CherylMcKay's 2012 Nano Contest Entry

[CherylMcKay]

My thought on my nano is that I want it to be a little more elaborate than a FOWLR but it still has to be easy to keep stable. This tank will be at my office and when I am out I need something that can be easily maintained by my co-workers.

I have an 8 Gallon nano that I have removed the beat up top rim of and I am starting to clean it up as rim-less on the top. It has the built in sump in the back but I think I am going to look at either a 10 gallon or a 20 gallon attached as a sump\ato reservoir. So it will be a total of salt water of either 13 or 18 gallon... depends on what I can find.

More to come....

[reefwars]

sounds interesting indeed, ill be at around the same gallons as you hehe:)

will be following along goodluck:)

[CherylMcKay]

So, it looks like l get Lost my feet wet by building a sump for the nano. l had a 10G that when I tried to drill it, showed how cheap it was. It was tempered and broke.

So l will price some glass and build a small tank that measures 18x12x12.

This will be a good-test as I am contemplating building the Sump for my 165 Gallon.

Hopefully the glass isn't to expensive.

[Enigma]

Another office tank. How I would love one! I'm jealous.

[Boxboy]

Office tanks are always cool. Cant wait to see what you build!

[CherylMcKay]

Well the glass was picked up on Monday, but l didn't start gluing until today.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/165%20G%20fish%20tank%20build/67539FBC-AFF5-4046-AE5C-FEFA88E34829-189-000000ADA2FC98A8.jpg

So l had only one false start and had to pull 2of the pieces apart clean them up and start again. All in all I think, l did okay.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/165%20G%20fish%20tank%20build/3BE18EF6-84EA-48AC-BDEF-37B014F6273C-1672-0000040924097EC3.jpg

I have also put in apiece of glass to separate the 2 sides of the sump. One side is about 8 gallons and the other is my Ato resivior and is about 6 gallons.

I will put up a picure when everything dries. l will have a bulk head sealing it off for now as l may use it a little differently in the future.

I was thinking about a stand and decided against asking my husband to pull his tools out again to help me build another stand. Part of the delay in putting the glass together was we were busy getting everything put away before the snow flies. of course I thought of it after he got them all packed away under the tarps and in the shed.... Shoot, should have thought of it earlier. Now l have to figure out a stand.

[reefwars]

looks sweet , any ideas on what you want to keep or direction youll go for livestock??

[CherylMcKay]

looks sweet , any ideas on what you want to keep or direction youll go for livestock??

I am thinking a couple of small gobies and some corals. I want livestock/corals that are a little hardier for at the office. At the same time I want something that is colourful as well... I have lots of research to do.

[CherylMcKay]

So l was looking at the sump l built and l realized that it had slid and the back panel was almost off the bottom glass. I took it apart, cleaned it up and re-siliconed everything again.

I am going to get everything to the office this weekend.

I had bought a file cabinet to put the tank on and the sump in... but when I was telling my boss about it, he asked me why not use the drawers that match the desk. So he is assisting with the reconstruction of the drawers so it works for the sump. I will post pictures tomorrow and on Tuesday the finished cabinet.

[reefwars]

So l was looking at the sump l built and l realized that it had slid and the back panel was almost off the bottom glass. I took it apart, cleaned it up and re-siliconed everything again.

I am going to get everything to the office this weekend.

I had bought a file cabinet to put the tank on and the sump in... but when I was telling my boss about it, he asked me why not use the drawers that match the desk. So he is assisting with the reconstruction of the drawers so it works for the sump. I will post pictures tomorrow and on Tuesday the finished cabinet.


ive done that with glass too and had it shift...PITA lol


doesnt sound like your going to get much done at work in the fuure eh with a tank to distract you all day lol even got the boss roped in...your so gonna get canned lol ;PPPP

[Acipenser]

How did the glass cost ?

[CherylMcKay]

How did the glass cost ?

The glass was about $140 for 6 pieces. I didn't think it was too outrageous, but I never checked the prices down south.

I want to eventually build the sump on my other tank... That price will probably make me cry a little bit. :)

[CherylMcKay]

doesnt sound like your going to get much done at work in the fuure eh with a tank to distract you all day lol even got the boss roped in...your so gonna get canned lol ;PPPP

Well everyone says it's addictive... I'll just have to pull them all in ;D. They all love looking at the tank while they wait to interrupt my day... I try to use it as a distraction too for those hard to deal with users.

