Nano's 35g Cube

[Nano]

Had To rework the aquascape a bit, its pretty cluttered! hopefully this allows some room for sps growth and MORE FRAGS!!! Still pretty cloudy ATM but its a lot more open now
Went from this:
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3409.jpg
To this:
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3410.jpg

[fishytime]

looks to me like your gonna need a shoehorn and some vasoline to get anymore frags in there mang!.....can you say upgrade:wink:

[Nano]

hahaha pretty much. And I have 2 favias, 2 ricordea, and a large zoa colony coming in lol... might have to set up a frag rack soon

[gregzz4]

You're gettin' quite the collection there :biggrin:

[Nano]

I NEED MORE!


... Just kidding. I don't know what I'm going to do when its full.. I'm not ready to upgrade yet lol.

[reefwars]

hey welcome to canreef!!!


nice tank ya got there how bout some specs for fun???:P:P

[Nano]

hey welcome to canreef!!!


nice tank ya got there how bout some specs for fun???:P:P

Denny you didn't do any birthday whacky smokes lastnight did you?:lol:

[Nano]

finally the water cleared up from me destroying the rock work so i figured WTH might as well post some better pictures
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3418.jpg
Pocci
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3420.jpg
Blue Digi
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3422.jpg
birdsnest I got a while back, still doing well
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3423.jpg
Side tank Shot
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3425.jpg

[Nano]

Cell phone pic. Turned out decent, truer colors anyway.... Starting to think I should paint the back black where the cords are.....

that is all:twised:

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/IMAG0215.jpg

[Coralgurl]

Looking goooooood!! Love the new scape....is everyone spring cleaning or something?? Lots of new aquascaping going on.....

[Nano]

Looking goooooood!! Love the new scape....is everyone spring cleaning or something?? Lots of new aquascaping going on.....

:lol:had to make room for more frags :pound:

[Nano]

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/th_Untitled-4.jpg (http://s1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/?action=view&current=Untitled-4.mp4)

[Nano]

So much for HD, photobuckets quality sucks, here my youtube link

Be KIND! :wink:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhm6gd9NDxk

[gregzz4]

New paint pics ? :razz:

[Nano]

Got a few more frags lol... I guess I did have room after all, just have to figure out where I want to put them
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3452.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3453.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3454.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3456.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3457.jpg

[Nano]

New paint pics ? :razz:

lol weird I was just working on that!

[Nano]

All Black:smile:
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3459.jpg

[gregzz4]

Looks good. Helps blend your overflow
I see your family watchin' :smile:

[Nano]

Looks good. Helps blend your overflow
I see your family watchin' :smile:

Sure does, it helps hide the powerheads a bit too. I'm considering painting the return black but we'll see.

yeah the little one is just fixed on the tank all the time now that she can focus more :lol:

[gregzz4]

Why paint the overflow ? Isn't it black already ?

[Nano]

No not the overflow the return pipe the white pipe ;)

[gregzz4]

:doh: Too much coffee

[Nano]

Lol

[gregzz4]

Have you given any thought to replacing the return with Sch80 parts ?
Once it corallines over, it may hide it well enough :noidea:
No down time waiting for paint to dry
Your tank - it's just that I'm against paint in the water, regardless of how harmless it's been for people in the past

[Nano]

Sch80? You mean like lock line?

[gregzz4]

Nope, not loc-line. I don't see any in your build. Looks like you used all Sch40
This (http://www.pvcfittingsdirect.com/_e/gdept/02/PVC_Fittings_Schedule_80.htm) is Sch80, sometimes called skid80
It is rated for higher pressure, so it has a thicker wall, but with the same internal I.D. as 40

[Nano]

uh that stuff lol. Thought about that too just never got around to these little details until recently

[Nano]

April 8
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3162.jpg
April 30-ish
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3309.jpg
Today
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3507.jpg

[Nano]

FTS 05/30/2012
Shot in Raw, color corrected on photoshop, maybe a bit too much saturation but otherwise, pretty accurate finally i know how to take a half @$$ ok FTS lol
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3495.jpg

[gregzz4]

Looks like good growth to me :smile:

[Nano]

Well I have lined up the sps I was after! now... where do I put them??
Help me place them (haven't picked them up but wanted time to kind of plan it out. I will post pictures of the colonies the frags are coming from for color reference, one frag isn't pictured, Garf Bonsai
Here is the tank (obviously) :lol:Circled in red is where colonies are starting to grow in. Do I really have room??:lol::twised:
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/Untitled-5.jpg
Here are the mother colonies. frags will be 1"+

