When Does a Nano Not Look Like a Nano?...When it's 3 feet W I D E
I've been contemplating a tank for my office desk. I considered a Biocube, but decided on something a bit less conventional.
This is a mixed reef, rimless glass with dimensions 36" X 8" X 9" - A whopping ~12 gallons (7.5 gallons water,)
Finding a lighting solution that would work with such a narrow tank was a challenge. I decided to use T5s, but virtually all the 4X39W fixtures were too wide. I finally located an inexpensive, off-brand model that was narrow enough to work so this build will be lit by 156W of T5s. Obviously 13 Watts/GAL is overkill - but it gives me more potential bulb combinations, the option of mounting the lights higher, varying photo periods and using lower PAR bulbs as desired. I also plan on creating an aquascape that provides partially shaded areas.
Here's the equipment list..
The goal is to carve each piece so that light and water can pass through it, enabling multiple levels to be constructed while still allowing light and flow to be delivered directly below it for lower light Corals (i.e. Chalices, Z/Ps...) Flow is further defined by controlling the shape and location of the base pillars and through the use of jetties that direct flow into the coves.
20 Lbs of good Pukani rock (Compliments of BRS)...
6 Packages EPO Epoxy...
Dremel, Inland DFS-100 and 20 hours of cutting, fitting, trimming, epoxying...
The results........Priceless...
I've been contemplating a tank for my office desk. I considered a Biocube, but decided on something a bit less conventional.
This is a mixed reef, rimless glass with dimensions 36" X 8" X 9" - A whopping ~12 gallons (7.5 gallons water,)
Finding a lighting solution that would work with such a narrow tank was a challenge. I decided to use T5s, but virtually all the 4X39W fixtures were too wide. I finally located an inexpensive, off-brand model that was narrow enough to work so this build will be lit by 156W of T5s. Obviously 13 Watts/GAL is overkill - but it gives me more potential bulb combinations, the option of mounting the lights higher, varying photo periods and using lower PAR bulbs as desired. I also plan on creating an aquascape that provides partially shaded areas.
Here's the equipment list..
- Tank - Mr. Aqua 12 Long (36" X 8" X 9")
- Lights - Catalina Solar Black 4 X 39W T5 (ATI Blue+, Blue+, AquaBlue, KZ Fiji Purple) ReefBrite 36" LED 50%/50% Royal Blue / White
- Controller - Apex Aquacontroller, lab grade pH and ORP
- Skimmer - Tunze 9002 w/ custom InTank collection cup.
- Mechanical filtration - AquaClear 70 fitted with surface skimmer and custom InTANK media insert using BRS ROX 0.8 GAC and BRS HiCap GFO
- ATO - Tunze 3155 Osmolator feeding Kalk laden RO/DI
- Automated daily water changes (3% daily) via 2 BRS Top-Off pumps (50ml/min) controlled by the Apex
- Water movement - 1X MP-10Wes, 1X Tunze 6015 Nano Streams / Alternating flow controlled by Apex
- 20 lbs Custom made "Puzzle" Rock created from BRS Dry Pukani
- Substrate - 1.5", Tropic Eden Aragalive ReefSnow and Miniflake (50%/50%)
- Heater - Hydor 50 100 Watt
The goal is to carve each piece so that light and water can pass through it, enabling multiple levels to be constructed while still allowing light and flow to be delivered directly below it for lower light Corals (i.e. Chalices, Z/Ps...) Flow is further defined by controlling the shape and location of the base pillars and through the use of jetties that direct flow into the coves.
20 Lbs of good Pukani rock (Compliments of BRS)...
6 Packages EPO Epoxy...
Dremel, Inland DFS-100 and 20 hours of cutting, fitting, trimming, epoxying...
The results........Priceless...