new 5g nano for me!!

[christyf5]

Wooty! I am offically a nano-reefer! :biggrin:

Well actually I was one awhile ago (my 5 gallon rescue mission) but this one is way cooler.

So I've been wanting to set up a nano for awhile now, mostly because I needed a new project and mostly because some bastage crab was munching on all my zoos and ricordia.

Then it was Kari to the rescue! He built this!! Isn't it fantastic??

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5606.jpg

Its based on the Tru-Vu 6 g nano. I'm putting a coralife 2x18w CF unit on it and haven't figured out what kind of flow I want. So far, I've bought the wrong bulkhead for it (smooth move eh?) so I'm sure this will be like most of the other tanks I've put together :razz: I certainly have enough spare parts for it :biggrin:

I'm hoping to get it running tomorrow http://www.smilieportal.de/smilies/froehlich/21.gif I can't wait to see it all set up :mrgreen:

[marie]

awwww, I want a new tank :lol: .

[Ruth]

Very cool! We need pictures when it is set up. I know what you mean about buying the wrong size equipment - I have a big supply as well - all except the 2" bulkhead and 2" elbow that I really need - and guess what? Neither does anyone else in town......grrrr.....

[Kabong]

I still owe you a frag Christy for those zoo's a while back
Let me know if you'd like a frag of either of these to fill the new tank a bit.
http://members.shaw.ca/kabong/zoo.jpg

Excuse Wally he's a bit of a picture whore.

[christyf5]

Ruth I hear ya. I got the wrong bulkhead in Duncan (just happened to see a store while I was there) and figured I could just get another one here in Nanaimo, but it turns out nobody in Nanaimo carries the darned things and the Duncan store is closed on Saturdays :mad: Guess I'm not getting this thing set up today after all :neutral:


Tim, buddy! :wink: Those zoos are lookin good :biggrin: I'll be hitting you up for some of those green ones. Some bloody crab in my main tank made a nice snack of them. You should be updating us with a full tank shot :wink: How do you like the black sand?? I was going to go with black sand but got an offer of free sugar sand and since I'm attempting to do this on the cheap, couldnt' resist.

[Kabong]

Tim, buddy! :wink: Those zoos are lookin good :biggrin: I'll be hitting you up for some of those green ones. Some bloody crab in my main tank made a nice snack of them. You should be updating us with a full tank shot :wink: How do you like the black sand?? I was going to go with black sand but got an offer of free sugar sand and since I'm attempting to do this on the cheap, couldnt' resist.

A frag of the green is yours Christy. I'll be up Island last week off September So I can drop it off for ya.

I don't have any full shots right now, My tank isn't really presentable.
I had to upgrade into a half finished tank.
Never got a chance to cover up the overflow, So you can see all the plumbing.

Black sand LOL well it was black before i put the rock in.
Over all though i really like it. Brings out the color's really nicely.

[AJ_77]

Christy: TOTM!!!

:mrgreen:

[christyf5]

I got another bulkhead, it didn't fit either so I had to get creative :wink:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5622.jpg


Eventually I'll replace some of that with a bulkhead and something that looks a bit more "professional" :razz: for now it gets the job done though. Not much here for serious tank plumbing parts. I suppose a trip to Vancouver might be in order (also depending on how stuffed this thing looks once I get everything moved over :wink:)


So I got sand and rock in the tank now. A couple of stomatella snails came in with the rock and I flung my last hermit crab in there for fun.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5619.jpg


I was sort of going for the "minimalist" look, now I'm not so sure. I don't want the tank crammed with rock but it looks like it could use a little more?? Comments please :biggrin:

Man, I didn't realize just how much I missed the look of a sandbed in the big tank. No doubt I won't be saying that in a few weeks when its all scuzzy looking.

More pics soon with all my stuffs moved over :mrgreen:

[albert_dao]

Wow, you really scored!

On a side note, everyone wish Kari a speedy recovery, he fell of a ladder the other day and seriously hurt both his arms.

Just to paint the picture, Kari comes into the store a couple days ago with heavy cast around both his forearms, and says "I can't make those drip plates for you."

... What a soldier!

[christyf5]

Yes I did score didn't I?:biggrin: I hope someone bought Kari some really long straws or fashioned a drink holder in his cast(s) :wink:

Ok, I'll continue to toot my own horn here. More pics :razz:

I was thinking maybe I should wait a bit before I moved the livestock over, then I thought naaah. I've never been a big one on patience anyways (please note that the rock was cycled and had been held in my sump for the past 2 months and I used half seasoned tank water).

