DIY 14G XXL, Extra Extra Long

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7554648#post7554648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milleme
Ricordia tank with a couple seahorses, maybe a firefish or the jawfish, and a fire shrimp.

Seahorses are out because by buddy's a nube... Sounds like gobies and jawfish are a popular choice for fish, thanks for the ric reminder.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7555273#post7555273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dfcjr
Trimma gobies!! Perfect fish for a nano. Nice red coloring and they only get an inch long.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1968

1 inch is good, but I'm not too crazy about the way it looks, actually pretty ugly I think... I will pass the idea along though.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7556014#post7556014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MadTownMax
ok then, a pair of purple firefish and a yashi hashi goby and pistol shrimp, decorate it with a fringe of red grape caulerpa ( use one 6700k VHO at least to keep these growing strong) and then decorate with your favorite LPS througout.

go with a MJ1200 and a MJ900 hooked up with two SQUID's at either end to vary it up a bit.

.03+

I like the goby idea, another person suggested doing just goby/shrimp pairs in the tank. I don't want any macros in the tank so it would have to be in the refug... As for SCWD's not sure where you got that idea because it not possible with this tank. ???

 

["Umm fish?"]

I like the idea of a jawfish tank right up above the sink where they can be diverting, but do you really have room for a deep sand bed in there?

As for corals, it's pretty easy to get a good food density per water volume going in a tank that small. How about tubastrea for the vivid color?

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558610#post7558610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by "Umm, fish?"
I like the idea of a jawfish tank right up above the sink where they can be diverting, but do you really have room for a deep sand bed in there?

As for corals, it's pretty easy to get a good food density per water volume going in a tank that small. How about tubastrea for the vivid color?

He's got a bit of sand and my pearly actually doesn't dig a hole, but instead creates a cave between some rocks... I think it would be okay if my buddy wants to go that route... As for tubastrea, I think they are really cool and would be a great idea, but I'm not sure spot feeding for a nube would be a good idea. I'll certainly run it by him though. Thanks for the idea!

 

[MadTownMax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558570#post7558570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
I don't want any macros in the tank so it would have to be in the refug... As for SCWD's not sure where you got that idea because it not possible with this tank. ???

Oh, OK - well the red grape macro was as much for decoration as it is for filtration; and it is not as agressive macro like some caulerpa's so it is easier to control through pruning - but if you're set on putting it in the fuge, you might as well go with cheato.

I use halmedia in my tank for nutrient control and decoration - another macro which is easy to prune and looks natural in a display.

SCWD's would require two return holes in each end plate, I know it's already set-up, but lowering the water a bit and drilling a second hole isn't all that difficult

You will still get some pretty random current in there with the current return outlets, but if you go with a few hammer/frogspawn/torch corals I think the surge effect across the tank with the long LPS tenticles would be more pronounced.

 

[dfcjr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558570#post7558570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415



1 inch is good, but I'm not too crazy about the way it looks, actually pretty ugly I think... I will pass the idea along though.

Thats a pretty bad pic, I wouldnt say they're a really pretty fish, but certainly not ugly. One thing I like about them is that you can keep them in groups. 3-4 in that tank would be perfect. They have great personalities too, I love watching these guys clean the other fish and the flash of color when they chase each other around. If your friend is a noob, I would definitely recommend some kind of goby or blenny. These kinds of fish add up to hours of endless entertainment, one of the reasons I even have a SW tank.


Good luck with whatever you guys decide, I'll be waiting anxiously.

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7559121#post7559121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MadTownMax
Oh, OK - well the red grape macro was as much for decoration as it is for filtration; and it is not as agressive macro like some caulerpa's so it is easier to control through pruning - but if you're set on putting it in the fuge, you might as well go with cheato.

I use halmedia in my tank for nutrient control and decoration - another macro which is easy to prune and looks natural in a display.

SCWD's would require two return holes in each end plate, I know it's already set-up, but lowering the water a bit and drilling a second hole isn't all that difficult

You will still get some pretty random current in there with the current return outlets, but if you go with a few hammer/frogspawn/torch corals I think the surge effect across the tank with the long LPS tenticles would be more pronounced.

