DIY 14G XXL, Extra Extra Long

[calvin415]

<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.

Acans and Blastos IMO are a must for this tank, Rics are definately a want of mine, hopefully I can convince my buddy. As for Zoo's I'm not sure... I've had many zoo tanks and they can get out of control just like Xenia and GSP... But you never know! Thanks for the ideas!

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566616#post7566616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pico Keeper
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:

Love the stocking idea, although GSP's and Xenia are definately out! Tanks to small to let them get hold. There was a filter cartridge in the left side for mechanical and chemical filtration and the right will be full of cheato. As for a sump there is no room to run a line without some serious drywall work and there is 0 chance of that happening. What you see is what you get. Thanks for the idea! I'll pass it along.

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566620#post7566620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chocolateblnt
ooooooooo I like it alot! Good Purply Tint! You're on a roll with this project Eric!

Thanks buddy!!! I'm loving the way it's turning out so far! I can't wait for the PM to get in today or tomorrow so we can get the base and back done so we can start stocking it!

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566629#post7566629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

Wow! Talk about details!!!! I will certainly pass this along to my buddy! Stay tuned for what we decide for stocking and who comes closest!

 

[Milleme]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7566284#post7566284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milleme
How about a 4 or 6 line wrasse, or maybe a flasher wrasse. Those all get about 3 inches.

I noticed you posted back about everyones commets except mine and figured you just missed it. Sorry if this is a little anoying and repetative but I wouldn't want to pass up a chance for free a frag .

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7568779#post7568779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milleme
I noticed you posted back about everyones commets except mine and figured you just missed it. Sorry if this is a little anoying and repetative but I wouldn't want to pass up a chance for free a frag .

I'm sorry, I did see it, not sure why I didn't reply other than I was doing it at work so I was probably distracted. I'll certainly pass it along, I'm just not sure the tank is big enough for a 4 or 6 line... They are very active fish, but again I'll certainly see what by buddy says. Again I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional.

 

[Milleme]

haha now i feel like an idiot, gues i have to change my name, jk

but hey its all kool man..

 

[calvin415]

Hey, don't feel like an idiot it's not that bad of an idea, and who knows what my friend will think. It's not like you said, get a shark!

 

[AngeloM3]

Couple things...............

1- I would of painted the back black..... seeing that its right next to the window... painting it black will keep out the sunlight... so dont be surprised if you get algae blooms all the time!

2- You live in Colorado...... when winter comes around... seeing that its next to the window....... your gonna have HUGE temp swings

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7574894#post7574894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AngeloM3
Couple things...............

1- I would of painted the back black..... seeing that its right next to the window... painting it black will keep out the sunlight... so dont be surprised if you get algae blooms all the time!

2- You live in Colorado...... when winter comes around... seeing that its next to the window....... your gonna have HUGE temp swings

Perhaps you should read the thead... These issues have already been addressed and solved. Thanks.

 

[Timothy01]

I agree with the clown goby i would go with a pair but keep away from the yellow i have read posts about them liking to nibble on corals. i have 2 black ones in one of my nanos along with 2 fire fish. I dont agree with pico about the bi-color blennie, to small of a tank for one and would harass the firefish. but the jawfish would deffintly be a plus and would add some chr. to the tank. I agree that if your looking at a large bio load you may want to use a skimmer.

BTW awsome tank and setup.....great work cant wai to see the finished product

 

[calvin415]

Thanks Tim!

 

[ashkeenon]

Cool Setup Im doing mine just now noticed you mentioned the tunze nano skimmer thats the exact one i was looking in to getting just wondering if you have it and can comment on it

cheers

Ash

 

[calvin415]

Ash, I don't have the skimmer it was only suggested by someone else. I'm not sure a tank this small would even needs one... At this time I can't comment on it.

 

[MadTownMax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7588431#post7588431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
Ash, I don't have the skimmer it was only suggested by someone else. I'm not sure a tank this small would even needs one... At this time I can't comment on it.

Such a small tank right next to a sink, kinda makes a skimmer useless - skimmers (ideally) should be cleaned-out 2-3X a week to get top performance (with a clean neck).

When comparing skimmer maintenence to a 1-2 gallon water change every week (or 5-gallons every other week or month after the tank is well-cycled) the skimmer actually becomes more work than water changes -

Hence why skimmers on nano tanks become cumbersome to use - kinda like pimping out a Yugo - more trouble than they're worth

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7589019#post7589019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MadTownMax
kinda like pimping out a Yugo - more trouble than they're worth

ROTFLMAO!!! :rollface:

 

[calvin415]

The tank is cycled and didn't even have a diatom bloom! Nice and smooth the tank is getting some nice green growth which the newly added clean up crew will handle real quick. 6 blue leg hermits, 2 Astraea, 1 Mexican Turbo, 1 Nerite, and 2 Cerith. We also added two peppermints just as preventative for any possible aptasia. It never fails to show it's ugly face once the tank is setup just the way you want it.

 

[calvin415]

Base w/ powermanagement is build and background is attached. It's primed and ready for paint tonight and once dried will complete the tank build. Now just to finish the smaller details like fans in the canopy and a few fish.

 

[calvin415]

Okay here's some pics of the base, it's currently on it's way to it's permenant home to hopefully be installed. I'll take some pics once it's in place. My buddy is headed out of town tomorrow morning and his brother's watching the tank. He'll be home next weekend so we'll see what happens.

Behind the powermanagement I've routered it out so there is plenty of room for power cords. It easily slides out from the front to plug things in and out and slide it back in. The round hole to the side is for the power cord to get back to the front.

Here's the power cord hole in the front.

 

[chocolateblnt]

Nice Work! Are you going to put some nice molding around the edges of the ply-board?