My 1st SH Tank\Pictures

[8BALL_99]

When I got a 72 gallon a few years ago the first thing my wife said she wanted was a seahorse..Ofcourse found out pretty quick they dont work in reefs. So she kinda of forgot about it I guess.. Untill a local shop started stocking Captive bred ones.. Well all I've heard from her the past month is Can I have a seahorse.. We can't put them in any of the tanks.. Well lets get rid of your manits then.. Can one go in the Fuge,, Can we get a new tank. Lol well you get the idea..

So I got us a 35 Hexagon tank.:eek1: It came in wednesday if I remember right. I'm an idiot when it comes to seahorses so any advice is welcomed.. I already know they like lower temps and lower water flows. I plan on keeping this tank seperate from my Reefs just cause I keep those tanks at 78 in winter and 80 in the summer..

I'm going to install an external overflow on the tank . Lighting will be a 150 Watt Mh. I bought a stand and tank.. But I wasn't all that impressed with the AGA stand so I built a new one out of solid oak and oak Ply.. The factory one was made out of particle board and the oak sticker didnt' match the color of my 180... I plan on building a Hexagon sump lol yeah a Hexagon.. Should be fun :rollface: No really I just want to try it.. If it doesn't work out I'll just build a Square one I guess haha

Since its not going to be connected to my reefs I had to get a skimmer for it.. I ended up getting one of those New ASM mini's.. I've heard good things about them.. Besides.. it is an ASM

Well anyhow I'll shut up and show you guys some PICTUREs!!

Factory Stand and Tank

Here is the Sides ready for Glue.. This sucker Has NO Nails or Screws Well besides the Door Hinges lol Hey cut me some slack

Top and bottem Trip.. The tank will set on the inside of the trim on the left..

 

[8BALL_99]

The Bottem Being installed

This is the Door. I used a couple of PC harddrive magnets for door catches lol.. Don't ask me why. Just what was laying on my bench haha. Looks pretty good though.

Fits Pretty Dern Good If I dont say so my self Knotice The tank sits down into the trim so you dont see the tanks trim..

After paint and Stain.. I also installed Plastic sheeting in the bottem like my other tanks..The stand still needs Poly besides that its done.

You guys think this setup will be good for Seahorses?
Well thats all Folks... :rollface:

Will

 

[equinecpa]

Should be fine for seahorses-lots of vertical swimming room. You might want to reconsider the 150w mh - seahorses don't need bright light and most of the corals you can keep with them don't need it either. It may also cause heat issues.

Carolyn

 

[8BALL_99]

I just like MH.. I've got a 180 an a 60 reef loaded with corals.. So I'm not to worried about corals in this tank..But this tank will be in the same room as the other tanks. PC's just dont look good to me.. Specially when setting beside a tank with MH I've got a 125 at my office with 3x150MH it stays at about 76 so I'm thinking I can keep the 35 about the same.. Maybe add a fan if need be.

 

[Jordan55]

I love the 35 hex! I have a 25 gallon right now and when I upgrade (probably in the summer) I am going to a 35 hex I think. They are just so different.

Looking good.

If you want some ideas or some basic info check out my thread in this forum.

Good luck!

 

[BradL.]

Looks nice 8Ball. For my 35 Pentagon I drilled the bottom and installed a stand pipe. I just dont trust those hang on over flows and drilling is very easy. Just make sure the bottom isnt tempered. I have about 60 pounds of Figi in it now which is wrapped around the stand pipe and in blends right in.

 

[8BALL_99]

My overflow will be a External overflow.. Like my 180. I'll drill the back wall.. It works just like a regular overflow execpt the box is on the outside of the tank so you dont have to look at it.. Check my Gallery for some pictures of one.. My 60 and my 180 both have External oveflows.. I also drilled my old 29 like that a while back.. Works great. I'll post some pictures of it when I get it done. I've been waiting on my light to come in before I started on it.

