My 18G high up and running!!!

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shaggydoo541

New Member
Here is a link to my tank pic.

http://www.nano-reef.com/gallery/showph ... photo=9173

Let me know what you think so far I don't have any corals yet but will get some when I get the funds. The startup stipped me of cash so it will be a few weeks. Anywho here are the details;

18G high tank (20"X10"X20")
AC500 fuge with 5# LR and algae
Coralife lunar light 2X65 10000K and actinic
150 w heater
20# LR
18# LS
15# Base rock
Zoomed PH (160 gph - yeah right but it works)

Livestock:
3 hermit crabs
2 snails
2 yellow tail damsels

I have seen bubble algae (am getting an emerald crab) and a couple small aiptasia. I will be getting a peppermint shrimp (again when the funds become available) to hopefully solve these issues. Anyways let me know your thoughts. Like it or no?
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
Looks pretty good. I guess you started off with mostly 'dead' rock huh?

Did you ever consider painting the back of your tank? I've got all mine painted black and I'm happy with it. Nice start.
 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
Thanks I'm really excited I have wanted to do a tank for a long time but never had the cash to start one. I am definitely going to either paint the back black or put some sort of black background. The LR was about 50 50 as far as weight goes but because the LR was a lot less dense the LR takes up most of the space in the tank.

Here is a before (light and ac500) and after shot of my tank



 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
You have a pretty nice looking set-up so far. Painting the tank now would be a chore, you may want to consider using black vinyl for your back ground. This is the same stuff used by signmakers to cut letters out of, it is self adhesive and will stick on the back of your tank. Skip
 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
I have never heard of anyone using vinyl before. Where could I get some? I was thinking of just using a big sheet of black construction paper but if vinyl sticks by itself it would work better.
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
Check the phone book and see if you can find a signmaker in your area. Another option if you can find it would be contact paper, I don't know what all colors are available but it is pretty cheap too. if you can't find it anywhere local to you then There is a LFS near me that will ship. Their address is www.tidelineaquatics.net . You can find contact information there. They also stock Sanders Picolo skimmers if you need one and can't find them locally. HTH, Skip

PS I am not affiliated with the LFS, I am just giving their addy as a resource for you.
 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
Well I did get a background but just got a plain piece of construction paper. Couldn't find any vinyl and my HOB filter hols the paper on w/o any type of adhesive. It just sits back there. Anyways really wanted to ask if anyone has had any issues with an emerald crab eating their shrimp. I got a peppermint shrimp and my gf watched it get attacked and devoured within 1/2 a day by my emerald. Anyone have any experience with this?
 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
It's body was about an inch or so the peppermint was definitely a lot bigger than it but I'm now thinking of taking it back to the LFS and looking around for a smaller one. They had two at the LFS I got this one at and it was like 1/4 the size of the one I didn't get but maybe another LFS will have an even smaller one. So far it has left all my other tank inhabitants alone at least.
 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
Update

Well I've got some new corals so thought I would post a couple new pics. The full tank shot is older and doesn't have some of my new corals but here ya go. It does have a black background now so let me know what you think.




 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
Update no damsel Yay!!!!

Here is the new look of my tank. I had to tear down the whole thing to get rid of my damsel (he was attacking my new clowns) and couldn't get it back together the same way again. In the process I lost two mushrooms and my ricordia. I have no idea where they went or what happened but oh well they were just small frags and hopefully they turn up growing in the back someday. Ok well enjoy.



Oh and here is a cool pic of my brain eating my Damsel. I hated that fish so much that I figured feeding it to my brain is the coolest way I could get rid of it.

 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
New brain coral

This is my newest aquisition... its a pineapple brain. As an added bonus it came with a hitch hiking feather duster.

 
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