bennerkla's 5.5 AGA Nano Reef Diary (Lots of PICS!!!)

[agarza]

Live Rock

Live Rock

If in doubt and smells really bad, scrub it until all the slime has gone and re-cure it on a 5 gallon bucket with power head for a couple of weeks.

cheers

 

[FishMachine]

i like hand picking my lr from my lfs to ensure quality and to arrange the rock in my likeing

 

[Birdlady]

I had that thermometer and the probe end got brittle and cracked in less that 6 months...just FYI Just be careful if you are moving it around.

 

[impur]

Thanks

Anyone know about the live rock?

Just rinse it off it will be fine. I almost always break my rock in half for better scaping.

 

[bennerkla]

Cool, I might try it out tomorrow. Hopefully my chaeto and magnet cleaner will be in by then as well. I'll keep you updated.

cya,

Ben

 

[bennerkla]

Update 6-18-05
Here is an updated shot. I got my cleaner in today, but no chaeto. The magnet is really nice since it's only 1/4" deep and I can clean any part of the glass I want to. Too bad it doesn't float. I also changed my rockword around a little bit, see so in the picture. I've decided I don't want the other piece of rock, so if anyone wants it let me know. It's fiji about a 3-5 pounder.

BTW that rock is in my bucket, so I can't do a saltwater addition until I get it outta there, but I'm buying a 2 gallon bucket tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures, see you all tomorrow! I'll do my first water test tomorrow too.

Cya,

Ben

 

[FishMachine]

looking good

 

[bennerkla]

Thanks.

I might get the base's wood recut, that small black border line is driving me crazy. URGHHHHH why didn't I just cut it right the first time?!?!?!

 

[eljefe]

very nice tank, my situation is very close to yours... Ive got a 75 mix reef up and running... progress has slowed down because im anticipating a BIG move (UGH) but once set up and going Im wanting to start a Nano too. (how was the modest mouse concert? I love them) Keep up the good work

 

[bennerkla]

eljefe Thanks. The modest mouse concert was unbelievable, one of the best I've seen next to Interpol and Bruce Springsteen. They started out with 3rd Planet, my favorite song of theirs, it was awesome.

Hey guys, today I bought 2 light sockets and I'm going to try to add 2 of those 20 watt Coralife bulbs into the canopy for a total of 76 watts PC. I don't know if it'll fit, but I hope it will. I'll let you know tomrorow at 4:00 PM with pictures.

Cya,

Ben

 

[eljefe]

3rd planet is a favorite of mine too... have you thought any more on your stocking situation? im really interested as to whats going to go in this thing

 

[bennerkla]

I know I don't want a fish, that will just complicate things. The reason why I built this nano was because I don't want to miss out on the little things in the ocean. I have a 75 gallon with 2 tangs (no flaming) and a clownfish, and I love them to death, but I miss out on the snail slowly cleaning my glass, or a critter in the live sand in search for a piece of food. With a nano and no fish, I should be able to look at all the little things, because I think that my 2 shrimp will be so much fun to watch.

I also chose a nano because I wanted to have corals inexpensively. If I put a rock of mushrooms and xenia in my nano, it is completely alive, yet if I put those same size corals in my 75, you would barely notice them. I started this tank with a lot of knowledge, unlike my first, so this tank I'm trying to get everything right the first time, which is why I built a canopy, bought moonlights, whole bunch of PC, and auto top off.


Stocking situation is tentative, because I'm going to get a lot of coral frags from my good friend Doug in CORA (Central Ohio Reef Association).But, here goes...

-2 Sexy Shrimp
-1 Porcelein Anenome Crab
-3 Cerith Snails
-4 Nassarius Snails
-1 Margarita Snail
-2 Astrea Snails
-No hermits (Love them, but I don't want them eating my flipped Astreas or Ceriths)


-Blue Stripped Mushrooms
-Pulsing Xenia
-Several Misc. Zoanthids
-Any other low light frags I find
------------------------------------------------------

Oh well, I'll just see how things go. I have yet to do a water test, but I've done 2 1 gallon water changes (I'm just letting the cycle do its thing).

oh BTW eljefe The World at Large was unreal, so awesome what they did with the trumpet and how Isaac sang it. Do you have the Lonesome Crowded West? Only CD I don't have

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment, it is hard to get a good pic, but trust me, it looks saweeeeet with the moonlights.

Cya,

Ben

 

[bennerkla]

Oh BTW guys, I don't need those mounting legs anymore so if anyone wants them get them on eBay now for cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3981485884&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

 

[eljefe]

yea got that one off iTunes and went straight on my ipod , the world at large was the song that got me hooked on them. im going to a jack johnson concert in august, cant wait.

back to the subject... haha... i got like 9 porcelein crabs as hitch hickers and i love them. good choice on the sexy shrimp too. im wanting to get like 3 to host in my xenia in my 75 gal

 

[bennerkla]

Urghh, Jack Johnson is my absolute least favorite "singer" of all time. I hate him even more than Journey or Hansen.

 

[bennerkla]

Nothing against you though, eljefe

 

[eljefe]

wow that hurts... lol jk i love him hes like my favorite... different strokes for different folks i guess. when are you going to start socking this thing? im very interested, once my move is over im gonna set up either a 5.5 or maybe even smaller... im just starting to get research

 

[bennerkla]

Definately get a 5.5, it's perfect for a nano. A 2.5 would drive me crazy, having looked back on my aquascaping and water changes and stuff. I almost bought a 2.5 but I'm glad I didn't.

I just bought 2 of these bulbs from Big Al's Aquarium and I'm going to put them into the sockets that I installed today. Oh here are some pics.

As you can tell from the last pic, if the length of the light becomes a problem, I will simply move the socket over a bit. This might very well happen.

Well, I'm excited for 76 watts of PC!! Should be able to have just about anything.

Cya guys,

Ben

 

[clown fanatic]

looks sweet man. ive been following this thread alot and i like the progress youve been making. i think it would be cool to have a tank like this but i just recently upgraded to a bigger tank so i wouldnt have to take care of two . will those new bulbs interferre (im a horrible speller) with the coralife light?

 

[bennerkla]

Yes, they probably will interfere with the other 18 watt lights, but I really don't care. Maybe it will subtract 10 watts at most, (complete guess), but with that much light in there I should have no problem at all keeping corals.


Thanks for following the thread, I appreciate your interest in my nano.

Any questions, please ask! I've learned a lot in a month.