Phanman
02-25-2009, 07:59 PM
I thought I would create myself a tank journal to keep track of my own progress. Also ive never posted pics of my tanks before so thought I would share.
Pics are all taken from my camera phone so not the best quality. Need to borrow a friends Canon 40D to replace these pictures later.
I bought a used tank from a fellow reefer here about a 1.5 years ago but was waiting for my place to be built before I could set it up. I moved in april 08 but was pretty busy with the settling in etc. I finally started working on it in Dec during the holiday season when I had some free time. (Almost as bad as Tony, lol.)
During the wait for my house to be build, the tank was stored at a friends warehouse where we decided to paint the back of the tank with some black krylon fusion. Turned out pretty good I think.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00215.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00216.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00218.jpg
I wanted to do something abit different then the usual rock stacking at the back of the tank so going with a few pillars instead for open space for fish to swim and coral to grow all around the pillars. I also decided to go barebottom
The tank has had water for 4 weeks now without live stock and 2 weeks since I added a small clean up crew.
The rocks have been cooking in a rubbermaid tub for about 1 year as well, so plenty "clean". When creating pillars it took me 5hrs to drill the rock slowly and I only broke my first piece but once I got the hang of it, it wasnt so bad. I used a 5/8 acrylic rod from industrial paints and plastics for the rod.
The sump is aprox 50gals (made by golds) that is predrilled for a humidifier float value that will be gravity fed. Im using a 350w stealth heater to supply the heat. I also have a backup heater ill be using but havnt hooked it up yet.
For the return Im using a Mag18 and 4 loclines that are fed back into the display. For more flow I used 1xKoralia 4 hidden behind the left pillar and 1 vortech MP40 for the right side. Hope this is enough as i want to keep the tank as clean as possible.
For lighting I decided to go with a Aquactinics Constellation 7x54W fixture. Bulbs I went with are Fiji Purples/New Gen/ATI Blue Plus. There wasnt much room within the canopy for the lights and return but it does fit snug and the canopy does have 2 industrial fans (1 blowin air in, and 1 sucking it out) for air movement to keep the unit cool. Without these fans I would really wonder if the unit would over heat as there is about and inch clearance from the top of the lights to the top of the canopy.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00336.jpg
Anyways here is the display tank as is today without the canopy on. I have since cut down the middle acrylic rod to be flush with the top rock
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00427.jpg
I will try to add more pictures as I go along. Hope you enjoy and dont be too critical of my tank please, lol.
Pics are all taken from my camera phone so not the best quality. Need to borrow a friends Canon 40D to replace these pictures later.
I bought a used tank from a fellow reefer here about a 1.5 years ago but was waiting for my place to be built before I could set it up. I moved in april 08 but was pretty busy with the settling in etc. I finally started working on it in Dec during the holiday season when I had some free time. (Almost as bad as Tony, lol.)
During the wait for my house to be build, the tank was stored at a friends warehouse where we decided to paint the back of the tank with some black krylon fusion. Turned out pretty good I think.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00215.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00216.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00218.jpg
I wanted to do something abit different then the usual rock stacking at the back of the tank so going with a few pillars instead for open space for fish to swim and coral to grow all around the pillars. I also decided to go barebottom
The tank has had water for 4 weeks now without live stock and 2 weeks since I added a small clean up crew.
The rocks have been cooking in a rubbermaid tub for about 1 year as well, so plenty "clean". When creating pillars it took me 5hrs to drill the rock slowly and I only broke my first piece but once I got the hang of it, it wasnt so bad. I used a 5/8 acrylic rod from industrial paints and plastics for the rod.
The sump is aprox 50gals (made by golds) that is predrilled for a humidifier float value that will be gravity fed. Im using a 350w stealth heater to supply the heat. I also have a backup heater ill be using but havnt hooked it up yet.
For the return Im using a Mag18 and 4 loclines that are fed back into the display. For more flow I used 1xKoralia 4 hidden behind the left pillar and 1 vortech MP40 for the right side. Hope this is enough as i want to keep the tank as clean as possible.
For lighting I decided to go with a Aquactinics Constellation 7x54W fixture. Bulbs I went with are Fiji Purples/New Gen/ATI Blue Plus. There wasnt much room within the canopy for the lights and return but it does fit snug and the canopy does have 2 industrial fans (1 blowin air in, and 1 sucking it out) for air movement to keep the unit cool. Without these fans I would really wonder if the unit would over heat as there is about and inch clearance from the top of the lights to the top of the canopy.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00336.jpg
Anyways here is the display tank as is today without the canopy on. I have since cut down the middle acrylic rod to be flush with the top rock
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/phantasticman/Tank%20Pictures/DSC00427.jpg
I will try to add more pictures as I go along. Hope you enjoy and dont be too critical of my tank please, lol.