NaH2O's Mini-Beast

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:32 AM

Yahoo!! Anyone that has followed the building of my mini she-beast, knows it has been a very very very long process. Well, she finally is cycling! Here is the story of my mini-beast! I love her!! Thanks to all here that have given me their input over the past year+ !!

It started with the construction of the stand and canopy:
Stand and Hood Project Since this thread was started, several things had changed. First, I decided not to have a DSB. The weight of the sand was considered when the stand was being engineered. Then, when I couldn't get the closed loop just right, I decided to have an acrylic tank made. That way, my closed loop would be just as I need for what I want to do with the tank. Here is the construction of my tank: 120 gallon Reef Tank for NaH2O. The tank is just gorgeous! I love it, and am so happy to have gone this route.

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:33 AM

Next came the plumbing design. My closed loop pump is an Ampmaster 3000, and goes into a Motorized Ball Valve. The MBV switches the flow from one half of the tank to the other. It is controlled by a timer, and currently I have it set for 5 minutes on each side. This simulates the crash and ebb of a wave. The cool thing about the plumbing design, is it really keeps all the detritus in the water column. I can see it happen when the flow switches sides....it picks it right up and it floats around....then goes into the overflow. Just awesome! Here is my plumbing design: Some Plumbing for Nikki.

Here is what the closed loop looks like. The Motorized Ball Valve goes in the middle between those empty unions.

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:35 AM

Here are more shots of the closed loop from inside the tank:

and another

I'm so so happy with the way it turned out!

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:38 AM

Here is the last fresh water test we did - showing the sump:

The skimmer is an Euro-Reef CS8-3

Return pump is a Mag 12. I only have one return line.....the point is just to get the water back to the tank.

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:41 AM

Here is my shipment of Uncured Pukani Live Rock - 170 pounds worth. This picture really doesn't show the size of these pieces. The 2 giant pieces serve as my 2 islands in the tank. Each piece filled half the tank (120 gallon 48X24X25)

and a close up

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:46 AM

Now the real fun begins....Aquascaping!

Thanks to Curt and Katrina (Curtswearing & Hooked) for coming over to help with this task. Oh, and thanks to my 2 1/2 year old supervisor!! She made sure Curt called me Mommy and not Nikki

The only problem is she fell asleep on the job - literally!

Here is the first piece we put in the tank.

Then we are almost done

Here is the finished product from far away, as the tank is getting filled. We used about 140 pounds in the tank. The rest is in the sump and fuge.

A closer look

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:48 AM

There are tons of ledges and coral placement areas. This tank is going to be a SPS dominated tank.

Here is a shot taken from above. You can see I have a ton of room for flow behind the rock work:

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:48 AM

The other side:

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 10:50 AM

and here is what my skimmer pulled off in about 10 hours time:

it was black, thick, stinky, and gross.....I loved it!!

Curtswearing · 05-31-2004, 11:07 AM

Great job Nikki. I can't wait till the tank is cycled so you can start stocking.

Cougra · 05-31-2004, 11:13 AM

Very nice Nikki! It's about time you've got something in there! At least now you are less likely to change your mind about changing your tank again

Can't wait to see more photos!

Craig Manoukian · 05-31-2004, 11:47 AM

Super job Nikki and Mike. Can't wait to see your progress, it's gonna be great!

wooddood · 05-31-2004, 11:51 AM

looks awesome nikki great job, now wheres them feesh?lol.

Spooda420 · 05-31-2004, 12:09 PM

cool beans Nikki, so farwhat are your plans for inhabitants and corals?

Where did you find the LR?

What lights you gonna use?

Looks great, great job planning it and the execution looks wonderful.

Chris

NaH2O · 05-31-2004, 12:17 PM

No plans for exact corals other than SPS and maybe a few LPS & zoos. On the fish list - bicolor blenny, a clown of some kind, I'd love a kole tang (I'm in love with Craig's Kole Tang), maybe a mandarin down the line.

