5g Custom Nano

[mwoneal]

I've been itching to set up a larger tank, but no room in the apartment so I decided to try my hand at building a nano from scratch. It's constructed from 1/4" inch acrylic and measures 24" x 8" x 8", around 4.5 to 5 gallons total volume. My acrylic work is rough, but it holds water so I'm pretty proud of it. I actually had filter and lights from other FW tanks, just had to pick-up an AQ PH.

I've got an old AQ 30 HOB just running some floss for the cycle, not sure what to run in it long term. Will I get more benefit from doing fuge in the AQ, or just running some combination of chemical media?

The hood is pretty ghetto, but again it serves it's purpose. Lighting is a 32W PC, right now w/ 6500K dual daylight bulb.

Only going to put the once piece of tonga branch, going to stock it with little frag pieces from my 10g softie reef. Water just went in today, so it's still a little cloudy.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w247/mwoneal/DSC_0030.jpg

[Slakker]

I love the dimensions...nice work!

[Lytehouse]

This is cool. Will be watching as you progress. Tnanks for posting.

[Eklikewhoa]

Really cool tank!

[mwoneal]

Here are some detail pics of the 'hood'. I built the rim of the hood from 1 1/4" poplar pieces, and then trimmed it with paneling material that I found at HD. It's coated with Helmsman Spar Polyurethane to keep it from being affected by humidity.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w247/mwoneal/DSC_0011.jpg

I mounted the reflector and clips for the PC bulb to an egg crate lid. This was partially to help w/ ventilation, but mostly because it was simple.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w247/mwoneal/DSC_0007.jpg

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w247/mwoneal/DSC_0008.jpg

[Moonstream]

That looks really good, on the egg crate! Hmmm... time to start planning a DIY tank. LOL

[slant77]

how much evap do you get on your tank

[rholguin]

Where did you buy the egg crate been looking for some and cant find it?

[mwoneal]

Got it at the Home Depot. Update on this tank, one of the seams eventually failed, I think I used the wrong type of Weld-On, good thing it was a small leak.

[rholguin]

what deparment b/c I have looked and even asked and I really do not think they know what im asking for.

[mwoneal]

actually, now that I think about it, I may have gotten it from Lowes. It's in the same area with the acrylic ceiling panels for flourescent lighting. In our store it's with construction materials, maybe on the same aisle as masonry supplies? It's always struck me as being in an odd location.

[slant77]

Lighting section is were you want to look for it.

[skunkmere]

dude that light is genius.

[mluna785]

Pretty sweet. I'll be watching this thread.

[NanoReefWanabe]

egg crate is in the building materials section of my home depot...in the aisle with the PT and drywall..

nice build...i so want to do a long nano...something i can get a 3 or 4 pack of HO T5's over..in the 36X10X10 or 48X12x12 range...

[olmsted66]

I found egg crate at my local hardware store. Just asked for flourescent light diffuser grate
they had a whole box of it. i think i paid 11 bux

[saltman123]

Cool looking tank :)

[mwoneal]

Thanks for the comments guys, makes me want to take another shot at this tank. I was in a hurry with the first one, and didn't have the right weldon or enough of it, and one of the seams failed a few weeks in. I ended up putting the livestock in an AGA 5.5g for the time being.