Vanessa's 60g Peninsula Tank Build

WitsNWrasse

WitsNWrasse

Member
Hi everyone ! the lab i work at sucked me into the hobby- we have two salt water tanks there. I just bought a 60 gallon off of craigslist. I have no idea what i am doing, but thankfully i have two seasoned vets to guide me through the process.

this is going in my office as a "room divider" even though the room isnt really big enough to "divide" per say... it's going up against my L shape desk so i can see it while i am working and while i am sitting on the futon on the other side.

I decided to refinish the stand and hood which was quite the undertaking considering these college kids painted it with super hi-gloss black spray paint in a few very thick coats- after they did white.

I am planning to do a sump, i dont know what size because i dont know what will fit in the stand yet. i also need to get the tank drilled....

pictures to follow.
 
here is what the tank looked like originally.....

<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/IMG_7513_zps7a4970c3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_7513_zps7a4970c3.jpg"/>

Process of sanding....
<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/IMG_7522_zps62587c98.jpg" height= "400" width="500" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_7522_zps62587c98.jpg"/>


After a coat of green, then a coat of black
<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/IMG_7547_zps454bba38.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_7547_zps454bba38.jpg"/>

heres the finish up close
<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/IMG_7590_zpscecc63ce.jpg" height= "400" width="500" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_7590_zpscecc63ce.jpg"/>

and the finish product so far.

<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/fd916ce8-27f5-4353-83a8-7f9284f27c87_zps1f457c9d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo fd916ce8-27f5-4353-83a8-7f9284f27c87_zps1f457c9d.jpg"/>


even got some Asteroidea knobs :D
<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/IMG_7596_zpsdc3b5596.jpg" height= "400" width="500" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_7596_zpsdc3b5596.jpg"/>
 
possible black mold ???

possible black mold ???

Just started to tackle the refinishing of the hood and low and behold, i have found mold. I wasnt surprised because after all, it is wood that is near water, but i am concerned it is black mold ? anyone know anything about mold?


heres a picture.....
<img src="http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/vanessaraejohnson/IMG_7600_zpse680e2aa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_7600_zpse680e2aa.jpg"/>

not sure about protocol here...im assuming if it is any type of mold it can affect the balance and if it is black mold it would probably kill everything in the tank. not only that... but i dont want to die either. so, let me know your thoughts.
 
Not sure how it would effect the painting process but I would suggest spraying the mold with a diluted bleach solution as that should kill the mold. As far as that being "black mold".. I've got no idea but I don't think I would worry too much. Spray with bleach, allow it do dry for 24-48 hours, prime and paint. You should be fine.

Looks like a great start! Keep the pictures coming and good luck!
 
Thanks for the input ! i read that vinegar kills mold too- i might try that since i have it laying around and its more natural. if the vinegar doesnt do the trick then bleach it is !
 
Nice job on the painting. I like the style :)

Did you like the process of sanding? haha. I've been there, and didn't really like it. So there is no drain and overflow to this tank yet?

WitsNWrasse said:
Thanks for the input ! i read that vinegar kills mold too- i might try that since i have it laying around and its more natural. if the vinegar doesnt do the trick then bleach it is !
Click to expand...

Yup, that's the natural way and cheap.
 
Thanks! i have furnished my whole house off the free section in craigslist, so i dont really mind sanding as i have had to refinish all my furniture myself anyway...

nope. nothing yet- i need to get it drilled. i heard pet kingdom drills tanks but i have yet to look into that yet. my tank came with some stuff. i am going to be honest, i have no idea what really, :confused: my friend said i could set it up right now if i wanted to, but i want to do a sump and the stuff i have wont work with it, so i need to sell all that stuff and get new stuff :hmm4:

i really need to get this hood done ASAP because my cat keeps wanting to jump inside my tank. cant have that now.....
 
Don't use bleach on the mold, that just causes it to release spores. Use vinegar and then put it out in the sun to dry out the wood.
 
Welcome to RC Vanessa. I just realize that I have the exact same stand and hood like yours in my garage. Are you going to do salt water fish only or you are going to have a reef where corals are present? A lot of reef tanks here are open top or "hood-less". I bought hood for my tank but ended up not using :-); When corals are involved, light source is another issue and depending on your budget, you might not use the hood at all.

For the black mold, I think the sun does a very good job of taking them out of the picture. Good luck with your build and I am looking forward to see more pictures
 
If I were you, I wouldn't rush things. I learned that in the hard way. I would do more research to have sump filtration. It seems like you're in a very early stage, which proper and good set up will help you in the future. Your tank might have came with stuff from Freshwater? I dont' know for sure. You can post the pic.
 
if any of my info is wrong please correct me.....

ngvu1 said:
Welcome to RC Vanessa. I just realize that I have the exact same stand and hood like yours in my garage. Are you going to do salt water fish only or you are going to have a reef where corals are present? A lot of reef tanks here are open top or "hood-less". I bought hood for my tank but ended up not using :-); When corals are involved, light source is another issue and depending on your budget, you might not use the hood at all.

