Terry's home made nano. NANO contest 2010. my unique tank.

[the marine apprentice]

so interest got the best of me and i want to do a tank for the nano contest, i am building my own tank so it is gonna take me a few days to get everything figured out as i just just decided that i am entering this contest. so i am not going to have any pics up for a little bit. please bare with me.

[The Grizz]

Well come on get with it clock it ticking......

[Trocar61]

How do you say hooked:biggrin: where do you you find all the time to do these things...lol

[the marine apprentice]

i just find the time derek. i work some pretty easy hrs at work so yeah.

[the marine apprentice]

so here is a pic of what i want to build for my tank here.
i have redesigned it and made it differant in so many ways from my original idea so here it is.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/newtankdesign.png
please comment if you find anything wrong. i know the drawing is crappy but it looks way better on paper.
the main porpose of the angled front pane is for photography and visual of the corals

[superduperwesman]

I'm pretty sure the top edge of the tank closest to me when looking at ur drawing has some issues? I think it carries to the wrong spot?

[the marine apprentice]

what do you mean wes? the only open part of the tank is the very top where the overflow is and up to where the angled part starts. the whole angled pane is enclosed. it will give you better visual without any distortion

[shrimpchips]

Basically this tank, with an internal overflow:

http://www.reefbuilders.com/wp-content/gallery/ledspotlight/coast-to-coast.jpg

edit- and a few more edges it seems...

[superduperwesman]

what do you mean wes? the only open part of the tank is the very top where the overflow is and up to where the angled part starts. the whole angled pane is enclosed. it will give you better visual without any distortion

I just don't understand what's going on in these areas??

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/superduperwesman/issues.jpg

[TheMikey]

Took me a minute to see it as well. Here's a layout that a sketched really quick on paint. It's not good, but you'll see from his diagram what you missed:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/themastersmew/CSI_Miami_comic_by_ninjaEliXD-1.jpg

[Skimmerking]

yup that is a sweet looking tank the back piece if you dont mind me answering is the over flow like a jbj nano tank. with the holes driled for a closed loop. there is a hagen tank out there that i saw at the lfs i love them great clam tank too.

[superduperwesman]

ahah I see it now but for some reason depending on how I look at it I can see 3 different tanks. 2 of which are very awkwardly shaped ahah

It was doing this kinda thing to me ahah

http://www.optical-illusion-pictures.com/images/stairs.jpg

[TheMikey]

Depending what you plan to keep, the design of your tank might make it difficult to light adequately. What are the dimensions and what kind of lighting are you hoping to employ? I'm really digging the design, but I am worried that the angle of the tank might provide adverse lighting conditions to any coral you want to keep.

[superduperwesman]

I don't think the front is THAT sloped that he'd have issues?

[TheMikey]

I don't think the front is THAT sloped that he'd have issues?

Hm. Perhaps I'm looking too closely at the pic that was posted of the real tank. My concern is that the light will reflect too much given the angle of the glass. I suppose, though, it's going to depend more on what kind of light than anything else. A single MH mounted at an angle would probably take care of that issue.

[superduperwesman]

A lot of light fixtures are narrower than the tanks they're above but the reflectors typically fan the light out. So if the fixture is above the opening it should fan out enough by the time it's to the bottom. I do agree that there will prob be some gradient but nothing too drastic I doubt? If you go back to the pic you'll see that the little light about that tank fans out enough to light the entire bottom of the tank.

[the marine apprentice]

yeah so i got a sweet deal on a 36" light and i changed the tank design. the one i built is not as cool as the one i had designed up earlier but ill have pics up within the hr. just loadin them up on photobucket.
thanks for all the comments on it. and yes wes it did the same to me when i looked at it and it still does.

