Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

Do an Nano-Cube, do one....do it !!!. Nano-Cube....you want one.....

Im going with the 10!!! I bought it today!
Heres the cool part...
In building the hood myself...
I have 58w of light in a 10 gallon
two 19w 6500k compact fluorescent bulbs and two 10w Corallife 50/50s



They are on a test board. I bought some shiny galvanized tin flashing to cut and use as reflectors. I am going to seal the lights about 3-4" above the water and have two 2" PC fans cooling that area and I am going to get a slot fan to blow on the surface of the water. I am going to control the fans with a PC fan controller that even has temp. sensors and a digital readout!!! this thing should be really bright. Im building the base and canopy tomorrow and hopefully should have it painted by then. and by thursday I should have it ready to start cycling. To speed up the cycling, Im using all live sand and live rock so that I can add critters right away!!!

Also...I am setting this stand up so that if i decide to later, I can upgrade to an 18g tall tank.

I will be there on saturday...anyone wanna help a new fellow reefer out with some little frags?????

I started working on my stand tonight
I got the canopy built and a coat of black on the inside and I got the bottom frame built and the tank painted.
Time for some pictures!!!
Faded paint job on the back of the tank


3/4 view of the faded paint job.


Built canopy, tank and base frame.


3/4 view of the built canopy, tank and base frame.


Tomorrow I am going to finish the base ... make it look identical to the canopy and possibly going to cover it with laminate and if I got the time, I am going to install the lighting. hope you guys like it!

danielmiller82 wrote:I started working on my stand tonight
I got the canopy built and a coat of black on the inside ...

Did you paint the inside of th tank? Or was that the inside of the canopy? Looks like you're off to a good start.

Looking great ! Are you going to have enough room for your sump under your stand ?

Brandon:inside of the canopy..the tank is painted on the outside of the glass.

Snoop:why do I need a sump on a 10g that Im just going to do a 1/2 water change every week?

I like your stand - looks Shaker Style.

I have a 10 gallon nano with no sump - I just do water changes.

What do you mean by shaker style?

You don't, but i just thought you were going to.

maybe one day..but for now its just going to have mini jets.

Update:
I got the base built (except for the door) and laminated ,(pretty blue granite-ish laminate). Im finishing the canopy laminate and lighting on Sunday. Then the door and edge trim sometime next week. then I can have it up and running!!!

Let me just say this... The time and effort that has gone into building this stand has been fun....But I think when I get my 75 gallon..im just giving in and buying the prebuilt stand and canopy...whats waiting another paycheck when you dont have to spend all of the free time you have working one something that you can pay a little more and have it look better.

danielmiller82 wrote:whats waiting another paycheck when you dont have to spend all of the free time you have working one something that you can pay a little more and have it look better.

My thoughts exactly.

uh oh.... gotta hold off on the nano tank for a while....

fiancees car died and we gotta get her a new one. Oh well my friend is giving me her tank with a pair of figure-8 puffers this weekend and her mom might be giving me her 55g freshwater(they are moving to VA). It Has a huge parrot fish, a pleco, some angels, etc.... would be nice for my computer room(no salt=safer for my computers) I like my 10g fresh a lot...I will prolly like a 55g even better!!!

Who says you cant be a freshy and a salty at the same time!!!!!!

one day....i WILL have more tanks then I can keep up myself!!!!!