Hello Nanotankers, New to nano reefs

[yaitisme]

Hello all,

I am new to nano reefs and am wondering what to purchase to get started. I still have alot of reading to do, but am liking the Mini-bow 7 style all glass.

http://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aquariu ... ZGFAGG1QXE

This is a kit comes with a hood and filter that probably can't be used for reefs.

Does anyone have an opinion on the 7gal bowed? I like the bowed and would like to stay at less than 20 gallons.

Can anyone recommend a good online store to purchase the tank?

Finally, does someone know of a good link for info on how to setup a nano (with shopping list) for someone with limited (had a 40gal tall saltwater with anglefish 20 years ago) knowledge.

thanks in advance.

 

[drty811]

first off welcome to nanotank.....
second if you like the bowtank than how about a JBJ 6gal nanocube......
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 2004+62760
this tank is more suitable for saltwater.....lighting, filtering, ect.

i would start with 6lbs of fine agronite sand and 6 lbs of cured live rock.......cycle for a month w/o lights, testing every other day or less often. then i would introduce a lighting cycle starting with four hours and moving up to eight to ten in a couple weeks.

for livestock i would start off with some zoanthids and shrooms and one small fish. couple hermits (smaller the better) and a coouple nerite snails (also smaller better).

well hope this helps, and keep us updated

 

[reefman23]

I think Erik covered everything.

www.drsfostersmith.com is a good company to order from. Check out some of our sponsers too.

WELCOME to nanotank.com!

Jesse

 

[yaitisme]

Thanks Erik and Jesse

After further consideration, a plain 10gal aga may be a better place to start. This will allow me to save a bit of money on the tank and give me the ability to DIY a cover/light enclosure.

Erik, what increase in live rock would you recommend?

Also, I have seem may different rec. for the amount of light to use. I do want to stick with compact flor. or flor. bars.

Thanks

 

[drty811]

well scott your asking the right person.......i only run AGA's and i have a ten gallon reef tank set up. http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3413

i have about 15lbs of LR and the same for sand. i have the 96w coralife fixture but currently running a DIY canopy w/ 120watts of PC. i am also running a aquaclear 500 HOB filter converted into a refugium(LR rubble, and micro algae only).

here are some links of lights and the filter....
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... ct=ES53101
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... ct=CU01020
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... ct=CU01012
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... uct=JB9111
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... ct=HG10620

not sure your budget but i put what i recommend.........HTH

heres a link to LR if your interested in ordering it, i HIGHLY recommend....
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... CatId=1949
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113554

if you dont want or cant order, most LFS's carry all this stuff or can get it......

 

[yaitisme]

Thanks Erik, I'll spend some time reviewing those links. Saddly, your tank pixs were not available. Both the webpixs and photobucket pics were no longer valid.

thanks

 

[yaitisme]

Erik

you mentioned that you have a 96w coralife fixture fixture, is this something that you are not using and would consider selling? Was the 96 watt enough for a 10 gal? I am looking into either a 36 watt DIY kit from ahsupply.com with the fancy reflector or a 40-60 watt premade alum. one like Current USA or Odyssea. I would like to keep the current draw to a min. as elec. is not cheap in WI and hey save the environment. I know this will limit some of the stuff I can house, but I am allright with that.

What model is the AquaClear HOB that you converted, ie model #500 or a 500 GPH (or did you mean a AC 50)? Do you have any pics of this setup as a refuge? I have yet to find any pics of an off the self HOB filter used this way (I know it is done though). People only seem to post pics of the sexy plexi boxes, drilled glass with tanks placed below, or such. I would like to use nature filtration but am not ready to make that kind of leap.

Can you recomend a heater. Based on the man. specs a Jager 50 watt sounds pretty sweet at +- .5 degrees. They do not list it as working when installed horizonally though. I would also like to avoid suction cups if possable too as past exp. has them hardening at failing.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... uct=EJ1111

Lastly, do you run a powerhead to help circulate the tank water? Because the rather small size or a 10 gal I would like to minimize the apperance of power heads, cords, heater and such.

thanks

 

[yaitisme]

Erik

you can disreguard the AquaClear model # ?. The 500 is the old name for the 110. I would still like to see some pics.