[The Grizz]

Oh come on already get with the pic's :razz::razz:

[the marine apprentice]

relax greg haha. photo bucket takes forever to load pics

[the marine apprentice]

so here is what i did all day yesterday out at grizzly acres.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020736.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020738.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020743.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020744.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020747.jpg for size compare
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020748.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020750.jpg

its not quite done i just need to euro brace it a bit with one inch strips and then ill be all ready to get some water in it

[Marlin65]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020750.jpg

LOL that is some serious clamping going on there.:lol::lol:

[the marine apprentice]

thats what happens when you build stuff in a welding shop, the ol bessay clamps are your friend lol.

[The Grizz]

thats what happens when you build stuff in a welding shop, the ol bessay clamps are your friend lol.
Took the words right out of my mouth.

[Kryptic4L]

you and grizz are boarderlining a tank building business... I give it a year, until your in production. Nice work.

[The Grizz]

you and grizz are boarderlining a tank building business... I give it a year, until your in production. Nice work.

I don't really see that happening. No body seems to want to pay for quality any more with the economy, it seems that people want some thing for almost nothing. I myself will pay a little more for quality as long as it is reasonable especially if it is something custom.

[the marine apprentice]

got a few new pics tonight
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020796.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020797.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1020798.jpg

it is really hard to take pics of an empty acrylic tank just so clear and im sure the lighting in my house sucks for it as well lol.

[bauder1986]

Well this tank has my vote already but only because I am byist haha

[lobsterboy]

that tank looks awesome terry, wicked work man,

[the marine apprentice]

thanks john. im gettin better at this but it does take a bit of time.

i got the light the other night and it looks good and will work pretty good on this tank i am sure.
and thanks to doug i got some better bulbs in it too.

[the marine apprentice]

so i got some new pics haha.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0121.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0123.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0124.jpg
my little frag rack i built into the tank.

so if the pics are not really nice quality it was because i took them with my new iPhone, still learning how to use it haha

[ReeferMush]

Hey thats a good lookin' tank, can't wait to see some water and rock in there. I like the setup :mrgreen:

[the marine apprentice]

So here it is with water and some temporary rock till I get some new pieces this weekend I hope
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/624c6fc2.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/8a6f4aca.jpg

[The Grizz]

WELL...........IT IS ABOUT TIME, :lol:

[noirsphynx]

Curious about the back chambers layout. The center is the overflow, left return but how about the right chamber.....another return?

[the marine apprentice]

Yes they are both for returns. And also space for my skimmer and carbon reactor

[noirsphynx]

Yes they are both for returns. And also space for my skimmer and carbon reactor

Thanks, that's how I've been thinking of doing the chambers for my tank as well. You don't see many AIO like that so it's nice to see one.

[the marine apprentice]

It's nice to have it like that as I have limited room and nowhere for a sump under the tank. Plus I am going really cheap with this system too

[bauder1986]

totally wicked tank dude

[the marine apprentice]

Here are a few more pics for those who enjoy pics
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/4001f247.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/77969988.jpg
and I want to get one of these guys if I can ever find one. This is from my buddies tank who does not know much about the hobby and won't listen so I'm trying to get it off him
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/ac657316.jpg

[the marine apprentice]

So I am curious on what i should put in here for fish and shrimp. I want to keep them smaller yet somewhat active

[The Grizz]

So I am curious on what i should put in here for fish and shrimp. I want to keep them smaller yet somewhat active

Half a dozen BG Chromis would look cool. BTW my big clam sure looks good in there, :lol:

[bauder1986]

active? Cleaner Wrasse, a hectors goby, cleaner shrimp. thats all a igot right now

[bauder1986]

Half a dozen BG Chromis would look cool. BTW my big clam sure looks good in there, :lol:

oh cool, so that big one is yours eh? well the little one belongs to me haha, i let terry use it because it helps make his tanks look good haha

[fishytime]

Tre-cool Terry!.....Tank looks wicked.....

active fish huh?.....striped or threadfin cardinals stay in the open and tend to remain in groups better than BGCs......if you wanna fashion a top for the tank you could think about some of the wrasses.....like the "fairy" group....or the "flasher" group.....or the sixline etc. family(though they tend to be a titch aggressive)......or what about basslets or dottybacks?....

