Cody's 2.5g AIO build

[evanj]

Can't wait to see some pictures of that thing with live stock, I saw this tank at Nanotuners http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=343 but it seemed overpriced... I love the design and might have to copy you in the near future.

 

[Lytehouse]

Wow, $300 smackers.

Cody, how proud are you now!!!

 

[nGo]

Cool tank Cody. :thumbsup:

 

[reefboy1994]

more updates?

 

[cody6766]

Sorry for the lack of updates!

After seeing that nanotuners link, I'm pretty proud! I like mine more actually.

As for the update...

I cracked the first tank while messing with the rim, so I didn't do much with it for a month or so.
A few days ago I bought a new 2.5g and moved everything over I pulled some of the rock out for a more open scape and added a nice sun coral frag I came across. It's got 6 healthy heads, 2 heads that are eating, but have some tissue loss on the sides (it'll come back if you keep them fed from what I've read) and a few baby heads popping off the sides.
I bought the coral last night and it's already showing signs of opening on all the polyps. A couple are sticking arms out, but not fully.

I hope to add the 10K bulb back to the tank when they start feeding all day, but right now (except for these pics) they're under actinics only. I want to add some zoas and shrooms around the bottom and use the sun coral as the focal point. I'm in no rush though. I need to get the sunnies established and get a feel for how the heavy feedings will affect the nutrient levels in the tank. I'll be busy with water changes, but at least they'll only be a few cups at a time in this small of a tank.

So, some pics finally?

Before

Now

 

[naubound]

I want to do something like this at my office

 

[naubound]

how much do you have invested

 

[cody6766]

Well, I had some of the stuff, so that saved some cash but....

A 4'x2' piece of 3/4" Birch plywood from Home Depot is about $15
a roll of iron-on veneer is about $5
the stick of quarter round trim was about $5 (used about half)
stain was about $5
Sanding blocks and rags were about $10

The tank is a bit over $10 from Pets Mart
the small acrylic sheet for the baffles was $3-5 from Home Depot (used a small portion)
Silicone is a couple of bucks, I used superglue gel to hold the acrylic together
the return pump was on sale at Pets Mart for $10, normally about $15 IIRC
CF bulbs were $3, I harvested the ballasts from them
A can of expanding foam is about $5 and the resin was about $10'ish

If I had to buy them,
PC bases are about $10 for both
PC bulbs are $15-20 depending where you get them
A small heater is about $15
the fuge light is about $10 from Walmart
extension cords that I cannibalized were about $1 each (2)

I'm out somewhere in the neighborhood of $60-75
I would have spent about $100 if I had to start from nothing, including sand and rock (if my math checks out right)
You could save $25 and run one 18w bulb, but two is better. To run two you will need a fan. I've noticed creeping temps with both running. A small 12v fan in the back would do the trick though.

 

[chipnamanda]

Good looking tank

 

[salterclan]

How does the tank look now? Is the Sun Coral looking good?

 

[OctaviousMonk]

I really like the way it looks, also curious how the sun coral is doing. any plans for live stock?

 

[Lytehouse]

Hate to start a band wagon, but

how does the tank look with new inhabitants?

 

[cody6766]

Sorry guys, the AF has been keeping me busy. I'm in the last steps of a PCS to Pensacola after a 6week TDY en route.

Sad news regarding the sun coral...
During the move to my inlaws it's container got misplaced and it spent the night out in their barn with some misc tank equipment in the 15* weather. Needless to say it didn't make it. I'll probably fire the tank back up when get the housing office to deliver my household goods from storage. My 33g is still kicking *** under my wife's care in Oklahoma, so I'll have plenty of 'spare' livestock to bring the pico back to life.

 

[lusenut2]

Is it up and running yet?????

 

[cody6766]

Nope, it's sitting on the fridge in the garage, empty. I don't really have a place to put it and I'm about to start Nav school (akin to pilot training, just a different job), so I don't see myself having time for the 40 breeder, 14g BC, 3 birds and a wife. I also haven't replaced the tank since I cracked it when it came down. I'm holding on to the parts so I can fire it up sometime in the future, but I don't know when that will be. Training is a year long, then I'll have to move again, so it may be quite a while before it sees any water.