Lights are 2-250W MH Ushio 10K, with 2 vho 03's

Here is a link to Pukani Live Rock. You might check with some of the sponsors to see if they are carrying it, too. http://www.drmaccorals.com/sys-tmpl/...rock&UID=10082

05-31-2004, 10:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	NaH2O's Mini-Beast Yahoo!! Anyone that has followed the building of my mini she-beast, knows it has been a very very very long process. Well, she finally is cycling! Here is the story of my mini-beast! I love her!! Thanks to all here that have given me their input over the past year+ !! It started with the construction of the stand and canopy: Stand and Hood Project Since this thread was started, several things had changed. First, I decided not to have a DSB. The weight of the sand was considered when the stand was being engineered. Then, when I couldn't get the closed loop just right, I decided to have an acrylic tank made. That way, my closed loop would be just as I need for what I want to do with the tank. Here is the construction of my tank: 120 gallon Reef Tank for NaH2O. The tank is just gorgeous! I love it, and am so happy to have gone this route. __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	On to the Plumbing Next came the plumbing design. My closed loop pump is an Ampmaster 3000, and goes into a Motorized Ball Valve. The MBV switches the flow from one half of the tank to the other. It is controlled by a timer, and currently I have it set for 5 minutes on each side. This simulates the crash and ebb of a wave. The cool thing about the plumbing design, is it really keeps all the detritus in the water column. I can see it happen when the flow switches sides....it picks it right up and it floats around....then goes into the overflow. Just awesome! Here is my plumbing design: Some Plumbing for Nikki. Here is what the closed loop looks like. The Motorized Ball Valve goes in the middle between those empty unions. __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here are more shots of the closed loop from inside the tank: and another I'm so so happy with the way it turned out! __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here is the last fresh water test we did - showing the sump: The skimmer is an Euro-Reef CS8-3 Return pump is a Mag 12. I only have one return line.....the point is just to get the water back to the tank. __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here is my shipment of Uncured Pukani Live Rock - 170 pounds worth. This picture really doesn't show the size of these pieces. The 2 giant pieces serve as my 2 islands in the tank. Each piece filled half the tank (120 gallon 48X24X25) and a close up __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Aquascaping Party!! Now the real fun begins....Aquascaping! Thanks to Curt and Katrina (Curtswearing & Hooked) for coming over to help with this task. Oh, and thanks to my 2 1/2 year old supervisor!! She made sure Curt called me Mommy and not Nikki The only problem is she fell asleep on the job - literally! Here is the first piece we put in the tank. Then we are almost done Here is the finished product from far away, as the tank is getting filled. We used about 140 pounds in the tank. The rest is in the sump and fuge. A closer look __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	There are tons of ledges and coral placement areas. This tank is going to be a SPS dominated tank. Here is a shot taken from above. You can see I have a ton of room for flow behind the rock work: __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	The other side: __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 10:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	and here is what my skimmer pulled off in about 10 hours time: it was black, thick, stinky, and gross.....I loved it!! __________________ ~Nikki~

05-31-2004, 11:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,597 View Gallery Karma Komment	Great job Nikki. I can't wait till the tank is cycled so you can start stocking. __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

05-31-2004, 11:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Very nice Nikki! It's about time you've got something in there! At least now you are less likely to change your mind about changing your tank again Can't wait to see more photos! __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

05-31-2004, 11:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Super job Nikki and Mike. Can't wait to see your progress, it's gonna be great! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

05-31-2004, 11:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	looks awesome nikki great job, now wheres them feesh?lol. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

05-31-2004, 12:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Spooda420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 484 View Gallery Karma Komment	cool beans Nikki, so farwhat are your plans for inhabitants and corals? Where did you find the LR? What lights you gonna use? Looks great, great job planning it and the execution looks wonderful. Chris __________________ 120 gallon, 100 gallon sump, GEO Calcium Reactor, Aqua C EV-400 Skimmer, 300 pounds of LR, Bare Bottom, 2 Tetra UV2 Sterilizers, 2 Tunze 6080 streams, 2 - 400 watt DE Metal Halides

05-31-2004, 12:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	No plans for exact corals other than SPS and maybe a few LPS & zoos. On the fish list - bicolor blenny, a clown of some kind, I'd love a kole tang (I'm in love with Craig's Kole Tang), maybe a mandarin down the line. Lights are 2-250W MH Ushio 10K, with 2 vho 03's Here is a link to Pukani Live Rock. You might check with some of the sponsors to see if they are carrying it, too. http://www.drmaccorals.com/sys-tmpl/...rock&UID=10082 __________________ ~Nikki~

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)