I Bare All (See Pix)

[MarineFlake]

So, ya, I picked up this tank for what I believe was a real good deal from someone here in Memphis. After getting it home, it now sits ready for my attention in our kitchen break area (thats another story, good to have a wife with an open mind though...). I have attached some photos as I intend to kinda share my thoughts and progress via this thread.

http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium#5269441647691966386

http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium#5269441677186991218

http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium#5269441698973694418

http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium#5269441726337803394

So the first couple photos kinda show the tank and its position. Its a 135 gallon from Glass Cages originally and only several months old as I understand. The stand is actually iron with a DIY wood skirt for looks. The reason I included the other two photos is that I am considering removing the left over flow cover and glass box for space. I also have two 250W MH pendants for the tank but I am thinking that another 250w for the center or *maybe* a 400w in the center would make the setup complete. I am also hoping to design something that will allow the lighting to be kind of free standing for adjustment and for cleaning. I am open to anyone that has some ideas I can sketch out, but consider that the two MH fixtures I have are PFO mini pendants and a third yet to be purchased. I will have four 48" VHO's free once I shutdown my 75G and have considering supplementing with that instead. Anyway, if anyone has some suggestions please let me know. I will post more photos as I come up with and implement some solutions. I am kind of a minimalist so I am try to take a kind of KISS approach. We will see how long I can hold out ; ) Oh and and I am looking to go bre bottom (No, silly, the tank, stay focused) so any input there is also welcome. Thanks for looking.

-PC

 

[ducklabdad]

Looks like a great grab. What size is it? and you were talking like you were gonna "downsize" Now you will need to hang onto all those frags I bet?

 

[MarineFlake]

I was updating the post when you posted, please have another look. As for frags, you are still welcome to them. I have a sneaky suspicion that everything in the new tank will do just as well if not better! Theres optimism for ya!

 

[ducklabdad]

I am jealous of all that have the space for a larger tank. Right now I guess it is best with the work schedule I am dealing with I really don't have time for what I have!!

Oh well maybe some day!!

 

[joeycadre]

dude, i have a 1 year old pfo dual 250w magnetic ballast. just go all out and have 4x250w on it. all it will cost you on this end is 125 bucks and i will throw in a couple of 10,000k ushio bulbs!

hehehehe always the salesman here. sorry.

but yeah that's a much nicer tank that what i was offering.

 

[MarineFlake]

So some thoughts on keeping the lights simple...Being a musician, I stopped by Guitar Center today and looked at some of the low end DJ lighting trusses. I figured If I got a 8 or 10 foot truss, I could hang the lights from them and adjust the height as needed. *Then* I thought, why buy the truss...After looking at the specs for schedule 40 and 80 PVC, I could actually construct a PVC truss, paint it to match the decor and hang lights from it either placing the truss on the tank or using a couple lighting tri-pods or speaker stands. (Both are rated well beyond the weight of three lights). So, my little pea brain is at work trying to determine the best of both worlds...Style and flexibility. I have seen lighting truss tri-pods with wheels on them (locking) as well which would be *way* cool since I could just unplug the whole rig and wheel it out of the way for some serious tank maint. Also under consideration is looking at locating the sump in my garage which might require a couple little itty bitty holes in the wall between the kitched and the garage (Least thats what Im soft sellin' the wife) or at a minimum running the 1/4" RO/DI line into the kitchen where the tank is (Where it is sourced anyway) and having it auto top off full time. No more worrying with the SP3000 and filling a bucket every week...Did I mention I can be pretty lazy? The only thing Im not sure of is the drain. If I run the drain out to the garage for the sump, I think I have to keep a certain min angle for the water to drain. Im not sure that will be possible since I would want the hole in the bottom of the wall just above the baseboard. That would mean the sump would have to sit on the floor of garage and since the garage is subject to the weather, it may lend to heating/cooling issues...Guess I need to chew on this some more.

 

[MarineFlake]

So, anyone got any advice on going 'bare' btw? I was going to place the LR right on the glass bottom, but using some egg crate seems to be the popular choice. So, put the egg crate on the bottom and then LR on it or place the egg crate on a riser and then place the LR on it...or does it matter at all?

 

[ducklabdad]

I was "warned" to not put the rock directly on the glass in the bottom due to the possible etching of the glass and that it could then cause it to "fracture" along those lines just like it was scored witha glass cutter, and that it would have "pressure points" at the high and low places that could contribute to the same. I,d go with the eggcrate.