You tank fits that spot perfect.. Looks good!

 

[BradL.]

Oh yeah, I like that alot! Why arent all tanks designed like yours?

 

[nickb]

Very nice. Are you planning to paint the back side(s)? If so, what color will you use?

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6577309#post6577309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BradL.
Oh yeah, I like that alot! Why arent all tanks designed like yours?

Haha,,Give it some time.. I think most RR tanks will have external oveflows down the road.. My 60 and my 29 I drilled and done myself.. My 180 I had Miracles in glass do the External overflow for me cause I wanted the back glass Tempered.


nickb.. Thanks The back wall will be covered with 1/8 Black Acrylic to hide the overflow and the plumbing on the back wall... I've already got that part done.. I also have the overflow on now.. I'll try to take some pictures tonight for you guys..

Will

 

[pledosophy]

Lookin good

 

[mickey57]

...................Come on over to Seahorse.org.We will guide you thru the seahorse maze....About that skimmer,take it back to the store.As the DSB debates is over here at RC...........................We have the skimmer debate at Seahorse tank debate over at the Org.Guess what side of the fence I am on?I love the tank...I have a 10 hex for my dwarfs.
......................Mickey

 

[8BALL_99]

Thanks pledosophy!

mickey57, Thanks But I already found Seahorse.org... Haha and I'm not a DSB guy.. But I would never go without a skimmer!! I dont do water changes very often so I need my Big skimmers.. The water in my Reefs is perfect with me feeding heavy and doing a water change maybe every other month.. And the water is Crystal Clear. Without a big skimmer I know my reefs would not be what they are.. I dont see how one wouldn't help on a SH tank.

I guess the tank and stand are done now.. I just have to get the sump finished.... I'm still waiting on the skimmer to come in before I get started on it.. I just want to make sure the footprint of the skimmer is what they say it is before I start on the sump. It should be here Friday! Here is a few shots of what things look like now..

Finished Tank shot.

Finished Stand

Will

 

[mickey57]

...................Nice Job on the tank and stand!.SPS tanks need a skimmer.Small bubbles cause problems with the males in a horse tank! lol
...........Mickey

 

[pledosophy]

Skimmers do increase the risk of GBD in seahorses that are prediposed to the disorder. Best way to get around this is to put the skimmer in the sump so it is not dumping into the display, or fine tune it so there are no bubbles IME.

I have a skimmer on my tank, but I keep it in the sump. It is only running part time, whenever I get some algae I throw it on for a month.

 

[8BALL_99]

Thanks for the heads up guys.. My skimmer will be insump.. I'll also have Baffles like my other sumps to keep bubbles out of the display!

Will

 

[8BALL_99]

Update

I got the sump done.. Well for the most part I have to trim the bottem off after it drys good. I Bent the sides insted of using weldon.. I figured it would work better be more fun to haha.. Less seems to worry with. Turned out pretty good for my first Hex tank.. Since the Bends were kind of long and there was so many.. I used a Heat strip insted of my Tourch The Heat strip ison a strip of plywood with Fiberglass cloth for insulation. Takes a little longer for the Acrylic to get up to temp.. But Alot easier to work with.

Almost up to Temp.. I figured out a while back that at around 250F on the back side of the piece is when it bends well

Will

 

[mickey57]

.............Sweet Job!
.........................Mickey

 

[8BALL_99]

Thanks I got the tank up and running the other night Everything is jugging right along

It holds water

Moonlight installed

The Rockwork isn't done.. I just threw a peice in from one of my other tanks to get the cycle going..The dead coral will stay in there though

Round 2 Here is the other sump I built.. This one is for a Local Reefer. Although I may trade him lol since This one is all but perfect. I did a much better job on my seems and bends the 2nd time around..

 

[alien9168]

Beutiful workmanship!
cool idea with spliting the holes on an external overflow! Much easier than drilling individual slits!

I think this is going to be cool!

-Alien