My 5.5 custom all-in-one

[yousmellsfishy]

I have an extensive build thread (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1375191) over in the DIY forum, but now that the tank has been up and running for a while it seems more appropriate to post new pics here. The tank is an All Glass Aquarium standard 5.5 gallon, and I constructed a foam/rock wall that covers the back of the tank on the left side and partitions off the right back corner. That corner is used for a refugium and filter. It's powered by a Maxijet 600. Lighting is from a Current Nova twin T5 HO fixture.
Current inhabitants are

Fish:
Fridmani pseudochromis
Black ray goby

Inverts:
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Randalls pistol shrimp
Mithrax crab
various hermit crabs
2 nassarius snails
3 margarita snails

Corals:
frogspawn
2 Calaustreas
Galaxia
Montipora Capricornis
Kenya tree
Green star polyps
Various zoas, mushrooms, palys

On with the pics
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/DSCN1598.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/DSCN1502.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0029.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0014.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0015-1.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/DSCN1620.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/DSCN1603.jpg

[rck]

WOW... nano's have come a long way... I have been out of the hobby for the last couple of years but nano's and pico's have taken off.

I am planing on starting a 5.5g w a built in fuge similar to what you have going on. I was just looking around and saw this post then followed it over to your build and I am blown away!

This has definitely peek my interests on adding this rock/foam wall structures to the mix. It really give it a real-life feel and hiding all of the equipment is a huge plus.

I might see about going a step further and see about adding a lil bit of plumbing to it and have multiple flow out lets in the rock wall. I know it might be over kill for a small 5.5 tank but its all about the fun in figuring it out and making it work.

Again nice tank!

[HomeSlizzice]

Looking good bro

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13281828#post13281828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rck
WOW... nano's have come a long way... I have been out of the hobby for the last couple of years but nano's and pico's have taken off.

I am planing on starting a 5.5g w a built in fuge similar to what you have going on. I was just looking around and saw this post then followed it over to your build and I am blown away!

This has definitely peek my interests on adding this rock/foam wall structures to the mix. It really give it a real-life feel and hiding all of the equipment is a huge plus.

I might see about going a step further and see about adding a lil bit of plumbing to it and have multiple flow out lets in the rock wall. I know it might be over kill for a small 5.5 tank but its all about the fun in figuring it out and making it work.

Again nice tank!
Thanks rck. Good luck and be sure to keep us posted. I can tell you, I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. Just a note on flow in the 5.5: I first had an MJ 400 and the water movement was adequate. I thought I'd try upgrading to an MJ 600 and the flow was too much. Currently I have the MJ 600 but I trimmed about 1/8" off of each impeller blade which delivers just a hair under too much flow. I can assure you there is no need for multiple outflows in a tank this size. If that's what you decide to do, fine, but it's not necessary. To put it into perspective, If you had a 55 gallon tank you'd need 10 powerheads to equal the flow I have in the 5.5.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13282323#post13282323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HomeSlizzice
Looking good bro
Thanks Home

[Rosseau]

Yeah, looking good. The angles really make this little tank feel big.

I think I'll be doing something similar to a 5G I have sitting around... it'll house a little mantis for now. I bet it will grow "fast" in that the tank will fill up in no time... enjoy it.

[Clown_Fish15]

Loving it man:rollface: javascript:smilie(':rollface:')

[yousmellsfishy]

Some updated photos for you.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0031.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0034.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0037.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0035.jpg

[Don-Coraleone]

I love the gobie pistol shot. i wish i could get mine to come out like that.

[Hyphy831]

wow. that setup is awesome bro, real talk.

[FiShTaCo]

:spin2: Lookin RRREEAALLYYY good.

[HomeSlizzice]

Your tank looks real good, everything looks like it is growing good to.

[Hyphy831]

wow sick tank!!

[2_zoa]

So I see you started the build thread on 04-21-08. Is that when you did the build or had it been running for a while before?

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13765865#post13765865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2_zoa
So I see you started the build thread on 04-21-08. Is that when you did the build or had it been running for a while before? I started the build a few days before the thread start. Added water 4-22-08.

[2_zoa]

Okay, How about the Coraline growth, is it starting to take off? I know some of the purple stuff in the pic is epoxy. I am going to make a foam wall for my 20L I am building. As for the rock in the foam wall, can I count the weight of the rock in the total amount for the tank? Or do you think I should only figure on about half of it since it is covered in foam?

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13766967#post13766967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2_zoa
Okay, How about the Coraline growth, is it starting to take off? I know some of the purple stuff in the pic is epoxy. I am going to make a foam wall for my 20L I am building. As for the rock in the foam wall, can I count the weight of the rock in the total amount for the tank? Or do you think I should only figure on about half of it since it is covered in foam?
If you look at the rock in the pic of the red zoo's with the mushroom on the left and a paly on the right, I think that's pretty representative of the coraline growth. All the exposed rock and foam is about 30% covered right now. The question about counting the weight of the rock I don't understand. What exactly do you mean about counting the weight?

