24hr 5.5 Gal Pico

echopiece · 07-19-2009, 09:00 PM

Decided late Friday afternoon that I was going to take on a project for Saturday! Purchased a 5.5 gallon glass tank and offset one side 4" with plexiglass. Therefore, the main tank is roughly 4.2 gallons. I cut several slots with my dremel on the upper right side and installed a maxijet 400 in the other chamber. I also bought a 9" coralife, 18w fluorescent fixture with 50/50 lamps. I am currently running filter floss and a 1/2 unit of chemi pure elite in the right chamber. I made some plexiglass covers and painted them black to keep it sleek. I still need to get a heater. Other than that, we shall see how it goes! So, after 24hrs this is where I am at.

dhaquaman · 07-19-2009, 09:15 PM

nice job, definitely going to watch this project

JeffreyLebowski · 07-19-2009, 09:25 PM

sweet...tagging along

dhaquaman · 07-19-2009, 10:07 PM

may i add very clean work as well

Morganrules · 07-19-2009, 10:22 PM

Very very nice. Definitely sticking around for this thread.

redsea reefer · 07-20-2009, 12:36 PM

Thats cool echo, Now your making me want to do that also. See what you started...LOL
I'll be watching your new tank progress...good luck. Any plans for livestock yet?

echopiece · 07-20-2009, 02:37 PM

Yeah, its something I have been wanting to do for awhile now. I dont plan on keeping much of a livestock. Maybe a crab or two, and some snails. I mainly want to have some zoa's and mushrooms. Actually, here is my inspiration for starting this. However, his tank is no longer running at the moment.

echopiece · 07-25-2009, 04:54 PM

Just a small update. I cut down the maxijet diverter neck about 1/2" to just tuck it up against the rear wall as much as possible. Also, I made a new cover system as I was not happy with the light distribution from before. I rotated the light 90 deg and cut a hole in the plexiglass top. The light output is much better in this configuration - no more dark spots! I made 2 removable lids, one small one for feeding/top-offs and the other for pump and filter access. I am starting to notice some brown algae growth on the LR. Still need to get a stealth heater, as the temps are swinging close to 4 degrees now. I cut a small notch in the rear compartment lid to accommodate the heater cord.

JeffreyLebowski · 07-25-2009, 05:03 PM

hmm i've been thinking about doing this...would that simple coralife lighting suffice for acans?

AndtheBonus · 07-25-2009, 05:14 PM

Looks awesome!

echopiece · 07-25-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffreyLebowski

hmm i've been thinking about doing this...would that simple coralife lighting suffice for acans?

Not sure? I most likely wont put any acans in this tank. However, according to the numbers, I am right around 4.3 Watts/Gal. I think I am limited to this fixture as the temps max out at 81 deg. The 12" coralife would generate too much heat in this configuration.

redsea reefer · 07-26-2009, 12:43 AM

You did that tank up, nice work...

Reefmack · 07-31-2009, 09:46 PM

Very nice work echopiece!

echopiece · 07-31-2009, 10:04 PM

Thanks Terry! I think the tank is still cycling? I am using the Red Sea test kits, and the ammonia is so hard to tell what the actual value is? Nitrite and Nitrate are reading 0. I started out with some nice cured rock and change water from my other tank. I am going to compare this tank against my 130D and see what the ammonia values read. My suspicion is that this tank is ready to go.

Reefmack · 08-01-2009, 08:13 AM

It may indeed be ready to go. Good idea on comparing the test resusts with the 130D tank.

07-19-2009, 09:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
echopiece Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 350 View Gallery Karma Komment	24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Decided late Friday afternoon that I was going to take on a project for Saturday! Purchased a 5.5 gallon glass tank and offset one side 4" with plexiglass. Therefore, the main tank is roughly 4.2 gallons. I cut several slots with my dremel on the upper right side and installed a maxijet 400 in the other chamber. I also bought a 9" coralife, 18w fluorescent fixture with 50/50 lamps. I am currently running filter floss and a 1/2 unit of chemi pure elite in the right chamber. I made some plexiglass covers and painted them black to keep it sleek. I still need to get a heater. Other than that, we shall see how it goes! So, after 24hrs this is where I am at.

07-19-2009, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
dhaquaman Tubeworm Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Las vegas Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico nice job, definitely going to watch this project __________________ No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. -William Blake Tanks 55 Gallon Display 29 gallon sump Nova Extreme Pro 8 Bulb Coralife super skimmer Koralia 2 and 3 ADDICTED at 15

07-19-2009, 09:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
JeffreyLebowski Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Big Y-O/NYC Posts: 290 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico sweet...tagging along __________________ ********************************************** Hopefully you understand my name isn't Lebowski, and hopefully you get the joke. My Journey and Frustration in Reefing

07-19-2009, 10:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
dhaquaman Tubeworm Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Las vegas Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico may i add very clean work as well __________________ No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. -William Blake Tanks 55 Gallon Display 29 gallon sump Nova Extreme Pro 8 Bulb Coralife super skimmer Koralia 2 and 3 ADDICTED at 15

07-19-2009, 10:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Morganrules Cabbage Leather Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 350 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Very very nice. Definitely sticking around for this thread.

