Ricks Contest Tank

[whitetiger61]

Hi everyone

This is my entry into the contest.

Tank Specs:

Total water volume 5.5 gallons
System is filtered by maxijet 400, liverock rubble, and cheato

Future inhabitants to include:

Baby clownfish
4 peppermint shrimp

ok now for some pics

here is a pic of the modified chambers i made from acrylic. I notched the intake for the water to return back to the chamber

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank002.jpg

here is the tank masked off ready to paint

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank001.jpg

here is the tank painted

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank003.jpg

Rick

[whitetiger61]

more pics

maxijet 400 installed

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank004.jpg

tank with live sand

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank005.jpg

tank with rock work no water

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank006.jpg

tank with water

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank007.jpg

im not sure about the rock work every please let me know what you think.

i just order a light for it today.. 26 watts.

I have liverick rubble in both chambers..In the front chamber will be cheato.
I have the powerhead in the rear chamber and if necessary i can put a heater in there also..so far its hold temp at 79 degrees

Thanks for looking

Rick

[jojo22]

Looks like a nice start to me!

[MizTanks]

:drool2::drool2:


:super_cool:


:bananas:


Ya know Rick~I actually believe I could build something like that~You've made that look pretty easy to do~Thanks! By the way~that Rock~Rocks!! I can see lots of coral covering it.

[whitetiger61]

the rock work is actually 3 pieces of rock glued together. Thanks JoJo and Miz

Rick

[whitetiger61]

ok i added a new upgrade today..my light came in so here are some pics..The clowns name is Sparky..i have been haveing a problem controlling the temp on this tank but i think i finally found a heater that stabilized it out..its been at 79 degrees for the last hour or so..Sparky is looking much happier now.

Here are my upgrades

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank001-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank002-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank003-1.jpg


This a Finnex Epoch 26 watt 50/50 with moonlights..This should be pleanty of light for this tank

Rick

[Fishgeek88]

Lookin Good!

[whitetiger61]

here is a pic of the tank with the moonlights on..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank004-1.jpg

Rick

[Sweetpea]

LOVE IT! Very attractive start!

[whitetiger61]

thanks sweetpea ..im hoping it turn out ok

Rick

[tazzy695]

Looking good rick

[whitetiger61]

thanks tazzy..im glad i bought this light

Rick

[whitetiger61]

i did a 1 gallon water change today, the tank has started to get diatoms already so i sucked them out.i use 1/4 inch airline for this small of a tank.

Rick

[whitetiger61]

MODS

Pleas remove my build thread.. I am no longer participating in the contest..


Rick

[tazzy695]

rick did you see the rule change on this ???

[whitetiger61]

yes...i seen the rule change

Rick

[tazzy695]

so are you going to stay in it with the new rules

[whitetiger61]

as of now im going to stay in it..

Rick

[ryeguy28]

Sweetnesssssss

[ryeguy28]

nice light lol

thats what i was gonna use be fore i got my leds

where did you order the light from

[whitetiger61]

i got mine from my LFS..he ordered it for me..he has a 4 gallon nano setup in there as a complete system like the JBJ only different model..i asked him to order me a light for one of those tanks..

did a water test on my tank..

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
PH 8.2
KH 11
Calcium 400

thats it for now until i can put corals in the tank..

Rick

[ReeferRob]

Rick awesome start for you as well. I love DIY'ers! Can't wait to see this one take off! Good luck to you!

[whitetiger61]

Thanks Rob

cant hardly wait until this gets going..its going to be fun..the more i look at it the more i see a ricordia forest coming to life here..time will tell

Rick

[Cash]

Very nice build. If I didn't have a few more thing I need to do to my main tank I would definitely build something like this for the contest. Actually my oldest son has been bugging me to setup a tank for him. I have an extra 10g I might do something like this is the near future.

[whitetiger61]

thanks Cash..i just put a Hydro Flow on my powerhead..

