On the bandwagon!

[FishinInTheDark]

Okay, I must admit, I got the bug too! SM, I hope you realize just what a leader you are! We all want to be you!

I just couldn't tear down this 2.5 gallon tank after my (silly) scare last week over a couple of snails. I hurriedly slapped this tank together to be a zoo QT. It had been in my garage ever since I gave away my African Dwarf Frogs! Well, after seeing a couple corals in this tank, and seeing SM's, I just couldn't bear to put it away. So, a couple cups of sand from my refugium, a couple frags, broke up a big rock, and I'm on my way!

The colt coral on the left is a brand new frag, and is only just now perking up after four days. I know it'll outgrow the tank, so I'll either move it or trim it. It's not like I have a tang in there, ya know!

I have a long way to go to achieve my vision. I'd like to see a couple snails, a hermit, and either a large shrimp or clown goby. I also have a new DIY hood and desktop stand in mind with much, much better lights!

Thanks, SM, for being so contagious, and thanks, everyone, for critiquing.

Conni

p.s. I know my pictures stink. My camera just can't handle focusing through a pane.

[cich1]

well your alot farther along with your than i am, i haven't even put water in mine yet :D looking good FITD

Looks like you got a good start too there FITD! You guys are really rubbin it in aint cha' :lol: .

Thats okay, I am right behind ya'. Hopefully shortly SM will have me in tow too!

[FishinInTheDark]

Yeah, but cich, I don't have decent hardware yet! We're tied, just taking different routes!

[cich1]

so you just used some sand from your fuge and some cured lr rock and voila instant cycle? did you get an ammonia spike or anything?

[FishinInTheDark]

This tank has been set up since Thursday. 100% of the contents came from my other tanks. I did not see ammonia or nitrite, but there is a nitrate reading of 10, which is odd because my main tank has 0 which is where the water came from. I think there might have been some organics in the sand that got stirred up. The presence of nitrate leads me to believe that the biological filtration is working.

I only put the corals in there last night. Here's a little hint: when gluing down GSP, don't glue yourself to the rock, because somehow swearing ensues! :roll:

[cich1]

i've glued myself to many things but never gsp :D

[MikeS]

looks great, Conni! :D

Mike

You killing me FITD! Its kinda funny how when your doing those simple and straight forward little projects just how wrong they can sometimes go. Its like these days I almost feel cheated if there arent a couple of major catastrophys and some unintended swearing involved (even if it is under your breath). I will make a mental note not to super glue myself to the rock next time I am playing with the glue :lol:

Its funny that you mentioned that cuase I have absolutely lit myself up a few times wiring lights up the last couple of months. Its too bad I didnt have some streaming video of those eveolutions as I am sure we would all need a bottle of oxygen to hit on inbetween fits of laughter. Of course I didnt think it was too funny at the time! : :shock:

[FishinInTheDark]

Thanks Mike!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Wow!! That looks great Conni! I really like the way you have the rocks layed out.

Have you thought of gluing the GSP to the back wall? It looks awesome with the back wall fully covered in GSP. Right now my anthelia is creeping up the back wall of the 2.5.

[FishinInTheDark]

I really love how GSP looks on the back, but I wanted to wait until things settle in a little bit before actually gluing onto the glass! In case the tank didn't work out, or I changed the rockwork a lot, etc.

Sad note: I put a single hermit in the tank and it (intentionally or not) completely took apart my colt coral. It's in little pieces. :cry: When I got it at the swap, it was thrown into the same bag as a Kenya tree and green toadstool. Neither of them are perking up as they should by now either. I think they committed such awful chemical warfare while in the bag together that they'll all die. I'm a bit bummed.

I'm headed to the hardware store tonight to get some hood wood. I wonder how many trips it will take to get everything. . .

[Sugar Magnolia]

Here's a little hint: when gluing down GSP, don't glue yourself to the rock, because somehow swearing ensues! :roll:
Why is it that the tiny amount of glue we use to glue down frags always seems to seep out and we end up gluing ourselves to something. I was just doing some maintenence on the 2.5 and decided to rip off a chunk of GSP and glue it to the back wall. Yup...got glue on my finger and stuck to the towel I was using to dry my hands off. Argh!

Sorry to hear about that colt. Hopefully your other two will perk up in time.

Are you planning to paint the hood once it's finished or just stain it?

[FishinInTheDark]

Super glue is amazing stuff! It manages to get wherever you don't want it, and it's hard to get where you do want it. How can it know?

I'm going to paint it black. I usually like wood finishes, but my computer desk where it sits is black and cherry, and I don't think I can match the cherry color. Also, if I end up using different wood types, I can hide it!

[Sugar Magnolia]

My husband used marine spar paint in gloss black on my canopy. He first used the marine spar primer on the wood, then two coats of the marine spar gloss black. We wanted to be sure that it would withstand the salt spatter that the HOB creates. That marine spar paint is expensive stuff - I couldn't believe the price difference over regular oil based or latex based paints.

[icereefer]

good start conni

Yeah SM I got a 37 foot boat and its amazing just how much more anything marine related cost! The cashier almost had to call 911 the first time she rung up a purchase for a DIY project!

But I will provide this advice, if your going to varnish anything...Go to the marine supply store and get the varnish. The difference is phenominal! It is so much better and looks way nicer when done. It will also stand up to the slatwater of our tanks much better.

Sorry to hear about the Colt/Kenya coral FITD. Its a shame your not closer as I have a couple of colt corals and about 18 kenya tree corals in my frag system and I would let you dig a couple out. Hopefully a fellow reefer out there can hook you back up and get you going again!

[FishinInTheDark]

Geez, I don't even know if we have a marine supply store here. I'll have to look into that. . .

We have no water, but there's a reservoir south of here, and maybe there's a boat shop around there. Hmm. Anyway, thanks for the advice on finishing it!

Conni

[dono]

very nice! i want to start one now too!

addicting aint it...?

[FishinInTheDark]

There should be a colloquialism for this phenomenon. Something like "pico envy"!

[cich1]

"pico envy" :shocked: thats good

[Sugar Magnolia]

Ahem...let it be known that I, in no way, am to be held responsible for the lack of control that seems to be taking over this forum. Nano-ism is a highly addictive disease that, once takes over is extremely hard to resist. The need to create a smaller and smaller reef tank becomes so irrisitable that one starts to imagine alll kinds of once unimaginable reefing possiblities. How intense can I make my lighting; how deep should I make my sand bed in such a small space; what kinds of corals could I keep in such a little tank; ohmygosh...can I keep a clam in there?!

I'm a nano-pusher. hehe! :badgrin: And yes, you can keep a clam in there. :)

[cich1]

How intense can I make my lighting
lol when i was looking around for lighting i checked out a couple nano-reef forums and those guys are crazy, they put a 400w mh over a tea cup, btw i have a third 13w fixture i can add to my canopy and if need be i can add another 2x13 retro kit

Sugar Magnolia, your not getting off that easy! As bangin as that little nano was...who could resist the temptation to reproduce a little of that in our own little way. :razz: But I have to admit it was aweful inspiring!

[Puffy]

any new pics?

[FishinInTheDark]

Puffy,

I just put a new pink torch frag in there yesterday, and it's looking pretty nice. I'm holding off on pics until my upgraded lighting is finished. I think it has turned into a Christmas gift from my dear old dad, so not too much longer!

[Puffy]

OIC ok! Can't wait for sure!