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Progession of a 46 gallon reef tank

Discussion in 'Freshwater Aquariums & Fish Photos' started by California Cowgirl, Jul 25, 2009.

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  1. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    and should that work out with the light, the light that i will be getting mounts with legs onto the tank so it won't be sitting on the egg crate or glass, and if i can keep the front glass part i wont have to worry about hitting the light, i dunno i'll just talk to him about the idea and see what he thinks
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 23, 2009
    #141
  2. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    1. have all equipment on tank that will reach into the water (ie filters, skimmers, tubing)
    2. ask him to shape the eggcrate to the remaining opening-->I'd suggest for him to break a cardboard box down and lay it over the tank and use that for the template...then I'd use a dremmel or similar to cut the eggcrate to the size/shape needed.
    3. once cut and all equip is hanging on tank lay the eggcrate on top (same idea as glass canopy here).
    4. put your light fixture on with MOUNTING legs or hanging it a few inches about the tank using chain or similar.
    5. NOW you can see how much spacing will be IN FRONT of the light fixture...I'd suggest if your using mounting legs on the fixture that you mark this area of the eggcrate with perm. marker and have dad cut it leaving you two pieces..then grab yourself some long zip ties and LOOSELY zip the two pieces together at the seam where you just did the cut...this will enable you to OPEN the eggcrate canopy just like a glass canopy.

    IF you use a chain and hang your light fixture you'll be able to leave the eggcrate in 1 solid piece and just lift it off as your dad told you.

    (hope all the above makes sense...ps..using your term egg crate for the light diffuser that is sold at the hardware store such as lowes and homedepot).

    ask him to shape the eggcrate to your opening (be sure to allow clear. for all equip hanging on back of tank that reach into the water)....then onc
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 23, 2009
    #142
  3. buzz4520

    buzz4520 Well-Known Member

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    looking good !

    i agree with dawn...i don't know much about saltwater tanks/set up. i think you are doing a great job on getting this set up, taking your time and not rushing things, planning/thinking things out...well done !! your tank is going to look/be great !!
     
    buzz4520, Aug 24, 2009
    #143
  4. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    ohhhh awesome idea! i'll print this info for him, i'm sure he'll be able to do it
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 24, 2009
    #144
  5. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    thanks so much :D i better take this tank slow and do it right with all of this money i'm putting into right now, once i buy my lights i will have spent close to $2,000 on this tank so far.

    And i told my parents that with all of this money that i am spending on the tank that when i move out i refuse to sell it for next to nothing on craigslist. And that i will start to teach them how to run everything so that when i leave the house in a year or two they will know how to keep up the tank. And they didn't say no :D plus my dad is starting to get into it :D
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 24, 2009
    #145
  6. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    lucky you! I wish I could get someone to take over...especially on sick days/weeks. I wish I had the room, because I would so FIND someone to teach me how to install an auto water change system on mine.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 24, 2009
    #146
  7. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    haha yea it's funny that he's into it because he was all against it and saying that fish belong in the ocean, but as soon as i got my live rock, he became interested.

    Haha auto water change system would be cool :D
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 24, 2009
    #147
  8. buzz4520

    buzz4520 Well-Known Member

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    if i lived a little closer dawn , i would come over and help you plan/build one. i would like to have this set up on my tanks as well. i did some research on this and their are many different ways of setting it up.
     
    buzz4520, Aug 24, 2009
    #148
  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    I would soo love to have one on mine>>read up a bit awhile back on them...it would be soo great to have a nice size sump to stick/hide all the equipment and configure an auto water change/top off system. Think of how nice life would be buzz if we had one of them!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 24, 2009
    #149
  10. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    i wish i had secured my rocks, we're havng our house updated and taking most of the stucko of and replacing it with siding, right now their working outside my room, and my tank is near the wall, and my entire room is shaking, i'm a little bit of a nervous wreck right now about the rocks, so far their holding but, i just hope they dont fall
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 24, 2009
    #150
  11. kalebsdad21

    kalebsdad21 New Member

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    Wow that would suck. I think I would kill someone!
     
    kalebsdad21, Aug 24, 2009
    #151
  12. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    yup, it would, construction will be going on for a couple more weeks, hopefully it will be ok
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 24, 2009
    #152
  13. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    my shrimp after a couple days in the tank, makes me feel sorry for fish when people decide to use them to cycle their tanks, i'm sure their insides would end up similar to the shrimp

    also been getting a ton of coralline, i've got shades of green, purple, red, orange pink, teal, i wish they would come in bigger portions
    001.JPG 003.JPG
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 25, 2009
    #153
  14. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    Test Results 2 1/2 weeks:

    Nitrite: .2
    Nitrate: 20
    Ammonia: .25
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 26, 2009
    #154
  15. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    some pics of tank at 2 1/2 weeks old


    001.JPG 002.JPG 005.JPG 006.JPG 007.JPG 008.JPG 009.JPG 010.JPG
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 26, 2009
    #155
  16. angelLuver

    angelLuver New Member

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    ewwww on the shrimp !!! lol the tank still looks great !!!
     
    angelLuver, Aug 26, 2009
    #156
  17. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    haha isint it gross :p and thanks :D
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 27, 2009
    #157
  18. kalebsdad21

    kalebsdad21 New Member

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    Looking good. Any more new pics of your hitchhiker?
     
    kalebsdad21, Aug 27, 2009
    #158
  19. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    I'll try to get some today when I get home
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 27, 2009
    #159
  20. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    i think i have officially decided on a stocking list:

    Pair of Black Clowns
    Blue Flasher Wrasse
    Royal Gamma
    Orange Spot Shrimp Goby
     
    California Cowgirl, Aug 27, 2009
    #160
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