View Full Version : Nano Reef Aquarium (3g-34g) EMUreefs 12g Dresser Tank
EMUreef
03-13-2011, 05:23 PM
Well i ended up finding a guy wanting to trade a Nano cube 12g DX for some zoa's.. so i jumped on it. I've been looking for a small tank for my room and now i have it.
Plan for this tank is zoa/acan dominated. 2 clowns, maybe semi picasso's.
Cleaned the hood today, the fans were making noise so i oiled them and cleaned it up a bit.
At first i was just gonna leave the tank how it was and leave the sand that came with it as he just drained it the day i picked it up... but now that i look at it im just gonna get new sand, i feel better doing that.
So tomorrow im gonna empty the sand out and clean the tank , gonna run some white vinegar through the pump and such make sure its all nice and clean.
Gonna be picking up some rock on friday from a fellow reefer.
Gonna hopefully come up with a sweet aquascape for this lil tank.. hopefully some over hangs or somethin different.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2739.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2740.jpg
bigbill
03-13-2011, 05:33 PM
gl i luved my little tank when i had it probly wont be long till i set it up agin
Sir Patrick
03-13-2011, 05:37 PM
Sweet Little acan tank!!!
EMUreef
03-15-2011, 12:25 AM
alright did some small things today.
Picked up new sand from petsmart.
Also felt like tackling a Surface skimmer so i knew i had some acrylic laying around, looked at lowes and home depot for acrylic glue with no success so i figured before i buy any online ill give gorilla glue super glue a shot.
with a dremel and some acrylic i was able to throw together a somewhat interesting surface skimmer. Some of you may ask what a surface skimmer does for a nano cube? Nano cubes already have a somewhat functional surface skimmer built in but still allows for level changes in the DT with a overflow type surface skimmer the levels will stay the same.
So here it is, not the cleanest build but tomorrow test to see how well it works.
I plan on cleaning out the old sand tomorrow along with cleaning the tank up and running some vinager/water through the system. hopefully by days end i can put water in. my plan for water is using 10g's that i plan on changing out of my 90g and put a few rocks in from the sump.
now a couple pics.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2741.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2742.jpg
EMUreef
03-15-2011, 03:57 PM
alright after much discussion i decided to try normal super glue instead of the gorilla glue super glue. and it worked fine i was also able to clean up the build a lil bit so here are the pics.
old on the left, new on the right
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2743.jpg
and the new one.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2744.jpg
the old one
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2745.jpg
EMUreef
03-15-2011, 09:15 PM
alright it offically looks like an aquarium now.
Not gonna say much, took water from my 90g tank when i did a water change and put that water into the nano for now, to let it cycle, atleast the sand. Took some choice small pieces out of my sump and put them in the nano.
there is no aquascape.. i have bigger plans for that right now... :ipod:
Hoping to sell some zoa's, gonan replace the stock pump with a MJ900, i used a 1200 but the surface skimmer could hardly keep up. Going with a koralia evolution 240. possibly pick up a more reliable heater.
THAN......... LEDS...............
2 vids of the surface skimmer.
Water test to see how this thing works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnuFSWEyUJo&hd=1
Glued in place and with saltwater in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiUVL0RE-X0&hd=1
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2757.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2758.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2759.jpg
Sir Patrick
03-15-2011, 09:26 PM
Lookin good man! The overflow idea was awsome!
bigbill
03-16-2011, 11:11 AM
looking good russ cant wait to see it full of nems :-]
tankdude
03-16-2011, 12:04 PM
I like your idea of a surface skimmer, this tank will be fun to watch as it grows.
EMUreef
03-16-2011, 12:06 PM
Thanks guys i hope the aqua scape goes how i have it pictured in my head!
creefer
03-17-2011, 09:00 PM
Russ goin nano!?!? Sweet man! I really like the overflow style surface skimmer. Great idea.
EMUreef
03-17-2011, 09:01 PM
Russ goin nano!?!? Sweet man! I really like the overflow style surface skimmer. Great idea.
yup so far this whole build has been done off of coral and coral sales.
wait till you see what i got in store in the next week or so.
EMUreef
03-17-2011, 10:00 PM
cloudiness cleared up after a day couple of pics.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2798.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2797.jpg
EMUreef
03-19-2011, 09:00 PM
Alright after a few failed attempts at using aquamend on my rocks... i couldn't get them to stay how i watned so i went back to the drawing bored and started searching if i could find any acrylic rods locally but couldn't. Stumbled across a thread on another site and saw someone using fiberglass rods... like the ones you use for yard marking, usually bright orange.
So did some quick cross referencing on RC and found that it is safe to use them.
Alright soo i ventured out and picked up two rods... didn't know how much i need but at 2$ a piece, why not. Some people were saying that for bigger rocks and bigger displays to use thicker rods since the ones you can get at lowes are to flexy for big rocks. Since i have a nano i thought hey could work.
and guess what... worked like a dreammmmmmmmmm. I'd have a write up but its pretty straight forward. Grab the fiberglass rod find a drill bit that would give the rod a snug fit to the rock and drill away. I kinda eyeballed where to drill the whole in each rock and how i wanted it and think it turned out pretty much how i invisioned.
For any rod that was visible i used some of the putty or super glue and put some sand i had left over over the rod so the orange didn't stand out...well here is a pic... tomorrow when the tank clears up again ill post some more.
tell me what you think.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2913.jpg
demonclownfish
03-19-2011, 09:14 PM
sweet!, definitely some nice placement areas for coral. lovin the pillar look :highfive3:
creefer
03-19-2011, 09:20 PM
Nice job, Russ.....looks great!
