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snakemau
02/06/2011, 10:15 PM
Well, I know you are supposed to take it slowly when you start with SW tanks. I had FW tanks for many years and this year I decided to give it a try and get a SW. Now I don't have room for a big tank, so I decide on a nano tank...well 3 of them actually! Sorry for the pics quality. Will put some nicer ones. So, here they are:

The 4 gal was set up on 01/22/11. Its a glass Pen Plax waterworld tank, I did the AC70 mod on it and it has a Theo 50W heater in one the chambers with chemi pure elite and pad and chaeto in the main chamber. The chaeto has the 7500K light that came with the aquarium in a reverse cycle and the tank has a coralife mini light. There is also a zoomed micro pump to increase water flow. Right now I just have a Xenia and a zoa and those 2 rocks with the hairy mushrooms and colts are there temporarily till I can move them to the 10 gal tank. I got a peppermint shrimp 2 days ago and 10 cerith snails. There are some Brittle stars around that came with the live rock.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=26147

The 2 gal was set up on 01/29/11. Its a Dymax IQ3. I changed the return pump with a mini jet 404 and in the overflow chamber I hide the pump that came with the tank. I drilled a hole up close to the overflow area for the extra pump, and drilled some holes to increase the flow back into the overflow chamber. I already got some mangrove to put in the overflow chamber but they have no leaves yet and some barely any roots! so I put a fiber pad in there for a bit. It has a 5 led par30 over it. This weekend I added a brain coral, a zoa, a hairy mushroom and about 6 cerith snails

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=26149

Lastly the 10 gal nano was set up on 2/05/11. Its a marineland tank with an Aqua-tech 30-60 filter. I like that filter due to the big chambers so one of them has the biofiber pad and the carbon one and the other chamber has chaeto. 10 lbs LR and about 10 lbs Tropic Eden Aragonite sand (same sand in all the tanks). I have a 75W heater on the way (it has a 200w for now from my FW tanks) and I'm using the light that came with the Dymax IQ3 for the chaeto. On the way I also have a Koralia nano 425gph and a 18" 36W Nova Extreme SLR T5 fixture. I hope if everything is Ok to add some snails and macro algae in a bout a week or two.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=26148

Stock wise, I think I will add a yellow goby on the 2 gal. Then a yellowtail damsel on the 4 gal and maybe a firefish, and the 10 gal maybe a yasha goby/pistol shrimp and a pair or clowns (of course in a few weeks!)


So what do you think? Any suggestions for the tanks or fish stock?

SaltSolutions1
02/07/2011, 10:32 AM
Wow! Everything looks great so far. Way to just jump right into it. Subscribing!

snakemau
02/07/2011, 10:44 AM
LOL, thanks man, I been following yours, and it looks awesome!!!! Your 10 gal actually got me into building my 10 gal, so thank you! I just hope I didn't go to fast, but so far everything is looking great! Will start adding some fish in a few weeks, just want to be sure everything is doing OK.

snakemau
02/17/2011, 07:31 PM
Well it is time for some updates on the tanks (my apologies for the quality of the pics). I wanted a more natural look and added some plants to bring out whatever it is..it just look so cool and live!

My 2 gal nano
Yellow clown goby, zoas, closed brain coral, candy cane, hairy mushroom and hammer plus plants (red graciliaria, red titan, halimeda). My cuc is dwarf ceriths, nassarius vibex and nerite snails. No more fish will go on this tanks, just lots of corals!, but would like to add a pom pom or a porcelain crab.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=26786

My 4 gal nano
Firefish goby, yellow-tailed damselfish, peppermint shrimp and the same cuc as the 2 gal, plus red graciliaria, ulva, halimeda, chaeto in refugium. Xenia, hammer, candy cane, green mushroom, hairy mushroom, zoa. No more fish will be added, just some crabs and corals
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=26787

My 10 gal nano
2 clown fish, a pajama cardinalfish, peppermint shrimp and same cuc as my 2 gal. candy cane, hammer, hairy mushroom, colts, kenya tree, black sponge, and then red titan, halimeda, ulva, chaeto in refugium. Possibly will add YWG/pistol and some crabs and corals. Waiting for my light fixture to get here.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=26788

Will take some more pics in a week.

SaltSolutions1
02/17/2011, 08:10 PM
Looks great! 2 clowns and a cardinal are great choices in fish. Congrats! Are those tank raised clowns or wild caught?

snakemau
02/17/2011, 08:13 PM
Thank you SaltSolutions1. They are tank raised.

SaltSolutions1
02/17/2011, 08:17 PM
Thank you SaltSolutions1. They are tank raised.

Awesome! They look great together.

snakemau
03/05/2011, 10:18 PM
Here are some pics. Will put FTS soon.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27616
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27615
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27613
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27614
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27612
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27611
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27610
and anyone knows what is this red/grey stuff on my halimeda?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27609

cloons411
03/05/2011, 10:37 PM
Here are some pics. Will put FTS soon.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27616
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27615
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27613
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3773&pictureid=27614

These are some fantastic shots. I love the one of the porcelain crab.

snakemau
03/05/2011, 10:44 PM
Thank you Cloons411, these are my first macro shots...well some of the over 100 of them that I took in the last 2 nights! I think I got a better one of the porcelain crab and another one of my pom pom crab, just need to find it in the folder! I'm glad you like them, was wondering if they will be good.

SaltSolutions1
03/05/2011, 11:00 PM
Lookin' really good! You must have a really nice camera.

snakemau
03/05/2011, 11:08 PM
Thank you SaltSolutions1. Its a Canon Rebel XSi, with a Canon EF 100mm macro lens and a DIY diffuser for the Speedlite 430EX II flash. I think I'm getting hooked on macro shots!

SaltSolutions1
03/05/2011, 11:11 PM
Must be nice. The best camera I have is a 5.0mp Kodak digital camera. I have no way of taking macro shots but I'd love to. How much does something like that run? Nothing fancy, just the minimum of what I'd need to get to do macro shots.

snakemau
03/05/2011, 11:27 PM
Well the camera kit is about $550 or so, some places will sell you the body for about $475, then the macro lens is between $400-$550 depending where you get it, and the flash is around $275, then you need a brace for the flash positioning and a diffuser, which you can make it with 2 soda cans! or go fancy and spend like $25 and up for one. So yeah is not cheap, and I have been building my set up for around 2 yrs, so...

SaltSolutions1
03/05/2011, 11:35 PM
Well the camera kit is about $550 or so, some places will sell you the body for about $475, then the macro lens is between $400-$550 depending where you get it, and the flash is around $275, then you need a brace for the flash positioning and a diffuser, which you can make it with 2 soda cans! or go fancy and spend like $25 and up for one. So yeah is not cheap, and I have been building my set up for around 2 yrs, so...

Well, it was worth the wait. Great pictures!

cloons411
03/06/2011, 10:19 AM
Well the camera kit is about $550 or so, some places will sell you the body for about $475, then the macro lens is between $400-$550 depending where you get it, and the flash is around $275, then you need a brace for the flash positioning and a diffuser, which you can make it with 2 soda cans! or go fancy and spend like $25 and up for one. So yeah is not cheap, and I have been building my set up for around 2 yrs, so...

That goes for everything else in this hobby, its not cheap. I am looking into one of these cameras as well. I am thinking about the canon t2i though. Keep the pictures coming.

snakemau
03/06/2011, 10:24 AM
Yes indeed. I'm actually trying to get a new body, I want the Canon 60D. But need to save some more for it. Meanwhile will post as many pics as I can!