Rick

[Sir Patrick]

Glad to here you are still in this. Really looking forward to seeing what the tank does for you! The whole set up of the tank has really got me curious.

[whitetiger61]

Chris

What part of the setup has you curiuos..rock work or filtration..the filtration is nothing more than a mini sump..

Rick

[Sir Patrick]

I meant curious to see the outcome of the tank (growth and such) with the cool set up you have put together.

[whitetiger61]

well thanks chris..it wasnt my idea i just copied it..now for something interesting..ive been saying in chat for awile now that myh rock has developed a green tint to it..i am running pc lighting..no when i turn them off and put a t5 light on them..the green turns purple.. could this be the k value between the 2

Rick

[gmi]

looks like a great beginning!
good luck!

[whitetiger61]

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
PH 8.2
KH 10
Calicium 400


Going to add a different light to the tank tomorrow..i dont think this one has enough atintic and i want a 10K bulb..i need to make a axrylic cover for the tank to set the light on...More to come when i finish.

Rick

[tazzy695]

sounds like it is doing pretty good rick keep up the good work

definitely post pics of the new light when you get it going

maby even just go with 2 of the light you have one actinic and one 10k

[whitetiger61]

ok here we go..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank001-2.jpg

This is my first required pic of the contest stating the tank is empty.

Rick

[whitetiger61]

here is my livestock so far and my estimate on what they are worth..i have reciepts on some stuff and some i dont..if anyone feels the estimates are wrong get ahold of me and i will adjust it accordingly.

bam bam zoa frag from my tank.. 6 heads 20.00
purple death palys - Reef Paradise 29.95
green ricordia- Reef Paradise 14.95
orange zoa frag- Seashells 10.00
green blasto- Seashells 20.00
red acan- Reef Paradise 15.00
yellow dendro- from my tank one that was
given to me almost dead 45.00
orange dendro- from my tank that is just
dead 15.00
star poylps - from my tank 10.00
blow pop zoas 10.00

i will find the reciepts for my sponser bought corals and post them later today to get me below the minimum price range.

pics to come soon

Rick

[whitetiger61]

ok here are a couple of pics..more when they open up..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank002-2.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank003-2.jpg


Rick

[whitetiger61]

here are more pics after everything has opened up..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank004-2.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank005-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank006-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank006-1.jpg

and FTS

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank008.jpg

i hope you enjoy

Rick

[Cash]

Tank & corals looks sweet Rick, I am hoping to be stocking mine by the end of the week

[Sir Patrick]

Awsome!!!!!!

[whitetiger61]

thanks Tank and Chris.. i will probably rearange things a little bit..just letting the corals get used to new inviroment..

Rick

[whitetiger61]

ok something has come up with my 30 gal display tank and i need to redo the tank.. so my nano is not going to be judged in the contest..as i have to put my coral frags from the display tank into the nano..and that would put me over my limit although all the corals were bought from a sponsor that would keep me under the 300 limit..i cant find all the reciepts for it and i dont think its fair..i will still do the contest with you all as its going to be fun i just dont want it judged.. good luck to everyone..

Rick

[ReeferRob]

Nice pick ups. It that a Potters Angel in there. Sorry to hear about the issues with the DT. Hope all is well.

[whitetiger61]

Rob

Its a fishers angel..i havent looked up other names for it..thanks for your concern..things will get better..im going to have this tank drilled.

Rick

[whitetiger61]

here are some new pics..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank001-3.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank002-3.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank003-3.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank004-3.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank005-2.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/contesttank006-2.jpg

going to let it grow in now..


Rick

[Sir Patrick]

That tank is sooo sweet!

[tazzy695]

looking good rick

[ReeferRob]

Awesome, what did you end of changing the light to. Looks really good.

[whitetiger61]

thanks everyone

Rob..I changed the light out to a coralife 18w 50/50 gave it a little bit more blue and made the corals pop a little more..thinking about going up to a 28 w 50/50 fixture..just need to find a bulb for it..