EMUreef
03-19-2011, 09:21 PM
thanks guys!
Sir Patrick
03-19-2011, 10:18 PM
Looks great!!!
That is pretty sweet looking man.
cephalotus
03-19-2011, 10:43 PM
That rock work does look sweet, lets see it grow out.
dlhirst
03-19-2011, 10:56 PM
Another cheap plastic rod to use is a coat hanger. The plastic ones are about 1/4", and dirt cheap. One coat hanger will give you three straight sections...
dlhirst
03-19-2011, 10:57 PM
Oh, and very cool looking nano!
whitetiger61
03-20-2011, 08:06 PM
dayummmmmmm..that is sweet..think im going to have to try that..great job Russ..
Rick
jolson10450
03-20-2011, 09:41 PM
nicee! i like the aquascape. ive been wanting to do a sweet scape i just get mad so easily at my rock i usually just throw it in there and pile it all up lol.
EMUreef
03-20-2011, 09:42 PM
nicee! i like the aquascape. ive been wanting to do a sweet scape i just get mad so easily at my rock i usually just throw it in there and pile it all up lol.
i got to that point when i was using the putty i just kinda threw it down and put it in the tank and tried a different plan of attack lol
jolson10450
03-20-2011, 09:48 PM
i got to that point when i was using the putty i just kinda threw it down and put it in the tank and tried a different plan of attack lol
yeah i think next time i am going to go with the back wall shelves that are tied to egg crate and you use the pond foam and sand to make it look good and then try to do a central pillar or 2.
if i can somehow manage to win the nano contest and win the LED light i would set up a 60g cube perfect for that aquascape and the LED light would be perfect over it.
Heidi
03-20-2011, 10:03 PM
The rocks look very nice! I used the plastic hangers someone else mentions but I was wondering about the fiberglass stick things I had them in my hand to buy but ended up just getting hangers. Great idea w/ your little overflow box too!
Heidi
:highfive3:
EMUreef
03-23-2011, 06:24 PM
Here's an updated look, water more clear, and the new powerhead added along with a new return pump but you can't see that.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5554393334_a9294fdb88_z.jpg
2pairs
03-23-2011, 07:23 PM
Looking good :thumbsup:
BK's Reef
03-23-2011, 10:08 PM
nice cologne
EMUreef
03-26-2011, 05:56 PM
got a fish.
Picasso Clown.
One side
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2934.jpg
the other.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2938.jpg
ZOOmanSPS
03-26-2011, 06:09 PM
Sweet looking clown!!
EMUreef
03-26-2011, 07:00 PM
Sweet looking clown!!
thanks man! just need to find this clown a pal as im sure its boring being alone.
Sir Patrick
03-26-2011, 10:54 PM
Nice clown. Looks like a little puzzle piece.
demonclownfish
03-26-2011, 10:55 PM
demons find #4 ;) , looks good in the nanocube :). now we need a vid!
EMUreef
03-26-2011, 10:57 PM
demons find #4 ;) , looks good in the nanocube :). now we need a vid!
might have to wait for the white LEDs to get hooked up my cam phone does not like that blue lol
EMUreef
03-31-2011, 10:24 PM
alright here are a few shots of the build.. im pretty bad at taking pics throughout a build... but here are some shots
gutted the hood
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2918.jpg
i figured i could use the 2 fans that were in the hood so i left the lil PCB bored it has
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2919.jpg
fitted the heatsink, didn't need to build a bracket cause the plastic cover that protects the lights held it in place
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2920.jpg
fitted the fans, pulled one out of my desktop PC that i wasn't using
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2922.jpg
a shot of the dimmers mounted one for blue one for white
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2942.jpg
This is where things kinda skip a head to the finished product lol.
the layout i went with
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2996.jpg
drivers crammed in the hood
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2999.jpg
wilco1rd
03-31-2011, 10:25 PM
very nice. where are those acan pcis
EMUreef
03-31-2011, 10:29 PM
onto coral and such.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2995.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2994.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2993.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2992.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2991.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2990.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2989.jpg
all blues
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2988.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2986.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2981.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3004.jpg
EMUreef
03-31-2011, 10:33 PM
better pic of the clown and a few vidoes of both the clowns together.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2973.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_2961.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moWsqh5i6NM&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PY6fWoNpyQ&hd=1
Sir Patrick
03-31-2011, 10:35 PM
Very nice man! Will be awesome when the zoas grow in!
Heidi
03-31-2011, 10:48 PM
Looking very good! Lovely pictures as usual. Oh yes and thank you for removing all personal items from the dresser prior to taking the pictures ;)
EMUreef
04-19-2011, 12:58 AM
couple things for the nano i got at the swap
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3105.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3104.jpg
MizTanks
04-19-2011, 04:45 AM
Very nice :)
wilco1rd
04-19-2011, 07:05 AM
my favortie is the background noise on the vids russell
Corvette Reefer
04-22-2011, 09:04 PM
i like the way you made the leds! and the corals look great keep up the work on that nice tank, i wanna make a led system soon
EMUreef
04-28-2011, 12:48 AM
some coral shots i gotta get a new FTS to post since the diatoms went away awhile ago.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3180.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3182.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3183.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3184.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3185.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3186.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/IMG_3187.jpg
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