 

[drty811]

i traded the 96watts fixture to my buddy. i use hydor heaters, mainly cause there shatter proof and guarnteed.

honestly i would go with the current 40 or 80 watt fixtures. great lights. you will be able to keep all the easy stuf with that lighting......shrooms, zoa's, softies,....

will try to have pics tonight

 

[kosey929]

Hi Scott,

I'm in N. Wis. and buy alot of my supplies and livestock from Foster & Smith's retail store in Rhinelander. If you are up north, you should check it out if you haven't already done so. There live rock is very nice and already cured, but you need to ask a salesperson to show it to you. It's not out on display in the store. I've had very good luck buying from them. I've also bought a couple of things from ebay and have had good luck.

Karen

 

[yaitisme]

Thanks Karen

I've heard many good things about Foster & Smith. I guess we are lucky to have then relatively close. Ebay offers some interesting LR's but the shipping is rather pricey and the laws of supply and demand seem to be working against me right now.

It would be nice to see exactly what would be purchasing and cured seems to be a very good choice. Having a rank smelling tank my not be a good start for myself or my wife :evil:

 

[drty811]

here a couple pics of my refugium. AC500 or 110, coralife mini fixture 18w, filled with LR rubble and some caulpera macro......also some mini dusters that have come from nowhere.

 

[yaitisme]

Cool

So I would assume that all the 'stock' Aquaclear stuff has been removed from the right chamber. Did you need to make anyother mods to the filter? At 500 gals per hour, how do you keep the smaller stuff from flowing out of the chamber?

I have a used Skilter 400 (protien skimmer doesn't work) coming from a local guy I met thru reefcentral.com.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/skilterfilter1.html

It flows 400 gals per hours, 100 less than the AquaClear. I kinda like the two chamber design and similar dem. of the 110.

Is this your only additional filtration (beside the natural magic going on in the tank)? Do you use any additional water flow/power heads in the tank or is this your only means of providing water flow?

 

[drty811]

no other mods to the filter, just the rubble. no other filteration either. one small PH 60gph i think. small rio ph.

 

[yaitisme]

Is any kind of reef food recommended. Also, if I am planning on have some clown fish in the future what kind of food do they need. Just asking as I need to pad an order I am placing to get free shipping.

I am ordering a Current USA 20" Orbit (80 watts plus moon lights... sweet).

Two more weeds and I will be getting in on a group order of LR.

Currently building a custom raised panel oak stand that will hold my 10gal, but is sized to hold upto a 50gal.

scott

:mrgreen:

 

[reefman23]

I like the product Cyclopeeze. I use the frozen bar. For flaked foods, i like Ocean Nutrition Brine Shrimp Plus as well as Formula 1. I also use frozen brine shrimp once in a while. DT's Phytoplankton is also a VERY good product. It all depends on what you are trying to feed.

Jesse

 

[yaitisme]

Thanks Jesse, love the moving pix. Too bad Dave had to leave his own show. BTW Pet Mountain didn't have the DT brand so I went with Kent. Thanks for the info.

 

[reefman23]

Thanks Jesse, love the moving pix. Too bad Dave had to leave his own show. BTW Pet Mountain didn't have the DT brand so I went with Kent. Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the compliment! Ive had it for a while but forgot about it.

The kent line is great. I have read opinions of people who say that unless a phyto product is refrigerated, it isnt alive. And unless it is alive, it is not "good". Dont get me wrong, I use phytoplex... I would love to get other people's opinions though.

Jesse

 

[EDGRAY]

Yeah i read the same thing jesse thats why for plankton i only use DT's :mrgreen: the best outhere that i know off and well too bad you can find it scott! too bad you buy the kent already cause i was gonna say keep looking for it since sometimes is hard to find it!! like here in CA, i know only 1 store that carries it!!