bennerkla's 5.5 AGA Nano Reef Diary (Lots of PICS!!!)
- Thread starter bennerkla
- Start date
clown fanatic
New member
i think the tank looks good both ways you had it. but if i had to choose one i would choose the way you used to have it. i only say that because i liked the rock on the left that slowly arched up towards the top of the tank, it would be really cool to have some frag of a coral up on that peak. just my opinion though.
btw the tank is looking great! i like all the new corals.
btw the tank is looking great! i like all the new corals.
schulace123
New member
lookin good, i like the new tank, better than to old, nice switch.
ninjafish- Thanks man. Do you have any suggestions? I was thinking about a plate coral towards the left front sand bed. I also wanted a nice zoo frag towards the top rock. I feel like I'm not as cramped in this setup and I have some room to position my rocks. Rocks are like powerheads; better to have many small ones than a few big ones. Your tank still owns mine, I shouldn't have looked at yours first because everything I do is sub-par compared to yours. 
melev- Good idea, thanks!
clown fanatic- I liked that rock too, problem was that it was just so big. Plus, any frags that were attached to rocks would completely throw off the "coolness" of that rock. It would be hard to get a coral up there because it is getting hit directly from the AC flow and it would extend out of the water. If this was a FOWLR, I'd definately keep the old setup. I feel like I can breathe with this one.
schulace123- Thanks man. Keep posting, I'd love to her more from you!
I'm thinking that I'm going to direct the LED's so that they shine on the frogspawn and green spirilia (sp). They look AWESOME with the blue lighting on them. See for yourself... I just snapped some pics.
Hope you guys enjoy, let me know.
Cya guys,
Ben
melev- Good idea, thanks!
clown fanatic- I liked that rock too, problem was that it was just so big. Plus, any frags that were attached to rocks would completely throw off the "coolness" of that rock. It would be hard to get a coral up there because it is getting hit directly from the AC flow and it would extend out of the water. If this was a FOWLR, I'd definately keep the old setup. I feel like I can breathe with this one.
schulace123- Thanks man. Keep posting, I'd love to her more from you!
I'm thinking that I'm going to direct the LED's so that they shine on the frogspawn and green spirilia (sp). They look AWESOME with the blue lighting on them. See for yourself... I just snapped some pics.
Hope you guys enjoy, let me know.
Cya guys,
Ben
ninjafish
New member
Ben,
I think a plate or open brain down on the sandbed would look pretty sweet. I really like that sprilia (?) - haven't seen one around here but I would buy it in a second if I found one. The aquascaping looks good and gives you lots of room for growth. If you were going to add any more rock I would put a tower formation kind of jutting up in the back on one side. I think that it is always easier to appreciate someone elses tank because it is something different, and more importantly, it can just be enjoyed because someone else is doing all of the work
. The only suggestion that I can think of would be to try out a smaller variety of snail some time. I changed my tank around to have only ceriths and stomatella because they don't get very big. I have found the challenge to a nano is to get everything to look miniature and purportional - like you are a giant and have a real live reef on your table. I found that having a large snail in the tank messes with the illusion and makes the tank look a lot smaller. JME.
This is the only thread I'm watching these days - nice work!
- Chad
I think a plate or open brain down on the sandbed would look pretty sweet. I really like that sprilia (?) - haven't seen one around here but I would buy it in a second if I found one. The aquascaping looks good and gives you lots of room for growth. If you were going to add any more rock I would put a tower formation kind of jutting up in the back on one side. I think that it is always easier to appreciate someone elses tank because it is something different, and more importantly, it can just be enjoyed because someone else is doing all of the work
. The only suggestion that I can think of would be to try out a smaller variety of snail some time. I changed my tank around to have only ceriths and stomatella because they don't get very big. I have found the challenge to a nano is to get everything to look miniature and purportional - like you are a giant and have a real live reef on your table. I found that having a large snail in the tank messes with the illusion and makes the tank look a lot smaller. JME. This is the only thread I'm watching these days - nice work!
- Chad
Sinularia. Nice piece too!bennerkla said:
Those LED's are awesome!
TippyToeX- Thanks man. I can't wait to see yours take shape as well.
Jordan 55- Thanks. The LED's were custom made, check on page 13 I think for the link to the ones we bought. Doug from CORA made them for me.
ninjafish- Thanks man. Could I fit a brain on the sandbed? I thought they were huge. I think I'm going to keep the smaller turbo in there, just because he really does a terrific job at cleaning. I'll try those stomatella snails if I can find some at Phishy. I know I don't want any hermits, they are just such a pain to monitor. Thanks for continuing to follow my thread! I can't wait to post more pictures today when they open a bit, so check back!
atram- Thanks dude.
Sugar Magnolia- Ahh, cool. I'm so excited to have that thing lit up all night, it looks amazing I think.
I'm at my friends house right now, but I'll post more pictures when I get home. Cya!]
Ben
Jordan 55- Thanks. The LED's were custom made, check on page 13 I think for the link to the ones we bought. Doug from CORA made them for me.
ninjafish- Thanks man. Could I fit a brain on the sandbed? I thought they were huge. I think I'm going to keep the smaller turbo in there, just because he really does a terrific job at cleaning. I'll try those stomatella snails if I can find some at Phishy. I know I don't want any hermits, they are just such a pain to monitor. Thanks for continuing to follow my thread! I can't wait to post more pictures today when they open a bit, so check back!
atram- Thanks dude.
Sugar Magnolia- Ahh, cool. I'm so excited to have that thing lit up all night, it looks amazing I think.
I'm at my friends house right now, but I'll post more pictures when I get home. Cya!]
Ben
Hwarang
New member
heya bennerkla
I have been watching your thread but didn't see if you found a solution to your ac fuge high flow problem. I am asking because I went through the same problems (same size tank too) and eventually abandoned the idea completely. The mini impeller I ordered was not strong enough to suck water up into the unit, and the big one turned my aquarium into a whirlpool.
I have been watching your thread but didn't see if you found a solution to your ac fuge high flow problem. I am asking because I went through the same problems (same size tank too) and eventually abandoned the idea completely. The mini impeller I ordered was not strong enough to suck water up into the unit, and the big one turned my aquarium into a whirlpool.
Hwarang
New member
this... is an outrage! my fish knowledge has been blasphemed!
hehe jk.
Yeah it was all "primed" and whatnot. I have a bevvy of old buhquariums in the closet and was doing water current tests with my AC300 hooked onto the back of a 5.5 filled with tap water. The filter was full and everything. I also left it running while I cooked dinner because I thought it might just take a while to get the water up over the elbow ... no such luck. I think I may have gotten a defective part or product somewhere. I am not overly thrilled with aquaclear's filters. anyhow i don't want to derail the thread so back to the topic ... post more pix!
hehe jk.
Yeah it was all "primed" and whatnot. I have a bevvy of old buhquariums in the closet and was doing water current tests with my AC300 hooked onto the back of a 5.5 filled with tap water. The filter was full and everything. I also left it running while I cooked dinner because I thought it might just take a while to get the water up over the elbow ... no such luck. I think I may have gotten a defective part or product somewhere. I am not overly thrilled with aquaclear's filters. anyhow i don't want to derail the thread so back to the topic ... post more pix!
