Nano advice

[NateHanson]

I'm still not ready to give up the time and money required to build the 70g cube I've been considering, and since I see house projects and boat projects taking precedent over a major reef for a while, I got to thinking today about trying a nano. It would take less time and money, and would give me something new to try. I think those wee little SPS tanks are pretty cool.

A 10 seems too big to me, so maybe something like a 5g or 7 bow, with a foam "rock" wall in the back, something like a Tunze Nano skimmer, and enough light for SPS. (Not sure what that would be).

Can anyone with nano experience give me some input or advice? What light would you recommend? What's the best skimmer? How about the tank systems with a dividing wall in the back for equipment? Any of those worth looking at?

 

[ab420]

I'm still not ready to give up the time and money required to build the 70g cube I've been considering, and since I see house projects and boat projects taking precedent over a major reef for a while, I got to thinking today about trying a nano. It would take less time and money, and would give me something new to try. I think those wee little SPS tanks are pretty cool.

A 10 seems too big to me, so maybe something like a 5g or 7 bow, with a foam "rock" wall in the back, something like a Tunze Nano skimmer, and enough light for SPS. (Not sure what that would be).

Can anyone with nano experience give me some input or advice? What light would you recommend? What's the best skimmer? How about the tank systems with a dividing wall in the back for equipment? Any of those worth looking at?

I had a 10 gallon and moved up to a 20 gallon. What I can tell you is:

you know the saying that only bad things happen fast in a reef tank?

It's a LOT more true with a nano tank. Evaporation can be pretty bad... I've had more than 1/2 gallon evaporate out of that 10 gallon in a single day. If you forget to add top off water for a few days, you're in trouble.

I've seen a single astrea snail die, and cause a significant rise in nitrates.

Heat is another big issue, especially if you want to do SPS, as they will need a lot of light.

Now that I have a 20 gallon, I find myself "tinkering" with things a lot less.

At one point, I had a 1/2 gallon pico vase set up with yellow polyps, some orange palys, green tree leather and capnella, and I had to top off the water 2-3 times a day to keep it in check.

While it's true that nano tanks have smaller water changes, I find there's more minor tweaks being done, and I monitor the levels in the tank far more, because when it starts going bad, you have very little time to deal with it in such a small tank.

NOW.... don't let me scare you... I just wanted to put that stuff out there, because when I first started, the fish store said, "Yes a 10 gallon would be far easier than a larger tank..." and now, I don't believe that for a second.

 

[NateHanson]

Yeah, I don't expect a small tank to be less challenging than what I've done in the past. But I'm hoping for something that takes less time and money to set up. I'd like to avoid all the building and plumbing and lugging and fixing. The running maintenance doesn't concern me as much. In part I'm looking for the challenge of getting a small system to thrive.

 

[Dragon2115]

I have a 14g Biocube and I'd have to say it's ok. The biggest problem I found with it was it's susceptability to changes in room temperature due to the small volume. I ended putting a Pacific Coast solid state heater/chiller on the tank and it was fine after that. Even with only 54w of PC light I was able to keep a couple of the less demanding sps like digi's and even a blue tip acro. These were way up high in the tank though with practically no room to grow. I would modify it to a 70w MH if I were going to do sps in it again.

The one thing I don't like about the back wall divider is that it's very hard to clean out down inside the chambers.

Good luck with your project.

 

[ab420]

Yeah, I don't expect a small tank to be less challenging than what I've done in the past. But I'm hoping for something that takes less time and money to set up. I'd like to avoid all the building and plumbing and lugging and fixing. The running maintenance doesn't concern me as much.

Then yes, by all means the initial cost and set up time are FAR less. And the water changes will be a lot easier than on that 65 gallon for sure.

I'm a member on a nano reef forum, and have done a ton of reading over there, and it seems the nanos that run into the most trouble, are in fact the ones that try to do too much: metal halide, chiller, calcium reactor, phosban reactor, sump, refugium, etc.... on a 5 gallon

that's a LOT of things to go run for just a little nano tank!

When I had the 10 gallon: I had a hang on back filter with carbon and purigen in there, and a powerhead in the tank for extra circulation, 65 watt powercompact, and a heater. That was it. And it did wonderfully, as long as I kept up with the water changes.

One potential issue I see: you mentioned using a foam rock wall... I don't know that much about these... will they eventually work like live rock for filtering the water?

A sand bed in such a small tank will not do much for nitrate reduction, so the more live rock the better, and I'm not sure if the false wall would take up too much room to get enough rock in there...

but... if the foam can in time act like live rock, then I suppose that should work

 

[ab420]

and BTW... your 65 gallon was gorgeous!

 

[jovreef]

Nate.
I would say got with a 20 if your gonna go SPS nano. I had a pico 2 gallon that I kept some zao's & shrooms in but it was very un-stable. A 10 gallon that required daily maintance & the 20 that is alittle easier to handle & I can leave for a few days without touching it & feel comfortable.

The smaller tanks do evaporate water at a crazy rate, I ad roughly 4-5 gallons a week on my 20. A 150W halide over a nano is a great light with a computer fan blowing across it keeps the temps pretty stable.

 

[Scott]

who was it here that used foam for rockwork and ended up with it floating on the top of the tank one day? Talk about upheaval!

Maybe get a nicely shaped piece of Marco rock and slice it flat with a bandsaw or sawzall? The stuff cuts like butter. Attach that to the back wall.

 

[Bitingthesun]

Nate,

I've had several nanos "on purpose" because I like small things and I thought they were cool.

"How about the tank systems with a dividing wall in the back for equipment? Any of those worth looking at?"

I do have a 12 gallon nano cube with a custom hood that I would recommended to anyone. It's great.

nanocustoms.com puts these together

 

[NateHanson]

The foam will not harbor many filtering bacteria. There would have to be rock in the tank for that.

who was it here that used foam for rockwork and ended up with it floating on the top of the tank one day? Talk about upheaval!

Yeah, Schmally's rockwork broached like a humpback whale. The foam walls are sprayed onto egg-crate, and secure to the back of the tank. I think a tight-fitting eggcrate frame will lessen the chance of a geyser like Steve had.

Maybe get a nicely shaped piece of Marco rock and slice it flat with a bandsaw or sawzall? The stuff cuts like butter. Attach that to the back wall.

Now THAT's and excellent idea. I've got a bandsaw that can cut to 12" high. I could slice the face off a cool piece of Marco rock, with caves and pillars and stuff.

 

[NateHanson]

and BTW... your 65 gallon was gorgeous!

Thanks!

 

[nunofs]

Nate, glad to know you're finally feeling the irresistible wish of having a tank again

As you may know, I'm running a 20g (long) nano, which replaced a 10g that started leaking. I find the 20g quite a bit easier to take care of and more stable. I'm keeping it a low maintenance tank on purpose, with only softies and a small bioload (2 clownfish), with T5 lights and a small hang-on filter for carbon. To reduce evaporation I keep the tank covered, as heat from the T5s is not an issue.

Whatever you decide, good luck with it!

Nuno

 

[rebodi]

I have had several nano tanks over the years and imo I would go with a Finnex. Simple but practical. You can mod the back to meet your needs. Take a look for your self.

http://www.finnex.net/home.php