New pico setup for son (1 Viewer)

[cichlidtx]

My son decided he wanted to setup a pico, so we found a 5.5gel tank and away we go. I made a base and canopy for it last weekend and painted and polyurethaned this week. He wants to do a simple softie setup so we will going with a 2x24W PC lighting setup and a hangon filter. Here a few pics of the progress.

FTS

canopy

side view

base

 

[Rotarymagic]

You don't think those PCs will heat up such a small tank? You could probably fab up something with LEDs for just a few bucks more and it would provide more light with way less heat. It just looks very enclosed so it might trap heat hardcore.

 

[cichlidtx]

Good point. I plan on adding a couple computer fans on the back to draw the heat out of the canopy. I considered an LED project but no money at this time, my son is in his second year of college. I already have the PC bulbs and connectors, only need to buy a ballast.

 

[Rotarymagic]

Yeah those fans are a good idea for sure. Well if you already have most of the parts for the lighting its hard to justify the expense of LEDs, but its a great option in the future for sps in a nano.

 

[galvezsurfer33]

thats what i did!!!

 

[galvezsurfer33]

thats what i did!!! and it acts as my night lighting with the blue leds that are built into my fan

 

[cichlidtx]

Nice idea, I may have to look for an LED fan and mount it on the side of the canopy draw air out.

 

[galvezsurfer33]

Fry's 9.99 with a two dollar mail in rebate!!! whoop!

 

[cichlidtx]

Thanks. How bright is it? Do you have any pics of your tank with it on.

 

[galvezsurfer33]

ill get some pics of it tonight. my mom has been nagging to see it so this will finally motivate me to take some... and its a 120mm

 

[cichlidtx]

Looking forward to seeing them.

 

[cichlidtx]

Update on progress

Well with the weather being bad, I decided to head out to the garage and work on the pico. I was going to order a 2x24w ballast but because I'm monetarily challenged right now, I decided to try a $3.00 ballast write-up that I seen on NR. Well enough talk here some pics of what I accomplished today. Please post comments or concerns.

Thanks,

Bulb connetors and reflective foil.

23W ballast for $2.00

Birdsnest wiring in gang box. 2x ballast, $4.00

We have light. Need to make some clips to hold the end of the bulbs in plsce.

Back of tank showing gang box, filter, and fan using an old cell phone charger.

FTS. I will be adding a background soon with black felt.

Hood opened W/ lights on

 

[FISHSTICK]

Nice Kevin!

 

[cichlidtx]

Thanks Mike. Now all I need to do now is get some LR and add water.

 

[cichlidtx]

Cycle begins

Well we have water, LS, and LR. We picked some LR yesterday from 3CC and it looks great. They even hooked us up with some water and LS from one of their frag tanks to help shorten our cycle. There is roughly 5lbs, were going to add more so we can create a rock pyramid on one side. Here's a couple pics, the rocks were just placed in the tank, not scaped yet. Thanks again to 3CC. Let me know what you think.

After LS and LR added.

This morning, cleared up nice. There's a water line residue from previuos owner, we tryed to clean it but it wouldn't come off. Hopefully it will come off over time when cleaning. It's really not that noticeable in person.

 

[decimal]

very nice... does anyone know of a good way to clean that water line? i have a nice tank that has the same line and i have not been able to get it off (tried vinegar no luck)

 

[3CC]

Looking good

But we need an updated photo. I know you have more rock

 

[cichlidtx]

very nice... does anyone know of a good way to clean that water line? i have a nice tank that has the same line and i have not been able to get it off (tried vinegar no luck)

Once I added the salt to the water and it was all mixed, the line wiped right off.

 

[Slayer311]

I had the same line on my 180g, once it was full just used a razor blade gently and it scraped off perfectly, don't use razor blade though unless it is a glass tank, acrylic will sratch

 

[aqua-nut]

I have a very similar nano setup. 18 inch cube but with 2-96 PC's in it.

The lighting is great, but the heat (even with two computer fans) is too much and I had to keep the lid propped open when the tank was up and running.

I added an iceprobe chiller but that didn't do much of anything. Might have knocked it down one degree or so.

LED's sounds like the way to go should I set it back up. Right now it's torn down and in my warehouse.