rampuppy
New Member
I have decided to build a tank, since I can't find one within my price range and I have a lot of power tools to do the job right.
Here are my specs so far.
Design: Hexagonal, 15 wide by 30 " tall panels. I will have the edges mitered by the glass company. I am going with 1/2 inch glass, as I have heard 1/4 would fail at this height.
I am going to build a low base, so I can see the bottom easily as I sit in my chair and look down easily at it, and also so it's not to tall, I am 6'5 with a 34 " reach so getting into it is not going to be a problem (believe me, after some of my fresh water planted tanks this is a consideration!)
I am doing the hex because of space, so I am entering a new territory in lighting...
I read somewhere on here that power compacts are good for about 24" of worthwhile light penetration, the tank is 30" tall, when you take into account a 5 inch sand bed at the bottom, is power compact going to be enough? I want to avoid metal halide if I can... my energy bill allready runs well over a hundred every month (Texas heat) so I don't need any more assistance going broke...
I am planning on keeping a reef system and a P. radiata and P. Antennata in this tank (was going to do a 30, but thought better of it.) Back will be a live rock wall, epoxied for support, with arms reaching out and around the bottom of the tank, tapering off as they move forward. 5 inch live sand bed.
Filtration will be a Remora Pro skimmer, and a Eheim Pro 2 heated Wet Dry. I will probably hook a magnum up every few weeks to polish the water as some people here have reccomended.
I am going to try and keep this reef system as 'indo-pacific' as I can, all the live rock will probably be fiji and tonga. I am going to go for the easy corals first, and maybe add one or two harder ones later, some non fish dependent anemone (as their little friends would eventually become a tasty snack I am sure.)
Does all this seem good at this point? Lighting question especially, since I am budgeting at this phase. If you also have any little tips on putting together aquariums on your own, I would like to hear them, I have read 5 or 6 guides on the web, but I am sure everyone has found a maybe different or better way of doing some things.
Here are my specs so far.
Design: Hexagonal, 15 wide by 30 " tall panels. I will have the edges mitered by the glass company. I am going with 1/2 inch glass, as I have heard 1/4 would fail at this height.
I am going to build a low base, so I can see the bottom easily as I sit in my chair and look down easily at it, and also so it's not to tall, I am 6'5 with a 34 " reach so getting into it is not going to be a problem (believe me, after some of my fresh water planted tanks this is a consideration!)
I am doing the hex because of space, so I am entering a new territory in lighting...
I read somewhere on here that power compacts are good for about 24" of worthwhile light penetration, the tank is 30" tall, when you take into account a 5 inch sand bed at the bottom, is power compact going to be enough? I want to avoid metal halide if I can... my energy bill allready runs well over a hundred every month (Texas heat) so I don't need any more assistance going broke...
I am planning on keeping a reef system and a P. radiata and P. Antennata in this tank (was going to do a 30, but thought better of it.) Back will be a live rock wall, epoxied for support, with arms reaching out and around the bottom of the tank, tapering off as they move forward. 5 inch live sand bed.
Filtration will be a Remora Pro skimmer, and a Eheim Pro 2 heated Wet Dry. I will probably hook a magnum up every few weeks to polish the water as some people here have reccomended.
I am going to try and keep this reef system as 'indo-pacific' as I can, all the live rock will probably be fiji and tonga. I am going to go for the easy corals first, and maybe add one or two harder ones later, some non fish dependent anemone (as their little friends would eventually become a tasty snack I am sure.)
Does all this seem good at this point? Lighting question especially, since I am budgeting at this phase. If you also have any little tips on putting together aquariums on your own, I would like to hear them, I have read 5 or 6 guides on the web, but I am sure everyone has found a maybe different or better way of doing some things.
