M1's 32 gallon M-Tank pics

m1a1fan · 12/10/2005, 01:52 PM

Just thought I'd share a few pics of my new 32 gallon M-Tank. The tank has been up for less than a month but is cycled and doing great.

Coraline is growing like crazy. Livestock so far is....

1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
25 Blue Leg Hermets
10 Astraea Snails
2 True Percula Clowns (Amphiprion percula)

Two more fish will complete the lineup (several weeks away), a sixline wrasse and a Yellow Watchman Goby or a Firefish (not sure which yet).

Pics below......

Today's editions

Eagerly waiting for the Clowns

The shrimp hung around the bag the entire time the Clowns were acclimating.

Ky_Yaker · 12/10/2005, 02:07 PM

Very clean looking. I like it!!

Dubbin1 · 12/10/2005, 02:11 PM

Looking good!!!

lavith · 12/10/2005, 02:13 PM

new tank always looks clean and free of algae.

andycook · 12/10/2005, 02:43 PM

What camera and lense? Nice pictures.

simion3 · 12/10/2005, 02:53 PM

Looks awesome!

m1a1fan · 12/10/2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by andycook
What camera and lense? Nice pictures.

Thanks everyone for the kind words!

andycook-

Camera is a Nikon COOLPIX 3200. I love this camera, I bought is as a refurb and it's worked great. Pictures it takes are stunning.

CrazyLionfish · 12/10/2005, 04:36 PM

How'd you get everything so clean and there is like 0 nuisance algae whatsoever in there!

SDguy · 12/10/2005, 07:47 PM

Beautiful clowns!

m1a1fan · 12/11/2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrazyLionfish
How'd you get everything so clean and there is like 0 nuisance algae whatsoever in there!

I just stay on top of the maintenance. Granted, this tank is less than a month old but I never had an algae problem with my 55 when it was up and running either.

jman77 · 12/11/2005, 12:27 PM

Nice tank !!

Is that a DIY stank that you fleck stoned ?

m1a1fan · 12/11/2005, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jman77
Nice tank !!

Is that a DIY stank that you fleck stoned ?

Thanks!

Yep, I took apart the stand I had for the 55 and built a new stand for the M-Tank. The fleck stone sprayed on really well and is durable once I sealed it.

Here's a pic of the stand...

Ryan

elephen · 12/11/2005, 02:14 PM

Nice looking clowns.

m1a1fan · 12/19/2005, 07:08 PM

Here are some updated pictures as of 12/19/05

I added the following...

1 Green open brain
1 Toadstool Leather
1 Yellow Polyp Colony
1 Xena (soon to be many xena)

CrazyLionfish · 12/19/2005, 07:37 PM

Yeah I never had a problem with algae in my 75 gallon or 12 gallon but with my 40 gallon with the very intense lighting, I'm having a problem!

SDguy · 12/19/2005, 08:12 PM

You might want to research the open brain some...I'm pretty sure it prefers to be on the sand. Looking good!

Quote:

Originally posted by m1a1fan
Here are some updated pictures as of 12/19/05

I added the following...

1 Green open brain
1 Toadstool Leather
1 Yellow Polyp Colony
1 Xena (soon to be many xena)

m1a1fan · 12/19/2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
You might want to research the open brain some...I'm pretty sure it prefers to be on the sand. Looking good!

Yep, the research I did before I bought the Brain indicated that the best spot in the tank was on the bottom in the sand. Many of the articles that I read stated that this was to keep the coral from falling off of the rocks and landing upside down.

I have mine epoxy sticked in place so it's not going anywhere. I didn't place it on the sand due to the fact that I plan on adding a Yellow Watchman Goby which likes to make burrows and I risk the Goby spitting sand all over the open brain and stressing it.

I had a Green Open Brain in my 55 when it was up and had the Coral up high on the rocks and it did great. I hope this Coral does as well....

Thanks for your input!

