blennieluvr's dual nano build

[blennieluvr]

I started dreaming of this tank Spring of 2013. I thought about it while continuing to work on my 75g tank which I had just moved to a new house Fall of 2012. It wasn't until December 2013 that I contacted a friend and asked him if he would build the stand for me.

My original idea:

I had wanted my NPS corals in the top tank and DSB with seagrass in the lower. However, before this build was completed, I decided to take down the 75g as it no longer interested me. That way, I could focus on the dual nano build. This also meant, the dual setup would have to house my favorite LPS corals that I couldn't bare to part with. So...the seagrass part of the plan, has not happened. I replaced those with macros for now.

Here's the stand being built.

and

 

[blennieluvr]

My friend who build the stand also did a bean animal overflow for me.

 

[blennieluvr]

And then, it all came home so I could take it from there.

It took me a long time to stain and poly it as it was a cold, nasty winter here in MN last year and it lasted forever.

 

[blennieluvr]

Summer got busy and progress slowed even more. It wasn't until Fall 2014 that I got it all put together. Thankfully, I was putting nearly all live rock, etc in it so it was ready to go in no time.

Top tank which will house NPS, watchman goby and shrimp (I have not seen the shrimp but I have heard it! ) It only had a bit of livestock in it last fall and actually, still doesn't have much in it. Soon though....

Bottom tank early pics

 

[blennieluvr]

Reaquascaped in December so it looked like this:

 

[blennieluvr]

I just redid the scape a couple of weeks ago as I didn't really care for the "two towers" look. It is a 55g tank on the bottom and I knew it would be a challenge to aquascape. I thought I was up to the challenge but it has proved very frustrating!




Oh..I almost forgot the star of the show. Here is my 1 fish in the lower tank. I figure he's the one guy that will leave my macros and bugs alone so it can still be somewhat of a "fuge".

Can you see him there? He was reddish but is now mainly black. He's an angler and he's a keeper! He's very fun to have. However, one thing I have been missing in this set up is some swimming action. I had been leary of fish in the upper tank as I don't want more critters stealing food from my NPS corals. The lower tank, of course, is best with the angler to himself. I'm going to try a firefish and a pair of bangaii above. Hopefully, they will just eat out of the water column and leave the corals alone. My watchman never steals from them but my shrimp and crabs do! (I have a porcelain and boxer.)

 

[blennieluvr]

Next projects:
*add a LED light
*add my filter sock back in...miss it and I have to clean out my sump with every water change because detritus builds up in it
*go back through my wires and organize them somehow - I have such a small stand and my wires are a mess.
*get some more goodies - livestock wise

 

[hectat2]

Nice work

 

[blennieluvr]

Thanks Hectat2. I realized I never stated that both upper and lower tanks are 20g. The lower is a 55g and half of it is display and half of it holds the return pump and an extra chamber for a skimmer if I decide to run one.

 

[the-10th-planet]

I like it. Any pics with the door open?

 

[blennieluvr]

I can take some this eve.

 

[blennieluvr]

OK. So, no I'm really embarrassed but hey, you asked for a pic of the inside of the stand and I'm going to deliver. I am posting this up as well because I know it will motivate me to get to work organizing cords, cutting down tubing, etc. I have filter socks on their way from BRS so that right compartment will soon house a sock and I have a small tunze skimmer for if I need it need it one day. So far, it is doing OK without.

 

[blennieluvr]

I cleaned up the sump just after the nano contest but just got to posting a pic now. My next project is securing the corals and adding fish to the upper tank. The sexy shrimp will soon go to a new home too. They pick in my NPS too much.