Enterprise's Deep Sea Aquatics Neo Nano build

[Enterprise]

After a few less than successful nano tanks I decided I still wanted a small tank in my office, but one that had enough water volume to allow me to leave it alone for a few days. I considered getting a Cadlights Pro X-1 or the new LED JBJ, but in the end I really wanted the top down viewing for clams that this tank provides. After the build those 2 would have been a lot cheaper, but I did get to pick all my equipment.

Once I decided on the Neo Nano, I then had to go literally on a quest to get one. I first saw the tank on Marine Depot, and later I saw it in person in a LFS in Austin, Texas on a overnight. Marine Depot wants over a $1000 for the tank with shipping and the only other online vendor, premium aquatics, stopped being able to get them. I also asked around to three LFSs before the online venture, but they were having a very difficult time even getting pricing. It turns out that Hagen has just become their distributor and since they mainly deal in the freshwater stuff and they had just switched over this was outside of their normal channels. I then sent a e-mail directly to DSA, whom pointed me at the local Hagen reps, whom finally pointed me to Matt, owner of Pets Plus in Londonderry. He deals a lot with Hagen and was able to get me a wonderful deal on the tank with a plumbing kit. After about a week the tank arrived on a pallet and came as follows:

Tank
Black Stand
Sump 18x18x18
Light Hanging Arm (bonus as this was not advertised)
Plumbing Kit (3 bulkheads, 2 lengths of spaflex for overflows, and 1 length of 3/4" tubing for return)

 

[s_kelley]

Sweet looking setup! Maybe i missed it, what are the tank dimensions?

 

[Enterprise]

After the tank showed up it was time to do some shopping. Here is the equipment I decided to get for the tank:

Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite (I already had a Elite for the 120 so I was familiar)
Vertex IN-80 Protein skimmer (It was on sale and is about as big as you can fit into the chamber)
Vortech MP-10 with battery backup (I am gone for days at a time so I need that kind of peace of mind)
Marineland Maxijet 1800 return pump (I had this laying around and I wanted low flow through the volcano)
Stealth 150W heater (Laying around, I actually bought it for $5 from Aquarium Gallery when they were shutting down)
CPR large in tank refugium with Rio pump (I wanted a fuge and this is about the only way to get one in this setup)
Azoo LED light for fuge (It fit well and was on sale at DrsFS)
TLF Phosban reactor (I stole this from my 120, I wanted a BRS one, but it does not fit in the stand)
Maxijet 600 for the TLF reactor
Azoo fan (I plan to have clams and the lighting may lead to heat issues)

And finally at the moment while the tank is cycling I am using a 30" current 2 bulb T5 light from my QT setup. I am waiting for a month or so to get the permanent light fixture so this is just to cycle the tank.

 

[Enterprise]

Tank dimensions are 24"Lx24"Wx14"H. I just filled it with water and it holds around 34-36 gallons, I guess hence it's name Neo Nano 34.

 

[s_kelley]

Got me drooling, cant wait to see it all set up!! Keep the pics coming.

 

[Enterprise]

After all the stuff arrived in a procession of boxes from a lot of different vendors I proceeded to wire the tank up. There were a lot of Black Friday sales online so I saved at least 10% on everything and in some cases a lot more. I got a 4 switch DJ bar from Amazon for the front of the tank and I used 2 PC4s. These three are plugged into a shock buster with a built in GFI. the Vortech and it's battery are plugging into a different outlet. I am no pro at electical wiring but I tried my best to keep it clean and the wires bundled.

I wired a small florescent from Walmart to the top of the stand to work on the sump (thanks for the idea Bobby). That, the return pump, the media reactor pump, and the future ATO are wired into the DJ bar.

The lighting is on one PC4 and the heater, skimmer, and fuge are on the other.

This took a while to plan out as their is very little space once you put the sump into the stand. It is huge.

I wanted to put the Vortech battery in there and it will fit, but only after the sump is in there and I will have no way to secure it. It will just sit on the floor and I don't want to risk water damage, so it will leave it outside. At least it looks pretty and I'll probably screw it into the left side of the stand.

 

[Enterprise]

This morning I finally put water in it and I hooked the plumbing up yesterday. I filled it with RO/DI and I'll let it run for 2 days as I have a trip tomorrow and I don't want be testing the system with salt water while I am away. The next step will be aquascaping. I already have 40 lbs of Australian Gold sand and that will probably go in early next week. I have tried 2 types of black sand in the past and the magnetic bits drive me crazy.

I still have not decided on what fish to have as this shallow tank brings up a lot of challenges. I would really like to have a pair of Mandarins in there, but even with the fuge I really need them to take prepared food.

 

[bigdog]

thats a cool setup u have going there what are u doing 4 coral

 

[FOXYB]

Looking sweet what's the black wall behind the tank?

 

[saltwaterB]

that's how they come, with a black acrylic back plate.
Really nice setup. We will have one going at the shop soon.

 

[Doherty]

Really nice! Can't wait to see it full of life!

 

[Jennifer]

Very nice setup, good job keeping it all nice and tidy.

Yea that tall acrylic back has me a bit curious, what is it's purpose being that high?

 

[Bobbofin]

I'm bit concerned about the fuge inside the return area. It doesn't leave a lot extra water for evaporation. If you are going to top it off daily it would be fine but I know you go away for days at a time. Hopefully you'll get the ATO hooked up relatively quick.

 

[Enterprise]

I have a aqualifter on a float switch from my last nano. I just need to fix the holder. The back is actually glass that has a black treatment. You can see it from the side. The volcano is some sort of plastic. The overflows are acrylic. I am planning on doing clams, SPS and acans.

 

[Enterprise]

Update

Here is what it looked like after I added the rock work.

 

[Enterprise]

And here is what it looks like today. I am using it as sort of a frag tank as well as a place for my clams which it was built for. Eventually I want to do a sort of theme tank with something like a rainbow of SPS with the brightest of each color.

These are one that I already have (or soon will), I am up for suggestions.

Blue=ultimate blue stag, blueberry, oregon blue tort, cali tort, palmer's blue mile, too many choices.
Red=red planet
Yellow=yellow porites, yellow candlestick, or pink lemonade (if it colors up better)
Green=green slimer
Purple=I guess purple monster, but I have a tri-color that is a very nice purple.
Orange=orange digi
White=pearlberry
Pink=pink birdsnest

I have a frag of Greg Hiller's aquadelight for something nice
I want to add Ice Fire Echinata but I have only found it in one place on the net.

On top of this I am thinking of doing another rainbow on the right side of acans in the lower flow area.

 

[mchartier]

You could look at the Purple Plasma also for purple, faster grower than the Purple Monster.

Beautiful setup, love the clams.

 

[AF1]

Holy smokes...you must have quite the office! Nice setup!

 

[Jeff.:P]

very nice, love it. more pics~!

 

[Enterprise]

I have a purple plasma I got from FoxyB, but it is not that purple at the moment, more green. Probaly just my tank as it is in the back of the frag rack.

I debated long and hard about getting a Cadlights tank instead but I love the open top for the clams. Ironically I spend way more time in the living room with the main tank on the laptop than in the office.