[CherylMcKay]

So I have leak tested the sump and it holds water!!! :surprise: I was suprised after my first mistake of the glass sliding, but I will take a win.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/165%20G%20fish%20tank%20build/3110AFFD-2A61-4423-BAD6-B9E3E2BD341D-1856-0000047FAD99DD28.jpg

I also have moved most of it to the office now and I am finishing the stand off.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/165%20G%20fish%20tank%20build/3DECBCC7-BC34-48E2-8845-289603B8C888-1856-0000047FAB59DEB2.jpg

It was a set of drawers that i have stripped everything out of and water proofed the inside. I have also routered out the edge in 3 places and I will be attaching the drawer faces back on using magnets out of dead hard drives.... (I knew the hard drives were good for something.)
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/165%20G%20fish%20tank%20build/D657E5C1-0425-4C61-8516-AB683069A71F-1856-0000047FA8B51397.jpg

I will paint the rubber coating over them on the cabinet side and on the facing side, I am still deciding wether to counter sink them or not. If I sink them, it will be easier to waterproof them and they won't be as difficult to remove from the other side.

I still don't have a list of livestock but I think I would like to get a bunch of easier to keep coral that have lots of color. I was thinking of giving CoralMaster a call and seeing what type of package he would suggest. Any suggestions would be great as the coral side is still fairly new to me.

[The Grizz]

Nice job on your first tank build. I to like office tanks & think it's great that employers allow this, I to am going to be putting mine in my office.

[CherylMcKay]

Well, It is put together, rock added and looking good. It has been a couple of weeks of little picky things.

I got everything setup and the plumbing done only to realize it rattled to much and I should add a piece of rubber under the sump. I added the sand so that things could settle.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/8A9C8517-5337-48E6-83D7-A714EABF29CA-1856-0000048F91BF4A56.jpg

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/DB5CFE41-E58A-40A0-B0E1-A106548C6F72-1856-0000048F8D75463B.jpg

The return pump is one I used on my 75 Gallon, I don't remember what it is but it is wayyyyy more then i needed. I have installed a ball valve and I am running it at 1/4 closed and that seems to be alright. The drain to the sump is 1" PVC with a 90 degree in the back of the display tank. I have it pretty balanced... Took less fooling around then I thought.

I have the magnets in the drawers and only need to get some little spacers for them so it is not so tight... but all in all it is time to look at rock, coral and livestock.

Here is my FTS:
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/5FFE7C81-8DFF-4ED1-9AA2-4EFE5049F7E3-3361-000008626BF06926.jpg

I am doing a deep sand bed with Liverock. The rock all came from my 165 Gallon at home so it is all cycled, with some nice growth already. I have also added a green hairy mushroom and a piece of my Green Star Polyps.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/BDDB4499-39D8-45EB-9CF2-3626E5E6E671-3361-000008626E5C177B.jpg

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/B80D3968-C98A-439F-BF52-289AD7A61B7E-3361-00000862710F9EFC.jpg

[CherylMcKay]

So I have decide on some of the live stock. I want 2 green clown gobies and i was looking at a fire fish as well.

I am also getting a coral list together but I haven't full decide yet, so I will keep that info to myself still.

Monday, I will do another full tank shot with the rock.

[fishoholic]

Looks like its coming along nicely.

[CherylMcKay]

So, the first livestock order is in. I have ordered a maroon clown goby, a green clown goby and 6 narcissus snails.

They should be here next week.... Pictures to follow.

I also ordered the ATO for it as well. I am getting there!

[CherylMcKay]

Here is the required full tank shot with the rock and the sand. :biggrin:

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_0271.jpg

and another a little closer

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_0272.jpg

[CherylMcKay]

So I have decide on some of the live stock. I want 2 green clown gobies and i was looking at a fire fish as well.

I am also getting a coral list together but I haven't full decide yet, so I will keep that info to myself still.

Monday, I will do another full tank shot with the rock.

So the livestock arrived and unfortunately, the maroon clown goby, didn't handle the shipping and was DOA. The Green clown after a slow acclimatization and a weekend with nobody peering at him, looks good and healthy. Shy but what's a girl gonna do about that.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_0274.jpg

I have also added 6 Nassarius, 2 cerith, 2 turbos and 2 margaritas. If they get through the algae quick enough, I will take them home. Works great having the 2 tanks.

