Converting 12g Eclipse?

[cr500_af]

My freshwater fish are moving into a 20g tank soon, and moving into my daughter's room to be "her" tank.

That will leave me an empty 12g Eclipse that needs a purpose in life.

Thinking about a softie tank, with one, maybe two fish.

Considering that the lights etc are built into the hood, what can I do to make it support soft corals and still retain a clean look? Obviously the lights have to go, but I was thinking of keeping the pump/filter setup and just ditching the biowheel. The flourescent will have to be upgraded, and while not mandatory it would be fantastic if I could fit a ballast where the stock one is.
I don't mind cutting on the top, and I realize I'll have to if I want to fit a skimmer of any sort on there. That's fine as long as the end result looks OK.

It will possibly be going to work with me, so it will have to be run with no sump.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[smoothie]

If it going to work why not make it a planted/softie tank? Macro will help keep the waste levels down to help do away with the need for a skimmer. Water changes just need to be regular as well as testing. You can't go wrong with a blood shrimp and tailspot blenny in my opinion. Mine thinks he is the 3rd firefish and hangs in the water column with them. Fonky monkey

 

[dakota9]

If it's going to be a softie tank, the lighting will probably be fine. How many watts you have in the hood?

 

[jonboyb]

If it's one of the acrylic bowfront models it's only a 13w pc:sad: I use an Eclipse 12 as a standalone fuge for my system and it can barely grow chaeto.

 

[cr500_af]

jonboyb;420054 wrote: If it's one of the acrylic bowfront models it's only a 13w pc:sad: I use an Eclipse 12 as a standalone fuge for my system and it can barely grow chaeto.

That's the one... hence the need to upgrade. I hate to ruin the looks with a light fixture and HOB accessories, but I can if it comes to that. Or maybe just a really nice QT/Hospital tank...

 

[smoothie]

XENIA BLOOD SHRIMP PAIR.
How easy would that be?

 

[cr500_af]

Smoothie;420385 wrote: XENIA BLOOD SHRIMP PAIR.
How easy would that be?

That would be pretty easy... I'd really rather be able to keep some zoanthids happy in it though. Maybe I should leave this tank alone and do the 20g at work... at least I can buy "standard" stuff to fit it.

 

[phil47952]

Maybe I should leave this tank alone and do the 20g at work... at least I can buy "standard" stuff to fit it.[/QUOTE]

Barry, I'd do the 20 and put the 12 in your daughters room, I have an AquaPod 12 that I've upgraded the lights on and I'm going to a 20L just because of the ease of mod's one can do

Phil

 

[dakota9]

I have a 48watts BioCube 14 hood I'm saving for no apparent reason.....

 

[budsreef]

I had an Eclipse 12 and really liked the look, but the practicallity of doing even the simplest maintenance was non-existent. Here was my solution, live rock, Koralia Nano for flow and a light stand built out of PVC painted black. I hung a 20" Current PC fixture above it.

Here is what it looked like:
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="Reef Tank-12G_DSC01822w_12Gal_070802.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[rostato]

Not really what your looking for bit check my sig. That is an eclipse 12 with a halide over it.

 

[lilrobb]

rostato;420991 wrote: Not really what your looking for bit check my sig. That is an eclipse 12 with a halide over it.

You don't have a signature, LOL

 

[rostato]

Weird! I don't know where it went!

Must be because I was on my iPhone!:thumbs::thumbs:

Try now:up:

Second link