My 5 gal nano winter project

[ParanoidObseshn]

Cool, hopefully youll be able to get permission. Itd be something neat to have at work. As long as ppl dont screw with it.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

Agreed although there will not be a lot of people in my office during the day. The trick will be minimizing the natural light into the tank as I have a lot of windows in my office.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Got some more zoas and switched up my tank a little since the last time I posted. Things are still ****ed at me and I havent scraped the glass yet. Will update soon.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

Got some more zoas and switched up my tank a little since the last time I posted. Things are still ****ed at me and I havent scraped the glass yet. Will update soon.

great. cant wait to see what's new.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Here are some updated pictures. Went through a few problems with some corals, they were really pis$ed. The filter sponge I had in the overflow was in there too long and i forgot to take it out and clean it. I think it was leeching stuff back into the tank. I replaced it with a new sponge, added new carbon, and did a water change and things are looking a lot better now.

Here are some updated pics.

My RPE Blastos doing real good

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Updated FTS

 

[jwalker314]

so yea, put me on the list for some more of those zoa frags....very nice pieces there!

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Well I got some more zoa frags recently. Here are a few pictures of some of them.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

You always seem to find the nicest of zoas. In most places I shop it seems like most carry the same "popular" colors. Once again great tank.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Welp enough $hittin around. I finally got to the tank today. Took out all the corals and rock and moved it over to my 23. That thing is packed now. I cant believe how dirty the sand was, there were clouds of debris coming out when I was moving the larger rock out. It took forever to rinse the substrate out, took like 25+ times to get it clear. Also took out the loc-line and got that cleaned up, and took out and cleaned the pump which was clogged with debris.

Here is what it looks like now.

Going to start setting it back up within the next few days.


Also forgot to mention that when I was cleaning the sand I must have come across 50-60 hair worms, if not more.

 

[Phil125]

Do you think the dertrius was caused by limited flow? Would you add a T on the locline or a second powerhead like the mini-evo in a rebuild.

I'm planning a 5.5 with LED lighting for my mothers office. Curious what changes you would make to improve your design.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

The spots with the detritus were mostly at the base of the rocks and in the back of the tank. I had pretty good flow in the tank but I was considering doing something with the pumps, either upgrading, switching up the flow pattern in the tank, or adding another power head. I was also considering closing up the holes in the overflow where the locline went through and just adding tubing and having it go to multiple spots along the top of the tank. Not sure what I am going to do yet.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

I went over a couple ideas in my head about what I could do to improve this tank with flow, and ease of pump access "which my first setup was a complete failure for, since I hadnt been able to access the pump for over a year."

I am going to get rid of the loc-line and patch the holes up in the overflow. I am going to get clear vinyl tubing and run it from the pump in to a T fitting or two and run the tubing across the top of the tank underneath the lip of the lid.The vinyl tubing running across the top will give me easier access to the pump compartment without as much pain and aggrivation as the loc-line.

I am going to have atleast 3 outlets for flow if not more. To give better flow to certain areas that really didnt get the best of flow last time. Trying to go for an outlet in the front left corner, back right corner, and maybe a few around the corner of the overflow. Ill figure out exactly what ones I am going to do when I actually get around to working on it.

 

[Phil125]

Maybe an in the tank closed loop using 1/2" cpvc around the inside lip.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

I dont think adding a closed loop ontop of what I have would work. Too much to try and squeeze into such a small tank.

As of nowI think Im done with working on the tank. I patched up the holes in the overflow, and moved the one outlet further up on the left side, added an outlet coming out from the corner of the overflow, and added a spraybar across the back.Tomorrow all I have to do is put sand in it, water, some rock and just let it run for a while.

 

[rogersb]

What are you going to do with it now? Zoas again or are you going to try something else? Post a pic of the 23.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Probably going to do the same that I did before. Zoas and a few lps. Ill get a pic of the 23 in a bit.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Here are updated pics.

Here is a picture of the 23. Kinda crummy pic but u get the idea.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Here is an updated FTS.

New additions include goni in bottom left, brought back the plate coral on the bottom right, and brought in a green and pink tipped frogspawn.

Here is a new frogspawn.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

Looks great as always. how is the flow now that you have all of your rock in?