BigE's 3gal Nano

BigE · 01-28-2007, 01:46 AM

I'll be setting up a 3 gallon Eclipse tank.

Hardware

3 gallon Eclipse Tank System
No additional lighting planned at this point (Eclipse hood comes with a small florecent 6W T5 bulb which I'm hoping will be enough for some growth of algea for nutrient removal)
No Stand (will be sitting on my desk)
No additional hardware will be used for filtration.

Critters planned for the tank

Single clown or damsel
Possibly some zoanthids
Calurpa algea
Whatever else comes on the live rock (worms, corals, snails, etc...)

Filtration Methods

I'll use the eclipse hood filter system for water movement and periodically will put in the carbon media for short periods of time to allow the carbon to remove some toxins from the water. The bio-wheel will be removed from day one.
Live rock. Likely about 2 to 3 pounds.
Calurpa algea for nitrate removal. Periodic clipping of the calurpa will be needed.
1 gallon water changes every 2 to 3 weeks.

Total Costs
(Will be updated throughout the project)

3 Gallon Eclipse System - $65.00 (Previously used for keeping fresh water tetras but including it since it is required for the system)

Current Running Total: $65.00

BigE · 01-28-2007, 01:49 AM

Summary

Day -1 (1-27-07): My wife said the 3 gallon tank is in her parents garage since we didn't have room to store it here. (Yes, our place is that small.) We'll be going over tomorow to try and find it and pray its in one peice.
Pics below.

Day 0 (1-28-07): I got the tank and its still in good condition. In the next few days I'll be cleaning it up and going to the LFS for some sea water, live sand and live rock to start the cycling process. The lighting built into the canopy is a single 6W T5 bulb. I'll need to research if that is enouph light to support zoa's and the calurpa algea.
Pics below.

Loverotties · 01-28-2007, 01:57 AM

Sounds cool! any pics?

BigE · 01-28-2007, 11:49 AM

Heres the only pic I can get so far.

This is where the tank will go, in place of the CD case.
Once I get the tank I'll get some more interesting pics.

BigE · 01-28-2007, 11:35 PM

Here are some pics of the empy tank, filter and underside of the canopy.

BigE · 01-31-2007, 09:12 PM

Still nothing too interesting.
Heres a pic running a fresh water test for noise. Since the tank will be a few feet from my bed it needs to be nice and quiet. So far its almost completely silent. I'm sure I'll need to be diligent to replace evaporated water to keep it this way.

BigE · 01-31-2007, 09:15 PM

Doh, I thought I could keep editing the Summary post up above. Guess I'll just have to update everything in regular posts.

BigE · 01-31-2007, 10:03 PM

I'm hoping to get the sand and water from the LFS tomorow during my lunch break and then some live rock on Saturday to start the cycling process.

Casey · 01-31-2007, 10:19 PM

Great little tank

BigE · 02-03-2007, 03:34 AM

I got some sea water and sugar sized sand from the LFS.
I also painted the back of the tank black.

Unfortuantely I got some small spots of black paint on the front outside face of the tank. I got most off with a credit card.

Does anyone have any ideas for getting the remainder off?
Its an acrilic tank and oil based paint.

BigE · 02-03-2007, 11:56 AM

I was able to get the rest of the black paint off the front with the credit card and looks like theres no scratching either... wheeew.

I put the sand in the tank. I've never used a sand this fine but it has a nice look to it.

Update on Costs
10 lbs sand (used about 3): $8.65
5 gallons of sea water: $9.95

New Running Total: $82.30

BigE · 02-03-2007, 04:04 PM

Got the live rock today and filled up the tank.
Now the hard part comes.... waiting.

Update on Costs
Live rock: $13.61
New Running Total: $95.91

superjohnny · 02-03-2007, 06:08 PM

That has a ton of potential BigE. I really like what you've done so far. Any thoughts on retro-fitting a 13w PC light into that hood?

BigE · 02-04-2007, 01:57 AM

Thanks, I can't wait to start seing some life in the tank.

I've considered upgrading the lights in the future but haven't put much thought towards it so far. I thought I'd see how this bulb does and go from there.
Plus I'm sceptical about the size of fixture I can put in here... I'd like to keep the existing hood if possible so it only gives me about 8-10 inches for a fixture.
Any thoughts on where I can find fixtures this small?

BigE · 02-05-2007, 01:47 AM

Day 2 and I saw a bunch of coepods moving around on the glass today and an amphipod in a nook of the rock. He didn't really come out to far but he looked pretty big.
It isn't much but its nice to see life in the tank.