new to reef, first reef tank!
 

I just finished putting in the liverock! So simple, it's amazing, I think :D
It's a 16 gallon cubish DIY nano with a 16 gallon attached sump. I basically divided a 33 gallon tank in half :redface:

20 lbs of indo rock. I found 3 crabs in with the rock, and I threw them into the sump/fuge. I'll decide what to do with them later.

http://www.esopenko.com/images/aquar.../liverock2.jpg

here's a view of the whole system. I like it's simplicity.
note: the polisher on the powerhead will be coming off tomorrow morning.
http://www.esopenko.com/images/aquar.../nanobuilt.jpg

and here's the moonlight. computer cold cathode light running on a 9v 380mah power adapter. 3/4" pvc split down the middle and lined on the inside with alluminum foil. It's about 3 watts of blue lighting, which is I think a nice ballance between preventing an algae bloom while curing the rock, and giving a slight bit of light for whatever algae came on the rock. It's running 24/7 during the curing process.
http://www.esopenko.com/images/aquar.../moonlight.jpg

Dude,

That is a cool idea. The only thing I would have done a bit different is to have use some form of black glass/acrilic as the divider.
Are you going to build a case around the back half?
What is you next move, we are waiting and watching.

Dan

Looking good, keep us up to date.

I can't remember where I originally read the idea. I remember seeing people take their long tanks, and divide it in half the long way, but I wanted a cubish aquarium, and figured a cubish sump/fuge would have more uses as well. It's a great idea, because it makes for a cheap tank. Less liverock, less lighting, less heat, less water flow. The only cost that doesn't scale down is the tank and stand really. And maybe ballasts would cost the same either way for DIY lighting.

yeah, I wish now I used a tinted glass or something dark as the dividor, but ah well. Live and learn. This thing's so cheap I could build another one of these tanks for under $60. (tank/divider)

The waterflow was too high, and the sump was getting a nasty film over it, so I moved the little 150 gph mag pump from the display area to the sump area. I have a 220gph aquaclear powerhead feeding the display area, and I thought an extra 150 gph would be a little much! So now that the little submersible is at the bottom of the sump, pointed up, the film's gone. I had to put the polisher back on the aquaclear because it kicked all the floating sediment in the sump into action.

I plan eventually to use build a cover that goes over the top and around the fuge/sump area. Probably do it with plywood because I'm cheap :D. After that, I'll be switching to RO water, then upgrading the lights. Then who knows what?

The liverock was pretty much cured when I got it, too. The LFS was keeping it in a very well lit display tank that was immaculate.

Upgrades/livestock will come payday by payday. My tank budget's run out this payday now, so I get to sit and watch the rocks :) But man... questions questions questions. I have so many, all the time, I feel like I'm annoying everyone on all the forums out there.

Nah, you can't be annoying, we like answering questions!

neat idea. Thanks for sharing :)

rearranged the liverock... again. Luckily the little bits of sponge that were just starting to form on the rocks didn't really die off. Two days now and still no spikes in water quality. Everything's at undetectable. Gold's said the liverock was already cured. I'm getting one or two cerith snails tomorrow because the diatoms are getting unsightly and I don't want to wait a couple weeks for them to go away.

On another note, I've switched to RO water for my water changes. A place just 3 blocks away from my house opened up that gives 5 gallon refills for $2. Quite affordable for now ($8 a month) until I get myself an in-home RO unit. I'm still following my 4 gallons per week water changes. Theoretically in 2.5 months I'll have cleared out the tap water.

I've begun looking for 70w DE MH lighting too. I'm sure the aqualight mini fixtures aren't enough light, and putting two more on would crowd the top and give no room for my moonlight.

oh anyone have any experience with hermit crabs?

I would put a couple hermits in because I think they are so much fun to watch, but they do tend to kill snails for their shells, or even just to eat. To me it is worth having a few. Make sure there is a variety of empty shell sizes in your tank for the hermits to grow into.

reply
 

Very cool idea. If it were my tank I would use the sump side as a refugium, and keep the whole thing lit. Some macro algae and live rock on the sump side will cover up any equipment nicely.

Orrr.... Take the Sump portion and split it length wise and hid the equipment in the back part.
Water would flow from tank into sump, into refugium back into main portion.
How's that sound? :lol: