CherylMcKay's 2012 Nano Contest Entry

[Acipenser]

How did the glass cost ?

[CherylMcKay]

Originally Posted by Acipenser

How did the glass cost ?

The glass was about $140 for 6 pieces. I didn't think it was too outrageous, but I never checked the prices down south.

I want to eventually build the sump on my other tank... That price will probably make me cry a little bit.

[CherylMcKay]

Originally Posted by reefwars

doesnt sound like your going to get much done at work in the fuure eh with a tank to distract you all day lol even got the boss roped in...your so gonna get canned lol ;PPPP

Well everyone says it's addictive... I'll just have to pull them all in ;D. They all love looking at the tank while they wait to interrupt my day... I try to use it as a distraction too for those hard to deal with users.

[CherylMcKay]

So I have leak tested the sump and it holds water!!! I was suprised after my first mistake of the glass sliding, but I will take a win.



I also have moved most of it to the office now and I am finishing the stand off.


It was a set of drawers that i have stripped everything out of and water proofed the inside. I have also routered out the edge in 3 places and I will be attaching the drawer faces back on using magnets out of dead hard drives.... (I knew the hard drives were good for something.)


I will paint the rubber coating over them on the cabinet side and on the facing side, I am still deciding wether to counter sink them or not. If I sink them, it will be easier to waterproof them and they won't be as difficult to remove from the other side.

I still don't have a list of livestock but I think I would like to get a bunch of easier to keep coral that have lots of color. I was thinking of giving CoralMaster a call and seeing what type of package he would suggest. Any suggestions would be great as the coral side is still fairly new to me.

[The Grizz]

Nice job on your first tank build. I to like office tanks & think it's great that employers allow this, I to am going to be putting mine in my office.

[CherylMcKay]

Well, It is put together, rock added and looking good. It has been a couple of weeks of little picky things.

I got everything setup and the plumbing done only to realize it rattled to much and I should add a piece of rubber under the sump. I added the sand so that things could settle.





The return pump is one I used on my 75 Gallon, I don't remember what it is but it is wayyyyy more then i needed. I have installed a ball valve and I am running it at 1/4 closed and that seems to be alright. The drain to the sump is 1" PVC with a 90 degree in the back of the display tank. I have it pretty balanced... Took less fooling around then I thought.

I have the magnets in the drawers and only need to get some little spacers for them so it is not so tight... but all in all it is time to look at rock, coral and livestock.

Here is my FTS:


I am doing a deep sand bed with Liverock. The rock all came from my 165 Gallon at home so it is all cycled, with some nice growth already. I have also added a green hairy mushroom and a piece of my Green Star Polyps.

[CherylMcKay]

So I have decide on some of the live stock. I want 2 green clown gobies and i was looking at a fire fish as well.

I am also getting a coral list together but I haven't full decide yet, so I will keep that info to myself still.

Monday, I will do another full tank shot with the rock.

[fishoholic]

Looks like its coming along nicely.

[CherylMcKay]

Originally Posted by CherylMcKay

So I have decide on some of the live stock. I want 2 green clown gobies and i was looking at a fire fish as well.

I am also getting a coral list together but I haven't full decide yet, so I will keep that info to myself still.

Monday, I will do another full tank shot with the rock.

So the livestock arrived and unfortunately, the maroon clown goby, didn't handle the shipping and was DOA. The Green clown after a slow acclimatization and a weekend with nobody peering at him, looks good and healthy. Shy but what's a girl gonna do about that.



I have also added 6 Nassarius, 2 cerith, 2 turbos and 2 margaritas. If they get through the algae quick enough, I will take them home. Works great having the 2 tanks.

I have decided on replacement livestock so the list now is:
1- firefish
1- tailspot blennie
1- yellow headed jaw fish.

I figure that will fill it up with as many fish as I need, then I just have to look at some more easy corals.

[CherylMcKay]

So, I haven't changed alot in this tank for a while. I removed some rock as I was looking for my Green Clown Goby. I hadn't seen him in a few days and still have been unable to find him. I am assuming he didn't make it.

I decided I liked it better with fewer rocks and the big rock was under enough sand that I didn't want to disturb it. I have rescued a couple of tanks recently and therefore inherited 2 more clown fish.

I have had the little perc in there for a few weeks and it was living nicely with the goby. this morning i added the black perc as I don't want to introduce her to the 150 Gallon at home.
I am watching them today to make sure the littler one is not super stressed and they are getting along before I decide to leave the black one. The little one has started to twitch on it's side (like the good little subserviant one) but I don't know it's age and they both lived alone long enough it could be 2 females.... waiting to see the dynamic.

The Macro Algae is growing well. It was just a little stub left on a rock from the 150 G and now that it is not being eaten on a regular basis, it is looking really good. I may transplant some for home.

The green star polyps are enjoying this tank as well and are always fully extended and are spreading over the rock i placed them on.
I purchase the green hairy mushroom and the orange one for my big tank but found I didn't have enough rock to show them well enough and decided to split them up. I move one of each to the nano at work. The Green one was the size of a nickle when I put him in this tank and now it is bigger than a toonie. The orange one has probably grown 1/4 inch since I put it in as well.


I am updating now as I am going on holidays on the 3rd for 3 weeks and wanted to get my submissions in. I also wanted to preserver the tank before it is being cared for by my co-workers. My boss has taken enough of an interest that I think it will be okay... He actually tested the salinity when I was off sick a few weeks ago... I was impressed.

Sorry for the crappy pictures, I just use my ipod and I can't seem to get clear ones of the fish and they always look grainy.