DFason's 35g Shallow SPS Build

[DFason]

Well I picked up my PVC board and its a BEAST. I should be able to get my glass before or right after Christmas so its really under way

The tank is still on auto-drive. Just dosing and feeding and things have been doing great. My flasher wrasse jump today when I was at work so that sucks but I will replace it with a cool fish soon.

I'm getting a little bit better with the camera but I really want to try one that feels good in my hands. So I will be shopping around. This gives me tons of practice so I cant complain.

PVC Board!!!

Undata Macro

Purple Tip Nana

ATL Pink Cap Macro ( turned out a little blah )

Tubs Purple Polyp Birdsnest

Blenny

Mummy Eye, EME, BGM

Clown

Hope you like!

-Dave

 

[flying_dutchman]

I'm sorry but what is the PVC Board used for?
The nana is really nice, and I love the shot of the blenny on the birdnest.

 

[jhawkor]

Nice. How much and what type of cal alk are you dosing daily? As for cameras I plan to pick up the Canon 7d in a few months...I need a pretty nice camera as I shoot HS sports for my local newspaper and my high school.

 

[DFason]

Dutch - Thanks! The PVC is for a DIY AGE tank for my upgrade

hawk - 35 mL CA and 23 mL alk BRS. I have been looking at a few of the Nikons.

-Dave

 

[aquasport24]

I love those clowns. What kind are they? And that setosa growth is awesome.

 

[DFason]

Just Grade B's.

The Setosa is amazing. Its gnarly growth has been something to watch

-Dave

 

[ddcotter]

Great looking tank! You're doing a really good job with a small(ish) sized tank!

 

[DFason]

Thanks guys!

Hopefully I'll have a lager tank soon!

 

[jhawkor]

Thanks guys!

Hopefully I'll have a lager tank soon!

What size tank are you thinking about? Also, do you dose any of Brightwells additives or foods? If I were to set up a small tank I would model it after this one you've done a great job with it.

 

[DFason]

Thanks so much jhawk.

I'm not going much larger but its going to be a 30x22x20 with a PVC bottom. All DIY work again.

I only use MB7 and I plan on using most Reef Nutrition products soon. With a smaller tank I try and make sure to stay on top of regular water changes, dosing and feeding. Keep my hands out of my tank and watch it go!

-Dave

 

[DFason]

The Eel
I have been on the search for the elusive Golden Dwarf Moray Eel from some time now. Most fish shops will sell these guys from $250-350 plus shipping. After searching for a year I found one that was small, colorful and a great price. Les from Wet Pets Hawaii had one in stock and I had to pick it up. $99 shipped and best of all from a guy who knew what he was doing! I picked it up at FedEx around 8:30 and was in my tank around 9:30. I have never been a long acclimation type of guy. With how long they stay in a bag I think once the temp is ok, on they go!

Later in the afternoon my girlfriend called in an uproar. The eel has kicked the goby and shrimp out. So when I got home I made a 1/2" PVC home for the shrimp and goby so hopefully they will take on to it. I fed the eel a small piece of shrimp and it snatched it up. I tried another small piece but it just ignored it but so far so good!

Any ways here are the pictures. I'll have more later and excuse the aptasia

Bagged

A Whole New World

Get Me Out of Here

Whos the New Guy?

Why Hello

Hope you enjoy!

-Dave

 

[Elan L.]

very nice. The eel wont eat any small gobies or shrimp? I have thought of getting one myself but have hesitated because of the reef-safeness. let us know!

 

[Laurier]

Nice buy. If it wasn't for my goby i would have bought one by now. such a cool little eel

 

[DFason]

Thanks guys. Honestly this guys mouth is SO small that the only goby it would snatch up is a neon.

I will post some new pictures tonight of the corals. End of year inventory before that

-Dave

 

[jhawkor]

Thanks guys. Honestly this guys mouth is SO small that the only goby it would snatch up is a neon.

I will post some new pictures tonight of the corals. End of year inventory before that

-Dave

Where are those pics at?:lmao: Love the golden eel. If I ever get a FOWLR going I'm getting a pair.