[the marine apprentice]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/e36363bb.jpg
some new rock igot and aquascape
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/a3907556.jpg
the gf hasn't even noticed I bought some new rock haha let's hope she doesn't lol
but yeah that's how it looks now and I think it's gonna stay that way for now

[The Grizz]

Looks good dude, i think that power head look's kinda familiar...... hhhhmmmmm.

[ReeferMush]

ha ha thats whats it's about, using all to your advantage !! I had my 20 gallon running for a couple months before a crash and thru my buddy the rock to keep in his 90 gallon (AHHope) and then the Nano Project came up and I was like " hey " can I have that rock? :lol:

[the marine apprentice]

So there isn't really much to update on other then another new aqua scape and a few new pics. I m still waiting for my Internet to be back online so ya have to suffer with my iPhone pics till then.
I got some new pieces of rock from a member here that is shutting down and I smashed one of them up and turned it into a zoa island which I really think it looks pretty good. So here are a few pics for ya. If ya have any questions or comments let me know

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/75245505.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/0c1418ce.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/13fd53e2.jpg

and here is the zoa island
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/0c528970.jpg

[the marine apprentice]

Here is another pic for the reptile lovers it is of my two baby bearded dragons only a month and a half old they lobe to hang out by the front pane of my tank and soak in the light rays
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/f1db4a2b.jpg

[Skimmerking]

Dude love the bearded Dragons. they are loving the fish tank I see, so when is the upgrade tank for them.

[the marine apprentice]

We are actually in the process of upgrading the tank for the dragons right now. Got some cool sticks and branches for them to chill out on. And the tank is a 42g breeder tank with a big ding in the corner. That's why it's for the dragons and not for my salt water use haha

[the marine apprentice]

so there really is nothing to update on other then i got a new fish and a gbta
the fish is a cool lil guy he is a red scooter blenny about an inch long. got him from blue world aquatics in edmonton, thanks ken and tks greg for pickin him up for me. right now josh is on his way back from calgary from buying all of lobsterboys colonies he had forsale and i am sure ill be getting a few cool little frags from him when he gets back so ill have some more pics up in a few days. and they will be way better quality pics as well. lately i ave been using my iphone and it just does not compare to my panasonic
cheers all

[The Grizz]

Boy oh boy Terry the more frags you put in there the less room there is going to be for that BIG CLAM :wink::wink: I know where there is a nice big tank with a few other clams that would take in a fellow brother :biggrin::biggrin::wink::wink:

[bauder1986]

ahaha awesome nattter between you two boys over that clam! Hope you like that birdnest there terry and in a week or so ill frag some of that purple milli for you but i want a nice sized frag of some of your pallies!

[the marine apprentice]

So here is a pic of the scooter blenny I got over a week ago from blue world aquatics. He is doin great. Eating alot of random things he can find and has a super cool personality.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/4d1d50ee.jpg

and Greg. Some day just maybe my big clam will be in with it's brothers but not right now. But I do sense that there will be a serious need of an upgrade once this nano contest is done. Most likely sooner

[lockrookie]

ahaha awesome nattter between you two boys over that clam!

At least they are not arguing on which one of them gets "crabs" from each others tank.:wink:

awesome looking scooter very nice coloration ijust have a brown one it kinda blends in...

[the marine apprentice]

Tks locrookie. Those lil guys are pretty cool. But I need a little fish that eats algea off my rocks. Any ideas

[lockrookie]

im new to this refer thing .. before my start on the tank i thought a reefer was a cigarette that put you in jail.

so i copied this from a site:lol:

Algae-eating tropical marine fish to consider:

Algae-Eating Blennies
The appropriately named lawnmower blenny is the star, but there are others.

