Ben's 10-gallon

[Sea_Dawg]

Well so far I have noticed a few things alive in this tank some worms and what I think is a pod. Also some wierd growths on the rocks, but I don't know what they are. Anyways, this is the result of me rearranging the rocks a few times and It will most likely change again. Tell me what you all think.

 

[skipm]

Ben,
That LR has some very interesting shapes. I would try to leave a little more room near the ends of the tank between the LR and the glass for cleaning purposes. I am sure this was like this for aquascaping purposes but you also want to maintain your water level higher to prevent the air bubbles your filter is making.
I know what you mean about doing it several times and probably not finished yet, I am always tinkering around in one of my tanks.

 

[amf82380]

Looks Good alot of places to put diffrent things and if your planing on fish then alot of place for them to hide out I wish I could find LR in my area that was that unique it would make my tank look alot more interesting. but keep up the good work. :mrgreen:

 

[skipm]

If I am not mistaken Ben ordered his LR from www.premiumaquatics.com .

 

[sadielynn]

Off to a beautiful start . Great job keep up the updates and the pictures :mrgreen:

 

[Sea_Dawg]

I would try to leave a little more room near the ends of the tank between the LR and the glass for cleaning purposes.

I will try to fix that thanks.

I am sure this was like this for aquascaping purposes but you also want to maintain your water level higher to prevent the air bubbles your filter is making.

Yup it was and the fact that I ran out of RO water... :lol:

amf82380,
I did get my rock from premium aquatics. I ordered 10 lbs. of Nano Liverock. It cost me about 65 dollars shipped which is WAY cheaper then at my LFS, and the rock is much better quality. :mrgreen:
I highly recomend it!

 

[amf82380]

Ill have to check into getting some from them I am thinking about starting a 2.5-3 gal (sadielynn inspired me :mrgreen: ) so I might order some from them that way as my 5.5 gallon is coming along I have something else to tinker with

 

[mikeguerrero]

This tank is going to rock; I've never seen such cool looking live rock and clean water in a while; just loving this tank....

Mike

 

[reefman23]

Your tank really does look great! Love the LR. I always look forward to seeing tanks develop.

My suugestion would be to add a backing to your tank...either a plastic blue/black taped-on backing or spraypaint.

Good luck,

Jesse

 

[skipm]

Another option for a background is adhesive vinyl. www.thatfishplace.com sells it and you put it on just like window tint, I put it on a refugium that is visible and on my 10.

 

[sadielynn]

a couple cheaper alternatives to what skip suggested is
I used window tint from walmart on the 7gallon
and tinted plastic table cloth (on a roll in the craft dept ) for the 2 gallon that cost me around $1.85 for a yard we soaked in hot water got a spray bottle filled with warm water sprayed the tank and then slapped the plastic on sprayed the plastic squeeged down and it has been holding supurbly .... for the paint you could get black craft paint for 44cents to a $1.50 from walmart (it comes in enamal ) paint with roller ....... if you want you can paint the plastic table cloth to darken it then if you get sick of the color peel and place a new one on ,(ours we painted the back of the plastic , they also sell it in clear so that you could do blue too) :mrgreen: We also used the tinted plastic table cloths to tint the bed room windows as well , and it works marvolusly as well (need a safe haven for migraines this is how I learned to use it for the tank) and there are no adheasives to worry about :mrgreen:

 

[skipm]

Does this table cloth come in a roll or do you buy it by the yard or what? Do you have a brand name Sadie?

 

[sadielynn]

Skip
it is in the crafting section on a long roll but you buy it by the yard it is on a "bolt" like for fabric only this is not folded it is rolled like wrapping paper , so you get quite abit from a full yard . I dont think that there is a brand name to it (or atleast that I can remember ) . :mrgreen:

 

[Sea_Dawg]

It has been a while since I had really done anything with this tank...it basically collected cyanobacteria and algae.... :fu ...
But in the past few weeks a lot has gone on.I removed the cyanobacteria with the aid of chemipure, and I have also started to clean out the algae and rearange the rocks. I am finally starting to get a move on with this tank and you will hopefully be finding many updates here.

Size: 10
Filter: AquaClear 70, running with sponge and chemipure.(for more water movement there is a small Zoo med micro 104 powerhead)
Light: 96watt coralite.
Rock: About 10 lbs.
Sand: 2".
Current inhabitants: Yellow clown goby, 5 BLH, 2 ceriths, and 1 Nassarius snail. Most of them purchased within the last few weeks.

Here are some updated pics...

Here is an angled FTS...

FTS...(yes...the tank does have a lot of algae, but with me manually removing it and with the help of the hermits and snails it's going away pretty quickly.)

And finally a blurry shot of the YCG...

 

[Sea_Dawg]

Forgot to add that I tested this tank 2 days ago and they were as follows,

Nitrate:0
Nitrite:0
Ammonia:0
pH:8.2
Alk:4.5
Calcium:555-higher?

All is well after adding the YCG and a few hermits and snails. However, I am concerned about the Calcium. Is it fine how it is?

 

[Timanator]

Hey Ben. A few quick Q's from someone thats trying to do the samething to a 10 gal.

Is that Aquaclear filter your using over kill? Its recommanded for 40-70 gal tanks?

Also, where did you get the light and the mount?

 

[Sea_Dawg]

Is that Aquaclear filter your using over kill? Its recommanded for 40-70 gal tanks?

It was a little to powerfull, it would push the sand around leaving a spot of the tank bare. However I cut the impellar down a little bit and now its fine. I have intentions of coverting it to a fuge in the future.

Also, where did you get the light and the mount?

http://www.hellolights.com/201xcoaqpcho.html
Make sure that when if you buy the light you do buy the mounting legs and I would reccomend you buy an extra buld because it would be half price. Also make sure that the bulb is 50/50.

HTH,
Ben

 

[Timanator]

Thanks Ben. Thanks to your journal, I just got home from teh LFS and installed in my 20"long 10gal:

Aquaclean 50 (Figured that would be enough, and did you use that weird sponge that came in the kit?)
5 lbs of liverock to start with
Instant Ocean Salt.

Everything is now cycling and I should be able to put in the rocks in a few hours.



I looked at the lights you were talking about, which leg kit did you use and how do you like them? The moon light they offer, is it built into the canopy? Timer control?

Thanks.

 

[Sea_Dawg]

(Figured that would be enough, and did you use that weird sponge that came in the kit?)

Im not really sure what you mean by weird sponge, the only sponge that came with my filter I am currently using. But make sure to clean it out atleast once a week.

I looked at the lights you were talking about, which leg kit did you use and how do you like them?

I have the black mounting legs but you might want to try the extendable ones because other wise it makes it difficult to clean. I got a little bit creative so its not a bother to me though.

The moon light they offer, is it built into the canopy?

I don't think that the moonlight is built into the canopy.

Timer control?

As for a timer you can simply pick one up at your local hardware store. They are pretty cheap.

HTH,
Ben

 

[Sea_Dawg]

Im going to be adding more flow to this tank.What Maxi-Jet Powerhead(s) should I buy? (please keep in mind I have an AC 70, and a zoo med micro pump powerhead)

I am getting another powerhead to better direct flow over the rocks because my small powerhead provides flow to the back of the tank and even with the AC still much of the rock gets little current.

Thanks in advance,
Ben