custom 20g cube...

[aggman]

ok so as some of you know, i was lucky enough to talk kyle from sapphire aquatics into selling me his 20inch display cube. as soon as i saw this tank i had to have it. i also picked up one of his skimmers and two of his mini reactors. all i have to say is...hell yeah this guy knows how to work acrylic.

so after getting the tank home i thought i had a 26 gallon cube, but he used 1 inch acrylic on all five sides so yeah that dropped me down to a perfect 20 gallons. and it's all good, its nice to not only be back in the nano club, but also in the rimless club. woot woot.

here are a few pics of the tank and this awesome stand i found that fits it perfectly. also, please don't mind the spotted glass. it held sw at tmac, so this was a prewash pic. lol, he even gave me the sand they used for the show.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5345.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5348.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5349.jpg

i didn't do a build thread on either of my last two tanks. so this will be my first attempt. please don't ridicule me too much, haha. i will try to include as much as possible and update whenever i can remember.

~alex

[cpreefguy]

That is a sweet tank! I love the look of the 1" acrylic.

[stoneroller]

Very nice. What are you going to stock?

[aggman]

well i got some nice totoka rock that i have been storing. so i will be going with a small amount of lr with lots of swimming room for my fish. i plan to mostly stock lps. i am really not a fan of the sps corals right now. plus it is hot in c.c. and i don't want to buy a chiller. i have found that my lps and softies handle temp. swings better than any sps i ever had.

basically i will have a horseshow shaped rock structure extending about halfway up the tank. leaving lots of the sandbed exposed. i will be putting my 4 anthias' in there for now until a i find a special group of fish. maybe a bad*** group of glass cardinals, but i hear they are difficult to keep alive. i don't know-i'm open to suggestions.

~alex

[moe]

ah so that the tank u got, nice can't wait to see it all set up.

[aggman]

ok so, i got water in the tank, but haven't had time to organize the rockwork or the frags i picked up. i will post some pics later, cuz i got to run to a b-day party.

i just had a quick question. i am planning on getting a finnex t5 fixture for this tank. but i don't know if i should get the 4bulb or 6 bulb. sean, chris help me out here. i want great color and growth, but i don't want to burn everything. i want to use a kz fiji purple, but that would only work on the 6 bulb. which would you recommend?

~alex

[cbianco]

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I MISSED THIS TREAD... DUH ON ME!


...its nice to not only be back in the nano club, but also in the rimless club. woot woot.

Welcome back. I love it here in nanoville. I'm not sure I'll ever leave, I'd rather expand.


Basically i will have a horseshow shaped rock structure extending about halfway up the tank. leaving lots of the sandbed exposed. i will be putting my 4 anthias' in there for now until a i find a special group of fish. maybe a bad*** group of glass cardinals, but i hear they are difficult to keep alive. i don't know-i'm open to suggestions.

What type of anthias are they? Four anthias seem a bit much for a 20 gallon. I've always wanted some anthias myself but I am always afraid that my tanks were too small.

I like the cardinals that sean picked up.

You could go "classic" and get a clown anemone combo.


Ok so, i got water in the tank, but haven't had time to organize the rockwork or the frags i picked up. i will post some pics later, cuz i got to run to a b-day party.

Sing happy birthday, eat cake, give present, hurry up and get home so you can take more pictures.


I just had a quick question. i am planning on getting a finnex t5 fixture for this tank. but i don't know if i should get the 4bulb or 6 bulb. sean, chris help me out here. i want great color and growth, but i don't want to burn everything. i want to use a kz fiji purple, but that would only work on the 6 bulb. which would you recommend?

The 4 bulb fixtures have independent reflectors.

The 6 bulb fixtures have only a single reflector.

I would imagine that the two fixtures put out roughly the same amount of light. The 6 bulb fixture would allow for greater bulb combinations.

My current combination is...

FRONT
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
BACK

It is kind of blue, lol. I'm thinking of making a slight change to...

FRONT
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
BACK

If I had a 4 bulb fixture I would go with the following...

FRONT
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Purple
GE 6500
ATI Blue Plus
BACK

This combination probably would not be as blue as my current configuration.

Glad to see the build coming along. Keep us updated Alex!