Tangs
Of course there is the Yellow Tang, which is heartily recommended, but there are others worth considering.

Rabbitfishes
In many aquarists’ experience, rabbitfishes are better grazers than tangs, but they may not be reef compatible.

Angelfish
Dwarf angelfish are tremendous grazers and amongst the most beautiful algae-eating tropical marine fish suitable for the aquarium.



Read more at Suite101: Algae-Eating Tropical Marine Fish: Saltwater Aquarium Fish that Graze on Algae http://fishinsects.suite101.com/article.cfm/algaeeating_tropical_marine_fish#ixzz0kkoSa86m

[The Grizz]

I will keep looking for a little lawnmower benny for you Terry, Next time I go to the cities, I think that would be your best option.

Can't blame a guy for trying to get that monster clam, if I found a really nice torch for your tank maybe then we could work out a deal. :wink::biggrin:

[blacknife]

I got a tail spot blenny the other day, he is nice and cute and little, have seen him rooting around the sand lots and picking at the rock and glass, but if the amount of green fish poo in the tank is any indicator he is doing some hard work.

[the marine apprentice]

Hmmm interesting I like blennies.
So I was in Calgary yesterday and spend a few bucks on some highly needed supplies. I got an orange spot goby, a lawnmower blenny and a cute green clown goby. I also got a sweet frag of red zoas that are new to my collection of 26 different types of zoas and I also upgraded two of my bulbs in my light. So instead of 3 15k aqua science and one crappy current USA actinic I know have 2 15k and 2 geisman actinic + and holy crap I never knew I had that sort of color in my nano. Everything just popped and the coral all seemed a bit more happy today when the lights went out. I am very impressed with the new lights and a huge thanks goes out to Doug and carmen from red coral for all the help you guys rock don't change the way u do things there.
I have a few pics of the new stuff but I have to get it all loaded from my phone to photobucket and it takes forever when I don't have a wifi connection.

On a really sad note I came home after work tonight to fine my orange spot goby dried up and laying on my desk beside my tank. I saw that my sixline was bein a bully last night for a while but simmered down once my lights went out. But I guess the sixline basterd didn't like the goby today. The six line will be finding a new home asap.

[bauder1986]

i have a home for that six line....

[Gaffer]

Wow, Great looking tank.

How tough was it to work with the acrylic?

Andrew

[bauder1986]

alright terry, now i got those two little bastard fish of yours in my tank you can make this tank look good with out them f-ing it up for you.

[the marine apprentice]

soooo.... im sorry i havent really updated this thread in a while ive been working lots and i just got my internet working again in my house so now i can actually put up some higher quality pictures instead of those crappy iphone pics.

there has been some recent changes in the tank as well as some cool additions to it as well.
as some of you know my six line wrasse and my blue damsel were little basterds so i sent them over to josh's tank where they cant destroy my stuff anymore haha.
i had gotten a lawnmower blenny, a orange spot goby and a green clown goby a few weeks ago from big als in calgary and my six line chased the orange spot and my lawnmower out of the tank and they ended up drying out on my desk and carpet over night. i was pretty ****ed about it but oh well, just need to move on and make some changes. so that is when the blue damsel and the six line went to a new home.
so i am done boring you people with words so here are some pics of the new setup and some new coral and such. feel free to comment on what ever you want.
new blastos
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030223.jpg
new brain coral from grizz
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030222.jpg
my orange rics that everyone loves
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030220.jpg
my birds nest i picked up last fall
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1010883.jpg
my birds nest now
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030200.jpg
my green clown goby hangin out in my digi
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030192.jpg
my blastos that are growing nicely (finally!!)
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030182.jpg
my zoa island with just actinic +
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030189.jpg
my frogspawn close up
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030172.jpg
and a full tank shot with just actinic+
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030219.jpg

well i hope you all like and feel free to comment.