I have decided on replacement livestock so the list now is:
1- firefish
1- tailspot blennie
1- yellow headed jaw fish.

I figure that will fill it up with as many fish as I need, then I just have to look at some more easy corals.

[CherylMcKay]

So, I haven't changed alot in this tank for a while. I removed some rock as I was looking for my Green Clown Goby. I hadn't seen him in a few days and still have been unable to find him. I am assuming he didn't make it. :sad:

I decided I liked it better with fewer rocks and the big rock was under enough sand that I didn't want to disturb it. I have rescued a couple of tanks recently and therefore inherited 2 more clown fish.

I have had the little perc in there for a few weeks and it was living nicely with the goby. this morning i added the black perc as I don't want to introduce her to the 150 Gallon at home. http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/9071E92F-2F24-4F64-AABC-3B1FC2D116B6-116-000000026F947A65.jpg
I am watching them today to make sure the littler one is not super stressed and they are getting along before I decide to leave the black one. The little one has started to twitch on it's side (like the good little subserviant one) but I don't know it's age and they both lived alone long enough it could be 2 females.... waiting to see the dynamic.

The Macro Algae is growing well. It was just a little stub left on a rock from the 150 G and now that it is not being eaten on a regular basis, it is looking really good. I may transplant some for home.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/4F559550-3B1D-43A4-A732-6BEE4215D6B4-116-000000026D276228.jpg
The green star polyps are enjoying this tank as well and are always fully extended and are spreading over the rock i placed them on.
I purchase the green hairy mushroom and the orange one for my big tank but found I didn't have enough rock to show them well enough and decided to split them up. I move one of each to the nano at work. The Green one was the size of a nickle when I put him in this tank and now it is bigger than a toonie. The orange one has probably grown 1/4 inch since I put it in as well.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/7CCB7346-C3B0-44C3-874F-40BCFD27BF90-116-000000026B03E292.jpg

I am updating now as I am going on holidays on the 3rd for 3 weeks and wanted to get my submissions in. I also wanted to preserver the tank before it is being cared for by my co-workers. My boss has taken enough of an interest that I think it will be okay... He actually tested the salinity when I was off sick a few weeks ago... I was impressed.

Sorry for the crappy pictures, I just use my ipod and I can't seem to get clear ones of the fish and they always look grainy.

[CherylMcKay]

Well, holidays are great. When we head back to Whitehorse, we have a full day of shopping in Vancouver. I have decided to look at some more livestock for this Nano.

I haven't decided what as I don't know what I will be able to get. I will enjoy being able to see the livestock, in the LFS and make choices based on how healthy the look.

[fishoholic]

Well, holidays are great. When we head back to Whitehorse, we have a full day of shopping in Vancouver. I have decided to look at some more livestock for this Nano.

I haven't decided what as I don't know what I will be able to get. I will enjoy being able to see the livestock, in the LFS and make choices based on how healthy the look.

Glad your holidays are going well, have fun looking and shopping at the LFS there :biggrin:

[CherylMcKay]

So, update time. I haven't seen the green clown goby since I have been back from holidays so I think he is gone.... Lost some snails as well. The tank was overfeed and full of algae, which I expected. A few water changes later it is starting to clear up, Nitrates are dropping, ammonia is gone and algae growth has slowed.

I had found a little HOB skimmer before I left in Jan and put it on but really didn't have time to get it dialed in properly. It is working well now and it seems to be steadily pulling crap out of the water. You can see the ATO pump up front and the live rock back section is the actual sump with live rock , heater, skimmer and pump.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000007_zpsf0cfff68.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000007_zpsf0cfff68.jpg.html)

I moved some livestock from home as I am fixing the big tank at home. A couple of snails and one Orange mushroom. The ones I had in there orginally seem to be doing okay. I haven't seen my Green Star Polyps since I have been back but it doesn't look like they are total dead, just hiding. Hopefully the water changes will start affecting them soon.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000029_zps6d741bb2.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000029_zps6d741bb2.jpg.html) http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000030_zpsa94da247.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000030_zpsa94da247.jpg.html) http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000031_zps90b9da65.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000031_zps90b9da65.jpg.html)

I have put in my coral order today, and they will all go in this tank for now. Once they start to grow then I will look at moving some to the 150 Gallon at home. I forgot how expensive shipping is... and I really need to either travel to Calgary more or find a cheaper way to do it. I have ordered:

Blue Ridge-Heliopora Coerulea x2
Branching Green Hammer
3 diffrent Zoa frags
Sulawesi Living Lava

They were all listed as novice-intermediate so i figured it was a good place to start.

