♥ Alunai's 5G ♥ (1 Viewer)

[Alunai]

Yes, I'm finally getting around to getting another tank going! After being out of this wonderful hobby for a few long, boring months now, I've finally got the itch to get back in (although, you all knew it wouldn't take very long)! :dance: Alright, lets get started with this build thread! :rock: First I'll throw out a couple generic photos so you know what I'm starting with.

Note: Just for giggles, I'm keeping track of the costs of setting this bad boy up. I'll probably wish I hadn't, but I'm going to anyways. So that is what all the green prices are for.

♥ Marineland 5.5 gallon glass aquarium $15
♥ The dimensions are 16 x 8 x 10.

♥ Marineland glass lid. $10

Initial Filter plan: FIF - Thank you Jon (Goberson79)!
♥ AquaClear50
♥ To be modified for live rock and chaeto
♥ Small LED strip light as a "fuge light" for the chaeto.
http://www.mel-co-services.com/ebayimages/aquaclearfilter.jpg[/img

If I decide to use a heater depending on what the temp settles at, it would be kept inside of the filter. I would like to keep the display as free of equipment as possible. For right now I have a koralia nano that I'll be using, but I'm hoping that the filter will provide sufficient flow so that I may take it out. I will likely be upgrading to a modified AC 70 eventually. :rolleyes: For now, though, I will be plenty happy with the AC 50 that Goberson has so generously given as a FIF! :bow: Thank you SO much!

Initial lighting plan: [COLOR="SeaGreen"] $79.90 / *FIF - Thank you Stoneyj33!![/COLOR]
♥ 12" Ecoxotic Stunner Magenta[color=seagreen]*[/color]
♥ 12" Ecoxotic Stunner 12k white / 445 nm blue
♥ 12" Ecoxotic Stunner Magenta [color=seagreen]*[/color]
[img]http://www.ecoxotic.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/480x350/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/8/0/8010_top_4.jpg

♥ Ecoxotic Inline LED dimmer

♥ 12v 12 watt transformer

In time I will add to the lighting, but hopefully the initial lighting will be sufficient for the corals that I plan on keeping. I won't be mounting the stunner anywhere as of yet - for now I'll just set it on top of the glass lid.

More info and real photos will be coming soon!

 

[guy9smiley2]

Looking good I have some small dry rock pieces if u want any let me know be for the ac 50. Lil drive but beats paying shipping n free

 

[Alunai]

Glad there is some interest in my thread already! Oh, and I appreciate the offer!! I have plenty of dry rock though, thank you!

P.S. Shakopee is nothing, I drive to Farmington to work and all the way to Shoreview on a weekly basis.

 

[Alunai]

Rockwork decided on! I got too impatient to epoxy it together though, that will have to wait. I'll do it eventually.

Last night I finished painting the back of the tank black. I used Krylon Color creations in satin black! It took about... 8 or more coats because I decided to do thinks the difficult way and paint it on with a brush as opposed to a roller. :brick: Why must I always do things the hard way?

Anyways, it finally is finished and dried! Here it is! I can't seem to ever get a decent picture without a ton of reflections in the glass. Oh well. You get the idea..

I've got saltwater mixed and a couple drip lines going and she's filling up as I type this. Very slowly, but she's filling up regardless.

 

[Username not found]

i used krylon fusion matte finish... took me 8 coats as well

 

[Alunai]

It didn't seem to want to stick to the glass, which was really frustrating.

 

[Stoneyj33]

I have two magenta stunner strips if your interested in them

 

[madscientist1]

What else do you need to get your system running? I have tons of extras...:brainoverload:

 

[Kyle T.]

I used black Rust-Oleum paint to paint the back of my glass 125. Got that done in 3 coats with a roller (paint brush along the trim). Just a tip for future reference.

Great build so far. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

[Alunai]

I have two magenta stunner strips if your interested in them

PM sent :agree:

What else do you need to get your system running? I have tons of extras...:brainoverload:

:shocked:

Uhm.. Gimme a little bit, I'm sure I'll think of something! :gay1: I don't currently have any lighting for it, that will be in the works yet. If you have something that I could borrow temporarily that would be neat-o, but I wouldn't expect it. ^.^

 

[Kevin Lake]

Sexy (the tank that is). :rotflmao: It's about time you got a tank going again!

 

[odie]

Would par33s be more bang for the $$$? Either way I am loving the build. Barebottom?

 

[odie]

Oh what are thinking of stocking it with?

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Great looking tank! I generally use spray paint and 2 thick coats seems to work well.

Be awesome to see it come to life. :agree:

 

[Username not found]

Great looking tank! I generally use spray paint and 2 thick coats seems to work well.

Be awesome to see it come to life. :agree:

i used the krylon sray paint... still took me numerous numerous coats

 

[mnmuskyman2011]

Looks good! I like the rock work.

 

[odie]

I feel like a creeper tryin to see what was going on in the reflections.....

 

[daphilster08]

Looking good so far! I like the rocks you chose as well! :biggrin:

 

[Alunai]

Would par33s be more bang for the $$$? Either way I am loving the build. Barebottom?

Yes, for the meantime at least I do intend on doing bare bottom. I may spread a thin layer of sand over the bottom, depending on what I stock it with (Randall's gobies need sand to burrow in, don't they? I would have to have a few inches then).

Oh what are thinking of stocking it with?

Fish:
1 Pair of Black Ice clown fish (No photo yet, but I can assure you that they are stunning!!
1 Randalls Goby

Corals:

Area 51 Chalice - Nanofins $50

Mystic Grape Favia - Nanofins $20

Branching Cyphastrea - Nanofins $30

Neon Green Monti Confusa - Nanofins FIF

Red Setosa - Rays Reef $30

So that is the current stocking list. I may or may not do the goby at all, I haven't decided yet. It was just an idea. Thoughts?

 

[Alunai]

Double post