Christopher

[aggman]

here is a quick fts with everything sitting on the sand. i haven't placed all the rock yet. so it is all temporary. also the sump isn't plumbed yet, so all the gizmos are visible. all temporary.

oh, and this color is true to the actual color i see in my tank. it just right, with a 14k phoenix. so i want my t5 to look pretty much this blue, maybe a little darker, less white light. i think that makes sense.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5360.jpg

~alex

[cpreefguy]

Wow, I really like it!

[gjuarez]

Great looking tank. Thats some thick glass

[mama]

purdy, Alex!!!

[aggman]

this is what i want my tank to look like. colors and growth. can i get it with t5's?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/rightend.jpg

~alex

[cbianco]

this is what i want my tank to look like. colors and growth. can i get it with t5's?

Can I give you an answer in about a year or so, lol.

I have seen some sweet T5 tanks on RC. I have never looked to see what sized colonies they started with.

The two complaints I typically hear with a T5 system is that the corals are muted (almost pastel) and that growth is slower than MH.

I kind of feel that T5 are TBD. What I mean is, nobody is 100% sure of the outcome being that they have not been used as a primary light source in tanks long enough to figure out their effectiveness. I guess we are kind of like pioneers here. Come on Alex, be a pioneer, lol.

Christopher

[aggman]

yeah i hear that.

this pic was taken with 3 400w 20k radiums so i guess it might be a long shot. but i will try anyway! if i don't fail then i won't have anything to complain about...and i love to complain! lol.

~alex

[gjuarez]

Most definately, take a look on RC. Some of the best looking tanks are setup with T5s. You could achieve the same results with T5s as with MHs, some may argue that maybe even better. Based on what I've seen, i give them an A+. Are they better than MH, dont know. I know that you loose the shimmering effect. Just by looking at the tank, I am pretty sure the guy uses zeovit or amino acids.

[cpreefguy]

I have seen many tanks over on the zeovit.com forum that have been using T5 lighting for an extended period of time to get outstanding color and growth.
I'd say that T5 lighting is tried and true. Europe is definitely ahead of the curve here, try searching for Iwan Lasser's reef tank, amazing to say the least.

I think a lot of people are reluctant to switch over, which is why you don't see as many people going that route.

[jrsatx20]

all i have to say in this battle is to take a look at bernies tank. just seeing that tank will answer a lot of questions

[gjuarez]

Iwans tank is amazing. If you look at some of the most recent TOTM on reefcentral, alot of them are using T5s. I like the flexibility T5s give on playing around with different color schemes. ATI manufactures some great bulbs with great colors. Mine are overdriven with IceCap ballasts. The light on my 75 is way birghter than my nano being run with metal halides. The color looks better too.

[ReefCube]

zeovit.com has some really nice sps with t5 lighting. If you have seen bernie's tank you will get inspired to do t5 and never go back.

[cpreefguy]

When I had a Powermodule I was running the following bulb combo:

ATI Blue Plus
Korallen Zucht New Generation 14K
UV Actinic
Korallen Zucht Fiji Purple
UV Actinic
Korallen Zucht New Generation 14K

I loved the color this combo put off. I fine tuned the combo as well, at one point I had about 21 bulbs that I switched and swapped out until I found the perfect (for me) combination.

In your case, 6 bulbs may be overkill, but if it were me I'd go with a 6 bulb fixture. The freedom of bulbs choice alone makes it worth going that route

[Mr Cob]

this is what i want my tank to look like. colors and growth. can i get it with t5's?
~alex

Dude...look at PG 3 of the March Maast Newsletter. That tank is "Lt1z28", Bernie's. His tank is ONLY T5. I've seen it and the corals are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aggman]

nah not interested in bernie's setup. too pink. i do appreciate the growth in that tank, but i do not want that 'look'.

so i am going to get the 23" 6 bulb. going to use 3 blue+, 2 superactinic, 1 fijipurple. hopefully that gets me where i want to be at.

~alex

[cpreefguy]

I think Mr. Cob's post was more towards what your tank can look like with T5 by showing Bernie's tank with his growth and super colorful and healthy color.