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab254/tcaomhuong/april2012048.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab254/tcaomhuong/april2012047.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab254/tcaomhuong/april2012046.jpg

[Nano]

Bump, anyone wanna help a brother out :lol:

[Borderjumper]

How about building your rock up a little higher? that would give you another level for corals... You have way too much unused glass space too.. Magnets!:mrgreen:

[Nano]

How about building your rock up a little higher? that would give you another level for corals... You have way too much unused glass space too.. Magnets!:mrgreen:

haha thought about it.. not quite sure yet... I have a frag rach I might have to put them on temporarily til' if figure out a solution

[Nano]

Well if anyones still following :lol: tomorrow is going to be picture day :D picked up a 6 line on Saturday he'd very nice :) likes to come to the turkey baster to be fed. He has found a little cave that he has called home 3 nights in a row and seems to go to bed every night at 9:45 LOL weirdo. I like this little guy a lot he gets along great with every one but is a bit shy with sudden movements around the tank, probably still adjusting to the new surroundings

[Nano]

A few new corals I picked up on saturday, not the greatest pictures
pictures definitely dont do justice
Purple Bonsai (Garf)
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3534.jpg
can't remember the other kinds here
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3535.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3536.jpg
this one looks bleached but its actually like a sky blue color, again just my "epic" camera skills.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3537.jpg

and here is the result of eggcrate over a tank long term... Tan lines on my monti, time to buy a screen kit.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSCN3518.jpg

[gregzz4]

Nice additions

Guess I'd better build a screen before I get too many corals :smile:

[Nano]

well we're in the process of HOUSE HUNTING!!!! :D:D:D
This is super exciting, and while I don't know when we actually intend to buy, I do know one thing... There will be a larger tank in the future after all.

I want to do a 3'x3'x2' Cube with all the stuff contained in a sump room.
It will have glass eurobracing to have the "rimless look" with out all the mess.
I have been thinking about this for months since starting my current tank, as to how I would go about doing a larger version of it, and this is what I came up with.

Starfire on 3 sides
External overflow, to maximize tank space
custom DIY LEDs with mounts
and here are some mock ups of the LED configuration I drew up last night.

I will likely do DIY Leds and try to copy the AI Vega, but more in the Sol's style
here is the mounting system I am toying with
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/light-2.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/light-3.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/light-4.jpg

Double support Approach
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/light-5.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/light-6.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/light-7.jpg

Personaly I like the 2 bar approach better it looks more supportive as well as balanced. The tank i have planned is 3'x'3'x2' cube so having about 1 1/2 years to plan before I under take it gives me lots of time to tinker. This is just what I came up with last night. The round bar would more then likely be 1" square tubing its just easier to bend round tubing in my program. Kinda gives you a general idea of what I am thinking anyway. the tank would be about 135g and i would rather have more light then I need and just dim rather then not enough.

The leds I am thinking would be CREE
Cool white 6500k or higher
Blue
Royal Blue
Violet
and a couple reds for sunset/sunrise as well as nocturnal viewing.

anyways thats just a dream for now, but its a plan as well so this is even better. plus I have the go ahead from the Mrs. when the time comes :D

[lockrookie]

if you can stick with round bar that looks great.. i wish i had cad skills lol

[Nano]

if you can stick with rund bar that looks great.. i wish i had cad skills lol


:P thanks took some design schooling in the evening back when I did drywall.. never pursued it though. meh..

I like the round bar as well

I plan on editing it a bit further to make the whole fixture enclosed in acrylic so it has a manufactured look to it. now depending on the color scheme of the house, and the color of the stand will determine the color of the light casing and mount arm. I personally hope to go with white, but we'll see

[Nano]

well I got my new Nikon D3000 today, so far, DSLR's are a hell of a lot different then my point and shoot P500. With a little playing around I managed to take 2 decent shots so far. now I just have to keep experimenting with lighting and settings til' I get it right. This is just the stock 18-55mm lens so macros are still a bit trick ATM... heres one of the clown(s) and one of the Bangai Cardinal (Finnegan) ;)
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0008.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0025.jpg

[scubadawg]

Looking good so far, just have to start playing with your WB settings

Next purchase

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/2200/AF-S-DX-Micro-NIKKOR-40mm-f%252F2.8G.html

and a collapsible lens hood.

Yung

[Enigma]

Nice pics. :)

How about another tank shot . . . with your nice new DSLR.

[Nano]

haha will do tonight :)

Gotta clean the glass its in a real embarrassing state :P

[Nano]

Still working on getting a good fts shot, but got a few nice-ish close ups

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0072.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0086.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0093.jpg

didnt even turn off the pumps :)

[Enigma]

Very nice!