Tah-dah!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5645.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5646.jpg

I'm thinking it could use some more rock, not that I want to stuff the tank full of rock but at this point where am I supposed to put all the new goodies I want to put in it?? :razz:

[Stylasterina]

:D Christy :D welcome to the nano club. Lookin really good girl

Stacey

[Skimmer Juice]

Ya I think the tank looks really good!You should put a harliquin shrimp in it.I have one in my nano I will post some pics of it.I have been comeing on this site for a while just never got around to posting my nano.

[reeferaddict]

Girlie... I told ya to grab some rock too... when you come by to get a different bulkhead stop in I have quite a few chunks and a hammer too.. :mrgreen:

[christyf5]

Girlie... I told ya to grab some rock too... when you come by to get a different bulkhead stop in I have quite a few chunks and a hammer too.. :mrgreen:

I know, I should have gotten rock from you when I was there :rolleyes: I went by to get that bulkhead, I got another one thats the wrong size. I'm sure if I went back in they'd be looking for blonde roots :razz:

[Ruth]

I think it looks really good Christy - and I like to think that I have lots and lots and lots of patience because I have never used any of it up - it's still there.......somewhere.

[Xtasia]

love this tank!

[EmilyB]

Whoa girl ! That didn't take long. Very sweet...and thanks for all the help on your visit. Good thing Kari got that done, I thought of the straw, or velcro mitts, or something....:lol: :razz:

[Farrmanchu]

That looks sweet, insta-nano. I started up my 55 the same way, it's the way to go. I think you have enough rock, just need the Corals to get bigger :mrgreen:

[kari]

Soon as I figure out how to open the door I'll go dig up a bulkhead and mail it.

[christyf5]

Soon as I figure out how to open the door I'll go dig up a bulkhead and mail it.

:rofl:

[Midknight]

Beautiful tank. Now the question is... are you going to leave the hight of the rocks where it is?
If so it would be cool to put 1 taller coral right on top. :wink:

[christyf5]

I think I'm going to add some more rock, I need more room for some non-pink zoos and a few really fantastic ricordea :wink:

[christyf5]

Well the tank temp was getting a bit much for me. Within a few hours the tank was hitting almost 84 degrees. I was looking into getting an iceprobe chiller but they're a little out of my league at the moment. So I thought I'd try out the coralife aqualight mounting legs to get the light off the tank. It worked like a charm. The tank holds at a steady 79 degrees. Not bad for $15 :wink:

Of course the requisite pic :razz:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5649.jpg

[christyf5]

So I went to OA last week and got 4 new colors of zoos and 2 new ricordeas :mrgreen: The tank is getting pretty full now, although I suppose I could cram one more rock in there if I really wanted to :wink:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5881.jpg

I switched out the minijet 404 (106gph) for a maxijet 600 (160gph). Its kind of weird going from a full on SPS tank with major flow to a nano where you don't really need everything whipping around the tank. Nevertheless, I upgraded the pump and everything is sort of gently wafting in the breeze now which makes me happy.

Also one of my neon gobies which was being harassed by a sharknose goby managed to make it into my overflow and down into the sump. I figured I'd let him hang out in the nano for awhile and so far I think he is a bit confused by the lack of flow as well :razz: I put his little nori PVC in there and he was eating like a champ so it certainly hasn't affected his appetite.

[fishmanty]

That nano looks great! I wish mine looked that good when it was running!

I love the zoo's. So easy to keep, and they look so damn good :)

[muck]

hehe.. I love the little neon goby in there.

I see he has the same purple disease your Blue Tang has.. :mrgreen:

[Chaloupa]

Your tank is looking excellent Christy!:biggrin: A couple of those zoo's would look great in my Mom's nano!!!

[christyf5]

Ok at this point I DEFINITELY need more rock. My zoo fetish is getting a bit out of hand. Just as I was thinking, gee the tank looks pretty good I get the OA newsletter and the next thing the phone is in my hand :razz:
I'm thinking about just stuffing the tank with rock at this point:wink:

Ok so more pics just so you can see, plus I got some KICK A$$ zoos from Scavenger.

