Journal-10 gallon nano

[ArcticBlue]

Ok, figured I may as well get started here. I'll have pics up every once in a while, I have a cheap $20 wal mart digital camera, so the pic quality is never very good.

Heres what I have bought so far-

10 gallon top fin tank-$5
50 watt ViaAqua Heater-$21
Orbit 20" 2x40 watt PC Fixture-$105
Penn Plax Cascade 80 PF-$10
Rio 200 Powerhead-$13
Rio 180 Powerhead-$10
Hydrometer-$8
Supplies to paint the back of the tank-$10

So round about $200 so far. I still need 20lbs live sand ($22) and 10 lbs live rock ($4.90 per lb)

I "modded" (that would involve me hitting things with hammers) my desk to remove a part of a wood frame that used to hold shelves in order to fit the tank in there. I cant possibly imagine that its a "load bearing" part of the desk, since the only thing thats above it is assorted junk mail and an unplugged printer. I will post pics of that later so you can see what I mean. Also gonna paint the back of the tank tonight, and I will post pics of that too.

 

[ArcticBlue]

Got the back of the tank painted. I used a midnight blue, I like the way it turned out. I painted it with a sponge roller, so its got a cool textured look. I took a couple pics of the back, but could never get a shot of the way it looks from the inside, I will try again tommorow.

I should be taking it slower LOL, I have a feeling theres gonna be alot of "hurry up and wait" before all the goods arrive from ebay and big als.

 

[mtfish]

I'll be watching closely. I just started my 10g reef this weekend and I'm at about the same point as you (my first sw tank)

Looks good so far though. I order the same light as you, I found it at bigals for $99 with 2 timers (and a shirt, YES!) where did you order yours? I saw Drsfoster&smith had it for $99 as well.

I'm curious, are you planning a MOD for the HOB filter?

Keep us updated!

 

[ArcticBlue]

I ordered it from ebay! Garrrgh I saw the Dr Fosters & Smith one, but S&H ended up being more then it was on ebay. I forgot about Big Als. I would have gotten it there for the shirt alone. I didnt see that until after I had already bought the light on ebay. Oh well, live and learn.

As far as the filter goes, I am not sure what I am planning with that yet. I have something in mind, but I will have to take a good look at it when it gets here. If it doesnt work for that, I will just have it to run carbon.

All the prices you see btw are with s/h included. Some of the stuff I bought local, but most was ordered thru Big Al, thatfishplace.com, and ebay.

 

[ArcticBlue]

Such a long delay in update...I have a cold, and I am waiting for my supplies to come in. I got the first item in the mail today, a hydrometer. Anyway heres where I am at.

Thats the desk where the tank will be going. That area is supposed to hold shelves, but I lost those long ago after a move. Seems like the perfect place for a fish tank.

The desk after I got out my hammer

The tank all finished. Theres a few specks of white that show thru even after 4 coats of paint, but you really dont notice them at all. Well I do, but I am anal. Now I am just hanging out, waiting on supplies. Big Als is expected to arrive tommorow, with my powerheads and filter.

 

[ArcticBlue]

I got the powerheads and filters today. The filter is much smaller then I thought, and will not make a decent fuge. Oh well, I will use to to run carbon. Big Als gets high marks in my book, as does Creative Coral Reef, the company I ordered the hydrometer from. I am having a problem with a couple ebay sellers though. I paid with paypal on Friday. The auction for the light specified that it would ship next business day, or Monday. Finally last night I wrote him a not so nicely worded email, and I got the UPS info, I guess its shipping out tommorow, a full week after I paid. To me this is unacceptable. Same issue with the heater, I paid $12 to ship a heater, it should be here by now, or at least the seller should be keeping me up to date. Anyway...

One of the two Rio powerheads and all the stuff that comes with

The tank with the powerheads and filter hooked up

 

[mtfish]

Too bad about the E-bay stuff. That really is unacceptable. I had to get on a seller once too, but for the most part E-bay has treated me well. Anyway just concentrate on the good stuff, the fact you are now 1 step closer to your reef (None of my stuff is coming until Monday ) Well thanks for documenting this, I'll be watching!

And you should do a wet run with some freshwater and see how much movement those pumps create, I'm curious.

Later.

 

[ArcticBlue]

Yep I am gonna be getting it wet tommorow. Gotta run and get the RO water in the AM. I am curious too, by my math it should push 350 gph, which is an awful lot in a 10 gallon tank. So I need to make sure Im not turning it into a salty hot tub. Like I need an excuse to put water in a glass box anyway

 

[ArcticBlue]

Ok today is the first day the tank is all wet. A couple problems. A)the tank isnt level b)theres no way for me to screw the power strip into the wall and c) I accidentally poured about half a gallon of water behind the desk. I can still hear it dripping now. I had to squeeze back there and throw down a couple towels. Hopefully I wont burn the house down or fry my pc.

The good news is that theres alot of flow in the tank. If you put your hand down in there you can certainly feel the water moving. I cleaned it out, but theres still a few specks of dust and a stray dog hair or two floating around in there, hopefully the powerfilter is gonna pick that up, otherwise I will go after it with the net. For the time being the blue background is reflecting well on to the side of the tank. I really hope that doesnt change when I install the lights, otherwise I may have to put up frosted contact paper to keep from being able to see the woodgrain from the desk.

Opps forgot to mention : 2 5 gallon plastic gas cans-$11
10 gallons RO freshwater $3.50

 

[ArcticBlue]

I should be getting that light Monday. Apparently strongly worded emails sent to ebay sellers works.:thumbsup:

Heres a few more pics of the waterflow...as you can see theres alot of movement going on, it makes me wish I had sprung for the halides.

Oh btw, if anyone knows how to dose with kalk that info would be *very* helpful. I plan on ordering the Kent kalk mix, but dont know what to do with it once it gets here. Do I add a few drops when I top off? Daily? Only when I do water changes? How much should I add? Any info anyone can give me would be awesome.