Updated Photos of 2 Gallon Cube

[ninjafish]

You never stated if the tank was glass or acrylic, if it is glass you will need to be really careful with that mantis. Break right outta glass.

The tank is made from 5/16" starfire. I wasn't thinking about a mantis when I had it built so thick - I have just always had a wet-carpet phobia. I figure that a two gallon tank that's thicker than a 20gal should be ok... but only for a tiny mantis...
As you know, if I wanted to keep one of the larger ones not even "double layered safety glass" would be safe :eek1: .

- Chad

 

[ninjafish]

For those following this thread:

Having this new inhabitant has motivated me to begin planning some new digs. By the end of the year I will probably move to a larger tank - 10 or 12" cube - and modify a larger capacity cannister filter. Along with the 70w halide, I will add a 13watt 50/50 PC for a dawn/dusk effect. I will keep this small tank for as long as I have a desk in the office (probably October) but will upgrade when I move it back home. I will document the process here!

- Chad

 

[bennerkla]

Sweet, are you going to start a cube thread? Hopefully. BTW that song has grown on me, what is it called?

 

[ninjafish]

Thanks Ben!
I believe the song is "Shallow Water" by Sylver - uh, used without permission

- Chad

 

[AndyL]

Good luck with the new guy Chad, He's an awesome looking mantis. Even in the bland warm white lighting of my office he looked like he'd be stunning.

Ever figure out if he's a smasher or a spearer?

Andy

 

[ninjafish]

Andy,
Thanks man! It looks like he is a smasher (just what I was looking for). A member in the mantis forum has ID'd him as being a g. smithii. He has had a couple days in the office by himself - hopefully he will be comfortably settled in to his new home by the time everyone returns to work tomorrow.

- Chad

 

[dBOYD435]

So I was just WONDERING...what was the total cost for your ABSOLUTLY AMAZING(!!!!!)NANO setup???:eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

 

[dBOYD435]

cus i would really like to try and make a 2g just like yours

 

[bennerkla]

If I had to take a wild guess I'd say about $425

 

[dBOYD435]

?

 

[dBOYD435]

thats alot...woa

 

[dBOYD435]

chad--do u hav the specific price??

 

[ninjafish]

Good guess Ben!

Boyd here is a breakdown of my costs in Canadian dollars then converted to US. It will be more expensive for the items you have to buy new and less expensive for the items you already have:


tank - $50 (they said "special price")
desklamp - $30
mh retrofit - $200 (after shipping)
autotopoff pump - $300 (after shipping)
cannister filter - $100 (used)
submersible lights - $50
-------------------------------
Total Canadian - $730 (without any livestock)

Total US - $608 :eek1: :eek2:

From looking at the list, it is obvious that the biggest expense was my autotopoff pump. You can find cheaper models on Ebay or save a bunch of money and go without one altogether. Sorry for the bad news .


- Chad

 

[eugimon]

wow... that tank is very sweet. nice job... but holy jumping clown fish that's an expensive tank!

 

[ninjafish]

Thanks,
Ya, when you break it down to dollars per gallon it's pretty brutal...
When I decided to go to a nano I sold my 20gal/20gal system and put the money into the new setup. Didn't really cost me any "new" money, just swapped tanks to something smaller but easier to maintain.

- Chad

 

[dBOYD435]

dude..i nominated you for the tank of the month!!! and I think every1 should nominate ur nano for TANK OF THE MONTH!!!

 

[bennerkla]

Already did.

Chad, if you could of had a 5.5 gallon fuge instead of your canister filter, you could still have chaeto and have a return baffle with the return pump. This return baffle could house a float switch, which would trigger the auto top off. This would've saved you about $250.

 

[ninjafish]

Wow, thanks for the nominations guys! I have read the TOTM every month and I don't see a little tank like this making the cut . Still, I apreciate the votes of confidence.

Ben,
I considered doing that, but I couldn't have an overflow without losing one complete wall (and 360 degree visibility), or using a standpipe that ran all the way from the bottom of the tank to the top of the water line. Wanting to avoid the unsightlyness and noise, I decided that a cannister filter was for me. Once I had made that decision, I set to work to solve the problem of auto-topoff and macroalgae lighting. I know that I could do a 2gal (or 20gal!) nano a lot cheaper, but I don't think I could have built a system that is so clean, and so bulletproof for much less. I was as shocked as anyone when I added up the total :eek1: . I guess if I wanted to save money though, this hobby wouldn't be my first choice.
Cheers,

- Chad

 

[bennerkla]

Nicely said. I agree, not having an overflow is worth $250 bucks. Might sound crazy to a lot of people, but your tank looks so awesome completely free of heaters, powerheads, etc.

 

[spoon671]

I am right there with you Ben...