Contest #1 Nano - New Rock Work
 

Guess who's in the game... look out people

Oh baby... oh baby it's fun already

Plate Coral Tank with a modern stand concept and a super easy water change system

Water change video on page 26

Budget = $395
Budget Exhausted = $390.00
Budget Remaining = $5.00

Details of Expenditure:

Equipment:
Heater = $24.99 x 0.75 = $18.75 - Used Via Aqua 100 watt - Originally bought at Bayside Corals
Lighting = $75 x 0.75 = $56.25 - Basically 75% of a Sunlight supply 24" New Wave T5 Fixture - Used from Saskreef c/w 4 bulbs (PM me for proof of purchase)
Pump = $52.50 x 0.75 = $39.50 -Used Rio 1400 - Originally Bought at Big Als
Sump = $17.00 - Engineered Aquariums (actually = 1 Lunch)
Total - $131.50

Livestock:
Bumblebee Snails = $2 x 2 = $4.00 - Red Coral
Hermit Crabs = 3 for $10 = $10.00 - Red Coral
Clown Fish = $10.45 - Big Als (Actually Paid $22 ahah I had a GC)
Dragonet Scooter Blenny = $8.45 - JL Price (Actually Paid $19.99 at Ocean City)- Dead
Yellow Box Fish = $25.45 - JL Price (Actually Paid $29.99 at Ocean City)- Dead
Finger Leather = $10.00 - Bayside Corals - Dead
Toadstool = $5.00 - Originally Bought at Bayside Corals
Candy Cane = $2.50 - Actually Free from sphelps but Almost Dead from Sitting in a Sump with No Lights (Almost all skeleton)
Orange Plate Coral = $5.00 - Originally Bought at Bayside Corals but is almost all Skeleton from being in a 2.5 Gallon Pico (hope it makes it) - Dead
Brown Plate Coral = $15.00 - Bayside Corals (Actually Paid $53.00)... hoping it might just be browned out and that it might get pretty
Pink and White Plate Coral = $20.00 - Actually Free from sphelps
Orange Plate Coral = $15.00 - Ocean City (Traded it for a Green Tongue Coral I bought 1 day prior $53.99)
Green Plate Coral = $15.00 - ElGuappo (Actually paid $25.00) - Dead
Green Plate Coral = $15.00 - De Iron Chef (Actually paid $20.00) - Dead
Pink Plate Coral = $20.00 - Ocean City (Actually Paid $45.00) - Dead
Brown Mushroom = Hitch Hiker so Included in Rock Prices = Free
Anthelia Frag = $2.50 - sphelps (Actually Free) - Dead
Crocea Clam 2" Shell = $20.00 - Ocean City (Actually Paid $35.00)
Frogspawn 3" Skeleton = $15.00 - Red Coral (Actually Paid $30.00)
Yellow Clown Goby = $0.25 - ColinD (Actually Free)
Green Plate Coral = $15 - Ocean City (Actually $42.99)
Orange Plate Coral = $15 - Ocean City (Actually $42.99)
Zoa Colony = $10 - Ocean City (Actually $60.00) I fragged it up
Total - $258.50

OK so some stuff died but in my defense I was planning a wedding through out the contest and then I was gone for 2 weeks for the wedding and honeymoon... just for a little back ground... I know I still let stuff die but I couldn't commit my full attention to the tank. That's just life sometimes... as I'm sure most of you know... anyway... I guess that's enough excuses for now


