5.5G Mantis Nano

k-dawg- · 01-17-2008, 07:20 PM

I've been planning a 5.5G mantis only nano tank for a while. I took a standard AGA 5.5G added a false wall divided into two sections, one is for a mini fuge, and the other hold the return pump (mini jet 606) and heater. Then I built a matching stand and canopy stained to my bedroom furniture. In the canopy i mounted 6x 12" cold cathode tubes (4 white 2 blue) over the main area and 2x 4" white cold cathodes over the fuge. Cold cathodes are normally used to light custom pc cases. The tank will house a N. Wennerae mantis as well as some select soft corals and macro algae. Basically I'm trying to recreate a south Florida bay flat biotope with macro algae (caluerpa, halimeda, sea lettuce, etc..) and some mushrooms, zoas.

k-dawg- · 01-17-2008, 07:21 PM

design phase:

k-dawg- · 01-17-2008, 07:21 PM

building phase:

k-dawg- · 01-17-2008, 07:23 PM

completed:

s13 · 01-18-2008, 10:25 AM

Looking good man, where are you planning on getting your wennerae from?

Ricker · 01-18-2008, 10:37 AM

Looks real good

k-dawg- · 01-22-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s13

Looking good man, where are you planning on getting your wennerae from?

There is one at my lfs and hopefully it won't be sold, but my back up plan is stomatopod.com

k-dawg- · 01-23-2008, 03:51 PM

quick update: (excuse the crappy pictures)

Left side:

Front:

Right side:

s13 · 01-23-2008, 06:00 PM

That came out really nice man, keep us updated!

k-dawg- · 01-23-2008, 06:29 PM

thanks man, I will!

**Scuba Kid** · 01-24-2008, 01:16 PM

Kevin, that tank looks awesome! Its so beautiful with the macro algae.

Def keep us posted!

k-dawg- · 01-24-2008, 05:43 PM

thanks Katie. Ya I really like the look of some plants in a reef tank, I dont know why many consider it taboo to keep macro (In the display).

CollegeReefer · 01-24-2008, 05:56 PM

I am going to have to turn a 5 gallon into a tank like that. I love the false wall and well i have been wanting a mantis tank for a while now.

k-dawg- · 01-24-2008, 06:26 PM

thank you! The false wall turned out better than i expected and wasn't too hard to make, the hardest part was cutting the overflow which I did with a dremel. Just make sure you have small hands, I can just barely fit mine into the 3.5"x4" sections.

karazy · 02-17-2008, 09:08 PM

we need updates!

**TheOldSalt** · 02-18-2008, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k-dawg-

thanks Katie. Ya I really like the look of some plants in a reef tank, I dont know why many consider it taboo to keep macro (In the display).

Heh,heh.. you'll probably find out soon enough.

CollegeReefer · 02-18-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Heh,heh.. you'll probably find out soon enough.

Shouldn't be too bad with just the mantis and no corals. Just make sure to keep harvesting.

karazy · 02-18-2008, 03:18 PM

what program do you use to make those litle diagrams of your tank like at the start of this thread

**Scuba Kid** · 02-18-2008, 06:58 PM

I believe Kevin used Google Sketchup. You can download it for free. Its hard to get used to though....I tried to use it to plan out my 150 gallon and I didn't really have the patience to get used to it. lol

predator · 02-18-2008, 08:36 PM

looks like google sketchup to me too... I use CAD software every day at work and sketchup sucks... if it took me 10 hours in sketch up it would tank me like 30 minutes in Catia...

-me

01-17-2008, 07:20 PM	#1
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	5.5G Mantis Nano I've been planning a 5.5G mantis only nano tank for a while. I took a standard AGA 5.5G added a false wall divided into two sections, one is for a mini fuge, and the other hold the return pump (mini jet 606) and heater. Then I built a matching stand and canopy stained to my bedroom furniture. In the canopy i mounted 6x 12" cold cathode tubes (4 white 2 blue) over the main area and 2x 4" white cold cathodes over the fuge. Cold cathodes are normally used to light custom pc cases. The tank will house a N. Wennerae mantis as well as some select soft corals and macro algae. Basically I'm trying to recreate a south Florida bay flat biotope with macro algae (caluerpa, halimeda, sea lettuce, etc..) and some mushrooms, zoas. __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-17-2008, 07:21 PM	#2
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	design phase: __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-17-2008, 07:21 PM	#3
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	building phase: __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-17-2008, 07:23 PM	#4
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	completed: __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-18-2008, 10:25 AM	#5
s13 After ye booty Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pensacola, Florida Age: 19 Posts: 153	Looking good man, where are you planning on getting your wennerae from? __________________

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01-18-2008, 10:37 AM	#6
Ricker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 19 Posts: 514	Looks real good

01-23-2008, 03:51 PM	#8
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	quick update: (excuse the crappy pictures) Left side: Front: Right side: __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-23-2008, 06:00 PM	#9
s13 After ye booty Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pensacola, Florida Age: 19 Posts: 153	That came out really nice man, keep us updated! __________________

01-23-2008, 06:29 PM	#10
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	thanks man, I will! __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-24-2008, 01:16 PM	#11
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,169	Kevin, that tank looks awesome! Its so beautiful with the macro algae. Def keep us posted! __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

01-24-2008, 05:43 PM	#12
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	thanks Katie. Ya I really like the look of some plants in a reef tank, I dont know why many consider it taboo to keep macro (In the display). __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

01-24-2008, 05:56 PM	#13
CollegeReefer Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Stevens Pont, Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 386	I am going to have to turn a 5 gallon into a tank like that. I love the false wall and well i have been wanting a mantis tank for a while now. __________________ CollegeReefer

01-24-2008, 06:26 PM	#14
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	thank you! The false wall turned out better than i expected and wasn't too hard to make, the hardest part was cutting the overflow which I did with a dremel. Just make sure you have small hands, I can just barely fit mine into the 3.5"x4" sections. __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

02-17-2008, 09:08 PM	#15
karazy bammin like salmon Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 563	we need updates! __________________

02-18-2008, 03:18 PM	#18
karazy bammin like salmon Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 563	what program do you use to make those litle diagrams of your tank like at the start of this thread __________________

02-18-2008, 06:58 PM	#19
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,169	I believe Kevin used Google Sketchup. You can download it for free. Its hard to get used to though....I tried to use it to plan out my 150 gallon and I didn't really have the patience to get used to it. lol __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

02-18-2008, 08:36 PM	#20
predator Pirates get all the booty Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR Age: 25 Posts: 224	looks like google sketchup to me too... I use CAD software every day at work and sketchup sucks... if it took me 10 hours in sketch up it would tank me like 30 minutes in Catia... -me __________________ He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

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