That's the great thing about T5's , a TON of freedom to mix and match and get your ideal color.

[Mr Cob]

I think Mr. Cob's post was more towards what your tank can look like with T5 by showing Bernie's tank with his growth and super colorful and healthy color.

That's the great thing about T5's , a TON of freedom to mix and match and get your ideal color.

EXACTLY! Thanks, Sean.

[Mr Cob]

can i get it with t5's?

~alex

Yes, look at Bernie's tank. LOL!

[cpreefguy]

so i am going to get the 23" 6 bulb. going to use 3 blue+, 2 superactinic, 1 fijipurple. hopefully that gets me where i want to be at.

With that bulb combo, your tank will be extremely blue...

[g-ray]

With a light purple tint

trust me...

[cbianco]

nah not interested in bernie's setup. too pink. i do appreciate the growth in that tank, but i do not want that 'look'.

so i am going to get the 23" 6 bulb. going to use 3 blue+, 2 superactinic, 1 fijipurple. hopefully that gets me where i want to be at.

~alex

Man... that is bluer than my tank. Are you sure?

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv229/biancochris/HPIM1875_crop.jpg

[QuickSilver525]

great looking setup, i love your live rock. what kind of fish are those swimming in there?

[glennr1978]

this is what i want my tank to look like. colors and growth. can i get it with t5's?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/rightend.jpg

~alex

you've definitely set the bar high my friend!!! that tank is awesome.

[aggman]

great looking setup, i love your live rock. what kind of fish are those swimming in there?

lyretail anthias, it was their temporary home until i got them moved to the big tank. they really seemed to like that crazy rock. swimming in the nooks and crannies, i was afraid they would cut themselves, but no cuts.

~alex

[aggman]

so i am going to get the 23" 6 bulb. going to use 3 blue+, 2 superactinic, 1 fijipurple. hopefully that gets me where i want to be at.

With that bulb combo, your tank will be extremely blue...

yeah i messed up when i posted that. i was going to use a 6500k ge bulb in that mix in place of one blue+.

~alex

[aggman]

When I had a Powermodule I was running the following bulb combo:

ATI Blue Plus
Korallen Zucht New Generation 14K
UV Actinic
Korallen Zucht Fiji Purple
UV Actinic
Korallen Zucht New Generation 14K

would you happen to have a pic of this color combo. i have been doing some more research and i think i would like to try the 4-bulb with 2kz new gen 14k, 1kz fiji purple, and 1uvl actinic. i dunno, this is too much thinking for me...

~alex

[cpreefguy]

Sure:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN9451.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN9452.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN9421.jpg

[aggman]

a little update...

i am working on getting a the right t5 fixture for my tank. working with the lfs to special order one. been trying to figure what fish to buy. something small that will school and isn't a pain to keep. 2-3 only. any ideas?

oh and i got a new guy for my tank. gotta find him a g.f. here he is munchin' on a c.c. star. sorry for the bad pic. it took like 30 just to get this one.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5396.jpg

~alex

[aggman]

aha!!!

trolling reef central at 2am does have its merits!!!

i have finally found the t5 bulb combo i have been looking for. here is a rep. pic:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/atitank.jpg

Config:
Front
Giesemann PureActinic
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
Giesemann PureActinic

~alex

[cbianco]

Have any updates for us Alex?

[Kristy]

been trying to figure what fish to buy. something small that will school and isn't a pain to keep. 2-3 only. any ideas?
~alex

I think 2-3 chalk basslets would be colorful and interesting in that tank, not something you see every day. They are supposed to school.
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20080407162741/www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-89514-Serranus-tortugaru.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=1700', 50, 50, 596, 616))

[aggman]

you know i was in the lfs yesterday just looking around and i saw these fish. they are quite interesting and colorful even under the cheapo light they had. also noted they were in the 15-18 $$$ range. not bad. thanks for the suggestion, i might have to go back and take a closer look.