"Free"
Entry Fee = $26.50 - I entered late
Tank = $20.00 - Engineered Aquariums ( Actually = Lunch... same lunch as above )
MDF = $58.50 - Home Depot
Screws/Misc Hardware = $10.00 - Home Depot
Hinges = $10.50 - Home Depot
Wood Filler = $5.00 - Home Depot
Fan Speed Control = $2.50 - Ebay (not wired in yet)
Two 3.5" Fans = $2.00 ea. - Princess Auto
12 Volt Adapter = $5.00 - Princess Auto
3 Cans of Flat/Gloss Black Paint = $5.00 ea. - Canadian Tire? I had them lying around but I know I had to pay for them at some point
Sand = $11.00 - Had around, originally bought at Wai's
5.5 lbs of Live Rock = $40.00 - Ocean City/ Bayside Corals
5ish lbs of Base Rock = $10.00 - Had but, originally bought at Bayside Corals
Tank Shipping = $30.00
Plumbing Parts ~ $65 - Rona / Bayside Corals / Engineered Aquariums
Magnafloat = $13.50 - Ocean City
Eggcrate = $10.00 - Home Depot
Fuge Light = $10.00 - Walmart
Glass Lid = $15.00 - Big Als
Coralife Battery Operated Digital Thermometer = $14.00 - Had around, but originally bought at Big Als (If I had the receipt I'd return it b/c it's out by 3 degrees)
Handful of Cheato = Free - From Jay180reef
Epoxy = $20 - Bayside Corals
"Free" Total - $365.50

Actual Total Spent ~ $1064

**Note: Some prices above have tax included... at first most did but then it got hard

Pictures

Standard 10 gallon

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/DSC_1495.jpg

Standard 10 Gallon w/ Overflow and sump

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ankandsump.jpg

FTS November 15

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_1275-1.jpg

FTS December 15

With Stand
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...G_1344-1-1.jpg

Front
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_1340-1.jpg

Left Side
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_1342-1.jpg

FTS January 15
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0035.jpg



Front
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0312.jpg

Front Including Stand
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0297.jpg

Front Showing Storage
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC01067.jpg

Side Including Stand
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0298.jpg

FTS March 15

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0309.jpg

FTS April 15

Front with Stand
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0548.jpg

Front Close up
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0555.jpg

Side
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0561.jpg

More pictures and water change video on page 26

Payment recieved.

Welcome. :mrgreen:

Oh the things I have planned ahah

When are we going to see some of these big plans!! Inquiring minds would like to know haahaa! And with this tank you have to keep it for more than a couple months... I don't know if you're going to be able to handle it!

I thought I was far behind in this comp. You better get working on the tank. Only 15 days until waters in it.:biggrin:

ahah I know I think this will be like the 6th tank I've had in the last 2 years... all of which I've made sphelps help me build ahahah.... I don't know??? I always get bored with them after a bit.... all the moving back and forward between toon and Calgary didn't help either.... but now that I'm back in Calgary to stay I think I'll make sure this one is a winner that I'll want to keep

Don't worry I got plans... I got plans

ahah Don't worry I'll make it.... oh wait... I guess that means you should worry! ahah

Ok... thank you again to everyone who was concerned about my ability to catch up but I assure you that I am here to play :D

I started on the stand today... I made a few tiny mistakes on it but I wont tell you that they are :question::question:

Here's a little taste... enjoy

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/IMG_1252.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/IMG_1253.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/IMG_1254.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/IMG_1255.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/IMG_1256.jpg

Haahaa MDF is the prostitute of the wood world. It's cheap, easy, and will do anything you want it too and if it doesn't work out you can just chuck it out and get another piece!

Looking very abstract, I like it.

Yeah I like it because you can't use the wrong side ahahah.... oh yes I did just go there.

Easy??? Not sure how easy it will be to paint the stand well enough to not swell up like a sponge... but worst case I guess I can just chuck it like you said :)

With the right paint you should be fine or you could put on a veneer. Haahaa, you did go there! Guess your decimation at the hands of my tank will come a little sweeter now...*evil laugh*

It looks neat Wes, should look cool when it's done!

Yeah when it's done. What's the deal with the tank Wes, ever going to get any work done on that? Or is your plan just to make a crazy stand and hope nobody notices the absence of the actual aquarium? :wink:
I hope you're not putting any trust in another contender :lol:

surprise... surprise sphelps is helping me make yet another tank... what is this #6... of course this is the one that has some tiny mistakes... strange how that works??

Ok so I've got the stand basically done except for paint... I've also updated my budget.