SDguy · 12/19/2005, 09:08 PM

Judging from the way you placed it so none of it's tissue would touch rock, even when really expanded, I figured you did your research. Awesome

So you plan on getting a goby/shrimp pair, or just the goby?

m1a1fan · 12/19/2005, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the reply, I was planning a Goby / Shrimp pair but I'm not sure that my cleaner shrimp wouldn't have a problem with him.

I know that the pistol shrimp would stay in the burrow most if not all of the time so maybe it wouldn't be an issue. Plus, he's got the Goby to defend him.

SDguy · 12/19/2005, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by m1a1fan
Thanks for the reply, I was planning a Goby / Shrimp pair but I'm not sure that my cleaner shrimp wouldn't have a problem with him.

I know that the pistol shrimp would stay in the burrow most if not all of the time so maybe it wouldn't be an issue. Plus, he's got the Goby to defend him.

I have a goby/pistol pair. Had a cleaner shrimp for a year with them...no prob (until my pseudochromis decided to rip off the cleaner's body parts). Anyways, just a warning....those shrimp move A LOT of sand. I hope those rocks are on some sort of PVC supports or something under the sand, otherwise things will start falling.

m1a1fan · 12/20/2005, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
I have a goby/pistol pair. Had a cleaner shrimp for a year with them...no prob (until my pseudochromis decided to rip off the cleaner's body parts). Anyways, just a warning....those shrimp move A LOT of sand. I hope those rocks are on some sort of PVC supports or something under the sand, otherwise things will start falling.

Ya, the goby and shrimp may not be the best idea. I don't want them tunneling under the rock and weaken things. The last thing I want is to come home to corals smashed under the rocks and a scratched up tank.

Right now, the next fish on my list is a Sixline Wrasse. I will only add one more fish after that. I'm keeping my limit at 4 fish.

Khai · 12/31/2005, 05:49 AM

Just curious...how do you like you M-tank? Does it look like you could add a sump to the overall setup?

m1a1fan · 12/31/2005, 11:48 AM

So far it's not bad. You could add a sump to the setup but it would require some thought to get it right. I was going to add one but didn't feel like putting the time and money into it. By the time I added a sump, pump, and return / intake lines, I might as well upgrade the tank to something that is designed with an internal overflow and used with a sump setup.

The tank setup is similar to the Sea Clear System II setups with the filtration system integrated into the back of the tank behind a false wall.

The tank is "somewhat" easy to maintain and the skimmer works really well.

The stock lighting is a bit lacking at only 110W but I upgraded that to 192W of PC before I started the tank. I think Finnex offers an M-Tank with HQI lighting now. I will upgrade to a Halide lighting system sometime in the near future (if I don't upgrade the whole tank first

)

I'm not a big fan of those rain trays either. In order to remove them you have to disconnect the return pump which makes changing filter media a hassle. I only run two of the four rain trays and of those two only the top one uses a 100 micron filter cloth that I can easily change when it gets dirty. The other sits empty. I run carbon in a media bag in the skimmer compartment.

The bottom line; If I did it all over, I'd skip the M-Tank and get something in acrylic with an internal overflow that could be connected to a sump underneath the tank.

I miss having my 55 with the hang on overflow and the Marineland Tidepool underneath the tank. It was so much easier to work on.

Khai · 01/02/2006, 07:09 AM

I think I'm going to get one, hopefully with upgraded lighting and a closed loop

(If things go well at least).

m1a1fan · 01/02/2006, 08:05 PM

Give it a try

I'm thinking of upgrading in the somewhat near future.

12/10/2005, 01:52 PM	#1
m1a1fan Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 253	M1's 32 gallon M-Tank pics Just thought I'd share a few pics of my new 32 gallon M-Tank. The tank has been up for less than a month but is cycled and doing great. Coraline is growing like crazy. Livestock so far is.... 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) 25 Blue Leg Hermets 10 Astraea Snails 2 True Percula Clowns (Amphiprion percula) Two more fish will complete the lineup (several weeks away), a sixline wrasse and a Yellow Watchman Goby or a Firefish (not sure which yet). Pics below...... Today's editions Eagerly waiting for the Clowns The shrimp hung around the bag the entire time the Clowns were acclimating.