07-20-2009, 12:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
redsea reefer Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: L.A, California Posts: 3,489 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Thats cool echo, Now your making me want to do that also. See what you started...LOL I'll be watching your new tank progress...good luck. Any plans for livestock yet? __________________ Eddie 34g RSM 130 with 45#'s live rock and 30#'s aragonite reef sand. Tunze 9002 skimmer with inTank media rack - Vortech MP10 Eddie's RSM 130

07-20-2009, 02:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
echopiece Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 350 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Yeah, its something I have been wanting to do for awhile now. I dont plan on keeping much of a livestock. Maybe a crab or two, and some snails. I mainly want to have some zoa's and mushrooms. Actually, here is my inspiration for starting this. However, his tank is no longer running at the moment.

07-25-2009, 04:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
echopiece Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 350 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Just a small update. I cut down the maxijet diverter neck about 1/2" to just tuck it up against the rear wall as much as possible. Also, I made a new cover system as I was not happy with the light distribution from before. I rotated the light 90 deg and cut a hole in the plexiglass top. The light output is much better in this configuration - no more dark spots! I made 2 removable lids, one small one for feeding/top-offs and the other for pump and filter access. I am starting to notice some brown algae growth on the LR. Still need to get a stealth heater, as the temps are swinging close to 4 degrees now. I cut a small notch in the rear compartment lid to accommodate the heater cord.

07-25-2009, 05:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
JeffreyLebowski Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Big Y-O/NYC Posts: 290 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico hmm i've been thinking about doing this...would that simple coralife lighting suffice for acans? __________________ ********************************************** Hopefully you understand my name isn't Lebowski, and hopefully you get the joke. My Journey and Frustration in Reefing

07-25-2009, 05:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 785 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Looks awesome! __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

07-26-2009, 12:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
redsea reefer Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: L.A, California Posts: 3,489 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico You did that tank up, nice work... __________________ Eddie 34g RSM 130 with 45#'s live rock and 30#'s aragonite reef sand. Tunze 9002 skimmer with inTank media rack - Vortech MP10 Eddie's RSM 130

07-31-2009, 09:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Reefmack NaClH2O Addicted Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC, USA Posts: 8,690 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Very nice work echopiece! __________________ aka Terry Excellence in reefkeeping is achieved by mastering the fundamentals, and learning from mistakes. No such thing as an evil crab. Only humans have the ability to be evil. 34g Red Sea Max 130 (April 07), ~50-60 lbs. live rock, Aragonite substrate. Lighting: Current USA Outer Orbit Pro - 150W HQI, 2 x 24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI, 2 x 24W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent by UVL, Vortech MP20, LifeReef RSM Siphon, EShopps RS-75 Sump, Euro-Reef custom sump skimmer, Simplicity media reactor, Tunze Osmolator ATO, ReefKeeper Lite L3 controller Reefmack's RSM 130 and...Red Sea Max Owners Club and My JBJ 6G in this thread

07-31-2009, 10:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
echopiece Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 350 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico Thanks Terry! I think the tank is still cycling? I am using the Red Sea test kits, and the ammonia is so hard to tell what the actual value is? Nitrite and Nitrate are reading 0. I started out with some nice cured rock and change water from my other tank. I am going to compare this tank against my 130D and see what the ammonia values read. My suspicion is that this tank is ready to go.

08-01-2009, 08:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
Reefmack NaClH2O Addicted Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC, USA Posts: 8,690 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 24hr 5.5 Gal Pico It may indeed be ready to go. Good idea on comparing the test resusts with the 130D tank. __________________ aka Terry Excellence in reefkeeping is achieved by mastering the fundamentals, and learning from mistakes. No such thing as an evil crab. Only humans have the ability to be evil. 34g Red Sea Max 130 (April 07), ~50-60 lbs. live rock, Aragonite substrate. Lighting: Current USA Outer Orbit Pro - 150W HQI, 2 x 24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI, 2 x 24W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent by UVL, Vortech MP20, LifeReef RSM Siphon, EShopps RS-75 Sump, Euro-Reef custom sump skimmer, Simplicity media reactor, Tunze Osmolator ATO, ReefKeeper Lite L3 controller Reefmack's RSM 130 and...Red Sea Max Owners Club and My JBJ 6G in this thread

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