[Nano]

My beautiful little baby

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/556574_10151820245695531_1913746994_n.jpg

[Enigma]

What a pretty little thing! She's got a bit of a Mona-Lisa-Smile going on. :) and the photo is great.

[Nano]

:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgr een::mrgreen::mrgreen:
Got My RO!
It says it has mixed back Deionization Filter in it as well, does this mean its ro/di?
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0199.jpg

[Enigma]

Yup. That is green DI resin in the canister.

Usually it is the last stage of filtration: after the RO membrane. The difference in this setup is that you can't "T" the line off to collect RO water and RO/DI water separately. That's fine for your aquarium water, but I wouldn't drink the RO/DI water.

[Enigma]

Oh! Looking at the tubing in the photo, it looks like you will be able to. It runs from the second canister to the RO membrane, and I assume from the RO membrane to the DI canister.

Just ignore me. :lol:

[Nano]

Just ignore me. :lol:

:lol:

Thanks Shelley, it looks like you can drain before the DI resin

[Nano]

Well my scooter blenny of all fish went carpet surfing today, the one day I take the lid off. Ugh... What a bummer he was my favorite fish.

[gregzz4]

Sorry about your Blennie

Get your RO/DI running yet ?

[Nano]

Sorry about your Blennie

Get your RO/DI running yet ?

Thanks its a real bummer.... No not yet been to lazy :P

[Enigma]

Well my scooter blenny of all fish went carpet surfing today, the one day I take the lid off. Ugh... What a bummer he was my favorite fish.

:(

[Nano]

Well quick update, no pictures tonight, maybe tomorrow.

Rearranged the aquascape into a cove, and sucked out 10lbs of sand, I can see some BB so over the next week or 2 I hope to suck out the rest and keep it BB for a bit and then decide whether or not to add a thin layer of white sand. Also got a new scooter blenny, this one is much fatter then my old one, and he eats pellets, flakes, and mysis! So this one shouldn't be as picky as the old who would only eat mysis. Still miss the little bugger.

Also after 7 days of no poops from the little one(baby) she decided to fill three diapers and a onesie tonight... Lol bath time, looks like my hands won't be going in the tank for a day or 2

[Nano]

not that anyone is following anymore, BUT..

I'm online so I figured I'm due for an update. here are a couple of shots I took, after rearranging the aquascape, as well as picking up a few new sps
here is the top down shot, cant get a good FTS right now, cause my baby is asleep in my lounging chair lol....
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0367.jpg
Purple/pink acro
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0326.jpg
Green acro with purple tips and green polyps
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0234.jpg
mixed zoa colony
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0331.jpg
and a decent shot I snapped of the frogspawn
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/Untitled-1-4.jpg

[gregzz4]

:boink: I'm still subscribed

Lookin' really nice

Can't wait to see some lighter sand in there

[Coralgurl]

Lovin this tank! Looks really good! I still like the black sand but if it's gotta go, it's gotta go!

[Proteus]

Well quick update, no pictures tonight, maybe tomorrow.

Rearranged the aquascape into a cove, and sucked out 10lbs of sand, I can see some BB so over the next week or 2 I hope to suck out the rest and keep it BB for a bit and then decide whether or not to add a thin layer of white sand

I suck out the sand from my tank and cleaned it through a strainer. Keeping only the coarse. I barely have 1/4 on bottom but I really like it. Easy to keep clean. I have a conch and two peanut snails that agitate it daily.

[Nano]

yeah its gotta go. not causing any issues other then showing everything that lands on it. and it doesnt reflect any light, so i made up my mind. get it all out over a few water changes, then bare bottom for a bit to see if i'm up to the maintenance, and if not, then maybe like 1/2-1" of white sand. its a bummer, I love the black sand. on the bright side, I only have about 30lbs left to take out :lol: could be a while.

[noirsphynx]

Looks awesome!

[Nano]

Anyone wanna help rearrange the aquascape? Lol I am afraid to move things and break the sps. But it needs to happen.

[Proteus]

Let me know what u end up with for accidental frags lol

[Nano]

Lol. I might have to move all the coral to a bucket for a bit.

[Nano]

Ok so the aquascape is changed up. I'll post a few pics when everything's done being ticked at me.

[Nano]

Ok so i tried to get picks of all the new sps, but only got 2 or 3 good ones so i will just post those for now. I think once I get the rest of the sand out I'll play around with the rocks a bit more, cause I'm still not 100% satisfied with in :lol: what a headache.. shot pics in raw, but I think the zoas look a bit too saturated IMO
anyway here we go, start with some zoas I have had for a while, just tossed them all in a pile.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0509.jpg
top down tank shot can you see the BB? I CAN! :D
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0520.jpg
Red Convexa (sp?)
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0498.jpg
not sure
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0480.jpg
Salty Nuts
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0473.jpg

[gregzz4]

Like that top down
Do we get a FTS ?

