40 Stretch Hex Upgrade

[BRISK495]

Hello All,

I will be upgrading my Nano Cube pictured below to a 40 Gallon Oceanic Stretch Hex. The upgrade will happen in mid May. Right now I am planning to have 250watt pendant, an Aqua C Remora Skimmer, and some type of "outside" filter to hold any media. Maybe even a small fuge will be attached. I would like to have a good amount of water flow since I will be keeping a decent amount of SPS. I would love to have a sump but am deciding against it since originally I just wanted to upgrade to 25-30 gallons max. I didn't want to go to overboard until I eventually settle down in my own house (the 40 hex will be in an apartment). I am also planning to paint the back panel with Krylon Blue. Any ideas on that? Maybe I should paint part of the extended Hex sides as well that are in the back? As far as aquascaping, I am going to stay away from the traditional wall look and will hopefully look to accomplish some type of partition in the middle...maybe have one side higher up and the other side half as high. I always thought that look is very natural. I have a decent amount of live rock in my Nano cube and a decent amount of corals and fish so I will be starting out pretty good with livestock. Any ideas on adding "new" liverock to an already existing syetem???

Well enough of this for now, I would love to see pics of anyone who has a 40 hex or 30 cube...or anything in that general size. I will most likely make this into a "journal" of my tank.

Pics of my Nano Cube below that will go into the new 40 Hex....

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I saw one of those Oceanic stratch hex's the other day. Great looking tank.

My suggestion for painting would be, before you do it, get yourself some blue poster board, and tape it to the back, see how that looks, then tape two more pieces to the two back sections of the stretch and see how you like it. If it looks good to you, then paint all three panels.

The added length of the stretch will allow you to accomplish the rock structure you're thinking about. That will look really nice.

Good luck! Can't wait to see the progress.

 

[BRISK495]

That's a great idea Sugar!! I think the hex is a good looking tank. I actually really wanted a 30 cube but this hex tank was a lot less expensive!!! I still dont know why but it was. Maybe they had a lot of them in storage.

By the way, I m followng your thread as well... Your tank looks great!

 

[BRISK495]

Well, I got the tank this weekend. I think it looks really nice...I bought some Krylon Blue paint shown below. Does anyone know if this is what people mostly use to paint their background when the say "Blue Krylon"? I also have a pic of the tank down. I put some paper behind as suggested and def think I will paint the entire "back" vs just the single panel....

 

[tapout]

what kind of fish is that yellow one?

 

[BRISK495]

Hey Tapout,

That's a yellow goby. They're perfect for a nano Cube. They stay small and have cool personalities. I've had mine about a year and his name is "Chauncy".

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

That's the stuff Brisk. Be sure to use some newspaper and tape to cover the top and front panels to avoid overspray. 3-4 light coats will give you a nice finish.

Good luck! Can't wait to see how it looks painted.

 

[BRISK495]

Thanks Sugar,

I should be painting it in the next week or so. Thanks for reminding me about the newspaper thing too. My girlfreind also mentioned I should do it too...! I wouldn't want to get paint on the Cherry or inside the glass....

 

[BRISK495]

Ok, well I finally got around to painting my tank last night. It only took me two tries...hahaha!! The first time it streaked and I thought it would be bad but after some experience, I don't think it would have mattered at all...Well here is a pic of it on the ground so that it wouldn't streak....

And here is the tank on the stand (that's still wrapped up). I have the little light that comes with the tank on.

 

[BRISK495]

Well, I finally got the tank to its final spot in my new place. I filled the tank with water and added the salt. SG around 1.025 Here's a pic. I only have a aquaclear filter on there now but will soon have my skimmer and fuge. I just got about 34 pounds of live rock that I put in last nitght. I will be posting pics of that soon as well....

 

[YodaHart]

Nice looking tank. Did you paint that INDOORS?! If so, then you're a crazy man.

 

[BRISK495]

Yeah, I did....it prob wasn't the smartest thing, but I also dont have an outdoors I could have painted it! it was actually bad at first and then it was fine. I opened all the windows to let air through.....and closed my door when I went to bed....I didnt get paint anywhere I didnt want it!! Oh well, at last its done....I totally reccomend painting it though!

 

[CitCat21]

I have the same size tank. I would go with a sump if you can. the space gets used up so quickly.

Heres a link to my startup photo log.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/azzk1k3r/album?.dir=/17e9&.src=ph&.tok=php0Q7CBAMXbarHR

i think i would much rather have the protein skimmer in sump than on the back of the tank it's so obtrusive.

i have 2 power heads in my tank. One pionts at the back of the tank and the other is opposite that pointing at the front. Kind of circle of flow that way.

The tank is still new but i'm happy with it.

 

[BRISK495]

Hey CitCat,

yeah...I would love a sump too....I am getting a Remora Skimmer and they arent too obtrusive, especially when the tank is painted or you hav a background. When you look into the tank you won't really see anything...A background may be helpful in hiding that equipment in the back, there are some good ones out there. I was going to try OceansVisions background but I decided to paint it instead. I agree though, sumps are always the best!!!!

 

[aural]

sexy looking tank! the blue turned out better than i expected. cant wait to see the rockwork you were talking about. i like the non-traditional approaches people take. they usually turn out pretty nice. keep us update for sure

 

[CitCat21]

i don't mind seeing the equipment through the tank it makes it easier to see if it's working being as it's tucked into a corner. The pump that powers the skimmer and the bubble trap that come into the tank are ridiculourly huge on my skimmer though.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Looks great Brisk. I like the blue background and painting all three sides turned out to be a really good idea. I can't imagine now how it would have looked with just the back panel painted.

Give us some more photos once the rock's in.

 

[BRISK495]

Here's a pic of my tank with 34 pounds of Figi. I will be adding more (@17 pounds Figi) after my Nano Cube upgrade. This picture was taken with just the stock light that came with the tank. I will be getting a PFO pendant and Phoenix 14 K. How does everyone like the Phoenix's? I've heard nothing but good things...

Also, the tank seems to be cycling pretty quickly....ammonia is pretty steady, not high at all. I think there hasn't been a tremendous amount of die off (yet). I will have to monitor it though...it seems to be moving along nicely.

 

[BRISK495]

Here's a straight on view.

 

[maxvan1]

That aquascape is kill'a (in a good way!

Not to much more IMO, Although, I like the "less it more" look.