Low-cost high profile 20L

[fish.freak]

Well I am not sure if I can keep up with all of you pros but what the heck.
From what I have seen and read so far you guys and gals are in a class of your own.
I have learned so much allready from what you all are doing.

The plan:
1) build a 20 gal nano to sustain a pair of clown fish and an anemone.
2) convert 15 lbs dead lace base rock into LR.
3) get softie frags to cover LR and base.

[VWD]

Welcome to TRT!

I will have to say that I am not sure if Your set up will Qualfy for the build off, Greg or Alice will have to check it out. It is a tank that is set up before the start date of OCT.1 2005.


I do want to say it looks nice.

[capt2000]

welcome, and I agree you are at the mercy of theTRT gods. a bit of ajump start. Heck vince is making his from wood, and most of us have not put water in yet

[Loverotties]

Looks good tho!

[fish.freak]

Yes I may have a bit of a jump start, I guess I didn't read the fine print. Well I will assume I am in unless otherwise told. It is somthing I am going to work on and post about anyway whether or not I am in the contest. If my follies can help out a fellow newbie reefer than it is all worth it. I'de be willing to submit my entry a month early in may to make it fair.

[yardboy]

If you can, enlarge that pic a bit. I'm getting old and can't see as well as I used to, but looks very interesting. Cool shape to the rocks.

[fish.freak]

Originally Posted by yardboy

If you can, enlarge that pic a bit. I'm getting old and can't see as well as I used to, but looks very interesting. Cool shape to the rocks.

Here you go, don't get a headache squinting at my pics.

Update: Greg said I can still participate, but without the being elegible for the prizes. Which is ok with me because I am going to build it up anyway, and I need to share it with people who actually care.

Project Background:
I was into africans for the past two years and after moving I had all of my fish die.(nitrate spike) So I allready had most of the equieptment and a bunch of lace rocks.
Since I am a indipendent student I needed to make the switch to salt as cheap as posible (thus the name Low-buget). I was so intimidated after reading up about reef tanks on this site I decided to do a fish only tank.
So I bought a bag of salt and a salinity meter and filled my tank up.
After a few weeks of keeping everything stable I got 3 lbs Figi LR just to help the tnak cycle. The molment I added the 2 clown fish that was it for me I was obssesed. I had continued trouble getting the tank to cycle so I got the 3 lb tona branch lR to help speed it up. Finnaly last week the tank cycled, but the PH was low, so I bought a bad of the fine crushed coral to put on top of the small ammount of coarse stuff. Things kinda got out of control when I got my student loan money this week since I bought a light and and anemome. I will try to have some new pics up as soon as posible.

[fish.freak]

here is a close up of the right side of my tank to show the tonga brantch and anemone.

I may take tank apart to enter the running for prizes.
does anyone use undergravel for reefs?
I have also been toying with the idea of a sump as i have an extra 29 high.
need some low buget ideas from some of you vets come on I need to catch up. I should just ask my new boss at aquascerene to sponsor my tank, doubt that will happen.
maybe even a diy skimer since I need one.

[tims]

a UGF is not usally used for reefs, too much of a headacke with detrious build up. although it can be used as a sorts plemiun ( sp?)

[fish.freak]

sorts plemiun, whats that?

If there is too much build up of detritus I will not do that.

What do I need to turn my 29 gal into a sump fuge?

[tims]

heh turnig in to a sump is not hard at all. you might want to read the FAQ section on sumps.
you either need a HOB oevrflow or drain a bit of the tank to drill it for an over flow. this will go in to you rsump which will have your heater,skimmer and what ever else you want in it( carbon) and a few baffles , then a return pump ( you can either use a internal pump or external . how is goes in to the tank is up to you.
you can do many things for the return . straight return, spray bar return..etc..
if your a DIY person you can do most if not all of this in a day or two..

pleniums use a sorta layered filtration setting up differant levels for break down..

[greggles]

to make a DIY skimmer buy a cheap hang on filter. It has a pipe that goes into the tank. You can either cut it to just sit on the top of the water or use a heat rod to soften the plastic and bend it to sit just under the surface where it can suck up all the gunk. Also as it pushes out the water like a long smooth water-fall this creates a surface current which prevents any residue buidups on your tank.
The filter cartride can be changed or removed.

[fish.freak]

Originally Posted by greggles

to make a DIY skimmer buy a cheap hang on filter. It has a pipe that goes into the tank. You can either cut it to just sit on the top of the water or use a heat rod to soften the plastic and bend it to sit just under the surface where it can suck up all the gunk. Also as it pushes out the water like a long smooth water-fall this creates a surface current which prevents any residue buidups on your tank.
The filter cartride can be changed or removed.

So cut the intake tube down , to 2" or so, then what do you do to make it a smimmer? I have an extra filter just siting arround.
Does it tend to slurp?

[yardboy]

Don't think you'll get an answer to that one, and I don't think there is an answer. Skimmer?

[fish.freak]

Just got 4.5 more #'s LR, that brings me to half of what I need.
Cant get it to look right yet, but I should by tonight.
The camera is dead after last nights costume party, (so hung-over) so no pics yet.
Oh yea got another gobie, not that I can even find it.