Michika's 28g long nano-esque tank!

[michika]

Originally Posted by 'Ol Nobodaddy

Love the colors bright green level, bright pink drink can did you build it?

Where do you get the t5's?

Nope I didn't build the tank, it came from Ed Holland! I haven't yet picked up the T5s, but I have two potential sources in mind for the bulbs. The ballasts are coming from an electrical wholesaler, and possibly the end caps as well.

As for the pink popcan and the neon green level....I have no comment!


Thanks Harvey, I'll figure out how to do that instead!

[michika]

I'm now in the process of searching for a stand. It needs to be 35-38" wide, and I'm hoping for around 35-38" high. The stand probably only needs to be about 2ft deep. Its very frustrating not to have any place to work on this kind of stuff anymore. I'm also going to need a matching canopy, and I'm hoping a set of doors, or something to hide the tank itself.

The plumbing is mostly figured out now, its just a matter of getting the overflow done, and assembling the plumbing parts.

[michika]

Quicky update:

The tank is about 80% ready to go now. I've gotten all my plumbing parts, my pump, and I've decided on my lighting.

I'm going to stay with a single 175w MH for the moment. After a really long hard look at T5s I've decided it isn't really the best option for me. The initial start up cost was more then my existing tank cost me to set up. In short the price drove me away. Maybe in the future I will revisit the idea, but right now I'm happy with keeping my budget small.

The manifold itself is complete. Its all plumbed up, it just needs a trial run which will be happening once I get the stand. I chose to go with the ReeFlo Snapper pump for its low power consumption, the fact that it is pressure rated, and that you can dial it back for futher power savings if need be.

I'm waiting on the following before the big change over:
- Drilling the overflow box and the back pane of the tank.
- The stand & canopy
- Finalizing a sump design, this will be after the stand & canopy arrive.
- Completing the plumbing from tank to sump.

The next step is the arrival of the stand and canopy. From there it is just plumbing it up and confirming my sump design. Everything else is ready for the change over!

I'll try and post photos of everything later this evening.

[michika]

The promised photos:

The tank with the finished manifold.




Corner bracing / manifold rest:

[Pan]

Cool, more pictures, more pictures

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Lookin' good, Catherine! I'm looking forward to seeing that manifold in action. It's an idea that's always interested me.

Where are you getting your stand and canopy from?

[michika]

There will be more photos tonight possibly, if not Friday.

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

Lookin' good, Catherine! I'm looking forward to seeing that manifold in action. It's an idea that's always interested me.

Where are you getting your stand and canopy from?

The stand and canopy is actually coming from Edmonton Eskimo. I'm super excited about it!

I can't wait to see how the manifold works too. I think there will be a crazy amount of flow, so much so that I'll have to go barebottom, or throttle the pump back considerably. I'll try and make sure to get photos of it in action.

I hope to have the tank running by Ed's Reef Meet on the 14th, but we'll have to see.

[michika]

Originally Posted by michika

- Drilling the overflow box and the back pane of the tank.
- The stand & canopy
- Finalizing a sump design, this will be after the stand & canopy arrive.
- Completing the plumbing from tank to sump.

So that was my previous to-do list.

The tank is now drilled, I have also fitted all the bulkheads into place. Drilling a tank in your bathtub is truly a pain!

I set up my sump, I think I will need 5-6 baffles to offset the pump I chose. The sump was free, again another awesome gift from Ed! In all my planning I failed to encorporate a refugium in my sump design. I hope that it will work itself out and I'll find a place for my refugium.

I'm sure the stand and canopy from Edmonton Eskimo will be more then worth the wait. I am more then willing to wait for a great end product. I'll definitely be sure to post many many photos of it when it comes.

So next up:
- figure out a rock placement design.
- make a firm decision if I am going to go bare bottom or not, even if its just a trial run.
- make some decisions about livestock, should I add anything or keep it as is?

So far this is what my current tank has:
~60 different types of SPS (I won't be adding anything for quite some time)
~5 LPS, zoas, softies, etc.
10 clams, although unfortunately it seems that my favorite is on its way out.
- 1 yellow damsel
- 1 male mandarin goby
- 1 sixline wrasse
- 1 green clown goby (missing in action though)
- 1 urchin
- 1 lettuce nudibranch
- 1 1.5" foxface (going to a new home asap)
- various hermits and snails

Any suggestions on deletions/additions to my stocking?

[michika]

Yay!

Stand and tank, with hitchhikers


Closer short of the dirty tank with hitchhikers


Tentative 20g for a sump, with Reeflo Snapper pump.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Looks good, Catherine. I really like the shape of it. Long and low, eh? Also, the hitchhikers are pretty awesome