You might check out Dr. Peaches, Katrina Tank, He has just Rubble in the bottom and he has the most beautiful set up I have seen in person of anyone individual in this area. He could tell you the plus, and minus of that set up.

I keep "trying" to figure out where I could put a bigger tank!! Well maybe we really do need to start looking at houses!!!

 

[MarineFlake]

dukclabdad, thanks. I will see if they have any photos in their gallery. As for the space, it just happened that the wife wanted to get the old tank out of the living room enough to facilitate a new tank in the kitchen. If I learned one fundamental thing from my first couple of tanks, it all starts with location, location location. Thanks for the info.
-PC

 

[MarineFlake]

So, for some reason, the previous owner pulled the plumbing out, as noted in some previous photos. I am cleaning up the holes, there was a lot of silicon on both the top and bottom. There is a rubber seal pn the bul heads. Anyone know if these go above or below the glass?

Thanks

 

[MarineFlake]

I am wondering since I am moving all the LR and fish from 2 tanks into one if I would be safe to move the stock and not have to worry about cycling. I figured I would keep a couple shots of BioSpira on hand jic, but I was wondering if someone else has switched tanks like this and if there are any words of wisdom to be garnered from others experiences. I will not be moving the sand, or at least not much. I was orginally going to go bare bottom (hence the spiffy thread title, right?), but I just can't let go of all the sand dwelling snails and other creepie-crawlies that live in the sand. Plus I *really* want a yellow watchman goby and I believe they like to dig so, looks like I will be adding *some* sand but I am not looking for a DSB. Just enough to keep the sand dwelling critters appeased. I have spoken to someone at the LFS I trust but I just want to make sure that I am not looking at a tank crash in the making.

Thanks

 

[MarineFlake]

Some photos of the dreaded filling and just after hanging lights. (I hung lights this year for Christmas...yay!)

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VlhXDY5oo9WfIw1Xp_FWrQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_o3SdLPDw9IM/SUmg0tfXX1I/AAAAAAAAATU/jsu6FULp6wY/s800/tank1.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium?feat=embedwebsite">Aquarium</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p0siEkXIJppGqOzh8iOmfw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_o3SdLPDw9IM/SUmg1LQL2dI/AAAAAAAAATc/2fs_kARh8yY/s800/tank2.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium?feat=embedwebsite">Aquarium</a></td></tr></table>

 

[MarineFlake]

An updated foto. Its a little hazy from the sand/rock addition.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_B9uBWonQNxUJSkKUJ5kXg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_o3SdLPDw9IM/SVLWjB871nI/AAAAAAAAAT8/ThpE199nR1Q/s800/135g12-24-08.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/81Gibson/Aquarium?feat=embedwebsite">Aquarium</a></td></tr></table>

 

[Grendel0501]

Did you place your rock right against the glass? Or did you use egg crate?

 

[MarineFlake]

I ended up using sand. I couldn't part with my sand creatures, they are some of my favorite oddly enough, so I put 80 lbs of sand in the tank just to create a place for the sand creatures to live. If you look close at the photo you can see the sand. I *really* wanted bare bottom, but the desire to keep my sand dwellers took priority.

 

[Grendel0501]

You put the rock ontop of the sand?
Isn't that a no no?

 

[MarineFlake]

Rock laying on sand is the way to setup if you use sand. Though, some folks do setup on the bare bottom and add sand later for visual effect.

So, I had some old bulbs in one of the MH fixtures while I was testing. Looked good, no problems. I replaced one of the bulbs with a brand new ReefLux 12k. When I fired it up, it was kind of flickering. Hours later, still flickering. The flicker isn't too terrible, but it is annoying and I am wondering if this will go away as the bulb burns in. Anyone know?

 

[Grendel0501]

Really?
You are the first person I have heard say there is no problem with rock ontop of sand. Everyone else has suggested against it.

I think I am going to use eggcrate , mainly because I bought my tank used , and I don't know if the bottom is tempered or not.

 

[Lovmenot35]

i put my rock on top of the sand but i do make it touch bottom so there is no chance of rock colapsing on top of a digger.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I placed 1/4 plexiglass on the bottom of my tank.That way the rock won't put alot of pressure on the bottom glass.Rock on sand has a chance of shifting cause rocks to fall, could be bad if it hits the glass.