Here is the fts and one with the stand and everything.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000027_zps770c07cc.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000027_zps770c07cc.jpg.html) http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000020_zps49b2582e.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000020_zps49b2582e.jpg.html)

[CherylMcKay]

I would like to start by saying I had lots of fun doing this. I realize that I either need to get much more verbose or start getting a little more high tech with my builds.

All contestants have beautiful tanks and your pictures amazing me. You all set a high bar for me (and everyother noob) to strive for. Now on with the entry:

So the coral for my tank arrived a few weeks ago and I have been waiting to take pictures for a couple of reasons. It showed up really cold, and I wasn't sure if it was going to make it. I acclimatized it for most of a day and so far so good. The other issue I found last week was that my refractometer was off by about 10 points. So my salinity was quite low.

The coral is hanging on and I am hoping with some stability and time they will do okay. Of course the mushrooms are fine... they are so resilient.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000093_zpsa4f5c1a7.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000093_zpsa4f5c1a7.jpg.html) http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000095_zps4cc00e94.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000095_zps4cc00e94.jpg.html)

Zoa's & Hammer:
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000092_zpsfb0ad1c5.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000092_zpsfb0ad1c5.jpg.html)
The Zoa's were open in the first week, but 2 of them now have closed up over the week I brought the salinity back up to 1.026 from about 1.016. I am waiting to see if they start opening again. If not, I will take them home and put them in the 75 gallon to see if that is a better fit for them. The hammer started out really retracted, and seems much better now. I have more hope for it then I did the first week.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000093_zpsa4f5c1a7.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000093_zpsa4f5c1a7.jpg.html) I think the other coral is still holding it's own but I am not sure as I have never seen any live coral of these types to verify it's health. Pictures of healthy coral on line are great but .... judging the inbetween is hard.
Sulawesi Living Lava-20130315.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000097_zps7382d92c.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000097_zps7382d92c.jpg.html) It is really hard to get a picture of the color right. It is a dark dusky rose color with some yellow threaded through. I can see where a little bit of the flesh has pulled back from one corner, so I am assuming it is still alive.

The Blue Ridge-Heliopora Coerulea - 20130315
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000098_zps9bd8a175.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000098_zps9bd8a175.jpg.html) It is a nice brown color, the picture is really yellow, but I don't see the little polyps that I see in pictures on the website. Hopefully it will purple up a bit and I will start seeing polyps.

I have a black clown and a misbar orange clown. They are both rescues that couldn't go in the tank at home. I will eventually like to re-home these two and change out the live stock I have in this tank to some small gobies or look at having this as a shrimp tank in the future.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000099_zpsd172f8f6.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000099_zpsd172f8f6.jpg.html) http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r595/Cheryl_McKay70/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/th_IMG_00000090_zps427fdb3c.jpg (http://s1173.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cheryl_McKay70/media/Office%20-%20Nano%20build/IMG_00000090_zps427fdb3c.jpg.html)

I think I have progressed pass the beginner stages of having just a filter on my tanks and my plumbing prowress has increased but I still haven't jumped into alot of equipment on this tank. It has the skimmer, an ato and Cheato in the back... that is it, no reactors or other dosing automation. I will continure to do water changes every 8 days or so. Dosing will be my next step but I will make that decision if I find I need to but I really need to keep this simple so if I am away, my co-workers can maintain it.

I had fun with this contest, I will definately do one again. Good luck everyone. :biggrin:

[The Grizz]

Glad to see you hung in there Cheryl, I find the nanos are a harder tank to maintain since water volume is so small and when things go wrong it doesnt take much to have major issues. Coral look like they will survive due to the care you took to acclimate them, nice job :thumb:

[pinkreef]

is the sump located behind the wall and connected to the nano?

[fishoholic]

Awesome I'm glad to see you hung in there too :biggrin: Nanos can be a pain in the butt, but on the plus side its much easier to do water changes on them :mrgreen:

[CherylMcKay]

is the sump located behind the wall and connected to the nano?

The sump is in the stand below. The return pipe is at the back