From The Beginning
Introduction:
I have been keeping fish for as long as I can remember and for a few years kept a few small (2 and 2.5foot) coral tanks. I really enjoyed watching them but things got in the way and they got closed down. For many years I had an empty 5x2x2 tank that followed me around to may houses but as we were renting I didn't really want to set it up and then have to move it etc. So it sat empty in my garage. When we bought our current house I decided that we either have to set it up somewhere or get rid of it. Problem was that there wasn't really anywhere suitable in the house to put it :wall: . Solution - make space :cheers:
System Objectives:
I would like the tank to have real POP and draw you in, makes you look closer and notice all the cool little critters and corals in there.
Have SPS thrive in both colour and growth.
Would also like to reduce ongoing costs through the use of energy efficient equipment.
System Type:
SPS dominant reef with reasonable fish load.
Display System:
Strike up Date:
under construction
Display Tank:
5x2x2 - float glass right hand corner weir
40mm emergency drain and 25mm syphon
Display Lighting:
Reef Breeders Photon48 LED 215W at 100% 115W at 50%
Stand:
In-wall ish enclosed cabinet all DIY
Hood:
Enclosed
Sump:
18inch cube
Refugium:
18 inch cube
Refugium Lighting:
NA - Cryptic
Support systems:
System Water:
NSW - collected Swansea channel
Display Water circulation:
Jebao 2 x WP40 - 40W each
Return Pump:Sump return pump.
Waveline dc-6000 55W
Skimmer:
JNS ConeS CO3
Evaporation Top Up:
Pacific Sun Kore 5th ATO
40Kg base/dead rock
2kg live cured rock
20kg 2mm Coral Sand
10kg 3mm Coral Sand
Chemical Support:
Pacific Sun Kore 5th 5 head doser
Calcium Addition:
Randys Recipe 1
Alkilinity Addition:
Randys Recipe 1
Other Chemical Maintenance:
Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: 0.03ppm
Alkalinity: 8.0dkh
Calcium: 420ppm
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.025
Magnesuim: 1350
This all started in mid 2011 and the tank has been set up with cichlids since then and am only now changing over to saltwater. Here is a bit of a rundown on the original construction.
I have had this 5x2x2 tank for years but never had the space to put it. Never sold it cause if I did I knew the misses wouldn't ever let me buy another one so it has sat in the garage. I finally came up with an idea she liked and didn't waste any time doing demolitions cause then she couldn't change her mind ;D
The tank was to be set up for a colony of Frontosa and whatever tankmates suit (ie don't nip fins or get eaten). Going to start off with some Syno Petricola, N.Brevis and Julidochromis (or are all those swear words here :thumbsup: )
This is my google sketch of what it should look like. This program is great and is very simple to use (this was my first ever effort) and great to be able to show the wife etc as well as working out measurements etc
This is what I started with. Linen and books where being stored in this cupboard in the lounge room and TV was setup on a unit to the left of the cupboard.
Demo begins
The plasterboard was removed and replaced with villaboard (same stuff used in bathrooms) for some water resistance and to cope with higher humidity. I had also started building the stand for the tank out of 90x45 pine
The stand is mostly done (still needs 2 uprights at the front as well as some diagonals) and I made the shelf above the tank as well as the cupboard to the side which will remain as linen to keep the misses happy
Tank is in place and stand has had the diagonals added
Doors all painted and fixed in place
Made some adjustable piers to go under the house and re enforced the bearers and joists to take any extra load
Then it has looked like this for the past few years
The lighting on the tank is Rapid LED 36w 12 led kit which will be used as a fuge light.
I have been keeping fish for as long as I can remember and for a few years kept a few small (2 and 2.5foot) coral tanks. I really enjoyed watching them but things got in the way and they got closed down. For many years I had an empty 5x2x2 tank that followed me around to may houses but as we were renting I didn't really want to set it up and then have to move it etc. So it sat empty in my garage. When we bought our current house I decided that we either have to set it up somewhere or get rid of it. Problem was that there wasn't really anywhere suitable in the house to put it :wall: . Solution - make space :cheers:
System Objectives:
I would like the tank to have real POP and draw you in, makes you look closer and notice all the cool little critters and corals in there.
Have SPS thrive in both colour and growth.
Would also like to reduce ongoing costs through the use of energy efficient equipment.
System Type:
SPS dominant reef with reasonable fish load.
Display System:
Strike up Date:
under construction
Display Tank:
5x2x2 - float glass right hand corner weir
40mm emergency drain and 25mm syphon
Display Lighting:
Reef Breeders Photon48 LED 215W at 100% 115W at 50%
Stand:
In-wall ish enclosed cabinet all DIY
Hood:
Enclosed
Sump:
18inch cube
Refugium:
18 inch cube
Refugium Lighting:
NA - Cryptic
Support systems:
System Water:
NSW - collected Swansea channel
Display Water circulation:
Jebao 2 x WP40 - 40W each
Return Pump:Sump return pump.
Waveline dc-6000 55W
Skimmer:
JNS ConeS CO3
Evaporation Top Up:
Pacific Sun Kore 5th ATO
40Kg base/dead rock
2kg live cured rock
20kg 2mm Coral Sand
10kg 3mm Coral Sand
Chemical Support:
Pacific Sun Kore 5th 5 head doser
Calcium Addition:
Randys Recipe 1
Alkilinity Addition:
Randys Recipe 1
Other Chemical Maintenance:
Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: 0.03ppm
Alkalinity: 8.0dkh
Calcium: 420ppm
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.025
Magnesuim: 1350
This all started in mid 2011 and the tank has been set up with cichlids since then and am only now changing over to saltwater. Here is a bit of a rundown on the original construction.
I have had this 5x2x2 tank for years but never had the space to put it. Never sold it cause if I did I knew the misses wouldn't ever let me buy another one so it has sat in the garage. I finally came up with an idea she liked and didn't waste any time doing demolitions cause then she couldn't change her mind ;D
The tank was to be set up for a colony of Frontosa and whatever tankmates suit (ie don't nip fins or get eaten). Going to start off with some Syno Petricola, N.Brevis and Julidochromis (or are all those swear words here :thumbsup: )
This is my google sketch of what it should look like. This program is great and is very simple to use (this was my first ever effort) and great to be able to show the wife etc as well as working out measurements etc
This is what I started with. Linen and books where being stored in this cupboard in the lounge room and TV was setup on a unit to the left of the cupboard.
Demo begins
The plasterboard was removed and replaced with villaboard (same stuff used in bathrooms) for some water resistance and to cope with higher humidity. I had also started building the stand for the tank out of 90x45 pine
The stand is mostly done (still needs 2 uprights at the front as well as some diagonals) and I made the shelf above the tank as well as the cupboard to the side which will remain as linen to keep the misses happy
Tank is in place and stand has had the diagonals added
Doors all painted and fixed in place
Made some adjustable piers to go under the house and re enforced the bearers and joists to take any extra load
Then it has looked like this for the past few years
The lighting on the tank is Rapid LED 36w 12 led kit which will be used as a fuge light.