My upgrade to 2 gallons

[emmanuel]

Hi everyone
For once I'm going to start a tank build and try to do it the right way with pictures
I had this tank going http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/49817-wifes-gonna-pissed-time.htmlhttp://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=177091
but the light isn't strong enough most of the zoos are doing great but the high end ones (ppe's gpe's eagle eye's and purple deaths) are going down hill so back to my 125 reef they go.
I decided to built this tank because I wanted an 8 inch square cube not realizing for $25 you can get a 7 cube from petco oh well too late now and at least mine is acrylic .
I purchased the parts for an led light (cant believe I spent $150 on parts)

I cant wait till the parts come in
I currently run a palm filter but that barely gives enough flow and is on the fine line of being quiet enough to be in my bedroom .I bought a rio 50 PH for additional flow but it was too loud. Does anyone know if aquaclear 50 will be alot more flow than the palm and if its just as quiet or more quiet?
I don't know if I care to make a refugium for this tank but the way it looks (with the lights I'm making) this might turn into a sps tank

I would even consider the aquaclear 70 but theopening on this tank is 7 5/8 inches and from what I read the 70 needs 8 inches.
I currently do at least 30% water changes 2-3 times a week on my pico and will continue to do so on this tank (that's why i don't know if I'll bother with a refugium)
here are some pics the edges on the front of the tank will look cleaner that pic is from the side I will also paint the back panel black and most likely the sides , opinions welcome

 

[emmanuel]

I have a fluval 304 sitting around i wonder if it will be a pain to maintain
It would fit nicely under my night stand and I also have 2 bulkheads so i wont have any ugly hoses hanging over the top of the tank .I am testing it out to see if it's too much filter for the water (temperature wise) The flow is crazy.
If I decide to use this these bulkheads will both be about half way down the back panel I figure being that its a sealed system(filter) the bulkheads can be anywhere . Hope I'm right.

 

[nick96ss]

:splitspin

 

[emmanuel]

I dont know if the fluval is going to work so far it looks like it raises the temperature by 2-3 degrees gonna run some tests to make sure .Its sucks cause this fluval hardly ever been used I guess I'll try to trade it for a smaller one.

 

[Fudge]

ditch the fluval, it will get your nitrates way up, make a small sump/refugium imo

 

[ITALIANSAUSAGE]

i agree, dont use the fluval, there a pain in the butt. make a refuge and run cheatos.JMO

 

[emmanuel]

the temperature rises too much (7 degrees)with the fluval on such a small tank so I am gonna try a aquaclear 50
I would love to turn it into a fuge but its in my bedroom and the reverse light cycle would annoy the hell out of me so I'll just run it as a filter and continue 2x per week water changes

 

[Fudge]

that sounds better

 

[emmanuel]

even with the ac50 the temp rises 5 degrees when the ambient temp is 63
I bet the pump runing the filter runs at a certain temp so at a room temp of 78 maybe the water would not rise 5 degrees from the filter I'm going to have to place the tank in a heated part of the house to see.
I painted the back and sie of the tank black and it's looking sweet pics will come soon

 

[autoponicz]

should have done a all-in-one...then you wont have to hang anything in the back..
whats the dimensions of the tank...you can probly still add a false wall with 2 baffles

 

[emmanuel]

I thought about it but its easier to do maintenance on the hang on and its quiter than any powerhead I tryed to use as a pump also I dont want a fuge on it because reverse light cycle would suck in my bedroom.
ok hooked up the aquaclear 50 got some live rock and sand from my reef tank and also some (dead) live rock and got the tank running just in case it cycles (with the dead rock)
hooked up some cheapo leds for the hell of it till my led parts come in and got a crappy picture the rest of the rock is still in my other pico

 

[emmanuel]

got some stuff together but still not done "it's just begun" I'm still waiting on the led lights all these are frags from my 125 gallon I still have some PPE's ,GPE's , pink zippers, devil's armor, candy apples, tequila sunrise, rainbow acans and more that I will shoe horn in here but not till the lights are done

 

[Mangas50]

...

 

[Mangas50]

oops i neglected to look at the date of the original post. either way let me know.

 

[emmanuel]

the intake on the aquaclear was too close to the sand so i left the extension piece off to modify it and my poor harlequin shrimp turned into chop meat , that sucks i had this shrimp for 2 years

 

[nick96ss]

that does suck ....

 

[emmanuel]

on a brighter note I finished my led light fixture it was a lot of work and kind of expensive but it paid off in the end . I am very happy with the results I have the intensity of my 150 metal halide with no heat at all . I will be posting pictures later.

 

[emmanuel]

heres the pics of the tank and light fixture i made i have the power turned half way down to acclimate everything to the lights I even added a lunar night light in it .
I placed another 7 zoas including PPE GPE purple deaths , pink zippers,candy apples and a rainbow acan but I didnt take pictures yet
the little white thing on top of the fixture is a dial to adjust the brightness of the led's there is now also a little switch on the fixture for the moonlight I added to this last night

 

[DrCooper]

sorry to hear about your harley, tank looks great!

 

[Macropora]

What does the inside of the LED hood look like? How many LCDs and what colors are you being used? Looks great for a nano tank :tongueani.