Drilling would really be a lot of work now, plus I really don't think I have room for the SCWD too... Really nice mental picture of the hammer/frogspawn/torch corals so I hope they will make it into the tank, I'll certainly pass this idea along...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7559323#post7559323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dfcjr
Thats a pretty bad pic, I wouldnt say they're a really pretty fish, but certainly not ugly. One thing I like about them is that you can keep them in groups. 3-4 in that tank would be perfect. They have great personalities too, I love watching these guys clean the other fish and the flash of color when they chase each other around. If your friend is a noob, I would definitely recommend some kind of goby or blenny. These kinds of fish add up to hours of endless entertainment, one of the reasons I even have a SW tank.


Good luck with whatever you guys decide, I'll be waiting anxiously.

Thanks for the clarification, and they sound great but would need to see a better pic... Do you have one?

 

[calvin415]

Okay, canopy is done, just waiting for the power management to get here so we can build the base. Here's some more pics...

BTW The background will be built with the base...

W/ Flash

W/out Flash

Tank shots...
Right

Center

Left

 

[Milleme]

lookin good! I cant wait to see it all done.

If thats not your final aquscape i think three seperate islands would look cool and then you could connect 2 of them to make a bridge. Just throughin somethin' out there, you may have already thought about that.....but i like the look of islands.

 

[calvin415]

Talked to my buddy last night about stocking ideas, he's not familiar with corals so I'll be showing him the ropes hopefully this Friday so he can get an idea of what's out there and what he likes the looks of... As for fish, he loves the firefish, gobies, and jawfish, now just making up a stocking list that can present a nice appearance and still provide some swimming action in the tank. My thoughts are 1 red Firefish, 1 purple Firefish, a yellow Clown Goby, either a yellow Watchman Goby or a Hi Fin Banded Goby... Anyone have experience with multiple goby's? Would the Watchman and the Hi Fin fight if both placed in the tank? Also any thoughts on some nano fish that would be a nice active swimmer but also colorful? No damsels, no chromis, and still reef safe...

 

[dfcjr]

Is he going to have any small shrimp? If not, how about a flame hawkfish. I know that tank isnt that big, but a small one shouldnt be too bad.

No I dont have any of the trimma gobies right now. I had a couple maybe3-4 years ago, but lost both. My buddy does have one in his tank but the little buggers are hard to get a good pic. Next time i'm over there I'll try to get a goood pic.

 

[calvin415]

He's planning on probably 1 Fireshrimp and a few peppermints, plus a cleanup crew...

 

[Milleme]

How about a 4 or 6 line wrasse, or maybe a flasher wrasse. Those all get about 3 inches.

 

[Quatro]

What about a species tank? I think a couple frogfish would look killer! They get big tho, but most people think they look really weird and interesting!

I'd be worried about evaporation. How's that going? There is such a small area in the sumps where evaporation is occuring, I would think after a day or two the maxi-jets would start sucking air.

Also, I think a protein skimmer is necessary if you want to have 4,5,6 fish in a 14 gallon tank. The tunze nano skimmer would be perfect. I think it's only about $125 which is a good deal, IMO.

Ex/
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TZ5311

or even the nano reef pack...
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TZ9511
Just some thoughts,

 

[MadTownMax]

I'd go with a green clown goby over a yellow - if he does ever put corals in there the yellows are known to sometimes distrub them - but not the greens.

If damsels and chromis are out, maybe you could go with a pair of cardinalfish?

 

[Pattylucylaura]

How about a Ricordia & Zoa dominated tank with gobys of your choice or even some cool acans and blastos.

 

[Pico Keeper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566528#post7566528 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pattylucylaura
How about a Ricordia & Zoa dominated tank with gobys of your choice or even some cool acans and blastos.

That sounds intresting. I would love to have a dilemna like this.