I forgot to take pictures of my progress tonight before I came in so... here's a picture of the source of my stand inspiration to hold you over... Enjoy

Mine is a little different... but you get the idea

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...t_modul011.jpg

Meh, I'll prob just spray it up with some cans I got lying around the shop ahah

Yes I did... better hold that evil laugh...We will see we will see

Thanks man... the only reason I decided to put a little effort into the stand was because of yours so what can I say... I guess you gave me a little competitive inspiration... so thanks again :) ahah

So you have me a little more worried than usual :eek:

You'll make it, I just got to be a little more careful packaging next time.

Yeah that's not like you... I told you I have to be there to supervise. "Shoot I accidentally broke it".... sure I smell fear.

Text me what you put in your outgoing sever on your touch for paws

wow that is a sweet stand. can't wait to see what you planned for the actual tank

Your stand is absolutely wild! Can't wait to see the build...and how it's going to look on the stand...!

:confused: I have absolutely no idea what that means

I just assumed it was some type of fancy new code you two used. :lol:

What you put in your Ipod touch so you can send messages from your paws email account

I can't remember and my ipod isn't setup with that email anymore.

Stand is done :) of course I brought it in the house a little to soon so I guess the fiance had a headache from all the paint smell... I just happened to be gone for most of the evening.. oops.

I'll post some pics tonight

edit: I lied I have to screw the light and fans back into the lid

pics!:biggrin:

So here are a few pictures of the completed stand. I just have the fans on a switch so I can turn them on if it seems like things are going to be hot. Not super loud because I only have 5.5v running through them. The top of each compartment opens which should make for easy access to the lights, tank and sump. I just decided to spray it with some tremclad I had lying around which is why the inside of the compartments is flat black and the rest is gloss. Probably should have primmed it first but whatever. The T5s are overdriven because I only used 2 bulbs from the 24" fixture. The lights sit about 5" of the surface of the water so hopefully they'll be bright enough but at least heat shouldn't be a problem.

Enjoy

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1257.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1258.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1260.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1261.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1263.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1264.jpg

Sorry the place is a little messy and nothing like some classy Styrofoam over the window for winter... ps for anyone who seen my 42" Sharp LCD TV in my old posts next to my 2 foot cube... someone broke in a stole it.. along with a ton of other stuff

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/IMG_1265.jpg

Very Nice cant wait to see it with the tank. so have you retofit t5's? what did you use as reflectors? looks like polished tin?

Looks good. Cant wait to see the tank in there. You got any other big plans you care to let us know about yet?

Thanks, me too. I should get the tank Saturday

I don't really know what classifies as "retrofit"? I just ripped the old fixture apart and shoved everything in the lid... I think the reflectors are aluminum?? But again just whatever comes in those fixtures. The reason the reflector looks kinda crappy is because I was being lazy when I cut the old one in half and it got a little bent by shutting the lid because it hit the back of the stand.. but it's bent to clear now.. I mean... I custom fit it everything

Thanks.. again, me too.

None that I care to share right now :)... But thats because I just kinda make it up as I go along...?? ahah

You have any cured rock? or you going to have fully cycle the tank like me?

I don't even have any live rock right now?? I think there's maybe a pound I could possibly steal from my 2.5 Gallon at which point I don't know what I'd do with it's contents.. I don't think I even have any sand... or at least any that I like and I've never cycled a tank in my life because I always steal water sand and rock from an established tank but I don't think that'll be happening this time because I don't know how I'll win the contest if I end up in jail again... soo things are gonna get interesting

hahahahahaha. Well I have some sand that you can have, but its dry. Dont know how youd get it.

Yah dont come to jail in my neck of the woods I dont want to run into you. :biggrin:

Just asked about the reflector as i guess i saw the cut you made and thought it was diy.

How do you strike out word on this forum??

huh?

If you want a line through the words. I want to cross something off the list but I don't actually want to delete it

oh ok .....I dont think you can

Gay... it should just be [s]...[/s]