jph's downsize, new tank plans

[jph]

okay. this build has officially started now.
i just ordered my 24G aquapod with 150W HQI sunpod fixture.

and a few other random parts

so, i decided against the DIY route, as i know where it took me last time. my other tank still isn't finished, and i'll be replacing it with this one.


J.

[jph]

i also ordered a 29G BioCube stand, as i like the look of it better than the aquapod stand.


J.

[jph]

playing with another crazy idea in my head...

mixed SSB and BB in the same tank
crazy? possibly...



J.

[sly fox]

Originally Posted by jph

playing with another crazy idea in my head...

mixed SSB and BB in the same tank
crazy? possibly...

J.

hahaha

[jph]

parts are starting to arrive

i received the tank today, and went for a little trip to the local Tap Plastics to pick up some starboard, and a few strips of acrylic (make a true over/under/over out of the filter area)

i guess the light fixture and stand are on a different truck.

also went to petco and picked up a thermometer and a heater.


J.

[jph]

and now, to make my tank original, and... because i just like to do weird stuff

shall i do both bare bottom and shallow sand bed in the same tank or not ?


i like the look of a sandbed.
however, i also like the way i can keep a bare bottom clean of detritus under the rocks. so... why not have both ?

i haven't cut it yet, so i can still go either way, 100% barebottom, or mixed.

oh, the cutting board is 1" thick, so i'd have a 1" thick sandbed (caribsea sugar sized oolitic)


what does the jury think ?


J.

[fish.freak]

I think its not worth it to have a 1" sb in the front. Probably just blow around. I toyed with the idea of making a 50/50 bb sb tank except having the sand in a acrylic box to keep it in one place.

[jph]

Originally Posted by fish.freak

I think its not worth it to have a 1" sb in the front. Probably just blow around. I toyed with the idea of making a 50/50 bb sb tank except having the sand in a acrylic box to keep it in one place.

i'm hoping to keep my flow low enough in order to not blow sand around.
if it blows sand around, i'm sure that it'll tick off my LPS also.

i have a Koralia nano planned, and a hydor flo on the return pump outlet.
and a maxi jet blowing straight down on the back wall.

i'll possibly add another koralia down the line if just one doesn't give me enough movement.



J.

[husky_1]

The problem with BB, is that you need a lot of flow, or your detritus will build up and start causing problems in the future. You will not have the worms and stuff that you normally get in even a SSB. In my 92, I just put 2000gph pointed straight down in back because stuff was building up.

I think you should committ to going one way or the other.

[jph]

Originally Posted by husky_1

I think you should committ to going one way or the other.

i know it's just that i can be stubborn at time

i don't mind siphoning out a pile of detritus from a corner every now and then though. that's what i do now in my (BB) 5 gallon. it has a MJ400 in it, and it settles pretty much in a few sports on the bottom, rocks are placed on the bottom, so there's not exactly ideal flow there.

still waiting for the rest of the equipment to show up (fixture, stand). before i'm going to decide what i'll do.



J.

[jph]

just ordered two rackmount power strips.
not that i need that many outlets, but i'm planning to run at least two timers. and they will block off a few available ones.


J.

[jph]

okay

i'm going to follow the herd, and not be stubborn this time
100% cutting board bare bottom.
with about 1/2" gap in between the glass and the board so it sits flat and does't rest on the silicone in the tank.



J.

[DarthOcellaris]

where are you getting your cutting board? I can't find it cheap

[jph]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

where are you getting your cutting board? I can't find it cheap

got it from the local Tap Plastics store.
it wasn't exactly "cheap" but not too expensive either.



J.

[jph]

well... first setback of this "build"

stand arrived, and it looks like someone kicked it out of the fed-ex truck
one corner of all panels inside is busted.

called drsfostersmith, they will be sending me a new one. but they ship really slow, so it'll take another week or so before i get it. hopefully not damaged.

on the bright side... my 150W HQI sunpod arrived in once piece, as well as my koralia nano.


J.