Harlequin Shrimp ( with an extra star in each overflow for feeding)
Triplet of Sexy Shrimp
1 Cleaner of Peppermint
1 Panda Goby
2 Firefish
1 Green or Yellow Clown Goby
1 Pearly or Blue Dot Jawfish
1 Bicolor Blenny

Blastos
Acan Lords
Lobos
Mushrooms
Zoas

and then something that flows like GSP or Xenia

Thats how I would stock it. The jawfish would provide the movement in the tank since the clown gobys are kinda boring sometimes. Plus the shrimps would provide extra personality, and the corals and harlequin would add the intresting.. wow w*t*f* is that for people who are not reefers..

I dont remember but was some sort of media tray incorporated into the overflows? Since it's on a shelf it wouldn't be hard to drill one drain, and one return and add a small sump on the other side of the kitchen so bioload wouldn't be as much of a problem.

Sorry if im trying to take over yur tank.. haha, living vicariously thru someone else . :rollface:

 

[chocolateblnt]

ooooooooo I like it alot! Good Purply Tint! You're on a roll with this project Eric!

 

[stewie24]

Here's what i'm visioning:
At the far left drop a frag of branching hammer (the light will keep em alive)
At the far right drop a torch frag.
On the rocks go nuts with zoo frags (nice color ones) (bright green, eagle eyes, ppe, rpe, etc) - they'll also spread on the rocks, making the tank (hopefully) look like a STUFFED tank within a year (plus part of having a reef is watching the tank grow and mature right?)
On the sand drop a few rics (orange one, blue one, green one)

That will definately ignite the tank as far as colors go (esp under vhos)

For the fish: I'd go with a pair of purple firefish (they are more shy, but since there's not a whole lot of room, you'd probaly see them more often, plus the purple will glow since most corals wouldn't have alot of purple in them)
yellow watchman goby (once again, prob wouldn't have too much of yellow other than torch) w/ a shrimp goby.
I'd think 3 fish in a 14 total capactiy tank would be just about the right amount. You'd have 2 mid/top dwelling fish, 1 bottom fish along w/ a shrimp for it, and LOTS of different colors in the tank. It'd be the attention grabber for the kitchen.

Edit: Almost forgot the inverts part - wouldn't want to be disqualified from the running
I'd go with a cleaner shrimp (mine's really active)
Don't know if you want hermits in there or not, but once again for color, if you do go w/ crabs, i'd say 3 or 4 scarlet hermits (friendly, and bright red color :smokin: )
3 atreas
1 cerith
1 nassarius
1 trochus
and a handful of strombellas (they'll breed, stay small, and get under the nooks and crannies where the other snails won't)
That being said, you'd have a pretty good crew (adjust snail quantities accordingly to the needs of the tank maybe 2 of each.


Stewie

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566368#post7566368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hceiv
What about a species tank? I think a couple frogfish would look killer! They get big tho, but most people think they look really weird and interesting!

I'd be worried about evaporation. How's that going? There is such a small area in the sumps where evaporation is occuring, I would think after a day or two the maxi-jets would start sucking air.

Also, I think a protein skimmer is necessary if you want to have 4,5,6 fish in a 14 gallon tank. The tunze nano skimmer would be perfect. I think it's only about $125 which is a good deal, IMO.

Ex/
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TZ5311

or even the nano reef pack...
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TZ9511
Just some thoughts,

Really want to keep it non-aggressive and small fish so the frogfish would be out... As for evap he's losing about 1.5-2 inches a day out of the left overflow which calculated out to .25-.3 gallons a day which he tops off nightly. I have a couple skimmers on stand-by should we need one, but were hoping that 10% WC's weekly will help keep things in check... If we need to make some modifications we can. Thanks for the ideas and feedback!

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566384#post7566384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MadTownMax
I'd go with a green clown goby over a yellow - if he does ever put corals in there the yellows are known to sometimes distrub them - but not the greens.

If damsels and chromis are out, maybe you could go with a pair of cardinalfish?

I've seen that too, thanks for the reminder... I love cardinals, but not sure they are colorful enough for my buddy, but I'll bring it up.