My 33g looonnnggg

[fishes2889]

Hey guys and gals,
I cannot wait until i start this tank! :wav: Ive had bigger tanks in the past but this is all i can afford hence that im a 16 year old thats working at my LFS. I know its a weird tank and all but i like it.

The List: \/
33g Long- 52$
Skimmer- CSS 60(HOB)-90$
AC 110 HOB- 35$
PH- free maxi-jet 1200
Stand and canopy in the works seeing as i have built every stand and canopy for my tanks.
And the all important lighting - T5 lighting 4x54 nova extreme fixture (already had it from old tank)

The tanks dimensions are very weird indeed. It is 48in. long 13 in. high and a 12 in. depth.

My plans are as follows....
-Lots of zoa's and other variety of LPS and softies
-NO SPS(even though i could do it with the lighting and all)
-DSB about 3 to 4 inches
-50# of LR

Fish List-
-Bluespot Jawfish or the cheaper Yellow head Jawfish( which ever is avalible)
-Fairy Wrasse or Green Coris Wrasse
-Some Green Chromis possibly
- and others to come.....

Overall i think this is going to be a good project. You guys might flame me for the tank size and all but its all i can afford and the tanks has alot of space that i can use. Thanks for your time in reading this. Comments and concerns are very welcome .

Thanks Steve

 

[fishes2889]

Forget waht i said about the price of the CSS 65 its 75$ bucks online instead of 90$.

Steve

 

[Chris2222000]

Wow sounds like a fun project! Cant wait to see pics once you get started.
The only things that stood out to me was:

1- If you do a 4" sandbed that leaves you with 9" of water minus the space at the top rim. Is that what you were planning?
2- With the small depth and width you will have to get very creative with Live rock .

All in all a great challenge, and would love to see what you will do with it!
-Chris

 

[fishes2889]

Well the thing is im trying to get a Jawfish really really bad. I really like the look of them and the way they act and burrow etc. overall my favorite small fish.(i have one before).

I know the sand needs to be deep with them but what is to little for them? The last one i kept was at 4 1/2 inches in a 75g. I might decrease the idea of a DSB to 3 inches or 3 1/2.

That is probably the biggest problems to over come. That rock placemnet and the sandbed.

Thanks Steve

 

[Chris2222000]

Heres an idea you can kind of slope the sand on both or either ends and create a valley type aquascaping...Just an idea.

 

[Chris2222000]

And be sure to use a mix with the sand so the Jawfish have structure/texture to work with.
You can even go higher than 4 inches on the ends if you wanted, IMO.

 

[jessiesgrrl]

If you like jawfish, you might like clown gobies as well. They like to perch on the glass and play with you.

I would say no less than 2 1/2 inches of sand for the jawfish- and even that might be pushing it.

I like the tank dimensions!!! I have often wished my tank was less tall and deeper/longer.

Good luck!!!!

Laurie

 

[fishes2889]

Sort of like this?

And yes i thought about having supplys for the Jawfish to build his burrow. It will include this...
-Empty Shells
-Rock Rubble
Basically thats it. In my last tank that i had a Jawfish all i knew about them was that they needed a DSB. He got his stuff by romming around the tank looking for rubble to build his burrow. But now i will be ready for him.

Steve

 

[Chris2222000]

That IMO would look awesome!

 

[fishes2889]

Thanks Laurie!! 2 1/2 inches is pushing it....

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

O yea i forgot to say that i will get the tank probablt withing the next week to 2 weeks just because my boss needs to order tanks and supplies etc. I will post pics as soon as i get equipment.....

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

And i have yet another question. Do you think i should tear down my 10g and put all the water all the corals and all the rock and fish in the 33g?

Specs. are as follows.....
AC 70 HOB
Lighting is 2x40watt but downgraded bulbs
Fish include a Watcchman and a clown
2 inch SB with 20 to 22lbs of rock in there.

Question is do i put all of the rock and other things etc. in the 33g?

Reasons why to do it....
-Save over 130$$
-Put the light from the 10g to the 5.5g and make the 5.5g able to handle any coral.
-Use water and filter (biologically) and make the cycle not as long as it would take with new water

Reasons not to do it......
-I like the 10g the way it is
-I would have 3 tanks instead of 2

Basically i know this is pointless in posting because who wouldnt want to save over 130$. But i wanted to see everybody's opinion.

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

Therefore i would be saving money in buying sand, rock, not buying another HOB AC filter, and a powerhead. So all i have to buy is the tank, some wood for the canopy and stand ,the skimmer, some sand and more rock and water and i am set up!!!

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

Got my CSS 65 today but unfortunatly the wholesaler didnt have the 33g yet. I have to wait till' thursday for the order. But, until then i will be building the stand and canopy and buying other goods to start the tank. I will keep you guys updated.....

Steve

 

[maroonytunes]

this project sounds awesome, i'm following this.

 

[Azurel]

Sounds good can't wait to see pictures....

 

[fishes2889]

Hey everybody,
It was a long day building this stand. It is made out of plywood and 2x3's. The dimensions are 48inches long and 18inches in depth. I made it bigger than the 33g long itslef so later on i will be able to put bigger tanks on and have room in the process. The stand itself is 28 inches high. I will be putting doors on as soon as the stain drys as i have to put on another coat tommorrow...... enjoy....

Frame work:

Fully assembled (doors off):

Stained:

Thanks everybody!

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

I will take better pics of it in the next few days, seeing as i have to do another coat.

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

I need some advice on my T5 lights. The 10k bulbs that came with the fixture i got along time ago just dont look right to my eye. I tested them out over the 10g and it looks a little yellow, even with the actincs on. I know there are several variations of tubes for T5, but i was just wondering whats the best tube to buy? I currently have 2x 54watt HO 460nm actinc tubes and one of the crappy 10k daylight tubes. If anyone can give me info that would be great. And oh yea im on a budget so the tube(s) cant be that expensive.

Thanks
Steve

Steve

 

[fishes2889]

anyone??

Steve