Ninjafish's new cube diary.

[ninjafish]

Wendy,
Thanks for your support. I think you'd agree that with these two cubes, I have come up with enough truly original approaches to nano keeping, that whether or not this tank is an extention of me is not even a question. I started my first thread only after the project was completely finished and so even though there was a lot of interest, people didn't really have any chance to influence the process. I wanted to change that this time around. Also, I'm having a real hard time choosing between what looks good and what works good. Everyone who has shared their opinions has just tipped the scale for me and made my decision easier. I promise I will stay true to myself


Ron,
That sounds like ti will be a sweet tank! I only decided to go with the 12" over a 10" at the very last second. Also, I think your choice of lighting is great. Do you mind Pm'ing me with the total length of your 150w and lamp holder? If this 70w isn't enough light, I will be looking to add another 70w or else replace it with a 150w.


Cheers,

- Chad

 

[WendyMc]

ok, I feel better now

 

[Ken Sellick]

Ninjafish,
Thanks for this inspiring tank. I have been designing a large system (+1000G display) for several years now and you have me thinking small again.

 

[ninjafish]

Ken,
Haha. I only had a 90gal when I started but immediately got smaller and smaller. This is the first time in almost four years that I have upsized.

- Chad

 

[CamBarr]

lol

 

[ninjafish]

Update,

I hooked up all of the plumbing and equipment and did a leak/temp test. Everything seems to be running great! The flow was more than I expected too.

Ike seemed to enjoy being back in a cube

I really hope that this 70w bulb is up to the task of lighting this tank... pictures seem kinda dark.

- Chad

 

[WendyMc]

OMG, that is the most precious shot of a mantis I've seen!

 

[ninjafish]

Haha thanks Wendy, he has really become quite the performer lately. I am afraid that all of this moving is going to spook him and he might be shy again for a while. Oh well, this is the last time I'm ever going to change tanks... I'm pretty sure


- Chad

 

[AndyL]

Mmmm... not sure I believe it'll be his last move Either that, or you'll have to start a new project!

AWESOME! Knew it'd look good.

So, how are you going to occupy your desk time now?

Andy

 

[gman0526]

See what I meant? It didn't matter if it had sand or not, the tank looks spectacular. Great job!!!

 

[ninjafish]

Haha, thanks guys. I need to pick up a couple items still and when I I move it to the office I will add a thin layer of sand to the bottom. I also need to figure out what the dosing rate for my auto topoff will need to be...

Cheers,

- Chad

 

[Ronald]

That picture with the light and the streaks of light outside the tank is great! Too bad it isn't a name brand light you could probably sell the picture to a marketing department.

Ron

 

[ninjafish]

Ron,
Ya and recoup some of the costs of the switch
I just paid for the electrical controller the other day too. So far it's
$150 - tank
$20 - plumbing
$23 - epoxy
$50 - heater
$59 - controller
Dang, this was an expensive tank to begin with too

- Chad

 

[ninjafish]

Update:

I set up the new cube at my office this morning at 6am. It became immediately apparent that the new, larger bulkheads were not going to fit through the same electrical conduit that the 2gal did (a measurement error on my part). Right now the tank is on the edge of the desk up against one wall - hence no 360degree view . I believe that if I raise the tank up a couple inches so the bulkheads are off the desk, the hoses will fit through ok.
Aside from that setback, I am really pleased with how smoothly everything went. The flow is just right and the aquascaping turned out better than I imagined. And the look of the tank with the white sand is incredible! Ike actually looks happier and was out quite a bit today - despite the early morning trauma of being dropped on the carpet (he actually started running across the carpet. I caught him by putting down a sour cream container in front of him so he'd run inside ).
Also with Ike is a handsome little blue damsel and looks great under the 20k bulb. I promise to take a photo tomorrow.
The goals I have right now are:

1 - Moving the tank back to the original spot
2 - Seeing whether or not the single 70watt halide will be enough
3 - Keeping the sand white (I hope it stays like this forever)
4 - Figuring out the proper dosing rate for my auto topoff

Cheers,
- Chad

 

[WendyMc]

Chad,
I'm sorry, but I haven't done any mantis research. What is Ike's preferred prey? Will he eat snails?

 

[ninjafish]

Wendy,
He eats anything that comes wrapped in a shell (and probably a lot of other stuff too...)
Snails are a particular favorite of his, but because he is such a small mantis, he is only able to smash open the thinner shells of smaller prey (ie small nerites). I have a snail and hermit that are both medium sized and they are impervious to Ikes attacks; infact, he doesn't even give them a second look. Why? Were you going to reccomend a good sand-stirring snail?

- Chad

 

[WendyMc]

Yup, I LOVE my captive bred fighting conch. Nice, thick shell. Very cool little guy, looks like an alien! My son says he's his elephant snail. Keeps my 12g sandbed pristine. The only problem is, I'm worried that w/all the movement they're capable of it might be very tempting for Ike. Any thoughts?

 

[ninjafish]

I would love something like that. My only concerns would be:
Is it too big to look porportional in a 7.5 gal tank?
and
There probably isn't enough (any) food in my day-old sandbed to support one...

- Chad

 

[WendyMc]

They grow to be 3.5". I definitely wouldn't get one until you at least have diatoms, but they also eat cyanobacteria & uneaten food. How much of your sandbed is open? It may be a situation where you'd want to trade it in for a smaller one at the LFS every now & then. Mine is a slow grower. I've had him for a year & 3 mos, I have maybe 1/8" new growth on the shell. He's never lacked for food , not in my tank! I'm thinking that if you don't think this would work out, would Ike go after a sandsifting cucumber? Tigertails are super hardy, but you would definitely need to rotate it between systems as it would run out of food very fast in a tank that small.

 

[deacon hemp]

just vacuum the sand?