Rick

[aperry2006]

nice tank! that acan frag from RP is one i traded into them...awesome job!

[whitetiger61]

aperry

thanks..it has gone form 3 heads to 5 heads since i got it..

[ryeguy28]

dayum rick it looks awesome

[MOB1224]

Very cool diy set up gl with your dt sorry to hear you are having problems

[whitetiger61]

dt is getting fixed...taking steps to make sure that doesnt happen again..thanks for the compliments..

Rick

[whitetiger61]

i will have updated pics soon..

Rick

[whitetiger61]

picked up so new frags today..a big thanks to Dale for the frags..it is greatly appericiated..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank003.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank002.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank001.jpg

got a couple of SPS frags, green monti cap, and some loose zoas for this tank.

enjoy

Rick

[Cash]

Looking great Rick. Man do I like how you setup that 10g. The more I keep looking at yours make me want to do that to an extra 10g I have.

[whitetiger61]

thanks Cash but its not a 10 gal..lol its a 5.5 gallon..

Rick

[whitetiger61]

i got these late so i just set them in there..tomorrow i will glue them in place and thanks Chris

Rick

[whitetiger61]

ok got the green monti cap glued down and in a different spot..here's some candy for you all

zoas opening up nice

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank001.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank002-1.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank001-1.jpg

thats it until it grows in some

Rick

[whitetiger61]

on saturday 1-30-2010 this lil tank will be broken down..its a sweet tank but i cant do 4 sw tanks and keep up with it all so ive been told i need to get rid of a tank..im moving everything from it to the DT and the center rock would make a nice crown piece for that tank..I would like to thank everyone for thier compliment on the tank..maybe some day i can do it all over again with the hopes of it staying up longer..

Again thanks everyone..going to be a sad day saturday

Rick

[whitetiger61]

well i didnt get the time to take it down and its a good thing..i wasnt planning on getting all the frags at the swap..so now it stays up for awhile..here are some of the pickups i got.some are still not open all the way..

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank003-2.jpg

Seabae Nem

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank005.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank004.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank001-2.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank002-2.jpg

I hope you enjoy
Pics dont do these justice at least with my camera they dont..thanks Bryan for the sweet zoas..

Rick

[Argent]

nice pics - one suggestion - turn the Tiffany lamp off behind you when you try shooting to avoid the reflection :)

[tazzy695]

looks good rick

[ReeferRob]

Shoot get us a pic of the Tiffany lamp, I love those lamps. My next light fixture I plan to use one over a tank!!

That anemone is beautiful, looks like its trying to find some sand to burry it's self. May want to clear the sand bed for a few days.!

Oh, and next time you take pics. Tell that damn fish to stay still so I can get a good look!! LOL

Beautiful tank, I hope you never take it down!

[igot2gats]

Rick, what kind of live rock is that?

I really like it - lots of spots for frag plugs.

[whitetiger61]

not sure..i got it a RP in the dry rock section..

Rick

[whitetiger61]

AOG's that are not fully open yet but they are geting there.

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/whitetiger61/Reef%20Pictures/contesttank006.jpg

Rick

[schminksbro]

Looking good Rick! You picked up some nice pieces at the swap!

[whitetiger61]

yeah Andy i sure did..thanks for the compliment

Rick

[igot2gats]

Gotcha. I like your clear plugs. Do corals still encrust onto plugs like those?

[demonclownfish]

nice nem rick, lvoe the blasto's too. what kind of coral is on that acrylic plug?

[Paulo]

Nice looking tank! keep up the nice work.
Paulo

[whitetiger61]

Gotcha. I like your clear plugs. Do corals still encrust onto plugs like those?

I dont know yet..i just put them on there..ive been told they wont but we will see...

demonclown

its a blue milli that isnt very happy i put all them corals in the tank..lol

Rick