12/10/2005, 02:07 PM	#2
Ky_Yaker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 312	Very clean looking. I like it!! __________________ To err is human. To really mess things up, you need a computer.

12/10/2005, 02:43 PM	#5
andycook Shai Dorsai! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Urbana, Illinois Posts: 1,841	What camera and lense? Nice pictures. __________________ Look for me on UNTAPPD Current Tank Info: FW: 65g 20g 5g

12/10/2005, 04:36 PM	#8
CrazyLionfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: IL Posts: 1,627	How'd you get everything so clean and there is like 0 nuisance algae whatsoever in there! __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon fowlr, 12 gallon, 40 gallon reef

12/10/2005, 07:47 PM	#9
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Beautiful clowns! __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

12/10/2005, 02:11 PM	#3
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Looking good!!!

12/10/2005, 02:13 PM	#4
lavith Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Saigon, Vietnam Posts: 133	new tank always looks clean and free of algae.

12/10/2005, 02:53 PM	#6
simion3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 238	Looks awesome!

12/11/2005, 12:27 PM	#11
jman77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 2,391	Nice tank !! Is that a DIY stank that you fleck stoned ?

12/11/2005, 02:14 PM	#13
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	Nice looking clowns.

12/19/2005, 07:08 PM	#14
m1a1fan Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 253	Some Updated Pics... Here are some updated pictures as of 12/19/05 I added the following... 1 Green open brain 1 Toadstool Leather 1 Yellow Polyp Colony 1 Xena (soon to be many xena)

12/19/2005, 07:37 PM	#15
CrazyLionfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: IL Posts: 1,627	Yeah I never had a problem with algae in my 75 gallon or 12 gallon but with my 40 gallon with the very intense lighting, I'm having a problem! __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon fowlr, 12 gallon, 40 gallon reef

12/19/2005, 09:08 PM	#18
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Judging from the way you placed it so none of it's tissue would touch rock, even when really expanded, I figured you did your research. Awesome So you plan on getting a goby/shrimp pair, or just the goby? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

12/19/2005, 09:19 PM	#19
m1a1fan Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 253	Thanks for the reply, I was planning a Goby / Shrimp pair but I'm not sure that my cleaner shrimp wouldn't have a problem with him. I know that the pistol shrimp would stay in the burrow most if not all of the time so maybe it wouldn't be an issue. Plus, he's got the Goby to defend him.

12/31/2005, 05:49 AM	#22
Khai Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 313	Just curious...how do you like you M-tank? Does it look like you could add a sump to the overall setup?

12/31/2005, 11:48 AM	#23
m1a1fan Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 253	So far it's not bad. You could add a sump to the setup but it would require some thought to get it right. I was going to add one but didn't feel like putting the time and money into it. By the time I added a sump, pump, and return / intake lines, I might as well upgrade the tank to something that is designed with an internal overflow and used with a sump setup. The tank setup is similar to the Sea Clear System II setups with the filtration system integrated into the back of the tank behind a false wall. The tank is "somewhat" easy to maintain and the skimmer works really well. The stock lighting is a bit lacking at only 110W but I upgraded that to 192W of PC before I started the tank. I think Finnex offers an M-Tank with HQI lighting now. I will upgrade to a Halide lighting system sometime in the near future (if I don't upgrade the whole tank first ) I'm not a big fan of those rain trays either. In order to remove them you have to disconnect the return pump which makes changing filter media a hassle. I only run two of the four rain trays and of those two only the top one uses a 100 micron filter cloth that I can easily change when it gets dirty. The other sits empty. I run carbon in a media bag in the skimmer compartment. The bottom line; If I did it all over, I'd skip the M-Tank and get something in acrylic with an internal overflow that could be connected to a sump underneath the tank. I miss having my 55 with the hang on overflow and the Marineland Tidepool underneath the tank. It was so much easier to work on.

01/02/2006, 07:09 AM	#24
Khai Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 313	I think I'm going to get one, hopefully with upgraded lighting and a closed loop (If things go well at least).

01/02/2006, 08:05 PM	#25
m1a1fan Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 253	Give it a try I'm thinking of upgrading in the somewhat near future.