[2_zoa]

If I use 5 Lb of rock to build the wall, can I use 5 Lb less in the overall aqua scape? Or cause half of the rock on the wall is covered in foam then do I only count 2.5 Lb, Or maybe I should not count the wall at all.

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13780497#post13780497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2_zoa
If I use 5 Lb of rock to build the wall, can I use 5 Lb less in the overall aqua scape? Or cause half of the rock on the wall is covered in foam then do I only count 2.5 Lb, Or maybe I should not count the wall at all.
Still not clear on the "counting" thing. Are you talking about some kind of formula like: X amount of rocks for X gallons, or something?

[SpinningHat]

I think he wants to 'count' the rock from the wall as part of his filtration from other Live Rock. So, for a 5 Gal, add 5Lbs, but to count the rock used in the wall as functioning Live Rock? it's a good question, because if you have 10Lbs LR in a 5 Gal. setup, you get what, 3.5 Gal useable?

[1DeR9_3Hy]

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0035.jpg [/B]

You didn't happen to get this candy cane from Moby Dicks in Waterford did you?

I read you build in the DIY, good job man!

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13781179#post13781179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SpinningHat
I think he wants to 'count' the rock from the wall as part of his filtration from other Live Rock. So, for a 5 Gal, add 5Lbs, but to count the rock used in the wall as functioning Live Rock? it's a good question, because if you have 10Lbs LR in a 5 Gal. setup, you get what, 3.5 Gal useable?
I definately count it as live rock for filtration. It wasn't live at first but it sure is now. I would consider the foam live too. The whole wall is part of the tank's filtration.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13781235#post13781235 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1DeR9_3Hy
You didn't happen to get this candy cane from Moby Dicks in Waterford did you?
The candy cane came from the Fish Doctor's in Ypsilanti.
I read you build in the DIY, good job man!
They have more, but it's not for sale.....yet.

[yousmellsfishy]

Hey 1DeR9_3Hy, I botched the quote and reply on the above post and the time has expired for me to edit it. You get it thought, right? The candy cane came from Fish Doctor's in Ypsi. Blew me away when I saw it. And the price... I was worried I wouldn't make it out of the store with the frag before he changed his mind. :lol: Felt like I stole it.

[2_zoa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13781179#post13781179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SpinningHat
I think he wants to 'count' the rock from the wall as part of his filtration from other Live Rock. So, for a 5 Gal, add 5Lbs, but to count the rock used in the wall as functioning Live Rock? it's a good question, because if you have 10Lbs LR in a 5 Gal. setup, you get what, 3.5 Gal useable?

You got it, Sorry for not being clear. That is it, I wanted to know if you could count the rock as part of the filtration. Now I see that it would be possible to count the entire wall so.....how long would it take to be able to count the whole wall as live? I would assume that the rock would be like any other but the foam is a different story right?

[yousmellsfishy]

Foam, rock, glass, sand, it all gets colonized with the nitrifying bacteria. How much depends on the surface area. How fast depends on how well the tank was seeded to begin the cycle and on the bioload.

[1DeR9_3Hy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13782435#post13782435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yousmellsfishy
Hey 1DeR9_3Hy, I botched the quote and reply on the above post and the time has expired for me to edit it. You get it thought, right? The candy cane came from Fish Doctor's in Ypsi. Blew me away when I saw it. And the price... I was worried I wouldn't make it out of the store with the frag before he changed his mind. :lol: Felt like I stole it.

Who was it Juan? That guy knows his business and knows what people like. I am certain he planned on having people feel like that when they picked those up.

I dont know what he is selling them for, but Moby is around $40/3 heads.

Also, if you have not already i highly recommend making a day trip out of heading to Easy Detroit to go to Oceans and Seas then north about 45 minutes to Kees aquarium in Shelby Township. If i had some money to spend and some extra room for corals i would hit both of those stores for a day....just amazing what they have! Kees is a little better on prices ($15 per small sps frags or 3 for $40 i think)....but Oceans and Seas has some very large specimen's and some harder to find fish and corals.

[yousmellsfishy]

Thanks for the tip. I'm actually planning a trip to Preuss' Pets in East Lansing this Sunday. Never been there, but I hear it's incredible. Schools actually plan field trips there, I heard.

What I payed for the candycane was........uh, classified. (much lower)

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Good deal on those candy canes then. I was told they came from a local who traded them for some equipment. All we have to do is find that person....lol

Preuss' is a very amazing place! He new location is incredible and there is a great Mexican restaruant across the street from him (ask about it if you are looking for a meal while your there). Also ask if you can see there frag room! Just let them know how much of an enthusiast you are and you should be good. I was there 3 years ago, and the room was brand new...even then, i was VERY impressed with what i saw.

The place is huge, it has a school bus parked inside! haha, also an in door stream with Koi...its kinda of like the walmart of pet stores (if walmart only had one location that is). I highly recommend a trip to Preuss' to anyone in Michigan! You will not be let down this Sunday. I believe the total square footage is around 10,000 sq. ft. in historic downtown Lansing.