JDigitals 10G "Hawaiian Biotope".
 

I'm starting my thread in hopes that my back heals in time to get to work with some of the DIY work I had originally planned on doing. So here goes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ontesttank.jpg


Budget Breakdown:

Hardware:

Display Tank ..................................... Free
Mini Mag-float - $11.99 (under $15) .... Free
Sand ............................................... Free
Live Rock.......................................... Free
Overflow.......................................... . Free
10G Sump Tank................................. $16.99
Sump Baffles.................................... $5.02
AquaMedic OR2500 Return Pump......... $65.00
Hagen Glo 2x24W T5HO (used)........... $50.00
100W Heater..................................... $24.99

Livestock:

1x PomPom Crab................................ $9.95 @ JL (I paid $16.99 elsewhere)
3x Red Leg Hermit.............................. $3.87
2x Turbo Margarite Snails.................... $3.98
1x Left handed Hermit........................ $2.99
Large R/Purple Zoa frag (>15heads)..... $10.00
Large Purple Zoa frag (>15heads)........ $10.00
Large B/Orange Zoa (>15heads).......... $10.00
Large light Greean Zoa (>15heads)...... $10.00
1-2" Percula Clownfish........................ $10.45
Six-Line Wrasse................................. $12.95
Rose Bulb Anemone............................ $29.99
2 Head Frogspawn.............................. $20.00
Orange Short-tip Plate Coral................ $15.00
GSP 4"+ Frag.................................... $20.00
Pink Buttons..................................... $10.00

Total Budget Left - $47.13

Nov. 15 FTS Pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/10FTSNov.jpg

Dec 15 FTS Pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/DecFTS10.jpg

THIS TANK IS GOING TO ROCK :lol::lol::lol: no.... seriously

Oh no....

It might not actually... not even sure if I will be able to continue in the contest.

Rimless and Painted so far..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...intingtank.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ankpainted.jpg

Well... need to pick up a new 10G.... cracked mine today trying to drill it... Sensitive buggers!:twised:

Cracked....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...st/cracked.jpg


Not Cracked. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

If I ever decide to drill a 10G again, someone slap me.. haha.. Such a nerve wrecking thing to do.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...notcracked.jpg

Now I need to decide whether or not to de-rim the new tank.. That wasn't much fun the first time either.. :drinking:

looks like you changed the position of the hole? was this just for some added strenth while drilling, since it was moved closer to the wall.

Well not really... I had originally planned on having BOTH holes that you see above.. the one I did today is for my overflow, and was positioned there for the added strength for drilling... that cracked hole last night was gonna be my return bulkhead... but I am not gonna tempt fate with 2 holes. LOL I'll just stick to running my return over the rim I guess. :biggrin:

you could try to drill the other side at the back or maybe even on of the sides for the retern. ? if you crack the side you have lots of scrap to repair it from the previous tank.

Also you could put a wood block or something in so there is no pressure from the weight added to drilling.

PS what kind of paint did you use?

I think its called "Painters Touch" Semi Gloss...

I'll debate with myself about the 2nd hole.. lol.. I got good odds, 6 out of 7 holes isn't too bad so far.. :mrgreen:

Painted Pt. 2 haha..

couple runs in the paint.. :( oh well, it won't be seen. :wink:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/painted2.jpg

Update:

Overflow / Plumbing / Sump Parts:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...mbingstuff.jpg

Couple tank shots:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...est/ofbulk.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...sbuildshot.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...finstalled.jpg

Sump with baffle/skimmer/Return pump:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...test/sump1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...test/sump2.jpg

Just need to run my drain and return pipes. :biggrin:

Still want to share plumbing costs? What size do you need for your stuff?

I am running 3/4" drain and return.. I got some spare 3/4" pipe sitting around, not sure if it will be enough or not.

Do you have a return pump yet? I got a brand new Rio 10HF in box.. maybe we can work out a trade + cash deal with the Snapper? I'll pm you about that..

Tank is PLUMBED!!! WHOOOOOOO!!!! haha..

Drain and Return line:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...10plumbing.jpg

Top Side FTS:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/10topFTS.jpg

FTS Display:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...test/10FTS.jpg

FTS w/ Sump:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...10FTSwsump.jpg

Only a few hours away.. :mrgreen:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...test/water.jpg

I am sooooo jealous...a few parts missing.....so won't be up until tomorrow night at the earliest....BUT, I have water all ready and waiting in my WC tank! WOOHOO!

WHOOO... even tho I got water it in, I might have to empty it and add an emergency drain.. haha.. i got real use to the security of the Herbie on my 75.. I'm nervous ot leave it running for the rest of the night.. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...est/water1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...est/water2.jpg

Looking good, looking at that plumbing reminds me that I have to go redo my return plumbing this weekend to knock down some noise.

What scared me the first time was when I shut the ball valve on my one return to test that the other can handle the full load....

Nice clean setup!!!!!!

My paranoia about an flood is going to force me to drain the display tank today, drill another bulk, and add a emergency drain. Minor set-back... :lol:

Whats the emergency drain??? Is it another drain higher than the water lever that drains back to the sump??

Yea, it's basically going to be a modified Herbie system...

Emergency drain installed! :D Wish i could have made it a bit more "undercover"... but it will do the job. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...st/herbie3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...st/herbie1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...st/herbie2.jpg

Even after draining the tank today to add my emergency drain, I still had enough time to get er' filled back up and added the Live rock and I think this is gonna be my final aquascape... Got a couple ideas to try out tomorrow.. but, im really liking this one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../aquascape.jpg

Also picked up a used Hagen Glo 2x24WT5HO fixture today (thanks finaddict!)...

Nice progress :) Maybe if you painted the white PVC with black Krylon Fusion, it would be more "undercover"?

Never really thought about the white pvc.. i was talking more about the mess of tubes and hose clamps outside the tank.. haha..

I see I am one of the few lazys that will be gambling no overflow. Nice rocks though. I was cherry picking through some for almost an hour. It is very hard finding smaller/adequate pieces when they are all 3 feet below 30 pound pieces in the holding tanks at the store.

That Piece of rock on the right was mine..... how did you get it out of the store before i noticeed it was gone...

:black:... Ninja skills! I got it out of the store in a box. haha:mrgreen:

What kind of sand are you using in there? I might use that in my 15g FW tank that I'm converting to a FOWLR tank.

I JUST threw the bag out... haha.. It's another type of live sand, can't remember the name. Got it at Pisces though.

So I have been doing some reading, and I think I am going to try and go for a mini hawaiian biotope for my tank. Couple really cool inverts, and fish I hope I can get.

That's my plan anyways. haha

Good luck, it sounds like a wonderful idea.

Anymore specifics? Or is that super secret until they're in the tank? I'm so curious!

That's gonna stay a secret for awhile... But the plan is whatever goes into the tank as livestock MUST have hawaii as its origin of decent. All coral, fish, inverts. Even my black substrate is a usual key piece of this type of biotope, not planned when I bought the stuff, but sure works out well for this idea. :mrgreen:

I'm thinking that if this tank works out, I may incorporate the idea into my 75 when it gets rolling again. We'll see about that tho

Love the rockwork! Makes it look like a little big tank :D

stealing the black sand concept on you sorry but if it didnt look so good i wouldnt have.:mrgreen: plus it will look nice with what i have planned.

Just in case you didn't know, the stainless steel clamps you used don't always come with stainless steel screws. Might want to check on that if you haven't done so already.