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MattGecko
11/04/2011, 02:10 PM
Hi RC -

6 months ago I caught the reef bug again and started a JBJ NanoCube 6 with a 70W HQI that I had build years ago and never started.


http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/6g01.jpg?t=1318360299

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/6g02.jpg?t=1318360297




I've always been a nano guy, this was my first tank. 2year old 7g Mini Bow with a 70w HQI before I broke it down 6 years ago.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/IMG_0101.jpg

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/SM04024.jpg






I am feeling cramped in the 6G and decided to upgrade to a 13g plus its a good excuse to buy LED.

New setup (currently building):
Mr Aqua 13.3g frameless bow front
A.I. Sol - Super Blue
Super Nano con Dientes Overflow Kit
Dual 1/2" loc-Line return
Eheim 1250 return pump


Still deciding on / yet to purchase:
3/4" SCDW
10g Sump
SWC-120 Skimmer


I am custom building an oak stand, about 75% complete



Thanks to tpallas for the setup assistance. :beer:

MattGecko
11/04/2011, 02:21 PM
The new Bow Front
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/2011-10-30_15-40-26_511.jpg

tpallas
11/04/2011, 02:46 PM
Woot woot! This looks great! Can't wait to see the stand. Are you building it?

MattGecko
11/04/2011, 03:11 PM
Woot woot! This looks great! Can't wait to see the stand. Are you building it?

Thanks.

Yes I am building the stand, I used to build and sell oak bow front canopies with MH lights. Many years ago.....

tpallas
11/05/2011, 11:11 AM
Did you build the stand for your previous tank in the pics above?

MattGecko
11/11/2011, 04:37 PM
Did you build the stand for your previous tank in the pics above?

Yes the stand, canopy and dropped in a 70 metal halide.


I had to order the last remaining plumbing parts and couldn't resist the temptation, bought a MP10 (not going to use the SCWD).

tpallas
11/11/2011, 06:20 PM
Well done. Can't go wrong with the MP10. It's the best.

MattGecko
11/13/2011, 12:54 PM
Completed my light tree, more like a shopping cart handle than a tree. I used 3/8" stainless air line.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/IMG_3803.jpg?t=1321210339

tpallas
11/13/2011, 02:53 PM
Matt, looks great. Where do you get that material, and how did you bend it? I tried using conduit but with the radius of the bend, I couldn't get the bar to be centered over the tank correctly. It looks like you have a much narrower radius there.

MattGecko
11/13/2011, 03:48 PM
Matt, looks great. Where do you get that material, and how did you bend it? I tried using conduit but with the radius of the bend, I couldn't get the bar to be centered over the tank correctly. It looks like you have a much narrower radius there.

I used a small handheld bender since the tubing is only 3/8". The material was new left over from a job.

MattGecko
11/13/2011, 04:07 PM
The tubbing is to small to drill so I am going to have to make some mounts.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/IMG_3807.jpg

tpallas
11/14/2011, 11:11 PM
What about simple hooks?

MattGecko
11/15/2011, 09:25 AM
What about simple hooks?

Hooks would be a great idea, Thanks.



Finished the stand and mounted the light tree.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/newsetup1.jpg


http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/newsetup2.jpg

ange062
11/15/2011, 09:51 AM
I really like that light stand! I think I may try to rig up something like that for my 3g, thanks for the idea :)

WhoDey64
11/15/2011, 10:57 AM
What are the plans for your sump?

MattGecko
11/15/2011, 11:13 AM
What are the plans for your sump?


I had planned on a 10g DIY sump but I made the door to narrow on the stand and the tank will not fit. :sad2:

New plan: 5.5g sump with SC-65 skimmer and an Eheim 1250 return pump.

I will have a low bio-load.

WhoDey64
11/15/2011, 12:15 PM
Have you thought about going the DIY Acrylic route to optimize space? You seem pretty handy from the pictures above.

MattGecko
11/15/2011, 03:02 PM
Have you thought about going the DIY Acrylic route to optimize space? You seem pretty handy from the pictures above.

Your right, I will build my own. Thanks!!

I made the plexiglass fuge/overflow compartment in my nanocube 6 (picture above).

MattGecko
11/15/2011, 03:06 PM
I really like that light stand! I think I may try to rig up something like that for my 3g, thanks for the idea :)

No problem!

MattGecko
12/28/2011, 11:54 AM
The tanks been cycling in the garage for most of December. I'm going to move the tank into the house and make the swap this weekend.


I completed the sump, it was to small to add a fuge so it will be for skimmer and return pump only.


The Eco rock was epoxied large 2 cave pieces that fit together.


http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/2011-12-21_17-21-24_904.jpg

tpallas
12/28/2011, 05:16 PM
Man, that looks great dude! Are you going with bare bottom?

MattGecko
12/28/2011, 05:19 PM
Man, that looks great dude! Are you going with bare bottom?

Thanks. No I bought 30LB of sugar sand, just haven't added it yet.

Did your tree arrive yet?

tpallas
12/28/2011, 05:24 PM
Cool - that should look great! Hasn't arrived yet but I imagine the mail is slow this time of year.

CCLAXX
12/28/2011, 08:23 PM
Looks great

Bretts05jeep
12/28/2011, 10:10 PM
impressive build

ange062
12/29/2011, 12:46 AM
Lookin forward to progress, this should be neat!!

MattGecko
01/06/2012, 12:52 PM
Trying hard not to transfer over my unwanted pests, I made a grave mistake when bathing in Revive and lost 95% the SPS frags. :sad2:



Here's a few pics of my naked tank. Currently shopping for frags.

My photo skills are poor as my wife always tells me.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/AIMG_3824.jpg

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/AIMG_3822.jpg

ange062
01/06/2012, 12:59 PM
Wow, final setup looks great! Bummer to hear about the frags though :(

bdwilson
01/06/2012, 02:14 PM
Nice clean looking build.

MattGecko
01/06/2012, 02:23 PM
Thanks.

Dubby Tee
01/06/2012, 02:31 PM
I really like the tank setup, looks great!

freewest61
01/06/2012, 08:32 PM
great looking setup. how did you ground the light rack?

abaralnek
01/06/2012, 08:40 PM
i agree with the others,nice looking build..

MattGecko
01/07/2012, 10:27 AM
great looking setup. how did you ground the light rack?

DOW!!! I hadn't thought of that, guess I'lll run a ground wire to the power strip (its plugged in to a GFCI).

MattGecko
02/01/2012, 09:31 AM
Not much update on the tank, just went through a diatom bloom.

Built a new and improves sump. I added a ball valve to make water changes easier.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/NewSump.jpg

MattGecko
02/15/2012, 02:58 PM
Ordered a new skimmer (SWC-120) yesterday.

I designed a new sump (third times a charm). It will be a week or two before I have time to bring it on-line.

This one has a fuge, more bubble traps and a removable filter sock.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/sumpmapsmall.jpg

I am very pleased with the results.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/sump3small.jpg

tpallas
02/17/2012, 10:27 AM
Matt, that's some great acrylic work! I think you will really like the SWC-120. I have no bubble traps and I get zero microbubbles in my display. I now have 2 clowns, a six line, a cleaner shrimp, and 2 clams. That thing really pulls out some gunk. I thought I was going overboard picking this skimmer over the Tunze Nano, but I was wrong.

nsyahron
02/17/2012, 11:04 AM
man that is one clean setup.

ange062
02/17/2012, 11:11 AM
Wow, the acrylic work on that sump is nutso! Well done!

MattGecko
02/17/2012, 12:35 PM
Thanks!! I can't wait to get the new skimmer and sump installed.

Started cycling the left over Eco rock to use in the fuge.

MattGecko
03/06/2012, 10:04 AM
Some updates:

Installed all (8) 70 degree optics and its much better for the shallow tank, no more spot lights.

My new power center arrived yesterday so no more unplugging I just have to flip the switch. Once I get it installed I'll post some new pics of everything.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/powercenter.jpg

tpallas
03/06/2012, 12:19 PM
Matt when's the livestock coming in?

MattGecko
03/06/2012, 12:34 PM
Matt when's the livestock coming in?


I have zoas, rics, acan, duncan, candy cane, frogspawn, chalice and a few other corals. Everything is small and not very impressive yet, so I have been waiting to post livestock pics.

Once I get the power center done, I'll get some pics of everything.

MattGecko
03/12/2012, 08:05 PM
Here are some tank shots

Baby os clown "wheels"
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/2012-03-12_18-21-43_892ss.jpg


Red PPE and yellow zoanthids
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/2012-03-12_18-22-42_412ss.jpg


Montipora Setosa and Chalice
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/2012-03-12_18-21-57_131ss.jpg

New sump and power center
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/mattshelley/IMG_3944ss.jpg