~alex


I think 2-3 chalk basslets would be colorful and interesting in that tank, not something you see every day. They are supposed to school.
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20080407162741/www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-89514-Serranus-tortugaru.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=1700', 50, 50, 596, 616))

[aggman]

ok i got a fish, finally...

it is a black nox angelfish. he won't stay still and my photo skills are pathetic so i am stealing a pic from liveaquaria...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/nox.jpg

~alex

[Big_Pun]

any new tank pics, cool fish its all "murdered out" lol, u should call kitt, from knight rider

[aggman]

i haven't taken any new pics because i am dealing with some algea issues. no algea really grows in my tank except for this hard brown stuff on the plexi. its like little dots of brown stuff and it doesn't come off very easy. i really don't know what it is. i have never had it before. i was thinking diatoms, but i don't know. really frustrating because i have to scrape it off, and i am afraid of scratching the plexiglass.

other than that it's all good.

~alex

[glennr1978]

use and old credit card to clean it off, works like a charm.

[aquasport24]

use and old credit card to clean it off, works like a charm.

Master or Visa ?

[aggman]

ahh, sweet. i got a useless citi platinum that i can use.

~alex

[Big_Pun]

i got a black american express, its on my hanging on my fridge door :bigsmile:

[aggman]

hey i used the card and it worked!

thanks, man i went and bought one of those plastic scraper things and nothing, i wasted 30 bucks on that flimsy thing.

glad i got that stuff off, i was thinking of getting rid of the tank. i thought it was stuck on there for ever. lol.

~alex

[aggman]

ok guys i got a question.

i still haven't found the right sump/filter system i want. but i am currently using a canister filter and a sapphire aquatics skimmer. i was told by someone that i could keep my sps alive and well without the skimmer as long as i did weekly water changes. is this accurate? i always thought a skimmer was a definite must. also, i do not run a fuge because i do not have the space. so would my canister, which works great by the way, be enough?

~alex

[aggman]

oh also, i went to order the vortech mp10, but it won't work on my tank. max thickness it can handle is 3/8". so now my 1" plexi is becoming more of a hinderance than i had envisioned.

~alex

[subsailor]

Vortech's are generally not a god idea with Arylic they tend to warp it. If you are doing weekly water changes i would say that you should have no problems, as long as you are removing the oranics one way or another ( IE water change, Skimmer, etc.)

[aggman]

good info. i guess i will leave the filter as is, continue my weekly w.c.'s, and sell the skimmer. i had to put it in my tank due to not having a sump, so i will definitely free up some space. later i might just get a small hob skimmer that i can run for short periods of time here and there.

~alex

[aggman]

ok time for an update. i went ahead and got a 4x24w t5 unit from sunlight supply. it is alright for now. and somehow i was able to match the light from my 14k phoenix mh that i previously had, now it is just a bit more blue. and with cheapo bulbs. i rearranged some of the rock and still got more if anyone thinks it needs it. also, i still don't have a sump for this tank, probably going to leave the canister filter on, but i got cords hanging out which i hate, but i will deal with that later. ok ok enough blabbing...pic time.

mh / t5
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5360.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5683.jpg

full / actinic
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5600.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5682.jpg

i am still looking for some sweet sps mini-colonies. something colorful in the 3" range. i really want a bird of paradise, miami orchid, or any other red or yellow acro. i also want a duncan mini-colony. so keep me in mind ya'll are fragging...

let me know what ya'll think. if it sucks-tell me. lol.

~alex

[aggman]

also here is a pic that show the shelf i used to hang the light.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5689.jpg

~alex

[Big_Pun]

Looks really nice, the tubes from filter dont look bad still looks good, looks like one solid piece of rock

[Mr Cob]

Looks great. Love the look.

[aggman]

oh man...i just realized my tank and light are not centered. and i spent a while trying to get it right.

~alex

[manhorsedog]

i suggest just getting that taking care of. It sounds like it is something that might bother you and if your anything like me you will just end up delaying the inevitable

[aggman]

ok guys now for an honest opinion.

how do you guys like this beauty...he is on liveaquaria's diver's den (http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=63664). i think it is so ugly its absolutely stunning. and housed with my single nox angelfish, i think would be great in a modernist tank.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/mexicanpopeye.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/nox.jpg

what do you guys think?

~alex

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

Saw one of these yesterday, at one of our Sponsor's store.....just can't remember which one....love the color.

[aggman]

oh...

i read the pm before the thread. lol, i think i might give aquatek a call tomorrow.

thanks.

