View Full Version : 2011 Nano Reef Contest My 5g hexagon tank
cg5071
01-07-2011, 08:26 AM
Wow looks like people are already rocking on their threads. My submission is going to be a 5g marineland hex tank w/ a 15 g sump. I probably wouldnt have added the sump but I need a frag tank really bad right now.
The tank right now has just had 2 bulkheads drilled, still some sanding to do. I also havnt ordered the LED's yet that I will be modifying into the existing hood. I havnt decided exactly which direction I am going w/ this tank yet either. Possibly a couple colonies of suncoral to start things off and a mini maxi? I have 2 sexy shrimp living in a 1g for right now till I set up the tank fully. Many options still open,lol.
I do know for sure that the return pump will be fitted with a hydor flo. When you subtract the resistance from it, it should have around 200gph turnover. Alot of the movement will be necesary for the amount of rock and caves I plan on putting in it. Filler up! I should have more info and progress this wknd hopefully. The sump will be lit with 3 x 24w t5's and the nano will probably have 4 to 6 3w leds but 2 will likely be for algae growth behind the rock structure.
2pairs
01-07-2011, 08:58 AM
sounds good, but we need pics.:):):)
cg5071
01-07-2011, 11:12 AM
Be patient :)
Sir Patrick
01-07-2011, 11:10 PM
Looking forward to seeing more!
nate_newton
01-13-2011, 03:49 AM
Sounds like you have some good ideas. What are the dimensions on the hex?
cg5071
01-13-2011, 12:03 PM
Sorry about no set up pics yet. Should be tonight or tomorrow morning. The hex measures 12" across and about that in height also.
cg5071
01-13-2011, 04:10 PM
Alright, here we go :) My first pic. The little hood to the right is what I have to add LED's to. Should be fairly easy. should get quite a bit more done on it this wknd. I cant seem to rotate the pic :)
1986
cg5071
02-02-2011, 02:49 PM
I am taking my sweet time I guess,lol. I will get new pics up very shortly. I am still putting mine together but have ordered my led's. I am also hoping that my turbos clean up a very important rock in the scheme of things. It has a nice cave like area where I will probably attach some sun corals (tubestrae?)
nate_newton
02-03-2011, 01:52 AM
Glad to hear you got the leds ordered. I'm still trying to decide on which route to go. Right now its going through the cycle and has some ugly brown diatoms. Looking forward to see what you put in yours.
cg5071
02-03-2011, 10:13 AM
The sump is going through that right now too. I really needed a frag tank so the sump will be that as well.
I know I want to put in a couple of maxi-minis and I already have 2 sexy shrimp. Not sure about fish but would still love to get some boxer crabs as well. We will see how the money goes.
I ordered the actintic light kit that rapid led has right now. Got a few whites to go with it, some nuetral and some cool. I am going to mix and match there. The extra length of heatsink and leds will go over the end of the sump. I sure dont need 12 3w over a 5g lol.
I am plumbing the tanks later today but have some water and sand in already. pics later on.
nate_newton
02-03-2011, 08:56 PM
The sump is going through that right now too. I really needed a frag tank so the sump will be that as well.
I know I want to put in a couple of maxi-minis and I already have 2 sexy shrimp. Not sure about fish but would still love to get some boxer crabs as well. We will see how the money goes.
I ordered the actintic light kit that rapid led has right now. Got a few whites to go with it, some nuetral and some cool. I am going to mix and match there. The extra length of heatsink and leds will go over the end of the sump. I sure dont need 12 3w over a 5g lol.
I am plumbing the tanks later today but have some water and sand in already. pics later on.
I have 14 over mine and its 13x22. Remember leds are more powerful than they look. You'll love the royal blue's. Did you get the wireless connectors or are you going to solder them. I like the wireless because I can switch them out easily. I'm going with no fish, probably an electric blue hermit.
cg5071
02-04-2011, 05:40 AM
I didnt get the connectors but would have liked to. I went over my budget as it is but I figure with the extra led's I have I can easily make another actintic light or get some more whites and finish a whole light cheaply w/ just a few things. I plan on the frag tank being totally lit by led in the near future. For now some will just be over a frag shelf in addition to the t5's I have. I would like to go all led on my tanks so I wont have to buy new bulbs every yr.
I did get a dimmer for this set so that I can grow what I want pretty much if I decide to change the types of coral in the nano. I have been considering a mantis shrimp for it actually since I found out sexy shrimp are also commensal w/ them. They clean them of parasites ect. That would mean the crabs live elsewhere but that is ok too.
Sir Patrick
02-04-2011, 10:26 PM
Pics!!!! :tongue_out:
nate_newton
02-07-2011, 09:11 PM
Any pics? Some with h2o preferably.
cg5071
02-16-2011, 04:17 PM
HMM water and all?
Sideways again :0)
The hydor and another pump that may or may not stay. The hydor stops because turned all the way up it will overflow the 5g. It is the return now.
cg5071
02-16-2011, 04:24 PM
Here is some pics of the led work. Still some to go as you can see.
cg5071
02-16-2011, 04:25 PM
The attached 15g sump.
cg5071
02-16-2011, 04:27 PM
I dont have any good pics but I am about to add my sexy shrimp to the tank. 2 of them and they will have a couple of maxi-minis to acompany them when the lights are finished. Hopefully soon.
2pairs
02-16-2011, 05:15 PM
It looks like you are getting setup, you are going to love those LED's.
nate_newton
02-16-2011, 10:01 PM
Looking good. Some wd40 helps with making the threads
MizTanks
02-16-2011, 10:19 PM
Pretty dang cool Cg :) I'm lovin watching you build this tank.
cg5071
02-17-2011, 12:28 PM
Thanks for the pointer Nate. Thanks all. BTW miz i saw your new aquisition but didnt have time to read the whole thread, just the first page. Congrats :)
cg5071
02-20-2011, 02:42 PM
I put on a temporary hot5 light untill the leds get accomplished. 2 x 8w. I needed to do something as I got a couple of seahorses and the tank needed for them has a fairly large cardinal in it and wanted them to grow some. The maxi minis were in the sump of the 5g so I moved them to the hex and put the horsies in the sump. No good pics of the horsies yet.
Some maxi-minis and their inhabitants. The structure under the live rock is a ceramic cave that is normally used for ciclids I guess. I wanted the 3 holes in it for flow and also some kind of sand dweller coming soon :) I am thinking 3-4 more sexies and a peacock mantis shrimp.
cg5071
02-20-2011, 02:53 PM
A couple more maxi minis. So there are 5 maxi-minis in there now. I got them from Lucid propagations as a pkg for $200= $40 each. I dont have a reciept but you can ask Zach. 50% of that is $100 towards my coral limit $400. I bought alot of other stuff ATM so I am estimating what I think is a fair price for them were I to buy 5 at one time in an order. Anyone who has ordered from Lucid knows that they will give good prices for a larger order. I will get better pics of the other 2 soon, though 1 or 2 might not stay in. You can see the other 2 in one of the pics just not the whole piece. The 3 shown here are my favorites.
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