joshman1204 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I dont post very often but I lurk here pretty much all the time so I figured it was time to start posting:) I started in this hobby last year with a 24g aquapod from seahorsejl and finally after a year I decided to upgrade to a 40g that I could really setup exactly how I wanted. I got the tank for free and had it drilled by shane at fishy business and it turned out perfect! I couldnt find a stand I liked to so I started on my first ever woodworking project and I must say I think it turned out pretty well. I dont know how to build the doors so I am going to order them from someone online when I get around to it. Anyway here are some very bad pics taken with my point-n-shoot that I have no idea how to work. FTS including my DIY stand: Shot of the rock work which was my first attempt but I think I really like it: The next step is going to be a DIY canopy with prolly a 6 bulb T5 setup or maybe two 250w metal halides I dont know which way I want to go yet. Equipment: free 40g tank DIY 20Long sump with some really bad silicone work Mag 3 return Precision Marine PM150 skimmer Two little fishies phosban reactor Autotopoff.com ATO Unknown heater from my 24g Aquamedic 250w pendant but I am going to T5's or dual 250w in the near future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Nice setup. The rock work looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaJMasta Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Looks like a solid setup, and definitely +1 on the rock work and for a first project that's an awesome looking stand. I would make sure all the rocks are real stable or consider using epoxy or something to make sure they stay put - if a coral were to fall when a rock is bumped on the higher area the results would be....... dramatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 Yea I think I will epoxy the rocks together before I start adding corals even though they are amazingly stable just as they are. I know I am pretty clumsy when it comes to working on my tank so a little epoxy will be cheap insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Nice upgrade!! And I concur on the awesome rockscaping. And wow... just wow.. on the stand. You gonna be giving lessons at next weeks meeting? You still planning on moving the 24g into a nursery? (I think that was you who mentioned doing that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 That was the plan but I think I am going to focus on the 40 for now. My stand building skills need a little work before I can teach any classes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Very nice! For doors, I used http://www.cabinetdoorshop.com and was satisfied with their service and the quality of their doors. Just make sure your measurements are good. I missed (too large) by about 1/16 of an inch...I still have some filing to do on the opening to get my doors to fit just right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Welcome and that stand is awesome. As James eluded to, this months meeting is all about building your on canopy and stand. would be great if you could make it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Stand looks great as does the rock work. I would advise against 2 250w MHs on a tank that size. You will have a serious temp problem. I would go with either one in the center or the T5s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 Thanks for all the compliments! The tank is currently lit with an aquamedic 250w pendant at about 12" over the water. I am just not happy with the way the light is distributed in the tank. It is very bright in the middle and pretty dim towards the edges. I want a more uniform coverage from side to side and front to back. Will using a nice reflector like a lumenbright III give me better coverage than the pendant I am using now? I have a 4 bulb current USA T5 setup and I really like the way it lights my tank but I just dont know if a 4 bulb T5 is going to be enough to keep SPS,Clams, and anemones. I really think I want to go with 2 250w MH and maybe 2 T5 actinic bulbs. I know this will be a lot of heat but I will just install a chiller if it is too much. The other option would be using like a 6 bulb T5 retrokit in my hood when I build it. If anyone has any ideas for lighting this thing I would really appreciate some input! Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 I was also looking at the TEK 6 bulb setup but I really think I want a canopy on this tank and I think I really want to go with a retro kit unless someone gives me a reason to just go with the TEK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 anyone have any experience with the TEK 6 bulb fixture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Looks great. Love the rock work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 I think I finally got the light in a spot that I am happy with but I am still looking into some other options when I build my hood. Here is a FTS with the sand added. I used about 1/2 bag of sugar sized aragonite and about a 1/2 bag of the next size larger. This tank has been running for a little over a week now and I have no signs of a cycle. I used all cured live rock so I guess I am not going to have a cycle. I did lose my GBTA and clowns in this move which really sucks but I guess I will know better next time. I had everything setup in a rubber-maid tub with a heater, 2 maxi-jets for flow and a 4 bulb T5 setup for lighting. I thought that would work fine but after three days one of the anemones managed to get sucked into the max-jet and crashed the whole setup I was able to save all of the zoas and added them to this setup a little before I would have like to but it looks like they are going to make it. Here are some shots of the various zoas I added. My plan is to cover both of the large rocks on the ends with zoas and then fill the top of the arches with SPS and then I am going to try some dendro or sun polyps hanging upside down from those two arches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 So this tank is just a few days past a month old and I figured it was time for some updated pics. I haven't really added much just yet as I like to take it slow and try to make sure I dont do something I am going to regret later. Here is a current FTS: Here is the Firefish I picked up from shane at fishy business a few weeks ago. He is just now starting to come out of his hiding spot: I just picked up this anemone and these clowns from aquadome this morning. I am not sure what kind of nem this is but the clowns love it. When I put the bags in the tank to float the clows were swimming against the side of the bag trying to get to the nem and then as soon as I unbagged them they went straight to it. If someone could tell me what kind of nem and clowns these are I would appreciate it. here is a shot of how I crammed a Precision Marine redline 150 into a 20g sump I know a skimmer rated for a 150 gallon tank might be overkill on a 40g but I like fish and I plan on "overstocking" this tank so I went big on the skimmer. I also added a moderate clean up crew consisting of 10 nassarius snails, 10 nerite snails, 10 zigzag snails, and a few blue legs from my old tank. I also added some mangroves to the fuge but I dont know if they are in there right. Should they be more out of the water than this or will they grow like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 That's a nice anemone it's big too. To me it looks like a sea base of a LTA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Lamont Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Look like a Long Tentacle anemone. everything looks good to me. i had one but it was too big for me, so i got a green bubble tip. my clown took to immediately. i was also scared it was going to sting me. Lol:lol: yours seems to be okay but it will move so watch out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Beautiful tank! Can't wait to see it progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 I agree with the others, looks like along tentacle anemone to me ... and it looks awesome! I knew I should have got one with the group order today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Wow this anemone is huge today! I thought it was big yesterday but it really settled in and is massive today. I am planning on adding some SPS across the top of my two arches but I have heard that anemones can move and sting SPS. Does it kill the SPS when it gets stung? Also is there a certain time period where if the anemone hasn't moved you can be pretty sure he is going to stay put? I know my BTA took 3-4 days to decide on a spot but after that he never moved for almost 6 months. Is the same true for this LTA? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I saw those nems the day the Dome got them...absolutely beautiful...they were huge too...looks even better in your tank. Did you ever get an answer on the T5's? I have a 30 gallon cube (it's like 24" wide) and I currently have a PC on it, but I think it would look nice with SPS. So I was wondering if anyone answered you or if you did any research...what kind of wattage is needed for SPS when using a T5? and what bulbs rotation would be best and have a nicer blue look (I like the blue). I've only used MH, LED's and PC's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshman1204 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 I never really did much research on the t5 because I finally got my pendant where I liked it. I think I am just going to wait until it is time to buy a new mh bulb and then I will switch to a Diy led setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I think SPS might be safe, since LTA's like to have their foot in the sand, so I doubt it would go wandering up on top of the rockwork (but anything is possible!). I would be more worried if you had a BTA, which is more of a rockwork anemone. But yes, an anemone can kill corals. I had a bubbletip kill some candy canes and mushrooms when I had the 24g. But in my current tank, I have seen zoa's doing fine sitting next to a bubbletip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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