Nemos at it again...

[nemo_66]

well, as the title says, I'm back again. not many people probably remember me, but I've been here awhile. you may remember the thread that said I'm out of the hobby, but I've been extremely bored, and video games are way overrated, so i decided to do a low budget 5.5 gallon tank. low budget meaning I'll be shopping a bit more, not I'll be buying from *****. lol
so, btw, this will be a "diary" sort of thing. lol
so anyways, i had a leftover stand from a ten gallon that is now under reconstruction as it had a few flaws that needed changing. some sanding, peeling, and painting will be done. this tank will be well maintained, me doing maintenance once a week or more, unlike my previous tank which was once a month, although it looked incredible to me. lawl.
OK, so i just turned 15, so I'll be looking for a job, more so to go towards getting a car, but some will go toward the tank as well.
ok, enough of that background stuff. the tank is a 5.5 gallon. it will be an all in one, but all the equipment will be in the corner, not all across the back. filtration will be a bag of carbon, Cheato, and LR rubble. flow will be either a mag drive 1.9, or a maxijet 400 or 600. i hope to keep the mag, but it seems to need a impeller, or whatever, and if it does, I'll just go maxijet.
it will have a false wall, with of course, my signature DiY Live Rock. I'm definitely going to take my time creating/curing the rocks, since i really want this tank to look good.
lights will hopefully be a nova extreme 40 watt t-5 HO fixture. stock list will include a cleaner shrimp, and a yellow clown goby, CUC, and mostly softies, with a frogspawn. frogspawn is my favorite coral, even though I've only had the privilege to keep only one, so theres definitely going to be one in this tank. corals are going to be mostly hardy, but they wont be an eyesore, surely they'll be colorful too!
so, enough of my novel post, i'll post pics up shortly.
while i get the pics, here is the tank thats the inspiration of my tank....my old 28 gallon! lol. i had to tear it down for the move, and it didnt go well, so hopefully, i'll get great success with the 5.5
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/261984/nemos-tank-diary

 

[meowzer]

Ah you just missed us

 

[nemo_66]

here are the pictures. i cant get all the silicone work done tonight since i was planning on using the mag 1.9, but i changed my mind, and am going to get a maxijet, and i want to make sure it'll fit into the hole before everything is set in stone.
also went and made one piece of rock today to see if i still have the touch. lol. we shall see tomorrow.
the overflow was a PITA, since it broke in two places, but the false wall should cover it, so im not worried.
here is the sheet that'll be in the corner of the tank.

the overflow

this is whats holding the egg crate up

everything dry fit. the egg crate on the bottom will support the cheato and carbon.

top view of the rear chambers

side view of the rear chambers.

the whole setup. the spots on the stand are where i sanded down the warping that was caused by the pervious tank. im going to paint it/clear coat it once the tank is fully finished.

pics are bad quality, i used my camcorder, not enough light either, i'll get better pics with my real camera tomorrow.

 

[nemo_66]

short update: i made a rock yesterday, just to see how it would turn out, and i didnt use enough cement, so it broke apart.
also, i might be going to marshalls to get some canvas for the fake wall, as well as the LFS to get my maxijet, and i will hopefully find some crushed oyster shells at the feed store. nothing interesting just yet, so no new pics...

 

[spanko]

Welcome back, tagging along to watch the progress. Shouldn't you paint and coat the stand before putting the tank together?

 

[nemo_66]

yea, but im going to "finish" the acrylic work first, so once i paint and coat the stand, all i would have to do is add water.

 

[greenreefer]

I like the rear chamber angled like that, good idea. I'll be watching how this progresses.

 

[nemo_66]

thanks, but this isnt my idea, as many people, i have copied yousmellsfishy from reef central.
the 2 pieces of rock is curing, and since the only day im free this week is sunday, that'll be when i get my maxijet, and all other equipment.
pics of rock will be here shortly...

 

[nemo_66]

ok, well, i went and made another rock, which will be broke to 2-3 rocks. so far, i only have one rock curing, since the first one fell apart. i dont think the one thats curing will stay together either, but we'll see.
im also priming the stand for some fresh paint, although it will be the same color. i'll post pics once the stand is completely done, which will most likely be somewhere around mid afternoon tomorrow.
i'll post pics of the rocks too, if any of them hold up and dont crumble.