 

[DFason]

Chalice Paradise

Bonsai

Fun Photo

Artsy Fartsy

FTS

Hope you enjoy!

-Dave

 

[DFason]

The Upgrade
My goal with the upgrade is to have the most efficient tank and have it look like modern art. I want to try and have this look totally different than you average tank. Something that you would see in a IKEA catalog and say, " I have to have that". The stand will be three sections. The middle stand will hold the tank, a majority of the equipment and will measure 30" ( Long )x 22" ( Width )x 36" ( Height ). This stand will be made from 1" square steel powder coated off white with 1/4" wood panels that will be stained birch. The panels will be connected by 1/2" magnet's for easy maintenance. The sump ( 12x20x12 ) and remote DSB/Mangrove/Macro Algae tank ( 13x20x17 ) will also be stored underneath this middle stand. I will also have my RKL, Ozone equipment, skimmer and Tunze Osmolator in this stand. The left stand will be 18"x15/16"x 25" and will hold the ATO resivior and the dosing pumps with CA and ALK 2-part. The right stand will be the same dimensions as the left but hold a small and shallow frag tank ( 18x15x8 ). Lighting will be attached to a floating shelf above holding my nerdy fish books.

Tanks
The main tank will be all DIY. I am going to use the same method that A.G.E uses for there amazing builds. The bottom will be made from grey 1" Type 1 PVC board. This will be rabbet routed around the edges to assure a strong bond. The edges will have the "secret" sealant and I will be using using GE SCS 1200 silicon for the bonding. The glass will be 1/2" low iron flat iron polished. Dimensions are 30"x22"x18". The overflow will use the "Herbie" silent method with 1" drains and the return will be 1/2" over the overflow with lockline powered by a Eheim 1250. Oh and rimless!

The frag tank will be as simple as possible rimless, acrylic, shallow. This will be plumbed in with the main system. Nothing much to say about it.

Equipment
This tank will only use very efficient gear. MP20 and MP10 will circulate the main tank and a Tunze 6025 for the frag tank. I will keep my iTech 100, Tunze Osmolater, RKL, Eheim 1250 and Sunpower fixture. I will be adding a DIY pendant for the frag tank that will use 12 3w CREE LED's with 60 degree optics. The only lighting I will add for the main tank is four Powerbrites. I have picked up two dosers that will be powered by my RKL. The biggest change is the use of Ozone. I want this tank to be to be CRYSTAL clear, almost fake looking.

The ozone will be set up as followed...
Corallife Luft Pump->BRS Air Dryer->Sanders 25mg/hr->DIY Ozone Reactor->MR1 Shorty media reactor. This will be retuned back to the the refugium. The ORP will be monitored by my RKL and will turned on and off accordingly.

Fuge
Like I said above, its all about being different and efficient I want this fuge to be just as active and focused on as the main tank. The sand bed will be 5-6", 4-5 mangroves along the back side and various macro algae's in the tank. I few small pieces of live rock will be thrown in there and my goby shrimp pair will be in here. I plan on finding a pair of Bangaii cardinals and breeding them in this tank. If I am successful I will put a urchin in there for the babies. This will be lit by either two 18" T5's or another DIY LED set up.

Livestock
Its all about being small Gobies, Red Spot Cardinals, Dwarf Moray Eel, Bangaii Cardinals, Grade B Clown and small inverts. I want every acro to have an acro crab too.

Well I hope I did not bore you to much. I cant tell you HOW excited I am about this build, while it may take me a little longer than expected it will be just to my standards. If you have any questions or suggestions, shoot away!

Here's a few teasers....
Ozone

MR1 Shorty

PVC

-Dave

 

[flying_dutchman]

:eek2::crazy1::eek1::wildone::bounce1::fun4:
OMG! lol, sounds like a amazing plan, can't wait to see it up and running

 

[the_rider]

Nice Job Dave !

Your tank look really great and the new one will be awesome

I just hope you won't be finish before me hahaha

 

[DFason]

Thanks guys!

rider - You will beat me. Only being 24 some months are tight with money. I wish I could just spend 1-2k and get everything up and running tomorrow Get your tank up!

-Dave