custom 2gall pico

[fishymann]

So I've been thinking about setting up a nano tank for a few weeks now and after being very bored a few days ago i decided to put the plan into action. At first i figured i'd go out and buy a 5.5 gallon tank for around 10$ but i decided i'd DIY it with everything i had around the house. The dimensions are 9x9x6. Its all made out of 1/4 acrylic (over kill but its what i had) The back is black acrylic just so that i wouldn't have to spend the extra step of painting it and because once again i had it laying around.
Mocked up

put my phone in it to give you an idea of the size (i think it'll be a good size for aquascaping)

and my wallet for height

Built the canopy and base out of wood i had already from other projects around the house, it was 3/4" but i split it down to half. I still need to go out and buy 1/4" or thinner wood for the top which will swing up to open.
(Still need to fill hole and finish staining)

Small HOB filter will be used for flow and to house macroalgae and soem rock

What im wondering is lighting, i was thinking either a bunch of white LEDs mixed with some blue (since its so small), or getting a medium socket base and just using a coralife mini 50/50 10watt. Would 10watts (basically 5wpg) be enough in this tank to house ricordias, zoas, and other mushrooms? Also what type of heater would you recomend because of its small size

 

[StunnaShadez]

i've seen a tank based mainly on LED's and it was hard for the guy to keep it lit. a lot of the LED's went out on him. well, he did make a DIY project out of it. i think he even ordered LED's used in the solaris lighting but it didnt work out so well. the mini-compact would be better im thinking. with the closed canopy and a pc in there, i dont think you would need a heater because the lamp would provide all the heat

 

[sjm1978]

did u use silicone on acrylic? if so thats not gonna hold you need to use weldon.

 

[fishymann]

alright thanks m1enbo1 i figured the LED would just be a PITA. Yes it is 100% GE silicone ment for acrylic. Its 2 gallons, its not like we'r even talking 10 gallons. I used the same stuff on other little projects and they've held water just fine.

 

[fishymann]

well the tank has been holding water for 24 hours, the little filter is providing tons of flow so hopefullly it'll be enough. Going to let it run another day or two in the basement over a bucket before bringing it up to its resting place.

 

[reefman13]

Keep us posted.

BTW I bet that you could use a very low wattage desk lamp to light the tank. If you got a 60 watt halogen desk lamp you wouldn't need a heater. I would put a thermometer on it if you haven't yet. Then you can watch what the temp does depending on how high the lamp is off the surface of the water. My $0.02

 

[fishymann]

I was thinking a desklamp but the tank will be ontop of our entertainment center so having a desklamp behind it may be a little out of place.

 

[Grunt]

What are you planning to keep in it? My wife wants a tank like this to put a handful of sexy shrimp into.

LED's would probably be the way to go, however they can be kinda expensive if you have to buy a lot of them. IT might be cheaper to buy a small desklamp and take it a part and retro it into the hood.

Goodluck and keep us posted.
Cheers

 

[fishymann]

I want to keep mostly zoas, ricordias, would love to keep a frogspawn, and other mushrooms probably. Maybe a shrimp as livestock. I've got some white LEDs here i just have to wire them up and test them out and see about how many i would need to see what would be better. Thank you for the idea of tearing apart a desklamp and putting into the hood some how i didnt think of that!

Another obstical i need to figure out is a way to create rock shelving for the corals, the tank is small but i feel it has a good footprint.

 

[fishymann]

Just figured out the lighting and i have it all (this project seems to be saving money buy using a lot of crap i have around) . I found (2) 20 watt halogen under cabinet light fixtures that are 2" in diameter. I put one over the tank and it looked beautiful, i put two over it and WOW, so do you think i should just go with both (that would be 40 watts) or just one would be good?

Also I think since its all white and no actinct i'll use blue LEDs as supplimental lighting. If the halogens heat up the water to much i shouldn't have a problem putting a small fan in the canopy to cool it .

 

[Grunt]

One would probably be enough, but the more the better. I usually say. However you might have heat issues with such a small tank and both lights running without some type of fan or something running.

You can use eggcrate or some small pvc chunks to create shelving, you would want to hide the pvc with rocks or something. Maybe you can find a rock that has some support with a flat section. Just an idea. I've seen some intresting things made out of pvc and concrete too, fake LR.

I think you should look for the right rocks, honestly. But, you seem to like DIY projects

keep us posted.

Cheers

 

[fishymann]

I was thinking about giving DIY rock a try but with the long cure times it just seems sort of pointless for this. I was also thinking pvc and eggcrate and just covering it with rock but not sure how that will work out since its a small tank and all the filtration will be based on the rock.

I sent an email to the same place i bought my rock for my other tank asking if they had any ideas on layouts that would work with rock they had, hopefull by monday night i'll have a response. I like DIY when it ends up being cheaper, reality is a 5 gallon would have cost me 10 dollars, i had all this stuff laying around though, and its fun .

i'll keep you guys updated

 

[fishymann]

tank is still holding wonderfully. I decided i'm going to use some 1/8" acrylic as a top and paint it white so its very reflective and so that it keeps in all the light instead of being able to just bounce off the water back out the top.

So the lighting is going to be (1) 20 watt halogen with 3 blue LEDs as actinct and moon lights. If i want more light though i can add a second 20 watt halogen.

 

[BCreefmaker]

please get some acrylic glue and get rid of that silicone. the silicon makes it look so cheap, and for smaller tanks good looks are very important. you will be much happier with accrylic glue, plus it wont eventually fall apart like silicone

 

[fishymann]

Tank is still holding water all the way up to the brim (hehe seriously any movement on the floor and it swishes out). The top is drying right now and then im going to mount the halogen light, the canopy and stand are drying with their final coat of stain (with polyuerathane), then i will mount the blue LEDs, fill with some sand from my other tank, a piece or two of live rock and set it up.

I think i'll get in some corals and THEN figure out if i need to really go and buy rock or just use the rock i get with the coral.
I'm thinking a blood shrimp, a few astrea snails, and a few scarlet reef hermit crabs (red legged)

 

[Jadams]

nice DIY project! Post some more pics when you get the lighting in.

 

[fishymann]

Will do, right now im having some difficulties mounting the light because of the fact i have to attach it to acrylic with screws, but i will figure it out.

 

[fishymann]

It is currently sitting on my desk with water . My dad wants to see it in action first before i move it into the living room so i figured i'll just set it up in here for now with some sand and rock from my other tank. (Hmm may have to make another one for my room i like this). So there are 3 blue LEDs that i was hoping would be good suplimental but the halogen kind of washes them out :\ but they'll be good moonlights. The halogen gives off a very yellow light but i'm not surprised its not ment for this at all.

The Canopy and stand are far from perfect, but i am pretty happy with them. I ended up drilling through and using a nut and bolt to hold the light so the nut is visible through the top and so are the bolts for the hinges.
A couple cups of sand and a few pieces of rock, I'm hoping most of the rock will be from the corals.

Any questions about how i made anything or what ever ask away .

(it isnt quite this bright)

(Here you can see the blue LED wiring)

(the halogen light, and i can still add the second one) Also you can see i used 1/4" acrylic and then on the outside i siliconed the cardboard back of an old bookcase that some what matches the stain i used.

 

[fishymann]

(with both halogen and blue LEDs on)

the waters a lil cloudy from the salt and sand.

 

[Rosseau]

How is the heat from that halogen?