[Nano]

I cant seem to take one with my dslr like I could with my old point and shoot, it keeps coming out blurry and over exposed :( i am working on it :)

[Nano]

sooooooooooooooooooo.... you like stuff? jk


So I still cant get a good FTS (sorry Greg) ;) but I am trying to figure it out, this camera responds so much more different then my old one. sucked out about 5g of water/sand today
anyway, look who joined the bare bottom club (almost, theres still abit under the rock work and in the back corner)
FTS (excuse the mess) (oh yeah, I was watching family guy) :P
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0539.jpg
Top Down
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0534.jpg

[gregzz4]

Looks really good
I like that open look

I was gonna ask where you got the Joe fish ... :wink:

[Nano]

Looks really good
I like that open look

I was gonna ask where you got the Joe fish ... :wink:

Thanks, yeah I got him at big als half price cause his tail fin doesnt work ;) he's good, doesnt bother anyone just wheels around the bottom.

[waynemah]

Loving the rock work!!!

Sorry if I missed it, but what are your plans for lighting again?

[fishytime]

Thanks, yeah I got him at big als half price cause his tail fin doesnt work ;) he's good, doesnt bother anyone just wheels around the bottom.

you do know they aren't reef safe, right?....they will eat what will fit in their mouths:mrgreen:

[Nano]

you do know they aren't reef safe, right?....they will eat what will fit in their mouths:mrgreen:

Lol I thought it was reef safe with caution? At any rate there is no wheelchair access so he's hooped :P

[Nano]

blah blah blah. so the Mrs and I are moving so the tank is getting torn down and moved as well, so here is one last (awful) shot of the tank. I hope that once I set it back up again, I can get something along these lines with the aquascape again. anyone want to teach me how to use my DSLR? I can get ok close ups with the stock lens, but everything else is just awful.
sighhh.. here you go dont tease me for my terrible picture skills

p.s. the red monti is still in there, you just cant see it :P

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/_DSC0549.jpg

[Nano]

Ok so the tank is all done! ato hooked in, 2 new powerheads, and an aquadoser (the white bottle with the drip line) all hooked in!
Tried to match the rock work as close as I could with a few small changes, and i must say, I was looking at the tank today, and I feel like I can keep my hands out of it now :) so this is good!
3 casualties; 2 sps, and my cherub were lost along the move :( but it happens so no biggie!
here are some cell phone pics for now since the camera is packed :P

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/IMAG0293.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/IMAG0299.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/IMAG0297.jpg

[gregzz4]

Nice work
Hurry up and move so we can see some real pics :smile:

[Coralgurl]

Great work! Happy the move was mostly successful!

[Nano]

Nice work
Hurry up and move so we can see some real pics :smile:
FOUND THE CAMERA!
doesnt mean the pics are any better then the cellphone lol, I can get the color a bit better now, but still pics are a bit grainy
current fts after move
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSC_0688.jpg
and top down
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSC_0680.jpg
fishies
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/555555555.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSC_0711.jpg
and a new acro I got!
purple to blue, to green stock with bright green polyps
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/DSC_0708.jpg

[gregzz4]

Yup, nice work on the scape

Have you tried taking a pic with all the lights on, but drop the white balance a bit ?
Helps with my point and shoot, but don't know what your new one will do
And for the grainy stuff, you may need a tripod if it's camera shake ( too much Whiskey ) :razz:

[Nano]

Lol no whiskies today :P yeah the light are on 55% its much brighter then the pictures but I had to adjust the exposure on my pc so everything wasn't so white I'll get the hang of it one day.

[Nano]

I have a question! :P
Rather then start a new thread I'll just ask here. My green monti is growing out the last few months, but in the last few weeks it hasnt grown out but its gotten thick, about 1/4-12"+ in some spots why is this and is it good? It looks like its trying to 'branch' out a new plate is forming in a spiral kind of way so just thought id ask.

[claymax]

long time reader first time poster. any updates on this? a FTS maybe?

[Nano]

Umm.. not much has happened in the ways of growth. I am battling GHA right now, but I can post a fts later on once I'm done work.

Be warned. The tank is in a real state right now.. :razz:

[Nano]

Umm.. not much has happened in the ways of growth. I am battling GHA right now, but I can post a fts later on once I'm done work.

Be warned. The tank is in a real state right now.. :razz:

Forgot to post the picture

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/IMAG0562.jpg