 20 that had a glass lid on it and I found the poor guy dried up one day in my parents room which is all the way across my house lol. but the tank is looking great! Link to comment
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