20 long build

[iced98lx]

good way to create that built in look! Just a suggestion but I bet you can run that power wire through the baseboard and up the back wall, behind the drawers, and out the top of the shelf pretty easily, if you wanted.

I was very very sensitive to what corals I added and where, so I understand how you feel. I didn't want to add something and watch it take over the tank only to wish I hadn't added it.

Since you're not adding more fish those damsels will be fine, although they may fight till one perishes. Lots of people buy them expecting those bright little fish to be very nice to other fish, and they're just not. Since you're not planning to add other docile fish you're in good shape!

 

[petere1989]

UPDATE: I got a mushroom coral today. It was on sale and looked amazing so I couldn't pass it up.

The lady at the store isn't who i normally dealt with, and she didn't know what the name of it is so anybody can ident, i can write it down so I know.

 

[petere1989]

so today I mounted the top piece for the final built in look.

Here is the final product. I will have to get a camera to take better pictures as the lights wash everything out.

Heres the tank as it sits right now

Better picture of the damsel

So thats that. I'm still waiting to get my snails and crabs. I guess the place i ordered from only ships once a week or something.

 

[Green_Lionfish]

Damsel looks cute. I like your tank.

 

[petere1989]

Damsel looks cute. I like your tank.

thanks! I like it so far too

 

[tommer725]

Thats a neat mushroom

 

[petere1989]

So I had a little issue. The lights were so hot with the lid down. I came home to 86 degree water and algae everywhere. I got the temp down to 79 and its holding there right now but I now have this algae problem. I've got snails and crabs coming to help take care of that but I was not expecting this much this soon. I have the top part open right now to let the heat out. I'm not sure how to regulate the heat or even if its possible. It was up 6 degrees over a period of 5 hours roughly on saturday. I tried turning the heater down all the way but its holding still at 79. Any ideas on what do to? i'm going to scrap the walls here in a bit to get some algae off. And I may have to take the top part off and just forget the built in look if I cannot regulate the heat. Does anybody know if a cooling fan would take care of that problem??

 

[petere1989]

a little update from earlier post:

I scrubbed the walls and did a 2 1/2 gallon water change. The tank looks better then it did. I took the top part of the thing off so the heat can now escape. the tank is holding steady at 78 degrees which is where I want it. I put on of my crabs from my 10g in there and he began eating away! pretty cool little thing. So now its just cleaning a bit and watching it to get it back to where it was.

Also I am going to rethink the built in look. I still want to do something but allow the front to be partially open to let heat out. I am going to keep the side pieces and maybe run a trim piece from each one across the top of the tank. Then cut the top board in half so it just covers the lights. That way where will be about a 6 inch gap for the heat to get out with, and I will be getting a cooling fan too at some point.

The coral looks good still so no worries there. I'll have to check when my order of crabs and snails will come in. Hopefully I hear something tomorrow.
Thats all for now, sorry for the long posts but I had to vent somewhere on my frustration.

 

[petere1989]

so after cleaning up the algae, theres still some in my tank, I did some work on the top piece of the unit. Here is what I came up with.

I cut it down to 6 inches to leave a gap. Its the only thing I could think of and doing so blocks the lights, which was my main goal anyway.
I just used hinges to attach it.

I can then flip it up to allow more access to the tank and to the lights.

 

[EWC88]

Looking good man keep it up, and I like that mushroom. Far as the heat, was adding a fan not a option so you didn't have to cut the canopy wood? Or maybe even cut a hole or two on the shielding unit were lights are attached to and have one computer fan blowing hot air out and have another blowing cool air in?

 

[petere1989]

Looking good man keep it up, and I like that mushroom. Far as the heat, was adding a fan not a option so you didn't have to cut the canopy wood? Or maybe even cut a hole or two on the shielding unit were lights are attached to and have one computer fan blowing hot air out and have another blowing cool air in?

I'm all out of electrical plugs or I would of got a fan. I thought about cutting two vent holes in the front and putting like, a house vent system in on each side but it seemed a lot of work and cutting the wood when I wasn't sure it was going to work. This looks ok for what is it. I put a piece of trim across the top of the tank on the front too to kinda tie it all together. I'll post pictures after a while of it.


EDIT: I ordered a cooling fan from amazon. I'll have to use another power adaptor but I need it.

 

[petere1989]

Here are some pics of the recent wood-work.

