Recently, I replaced the small nano on my desk that held my Flaming Prawn Gobies and Sexy Shrimp with a new nano tank to give them a bit more swimming room. The new tank is a 6.5G acrylic tank from PetCo. I drilled it and plumbed it to the sump I was using on my 55G when I took down the 55 last week end. I took a few pictures of the new tank and some of the inhabitants in the tank and thought I would share here. I'm using a Sunpod 150W HQI with a 20K bulb for lighting the tank.

Full tank shot:

http://www.georgia-birding.com/new-nano-003-tank-shot.jpg

The star of the show: my Flaming Prawn Gobies

http://www.georgia-birding.com/nano-04-07-09-035.jpg

Sexy Shrimp on Frogspawn

http://www.georgia-birding.com/nano-04-07-09-006.jpg

Sexy Shrimp closeup

http://www.georgia-birding.com/nano-04-07-09-008.jpg

Sexy on Flower Pot Coral

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-013.jpg

Blue Clove Polyps

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-026.jpg

Sexy on Montipora

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-015.jpg

Zoanthids

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-027.jpg

Sexy Shrimp on Blue-tipped Purple Hairy Mushroom

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-033.jpg

Galaxia

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-030.jpg

Frogspawn

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-029.jpg

Final desk shot!

http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-043.jpg

Bob, that is very cool. I can't wait to see it in person!

Very nice........ And Sexy

WOW! All that in a 6.5g tank?!?!?! Looks stunning and the tank looks much larger. I know the goby is loving his new palace!

Did you move your desk around to face the big tank? :D

Bob that is beautiful.

Can't believe that's only 6.5 gallons! I think that may be a record for most "sexy"s in one post!

WOW! All that in a 6.5g tank?!?!?! Looks stunning and the tank looks much larger. I know the goby is loving his new palace!

Did you move your desk around to face the big tank? :D

Hehehe! That's what macro lenses are for! They make little frags look huge! The two gobies seem happy but they have been a bit more skittish and I think they are still adapting to the new tank. I gave them some more caves and hiding spots which I think they like but I tend to see them less right now. I think they will be out more when they get used to the new tank. The sexies love the new tank and hang out on the back wall all day waving their little butts at each other... a new slant on dirty dancing!

How did you make the back wall very nice :)

Clint,

I used the black spray foam for ponds... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9232
I wanted to give the gobies a few caves and could not fit much rock in the tank, so I carved them out of the foam background. I think it will look good when it starts to get some coraline growing and the zoas start to spread on the back too. So far as I can tell, no side effects from the foam. I let it soak in water for a few days emptied, soaked again, and then filled it with the new salt water. My skimmer kept working while I had it plumbed up so I figured it would be safe to move the fish and corals.
I have an extra can, brand new, if any one wants it for cost.

whats the cost

Looks really cool, I like the background. Looks more like a 20 gal. Guess its like they say the camera adds 15lbs.....or should i say gallons in this case.:D

thats sweet

Thats nuts!

I cant believe its only 6.5 gallons. How big is your sump and what size plumbing?

i LOVE that tank!!

Thats nuts!

I cant believe its only 6.5 gallons. How big is your sump and what size plumbing?

Ha. yep, actually the sump is probably three times the size of the tank. I think it holds about 20G. I'm running 1.5" bulkhead to the sump and 3/4" bulkhead for the return. The return pump is a MJ1200 and I have a Coralife Skimmer (165?) since this was previously on my 55G. I keep all the liverock in the sump and I think I need a bit more water movement through the sump to make sure I am getting good filtration. Eventually, I will plumb the nano to the 70G goby pairs tank, but I need to move things around to get the plumbing to reach with out having to long a run.
I do like the way it turned out and I think as it matures it will really be a cool little tank.

Love the way that monti cap is shaped like a clam's mantle.

I think I see a monkey skull in your full tank shot / rock work?

Looks really cool, I like the background. Looks more like a 20 gal. Guess its like they say the camera adds 15lbs.....or should i say gallons in this case.:D

I love that! LMAO ... good one.

thats sweet

i LOVE that tank!!

Thanks guys!

Bob

What are the dimensions of the tank?

You gave me a great idea.

Bob

What are the dimensions of the tank?

You gave me a great idea.

Carl,
The tanks dims are 24" X 7" X 9" but it has a slight bow front to 8" wide in the center. Here is a pic of what it looked like out of the box, so to speak.

http://www.georgia-birding.com/Reef-gobies-12-31-08-052.jpg

The plastic plants, rocks and background are for sale in my other thread :D jk.

Looks good. What is up with teh 1st pic? It looks surreal. Very nice.

Do you give tours?

I've seen this tank up close. Pictures don't do it justice. The *rock* wall is very clever. Bob is definitely one of the ARC *innovators.*


http://www.georgia-birding.com/NAno-reef-04-06-09-043.jpg

I'm definately going to try that rock wall technique. Its awesome, looks good ad take the "what to do with the coraline one the back wall problem completely out of the equation.

Only you can get a tank to look so big when it's that size! Gorgeous. I love the Sexies! And of course your FPG!

Do you give tours?

Any time you are in the neighborhood come on by!
BZ

nice tank. hey jw what kind of shrimp is that

nice tank. hey jw what kind of shrimp is that

They are Sexy Anemone Shrimp. There are five of them in the tank

I LOVED your nano. Yes, gorgeous tank! Even better than pictures...

I LOVED your nano. Yes, gorgeous tank! Even better than pictures...

Thanks Alison! Trying to decide if I want to put two of the Greenbanded Gobies in the tank with the Spikefin Gobies. I think they would get along ok.
Bob