My prop tank

[mixixe]

I've been struggling for a while on what to do with a spare 8 gallon tall tank I have. And a couple of days ago I made a final decision to do a sw propagation tank. I realized that the corals in my 5g were starting to get out of hand and even if I tried to frag them, I'd have no room for them where they are now. I was excited to take the opportunity to learn about fragging.

So.. these were the steps I took in making my prop tank:

1) I designed a tank: this is a staircase design with holes in the plastic for better flow. Under the staircase would be rocks. Every level had a wall around it so the frags couldn't get knocked over by a snail or something. I just added the fish for fun.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m271/mixixe/proptank.jpg

2) Then I asked some friends what they thought, and someone gave me a better idea :) Less plastic, more flow and I'd only need to use PVC piping and acrylic.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m271/mixixe/tada.jpg

3) So then I got to work, went to home depot, got a plastic cutter??? it's like an xacto knife. The guy at home depot told me I score the plastic a couple of times and then I can break it off. So I did just as he said and it worked! yay! :) I glued the peices together with some silicone and glued the PVC pipe stands to it.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m271/mixixe/CIMG0427.jpg

I could have saved some money by cutting the pvc myself, but I didn't want to use too many tools... so I bought them at home depot for 45 cents each!

4) I put some pucks on it to see how many frags it would hold:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m271/mixixe/CIMG0430.jpg

5) waited a day and put the shelving into the tank, and put the rock under the shelving... the heater, water and filter were running for several days already.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m271/mixixe/CIMG0431.jpg

6) So far I have about 6.5 pounds of rock in there. Now i just have to wait for it to cycle and I have a frag tank. I might add more rock, and I am getting more lighting. It was a fun project and didn't take too long!

-just to add, cost wise: the pvc piping 18 x .45 = roughly 9 dollars. I used 2 small sheets of plastic = 6 dollars. Silicone was 8 dollars. Heater was roughly 30 dollars. Live rock around 30 dollars. I had the filter and tank before hand. That light is just temporary. Total, around 80 bucks.

Oh and I also wanted to add an idea Fugu offered to me for lighting b/c i was consider DIY MH lighting.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m271/mixixe/MH.jpg

Maybe one day!!! But I decided I'm too afraid to do DIY lighting right now. Don't want to get electrocuted. :)

[Melody]

Awesome! I am a total clutz when it comes to that stuff, so I envy you! I posted it in the DIY section too, hope you don't mind :smile: .

[mixixe]

I don't mind! Thanks :)

[thegrandpoohbah]

Looking good. Don't worry about the lighting for now, it is not necessary while the tank is cycling so you have a good 3-4 weeks before you will need better lights.

[mixixe]

My lights will be upgraded soon actually b/c I just ordered a Current USA light for my 5g tank. I can't wait!!! The actual wattage is no different from what I have right now on the 5g, which is 36 watts, but i want one light strip instead of two. Then I'll go about switching lighting around.

[Fugu]

nice!

aww I remember when you where asking me how many drops of iodine to put in....*sniff*

GIVE ME FRAGS:FishOnDaHead:

[mixixe]

lol... if you come over here and get them yourself :) I've got some gifts for your 15+15 ;)

[hodge]

Just browsing and noticed this thread. I'm thinking of doing the same thing for the same reasons as you....more room for more stuff!!

[mixixe]

Yeah. It's nice having a prop tank. The look is simpler... much less work goes into decorating, and it has a purpose, making money, instead of depleting money. :)

[mixixe]

btw, if you do this same design, use egg crates or light diffusers instead of acrylic. I totally forgot that coraline algae would grow over it blocking out light.

[hodge]

Thanks for the tip. I've got to get on it, my coral collection is growing too fast.

[Shelley]

I didnt think about the glass getting coraline either!:smile: Eggcrate works really well and is very easy to cut with side-cutters. I made mine high enough I could put my riccordias and mushrooms under. Inch PVC pipe and superglue gel work just fine for legs.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/Carrida/frags090.jpg

[Slipstream]

Looking good :) You should 'accidentally' send up one or two my way. And forget about em ;)

[Shelley]

Thank, its alot of fun making frags..
accidently?? LOL but it prolly could be arranged once the weather warms up again.

[Slipstream]

LOL.. it wont be warming up here for another 4 months.. LOL

[Soggybottom]

That is too cool, must...stop...looking...at...it

[Shelley]

That is too cool, must...stop...looking...at...it
COME TO THE DARKSIDE MY SON........

[Shelley]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/Carrida/tankshots018.jpg

[CACAdmin]

That is one awesome tanik, Shelley!::D:

[Soggybottom]

Indeed! :yes:

*hands over soul*

[hp10BII]

that's too cool...:notworthy:

[KnaveTO]

Saltwater has such beauty to it... too bad I am not at that level in my hobby to attempt it. Great idea there and you just gave me an idea for my new freshwater tank... thanks!

[mixixe]

Shelly your frag tank actually looks bigger than your display tank! Both are nice. And yes, I didn't realize the coraline would completely cover the glass. Nice tanks!

[Shelley]

Thanks Guys. My frag tank is 40G with a 20G sump. One display tank is 50G with a 33G sump and the newest tank is 65 with a 20G sump. Marine can be a challenge, but with patience, once the tank stabilizes it isnt that different from freshwater. Heres the newest tank.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/Carrida/zzz004.jpg

[CACAdmin]

Another gorgeous tank, Shelley. Fragging sounds very rewarding but somehow I doubt I'd have the patience or the knack to handle corals without accidentally destroying them :wideeyed: (which would be a real shame).::(:

[mixixe]

is that an octopus I see on the top right?

Marine is so addictive. I have a 3g pico, a 5 and 10 gallon nano. And the more I look at my 75 g the more I can see corals in it. I better stop looking at it. I love those open brains.

[Rbacchiega]

*drools* can't wait for my 90 to look like that. Would you be interested in possibly shipping some corals out to calgary? I'd pay for shipping.....

[west coast kid]

Your tank is one of the best I have ever seen.Great job
762
this is my 110 gal reef.

[CACAdmin]

Hi and :Welcome: to CAC. Beautiful reef tank you have. How long have you had it set up?

[west coast kid]

Hi and :Welcome: to CAC. Beautiful reef tank you have. How long have you had it set up?
Hi and thank you. I have had this reef tank four years now. I also have have a fresh water tank this is a pic.774

[Shelley]

wow.. its been awhile . Thanks guys for the comments. My tanks are doing well. Heres some updated pictures.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/Carrida/IMG_0511.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/Carrida/IMG_0468.jpg

I dont seem to have an updated picture of my living room tank. I will have to take one tomorrow I guess :) And yes Cash, I can send acans to Calgary as soon as it warms a bit.

[CACAdmin]

Hi Shelley. Good to see you. Your tanks look great. Thanks for posting updated pics. I look forward to seeing an update of your living room tank.