[the marine apprentice]

here is a full tank shot from right in front just for you bauder
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030227.jpg

[bauder1986]

here is a full tank shot from right in front just for you bauder
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/P1030227.jpg

the vertical angle is off abit haha. jk looks good dude.

[the marine apprentice]

yes josh it is off a little

i am starting my mini renovation of the nano tonight as i do not like the way it looks and when you see pics in the next few days it is gonna look alot different

[the marine apprentice]

so in the last two weeks alot has happened in my tank, first off my acrylic tank that i had built was on the verge of blowing two seams out, luckily i had silconed the corners and they held on till i oculd go pick up my little 15g from greg just out of town ans i did the swap over last tuesday i think. but before i set it all up i painted the back of the 15 white so it gave the tank a cool look. which is the same as i am going to do on my new tank i am pickin up this weekend in calgary.
one bad part about all the move and such with all my coral is that i must have dinged my one brain coral which was doing very well and now it is slowly dying off in the 15g. makes me sad because it was the brighter and healthier of the two i had gotten, but now the one that is pale color and never was thought to survive is big a puffy all day and night.
here are a few pics of the new set up. still using all the same equipment minus one fan and my phosbahn reactor(which i havent gotten the energy to set it up yet)

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0453.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0447.jpg

[the marine apprentice]

nothing much is new right now the tank is on cruise control right now and i will be hopeing to some new zoas in the next few weeks when i go back down to calgary to see some special people.

[the marine apprentice]

this sucks ya know. it really does. i have this beautiful 65gallon tank sittin in my place here that is running rock and water and sand for my 6foot build and my nano is getting pretty crammed full of stuff. i wish i had another light the same as the one im running that way i can put a bunch of the corals in the 65 so they grow more spread out.

anyone have another three footer they wanna get rid of?

[the marine apprentice]

wow four months later i finally update my tank thread. i also noticed that no one else has either haha.


i have learned that my iphone takes better close up pics then my digital camera. goes to show the quality of the apple product.
here are a few pics of what i have taken with my iphone.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0365.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0117.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0078.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0115.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0072.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0056.jpg

it has been a pretty hecktic few months with work and bills and such so once this contest is over i am shutting down all my systems and will be starting up a new build when i am back on track with everything.

[The Grizz]

Where is the FTS!! Is that the same brain that I gave you a while ago?

[albert_dao]

Basically this tank, with an internal overflow:

http://www.reefbuilders.com/wp-content/gallery/ledspotlight/coast-to-coast.jpg

edit- and a few more edges it seems...

Funny story, this is actually my tank. As in this exact one. It's sitting in my closet right now waiting to be filled, Ha!

[the marine apprentice]

haha thats awesome. that was the original design but i switched it up soo many times that i ended up just building an acrylicic set up which has blown apart so i fixed it and gave it to my gf for her little turtle. i am now using a 15g standerd tank with 4x39w lighting. it works pretty damn good i think. and i have not done a water change in 4 moonths and havent dosed anything but a bit of calcium and alk buffer.

greg ill have a fts in a day or two just put up pics that i had on my comp at the moment.

[the marine apprentice]

hey so i have a FTS i took this afternoon. its nothing special but just to show that yes i am still in this competition here ya go

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0550.jpg

[the marine apprentice]

i moved alot of stuff around and made alot of room by getting rid of a bunch of my stuff to friends who need to fill up some voids in their tanks.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0542.jpg
i got a new lil clow a week ago who my big clown just loves.

my new plate coral i got which is doing pretty awesome
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0538.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0540.jpg

my clown goby hangin out in my acro
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r44/duey123/nano%20contest%202010/IMG_0541.jpg

[Llamarama]

Awww glad little clown is doing so well!

[the marine apprentice]

oh yeah lil guy is doing great. eats with the big guys all day long.

[the marine apprentice]

so what is going on with this contest. i never got an update for the final pic because i was away at work butnothing has changed since my last fts a month ago so if that works then cool.