For the black mold, I think the sun does a very good job of taking them out of the picture. Good luck with your build and I am looking forward to see more pictures
Click to expand...
reef, corals, fish I WANT EVERYTHING. but i know there are some things i cant have. i already had my dreams crushed of having a puffer fish :sad1: there are fluorescent bulbs of some kind right now that i just removed so i could sand the hood... but from what i know i will need a better light source. we have LEDs in the lab and i really like those and they also take very little maintenance so i will probably end up with a set of those. i will have to have a hood regardless of what ever i do- i have a cat and she is very nosy. :wildone: i dont want any fish disappearing.....



Green_Lionfish said:
If I were you, I wouldn't rush things. I learned that in the hard way. I would do more research to have sump filtration. It seems like you're in a very early stage, which proper and good set up will help you in the future. Your tank might have came with stuff from Freshwater? I dont' know for sure. You can post the pic.
Click to expand...
it came with some filter stuff that hang on the back, which wouldnt work with my peninsula design... it would also drip on my desk if there happened to be drips which would be no bueno. yes the plan is to do a sump i just havent figured out anything specific yet :spin1: whenever i start a new project i always take the complicated route and i am always glad i did because it makes it easier down the line. let the PVC and plumbing plans commence.


King Nikon said:
Don't use bleach on the mold, that just causes it to release spores. Use vinegar and then put it out in the sun to dry out the wood.
Click to expand...

the vinegar did a wonderful job, did that early this morning and was able to just wipe it clean off with a bit of elbow grease!
 
I am not sure cats in the US can fish, but with a curious cat, having a sump is another story right :-);
Sorry for assuming here but not all "LED" should be used for a reef tank. With a simple google search you will have your answer. We have a lot of people here that are very knowledgeable about LED for reef tanks, so ask away when you get to the "light source" section!
 
Good to see you getting some answers Vanessa! You're going to have a good time on the forums, you will meet lots of cool people.

For those of you who dont know Vanessa yet, she is a pretty rad chick and is super duper artsy, and has offered to help me repaint my stand for my new tank too!

Ness, this is a really good place to ask stocking questions for the tank from people who have tried most combinations of fish/corals/and inverts that we have talked about.
 
ngvu1 said:
I am not sure cats in the US can fish, but with a curious cat, having a sump is another story right :-);
Sorry for assuming here but not all "LED" should be used for a reef tank. With a simple google search you will have your answer. We have a lot of people here that are very knowledgeable about LED for reef tanks, so ask away when you get to the "light source" section!
Click to expand...
please, assume away. assume i have no idea what i am doing, which i dont. i might have to have something to get me through for a while until i can save up for a better lighting system down the road.

and that sump is going so sooo be locked up in that stand. that cat is getting no where NEAR my precious water. this cat loves water. one flush of the toilet and shes at the door waiting. so filling this tank will be interesting.


gemini aquarius(t) said:
Good to see you getting some answers

Ness, this is a really good place to ask stocking questions for the tank from people who have tried most combinations of fish/corals/and inverts that we have talked about.
Click to expand...

i shall do that !! i have a fish list going.....


yellow watchman goby
mandarin dragonet (but i have to wait a few months before i get him right ?)
pajama cardinal
purple firefish !!
and i tend to like wrasses.... although i havent pinpointed any specific ones yet
fairy wrasses ? is it true they dont live very long ? not sure if i made that up or not.
and i reallly reallllllly reallllly want a boxfish- ive read some people have been successful with them in their reef tanks, its been hit or miss, so i might try it and see how it goes at some point. i am also thinking about (eventually) getting a small tank for my room so he might have to go in there.

but i dont like tangs or angel fish, not sure if they will even fit in my tank anyway but they just dont tickle my fancy. maybe they will grow on me.
 
mandarin dragonet is hard of course unless you get an ORA mandarin dragonet. I might be wrong but with that size of the tank, the mandarin might not be able to compete with the fire fish or the wrasses for food. Moreover, it takes a few months to establish pod population. Last, start slow and it might be just might opinion, buy "used" fish and corals. They have more chances to make it in your new tank :-)
 
ngvu1 said:
mandarin dragonet is hard of course unless you get an ORA mandarin dragonet. I might be wrong but with that size of the tank, the mandarin might not be able to compete with the fire fish or the wrasses for food. Moreover, it takes a few months to establish pod population. Last, start slow and it might be just might opinion, buy "used" fish and corals. They have more chances to make it in your new tank :-)
Click to expand...
Thanks ! is ORA just aquacultured ? am i understanding that correctly? is there any cons to getting ORA fish ?


E36328i said:
If you want a boxfish, look into cowfishes. They don't bomb the tank when they die like boxfish do.
Click to expand...
i am not sure i can give up on the boxfish dream. JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE !
someone also mentioned to me that if you have good enough filters and a big enough tank that if it does happen to release toxin that your tank should be okay ?
<IMG SRC="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mabqfuH6yZ1rf88hio1_500.jpg"></IMG>
 
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