davey's 15long peninsula

[daveysmart]

I thought I would start my thread for my new tank. Its an all glass 15 gallon 24x12x12. I removed the top and bottom rims. That is it so far. Hopefully I will get the false wall in tonight and water tested this weekend. My 3 gallon picotope's contents are getting dumped in here and then its gonna become a FW planted picotope.

Well here it is so far:

 

[returnofsid]

Are you at all worried about it being strong enough since you removed the bottom and top bracing? I understand, after we talked yesterday, why you removed them, but are you planning on replacing or Euro-bracing this tank?

 

[daveysmart]

Are you at all worried about it being strong enough since you removed the bottom and top bracing? I understand, after we talked yesterday, why you removed them, but are you planning on replacing or Euro-bracing this tank?

Well, kind of. I have seen others do it, but I am pushing my luck maybe. I did a water test for a couple days and it held without leaking, but that was without the extra weight of sand and rock and pressure from circulation. I am gonna run it for a couple days full water test with the pumps going, but even then I suppose only time will tell.:shock:

 

[gotfish]

People with freshwater planted tanks do this all the time. I've seen 20g tanks with the trim removed. I don't know how long they hold up and like it was said, they don't have quite the amount of circulation, but it is done.

 

[daveysmart]

I am gonna have a false wall in there too so it might give it a little extra support...a little bit anyway :?:

 

[daveysmart]

I got the false wall and baffles siliconed in and water tested in the garage for a couple days. No leaks and the flow is running really well. I used 1/4" black acrylic from a local plastic shop. The back portion is 6" wide, leaving me with 18" for the display. The back corner will be a display refugium with mangroves and some other colorful macro algae and still gives me enough room for a media chamber for filter floss and chemipure elite, some chaeto, the heater, and the auto top off. I went with the Maxijet 900 for the return pump and the flow is pretty strong. I got some free leftover sand from a local nano-reefer (big big thanks returnofsid!) and I made my light stand with 1/2" galvanized pipe, painted black, which is mounted to the side of the stand. I am still waiting on my light, another powerhead, heater, and some locline parts and then I can add some live sand, rock and water.

Here is the front view with the sand and the light pole:

This is the left side with the display refugium in the back corner:

And the right side, oh yeah, we have kids..... :|

 

[seattle989]

im diggin this build so far, im gonna borrow you DIY light pole too

 

[daveysmart]

I have seen others use metal conduit with a curve, but I preferred the sharp right angle with 90 degree elbow. Its pretty stiff too so it shouldn't sag once I get the lights on there.

 

[morgan]

nice to see im likeing it just a note on the removeal of the braces to my understanding the glass used in a rimmless tank should be a minimum 10mm and not filled to the top
i do quiet fancy the rimless look but would have though been better off to buy a pre built rimmless

 

[gotfish]

What light are you gonna be using? If the flow is too strong, you can cut a vane or 2 off. The people I've seen do this on a 10g usually cut off 2.

 

[daveysmart]

What light are you gonna be using? If the flow is too strong, you can cut a vane or 2 off. The people I've seen do this on a 10g usually cut off 2.

Actually I think the flow is pretty good, and I am going to put a locline tube and nozzle on the end so I can adjust and direct it. I am also going ato dd a koralia nano on the opposite end, I plan on putting some sps frags in there and I want a strong flow. I have one 18" 40W T-5 and I am gonna order another one and attach them together and hang it from the pole. I think this should be pretty good, those current novas have pretty good reflectors.

 

[gotfish]

That's the same light I have on the little 5.5g. It's a great little light, I just wish someone else would make bulbs for the things. I would imagine 2 of them would work great. It's the perfect length and width. What are you going to be stocking it with other then what's in the pico right now?

Once you get the pico switched over to a planted tank, what light are you going to be using for that? What plant selection are you thinking of going with? I've got a 5.5g shrimp tank that's planted. I'd like to see the progression on yours. If you need a good place for plants, there is a local supplier in Portland that I've ordered from. Good selection of plants and the shipping is like $7 since it's ground, but it only takes 1 day to get it.

 

[returnofsid]

Dave, it's coming along and looking really good!!! Can't wait to see it up and running!!

 

[daveysmart]

I am gonna pretty much just move over the stuff from the pico. Ricordea, mushrooms, zoas, greenstar polyps, kenya tree, monti frags, birdsnest and purple haze. I have my eye on some more sps, and there are a bunch of lps I wanna try duncans, acans, and blastos, and maybe a torch if I have room. I am also thinking a yasha goby and pistol shrimp and maybe a clam down the road. Of course I will have to wait until everything matures and make sure the light is gonna be sufficient.

For the FW pico, I dont know anything about freshwater so I dont really know what to use for a light yet. I was thinking of the 18W miniaqualight with the dual 6700k 9W bulbs. As far as plants and inhabitants I want to get some shrimp for sure and maybe 2-3 very very small fish. But I am not for sure yet as to what plants would be good. I have alot of research to do. Our local LFS in Spokane has a plenty good selection of plants so I will probably rely on her alot for some advice. Thanks, and any advice on the Fw planted would be very helpful!

Thanks Michael! Thanks alot for the sand!

 

[Workaholic]

dave,
its coming along really nice. As for the FW pico. I would think a pair of german blue rams would do well in there. I wouldn't put any other fish in there with them but it would give you some great color and plenty of activity. i've never been big of FW planted tanks so I cant really give you much as far as advice for plants to put there.

Tom

 

[seattle989]

Upside down catfish are WIN and so are amano shrimps. i personally like the look of java moss, dwarf anubias, and java fern. Drift wood however... i have not figured out how to get rid of the brown color it leaches -_- into the water

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Very nice Dave, this was the setup i've been wanting to do. craving a AIO setup. It's too bad it soo hard to find 15L and 30 breeders

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Upside down catfish are WIN and so are amano shrimps. i personally like the look of java moss, dwarf anubias, and java fern. Drift wood however... i have not figured out how to get rid of the brown color it leaches -_- into the water

boiling the wood a few times helps a ton.

 

[Workaholic]

boiling the wood a few times helps a ton.

That and let it soak in a 5gal bucket for about a week changing the water daily also helps.

Harrison, keep in mind they will be in a 3gal pico which is a tad small for upside down cats.

Tom

 

[daveysmart]

That and let it soak in a 5gal bucket for about a week changing the water daily also helps.

Harrison, keep in mind they will be in a 3gal pico which is a tad small for upside down cats.

Tom

But the german blue ram pair would be ok in 3gallons? I looked them up and like their color. Thanks for all the suggestions!