~alex

[blindside]

You saw it at our store cheri. River city aquatics

[aggman]

yeah i got bad news...

my nox angel has left us. last night one of my anemones decided to take ride through one of my koralias and apparently didn't like it. i got up to use the bathroom and saw my tank. it looked like someone had poured milk into it. seriously i could not see anything. so i turned off the powerheads and began siphoning out water. i did about a 50% water change and now my salinity is at 1.022 from the usual 1.026. i didn't have enough sw so i had to mix in rodi, and well i did what i had to. anyway the casualties include my nox, 2 crabs, and the setosa. luckily the wc cleared up the water along with a big bag of carbon. so the rest of my corals look fine as does my harlequin shrimp. i got the anemone out of the powerhead but he lost about half his body. now it is just a blob with about 10 tentacles left. hopefully he makes it. i will post a pick to show what he looks like.

~alex

[aggman]

ok for a pic reference. here is the anemone last week in the center of the pic. fully extended it was about 8" across. the second pic shows what is left after the swirly.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5600.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/IMG_5696.jpg

it is the one up on the side pane on the box. the one on the bottom is the anemone that is on the bottom right of the first pic.

~alex

[aggman]

i wonder should i try and feed or should i leave it alone for a few days. what do you guys think?

~alex

[aggman]

ok big update time...

i am breaking down this tank. :cry_smile: ...yeah, i know.

i have decided that i need a larger tank. i will be acquiring some new corals and colonies from different people so i need more room to house them. i have already transferred everything out of this tank into a temp. tank, and will begin cleaning later today. if you are interested in purchasing this tank and stand combo there will be a for sale thread posted up shortly.

i am sad to let this one go because it is the perfect cube, but it is time to say sayonara...:wave:.

~alex

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

Sorry to hear about all of this, what size are you planning to upgrade to?

[aggman]

it will be a custom tank. 36x30x20. still in planning stages though.

~alex

[aggman]

here are some prelim sketchup drawing of how i want it to look.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/65G3.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/65g4.jpg

and the bones...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/65g6.jpg

so far this is just and idea. still need to hash out the details.

can you guess where i got the idea for design from?

~alex

[aggman]

oh and a quick rendering...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/tankrender.jpg

the wood is wrong, it will look more like this one...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/65g5.jpg

but you get the idea.

~alex

[cbianco]

...i will be acquiring some new corals and colonies from different people so i need more room to house them...

Get more nanos!


...i have decided that i need a larger tank...

I hate to do this but... you are banned from the nano forum until further notice.

:bigsmile:

Christopher

P.S. Nice renederings

[aggman]

I hate to do this but... you are banned from the nano forum until further notice.


:red_smile:

i know it's shameful. but think of all the good i can do with 60 extra gallons and a sump.

i will make up for my treason in time....

~alex

[cbianco]

:red_smile:

i know it's shameful. but think of all the good i can do with 60 extra gallons and a sump.

i will make up for my treason in time....

~alex

60 extra gallons hmmm...

Do you mean you are going to buy five 12 gallon JBJ NCs and then add a common sump to these tanks? This is OK!

If not, go join your boys at the "Large Tank" forum.

Anyways... Do you have the larger tank yet? Are you going to build your own stand and what not? I like the addition of the DJ power strips into your stand.

Christopher

[cpreefguy]

Awesome sketches! Looks to be one killer set-up

[aggman]

no its not built yet. i stole the idea from the glass tank ace built for reefcube. i will not be having it built till august. i want to do it right so i will follow that whole 'measure twice, cut once' principle.

and i am going to use that t5 light i picked up at the swap. lots o' light.

~alex

[cbianco]

...i will not be having it built till august...

You've had 3 days now! Is this thing built yet? :innocent2:

Update... :D

Christopher

[aggman]

haha funny.

well i have sold the cube and the lights. i have decided to go another route. much, much larger. i will begin the last week of the month. i have just been so busy lately. there will still be a nano somewhere in the mix though. i just can't let it go, nanos are my favorite. lol.

~alex

[blindside]

How much larger Alex?

[ReefCube]

looks familiar hehe..cant wait to see it!