10 Gal Frag Tank

[fish.freak]

Thats right its time to dig the Low Cost High Profile 20L out of the basement.

Recap from last year my build off entry was moved up in to my current 37 gal truvu.

The plan is to build the tank with only what I allredy own.
AGA 20L display
AGA 10 sump
Pacific Coast PS100 Skimmer
Rio 1000+ return
DIY Stand/Canopy (recycled plywood)
various lights Pc's, T-8's, and maybe a T-5 too.
LR Agrocrete (need to buy ingredients)

Still thinking of what to put in it let see if I have the time to make it happen in between school and work.

[Wiskey]

Right on! Welcome to the build Fish.Freak!

Whiskey

[dobejazz]

Welcome Fish.freak ! Glad to have you aboard

[phiberop840]

Yes welcome and cant wait to see the setup.

Mike

[fish.freak]

Here is where my build is so far.

[dobejazz]

LOL it's a start

[fish.freak]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

LOL it's a start

As you can tell I have my work cut out for me.

I'm not even sure what I am putting in it yet. (prob. frag tank and a trio of wrasse or gobies)

The biggest thing will be getting a nice cleen cut on the wood b/c I messed it up with careless cutting when it was my Dj booth.

Then I plan on using a textured paint to hide the plywood then doing a black or white glossy finish.

After that I may decide to make an acrlylic sump.

I know there is a 30 gal limit, but is that acual water volume or max volume of combined tank and sump full to the top?

[fish.freak]

Ok, uppon further recon in the basement I realized that there isnt enough wood to build the hood and stand. So I need to "recycle" the other 1/2 of the desk which I have been meaning to fix for a while. Long story short I am going to rebuild the desk and somehow build the tank into it to form "the frag station." Ive been racking my brain for ideas all day, and made some scetches but my friend is coming over w/ a saw and drill hopefully this sunday.

I have some questions about texturizing the plywood, and how do i repaint the desktop (particle board) so it wont sctatch b/c the black paint on it now has scratched eaisly.


The lights will be the floresent T12 stock TRU VU black cover/light. I will also try to retrofit another 24" floresent striplight. (hopefuly this will work)

Any tips or sugestions for this stage of the project would be great cause I am not the best carpenter.

[tims]

fish,
do you have a basica idea on the lay out of the desk?
for the paint. two good coats will do, then a lacquer over it to seal it.
one of the biggest thngs you will need to do is support the area where the tank will go. the partical board might not be strong enough.
texturzing the ply. what do you want to do with it?

[fish.freak]

Tims, the particle board is a 2" desktop from office max that i can stand up on, and I'm 200lbs.

I wanted to add a textured base coat that would help hide the texture of the plywood.

My idea for the layout is open w/ a shelf above the tank to hold a fuge.

[tims]

hmmmm, then just seal that area were any water might be.

with the plywood, what grade it is?
if you are using it for tank, you can always get shells or other reef stuff and place them in the finish.

[fish.freak]

My buddy was over and he was checking it out, and said it was d grade but we could sand it down and add multiple layers of paint to smooth it out. Were going to try to get through the structural stuff tomarow night and I'll update the pics then.

[fish.freak]

Well I have made a change of plans here is my 10 Gal Frag tank...

Since I just set this tank as a QT and didnt need it since my Clownfish got better i decided to make it a frag tank.

I'll empty it out if need be to take a pic but it was just set up and the date is on my blog.

I plan to get a single 28 wt 10 k bulb to promote fastest growth since I hate 50/50 bulbs. $20

The tank was $10, and is filled with 10 gal from my 37 gal tank.

And the Filter was free from the Eheim rep. sale price 26.
Its a liberty HOB

The tank has had rid ich in it before thats 4% formilin and malichite green.
So I threw in a xeina and a star polyp to test it out last night. The picture below is just beofre i put the corals in.

I am ready to through a bunch of small and random LR pieces in there as soon as I am convinved it is reef safe.

I then plan to add all of my brown xenia and antelias to it and let thm go wild.

[fish.freak]

The first pic here is of the test corals after 24 hours in the tank.
The second pic is of the tank after I added 3-4 lb LR from my main tank.

I will be picking up the light bulb and some substrate from the LFS in the next day or so, and maybe I'll even take it out form under my stand.

[fish.freak]

Ok Its time to add it all up...
28 watt 50/50 bulb $20
Ehiem liberty HOB free ($26)
Tank 10 Gal AGA $10
versatop $10
Stealth Heater $20
Live rock Rubble $10
__________________________________________
$70, (or $96 counting the filter)
Most of wich I allready owned, so who says Reefing has to be expensive?