My 10G "build"! pics incl.

[Rosseau]

I'm going to post a few pics and talk a bit about what i've done so far with my nano. I could blabber on for pages about what i've learned (good and bad) and definately how I would do things over again if I could, even though i'm only about 2.5 months in now.


10G AGA .... 8.25" deep, 11" high, 13.75" wide

Coralife 12" actinic/PC quad... 72 watts (want more)


I turned down purchasing a nanocube or an all in one, but looking back it may have been worth more of a look. I was weary of all-in-ones, thinking they would be stocked with the bare minimum, as FW "packages" tend to be.

Eager to get going, I aquired cured rock/sand and water from well established tanks at a trusted LFS. Here it is at about 1.5 weeks.

Later I realize I would like a painted back... so... I had to do it with fish in, not fun.

In it's early days I had to leave for a week (to go to the mountains) and I think my clown was so cute its caretakers fed it like crazy. I came home to algae bloom and nitrates through the roof. Previously they were 0. So I found in chaeto (eventually). They remained high until the chaeto was put into an AC Fuge and are nearing 0 again now.

All is well.....

 

[Rosseau]

============================================

A few days ago I decided I was sick of looking at the wires etc. Time to build a house for my tank. Here is what I was planning on doing, the dimensions have changed a bit, but it's the idea.

I also wanted to add a sump/larger fuge. My plan is to eventually custom build an acrylic tank to fit behind. I didn't forsee all of this before stocking, and so I wasn't able to drill into my tank (not about to try now). I also didn't feel like spending another $150 on an overflow siphon box.. So here is the temporary solution....... Water is pumped into it, and gravity brings it back to the display. Works well enough for now.

Here is my wood from HD... nothing else in this picture at all.

Assembly begins...

Wood is stained/sealed...

Please fit... it does, for now...

An idea of how the makeshift hack job looks on the fuge lights. (2x PC's). I'll build a proper fixture/reflectance area soon.

I didn't forsee a few things. I just bough a tunze nano skimmer. However, it won't fit.. by about a 1/2"..... I'll deal with that soon. As for now it's not attached. I would like it to be.. i fear sawdust and such has gotten into the water. Secondly I didn't think heat transport would be a problem... Argh I was wrong. I thought this was Canada? So I installed this little fan off of my computer's 2nd HD. I'll try and fit it into the box in a few days, and make room for the skimmer.

Also, makeshift maxijet to feed water into the "sump".

Here's how it's looking now. I reworked the rocks a bit. I still don't love the look but it's better.

Finally I have trim to go around the outsides edges of the wood to seal the gaps (i.e. where you can see the waterline) and other edges.... It should look good!!









I hope I haven't bored you all to death.


As always on RC, comments/questions/whatever always appreciated!! Donations are also welcome.


Thanks everyone!!

-Rosseau

 

[supernareg]

ur clam / flame scallop is going to starve to death.

those are not photosynthetic, if they are only about 5%, and about 95% if not all, they rely on zooplankton/ phytoplankton food to feed on. they are FILTER feeders, and dont live off the light.

it will be okay for about a couple months, if that, and then will slowly starve to death. take it back. get ur money / store credit before you cant anymore.

that clam was one of my 1st buys a couple years ago.. because it was cheap and beautiful. after the advice i got from here, i returned it, and i'm glad i did.

with the amount of plankton u need to feed that guy, u'll pollute ur tank in a matter of days.

otherwise, everything else looks good. thats a cool little nano right by ur comp.

 

[Rosseau]

I know... I am feeding the tank phyto right now. I understand that they tend to starve. Big Al's was my first mistake.. it was just hard to pass up something so colourful and inexpensive.... 7$ or something I believe I paid...

I'm feeding him with a syringe right now, but that doesn't mean much.. We'll see. Thanks for the comments.

 

[lowcountry1]

I am glad I read this...I was thinking, man that clam thing is awesome and if it works in the 10 gallon then should be fine in my 12 gal. Thanks for posting supernareg

 

[kaserpick]

You can always take him out and put him into a tupperware container every other day with a lot of phyto in the water so you don't pollute your tank. I kept my scallop for about a year; even if they don't starve, I hear they have a short life span even in the wild...but that's what I "hear", so who knows.

 

[kaserpick]

Oh yeah, great looking tank!

 

[lowcountry1]

ditto, tank looks good

 

[Rosseau]

Yeah, the scallop has mixed advise from online sources. Which are of course, only people's experience.....

ethics sort of comes into play, because, it appears healthy and does not harm the tank, even if he is starving......

No stores really want back a "used" $10 scallop, so... euthanasia, slow starvation?...

Kaser, that's a good idea with the separate tank... I might give it a try.


I shouldn't be posting right now... night.

 

[alien9168]

:thumbsup:

 

[Rosseau]

I gave the scallop its first "bath feeding" today....

I'm not sure how long I should leave it in the plankton soup, or how frequently to do this.... It's going to be a bit of an experiment I guess. Literature on this is pretty sparse.

 

[reeferchickdc]

nice build. i like the amsterdam flag too.

 

[Rosseau]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9097845#post9097845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeferchickdc
nice build. i like the amsterdam flag too.

Thanks. It was my only "souvenir" from there. The only one I remembered to bring home anyways...

 

[edwing206]

wow. very nice tank.

 

[kase]

nice tank and design. it looks like mine.

 

[Rosseau]

Thanks. I won't be happy with it for after a while longer of stocking and spending money..

Kase, do you have pics of yours anywhere?

 

[kase]

Here you go.

 

[Rosseau]

Finding things...

 

[Rosseau]

Looks awesome Kase, hah very similar indeed. Mine still needs a bit of work when I find time/energy.

 

[kase]

it looking good. i'm still trying to find a way to add a bigger sump to mine.