You can see the top trim piece.

Heres another shot of the mushroom. (I still don't know what type it is...??)

I'm also getting all these air bubbles on my rock. I think its from the algae but i'm not sure entirely.

Here is a side picture looking down on the right side of the tank. You can sorta see how I have the trim piece set up there. I taped the backside with duct tape to hold it against the cabinet because it wasn't setting straight. Also the vortech controller and the pump itself is back there.

And the Right side with the thermometer.

Also another skimmer shot. I empty'd this this morning and its that full already. I'm going to modify it eventually by getting some tubing and cutting a hole, and running it to a gallon jug because I'm emptying it 2 times a day.

UPS also says that my snails and crabs I ordered will be here tomorrow so I'll get back with more pictures when they arrive.

 

[petere1989]

(somehow my last post got posted twice, oops!)

 

[ReeferKimberly]

You can expect algae blooms and other blooms in the beginning. Pretty normal for a cycing tank. Forgive me if you said it, but this tank is still cycling right? 3 damsels is a bit much for cycling. I know you were switching tanks....did you add the old rock and filter to the new tank to speed up cycling? I did an upgrade from a 10 to a 20 recently. Added everything old but the sand and it still went through a small cycle. I wouldn't worry too much about the algae until it finishes cycling. Then if it's still there, that is the time to worry about it.

I think the shroom is a ricordea. Which I like a lot better than normal shrooms. But I am not an expert.

 

[petere1989]

You can expect algae blooms and other blooms in the beginning. Pretty normal for a cycing tank. Forgive me if you said it, but this tank is still cycling right? 3 damsels is a bit much for cycling. I know you were switching tanks....did you add the old rock and filter to the new tank to speed up cycling? I did an upgrade from a 10 to a 20 recently. Added everything old but the sand and it still went through a small cycle. I wouldn't worry too much about the algae until it finishes cycling. Then if it's still there, that is the time to worry about it.

I think the shroom is a ricordia. Which I like a lot better than normal shrooms. But I am not an expert.

Thanks for telling me the coral. I looked it up and thats it.

In this tank I got all new live rock and only put in two pieces from my other tank along with new sand. I would assume its still somewhat cycling but my water parameters have stayed the same for a while, so that is why I got the mushroom. The LFS said it would be no problem having 3 fish ( I know they want sales though) but it seems to be doing just fine with 3 in there.
As for the algae it was not bad at all until the heat got out of control, then it went crazy. I got it mainly cleaned up though, but i know there will be some and that is expected. Eventually i want it all gone though. haha. I like perfection when it comes to these things.

I also just ordered a cooling fan from amazon. It'll be here tomorrow too (gotta love amazon prime)

 

[petere1989]

Got the crabs and snails in today along with the cooling fan. The fan could be stronger, i'm glad I got the 4 fan unit instead of two. My water was 80.1 when I looked at it a bit ago and i'm hoping the fan will cool it down a little. I put my hand under the lights and it is cooler with the fan on, so i'm hoping it does something.

The fan

I dont know if i should of or not but i attached it to the light reflection thingy. the tank walls are to big for the hinges to fit, which i knew but thought i'd try it.

I also got a piece of coral but its not opened up yet from shipping, I'll post pictures when it does open.

 

[tommer725]

Nice

 

[ReeferKimberly]

lookin good Water temp of 80 is fine btw, that's where I keep my own (purposely)

Here is a poll showing what our other member's tanks are kept at.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1869243

 

[petere1989]

i came home today to a non working skimmer. i'm not sure what happened to it but its a quarter full and i emptied it last night so it must of quite during the night. i'm also having algae issues as well. I know you get algae with new tanks but i didn't get this type with my 10 gallon. its like a fuzz layer all over everything. the snails and crabs i got are hard at work on the diatoms and its almost cleared from my sand already. i'm just not sure about the fuzzy stuff.

I am also wanting to move some of my coral from my 10g into the 20g. But I'm not sure if i should wait until the algae is under control more or not. the thought was then i could move the skimmer thats on the 10 into the 20 for right now. their the same skimmer. and then when i get the one from the warranty it'd go back on my 10 which will have my clown fish and puffer in it.

 

[Veganbrian]

Dont transfer the corals yet. Did you do a water change? if it gets worse i'd cut the lights for 3 days. hopefully your CUC take care of it.