 

[salami trigger]

Keep Us Up!

 

[nemo_66]

hey guys, i was thinking about my lighting, and was thinking i might go with a metal halide again, just like my previous tank. but is a 70watt hqi to much for a 5.5 gallon. it'll be a pendant, and maybe around 6-8 inches away from the tank. would that be fine, or is it overkill? i plan on keeping softies, and lps. MAYBE a monticap.
or should i just go with the 40 watt T5 HO fixture?
any help is appreciated.

 

[meowzer]

I would go with the T5HO....From what I have been told recently...you can keep just about anything under that type...I would also be worried about heat issues with the MH on a 5.5g

 

[nemo_66]

heat wouldnt be a problem, since i have two extra computer fans, but i like the shimmer of MH.
so other than heat, it wont be TO much light for the tank? or would softies melt? i have heard of this many times where the light is too powerful and the corals die from the intensity...

 

[nemo_66]

ok, i made my biggest batch of rock yesterday, and i'll take pics of it shortly, i promise.
also siliconed all the acrylic in place, but it has a few leaks i need to fill. also, its a pretty messy job too. lol but im not worried as it'll be covered by the false wall anyways.
but i have a question. i've always wanted a rimless tank, so would it be ok if i removed the top rim on my 5.5 gallon? i mean, its not a big tank, plus it have acyrlic inside, so that should provide a little more support too. any info would be appreciated. btw, i'll probably keep the bottom trim, as that just seems stupid to remove...

 

[nemo_66]

ok, i read about it, and it seems people do this kind of thing with 10 gallons, so i guess a 5.5 would be safe. i just tired it with a spare ten gallon i had, and it wasnt to hard.
but i still have a question. can i take both the braces off, or do i have to leave the bottom one on? there was one guy who took both off of his 10 gallon, but im still unsure. any clarification would be appreciated.pics up soon..

 

[worrballer]

I think taking both braces off would be fine. The thing you have to look out for is the acrylic. It expands when in the water. You don't want it wedged to tight or it'll expand and crack the glass.
Since yours is in the corner there shouldn't be much of a problem but just be careful I guess.

 

[nemo_66]

ok, yea, its not to wedged in. maybe two mm inbetween the acrylic and the glass. i removed both braces off my extra ten gallon, and it looks pretty good. so once i finish the acyrlic work, i'll take off the braces. here are some pics...
the ten gallon. doing a leak test while curing the rock. lol the things on the seam is water

my favorite rock so far. it was made yesterday...

pourousness!

ten gallon with rocks. i tried to make it look pretty. lol it is in the kitchen. im going to put the rock in a tupperware container later this week so the eyesore in the kitchen can go away...

close up of rocks. they look pretty real to me, besides the color.

 

[nemo_66]

i went and got a new maxijet 600. i ran out of silicone, and i should be getting some tomorrow. in the mean time, i'll be 'de-bracing' my tank.
any comments on the rock?

 

[worrballer]

Originally Posted by Nemo_66
http:///forum/post/3075384
any comments on the rock?
Looks like poop. Literally, just like poop

. Good work though, that is just the first thing that came to mind. It'll look great, very porous.
What kind of cement do you use?

 

[nemo_66]

well thanks, atleast the first thing that came to mind wasnt, "oh, thats cement" lol
its portland cement. i think type I/II. its the most common kind, although some people find the white kind.
also, i just put a rock on some canvas, then some Great Stuff, and once that cured, i put some resin on it, and some sand. i just wanted to test it, and it wont go in the actual tank, but let this be a warning, WEAR GLOVES! i forgot to put them on, and i still cant get the resin off. it makes it worse to have most of the resin on the hand that had cuts on it from taking off the 10 gallons trim, so if i use asitone, it burns like h3ll.
also, i decided to used metal halides, even though everyone said no to it. lol. i already have the brinks fixture, and both the bulb and ballast have been oredered. ballast has already been shipped, and the bulb is to be shipped tomorrow, hopefully...