Tank pic:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5917.jpg


New zoos :mrgreen:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5915.jpg

And a ricordea I missed in the big tank (thank god the crabs missed it too :rolleyes)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5919.jpg

[Midknight]

Looking great, but if it is getting too full I can help house some of your extra zoo's. :wink:

[christyf5]

Hehe, I'll give them time to grow yet :wink:

Oh and I forgot to mention. That orange ric I added to the tank. His greeting to the tank was to roll over onto my green blasto and melt one of the polyps. You can see the damage in the bottom left hand corner. Some of those rics have a crazy powerful sting to them :sad:

[Delphinus]

What an amazing little tank.

You know what you need now though, is a different tank that's slightly bigger, and then, down the road after that, another one that's bigger yet, and .... :p

[christyf5]

Well I suppose since I pimped my own thread over in the lounge I should provide an update with gratuitious bragging and such :razz:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5966.jpg

new zoos from Patwa:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5992.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN5993.jpg

[Tarolisol]

Response :p

















And i want some zoos

[christyf5]

Its been awhile since I've posted a pic so here it is :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/nano%20tank/DSCN6420.jpg

Since I last posted I've battled flatworms, had an ongoing war with caulerpa lost about half of these to various issues (predation, lighting and some unknowns). I must say, keeping a smaller tank is just as challenging as a larger tank. I can grow algae even better in this one! :wink:

One thing about the fixture I chose (coralife 2x18W CF) is that its great for the first few months or so but the bulbs drop off pretty quickly (and the 2 bulbs cost as much as the fixture did! :eek:) I did try a 150W coralife hang on MH unit in January but soon discovered that its just too much for the tank. I ordered a 20K bulb from ebay which helped stem the tide but 150 watts is still a lot for a 5 gallon tank :razz:

Currently I'm back to the coralife compact fluorescent unit and purchased two new bulbs (only available in 50/50). Due to power issues in my new place I've decided not to set up the 150W again (the nano and the big tank are on the same circuit and I'm not sure if it can handle it.

Anyway, most of the predators are out of there for now. Theres still a clicking coming from the tank and I never did find the culprit during the move so he's in there for now or until he kills something.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/nano%20tank/DSCN6417.jpg

[andsoitgoes]

*where* did you get that fixture???

I've only seen the 9" 1x18w, never the 2x18w

I want :(

I'm so feh with my hood, it works but I'm using screw-in bulbs and I just don't like it, they're not easy to find and they don't get the lighting as even as I'd like.

Must let me know, and how much, too!

Its been awhile since I've posted a pic so here it is :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/nano%20tank/DSCN6420.jpg

Since I last posted I've battled flatworms, had an ongoing war with caulerpa lost about half of these to various issues (predation, lighting and some unknowns). I must say, keeping a smaller tank is just as challenging as a larger tank. I can grow algae even better in this one! :wink:

One thing about the fixture I chose (coralife 2x18W CF) is that its great for the first few months or so but the bulbs drop off pretty quickly (and the 2 bulbs cost as much as the fixture did! :eek:) I did try a 150W coralife hang on MH unit in January but soon discovered that its just too much for the tank. I ordered a 20K bulb from ebay which helped stem the tide but 150 watts is still a lot for a 5 gallon tank :razz:

Currently I'm back to the coralife compact fluorescent unit and purchased two new bulbs (only available in 50/50). Due to power issues in my new place I've decided not to set up the 150W again (the nano and the big tank are on the same circuit and I'm not sure if it can handle it.

Anyway, most of the predators are out of there for now. Theres still a clicking coming from the tank and I never did find the culprit during the move so he's in there for now or until he kills something.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/nano%20tank/DSCN6417.jpg

[christyf5]

I had it special ordered from Island Pet Zone. in Duncan. It should be available from anyone that carries the coralife products I would think. I think it was about $70. Replacement bulbs came to $62 with tax from BigAlsOnline :eek: Current USA also makes a similar 2x18W model. I have never seen it carried anywhere in canada though.

[fishytime]

Where did you find that red ric Its gorgeous. Oh yeah beautiful tank btw.

[GrimReefer]

nice nano, christy. how long is that fixture?

[Jason McK]

Christy, is that any place to keep your sample for the Dr. LOL

J

[christyf5]

Christy, is that any place to keep your sample for the Dr. LOL

J

:rofl: Ahh, I needed a good laugh on a monday morning :razz:

Thats my ultralith stuff. The bf has to dose it so I make it as easy as possible :razz:


Fishytime - I'm not sure where I got that one from. I think IPZ in Duncan.

TheGrimReefer - The fixture is 12" long.