Here we go starting my first nano... *LOOK*

islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Alright, I posted a couple have times and read all the topics. I'm not up on the lingo but I'm willing to learn. I would like to thank "sadielynn" :clapping: For helping me and anwering all my questions. So here is my 4 gallon finnex just like "Ripcurrent's". I look at Ripcurrent's topic to see all of the upgrades. Well here is my next step.

1. A bigger filter AQ70 with a 20 impellar to create a fuge. Would this be too strong?

2. Live rocks.

3. And lights. I have a daytime bulb only. Would it be better with a 50/50. The lighting is 13 watts?

4.Coral. What kind would be suitable?

5. With water evaporating how would you refill it? Does everyone have a extra gallon sitting around for refilling their tanks?

6. Last but not least how would one attach corals to the LV's?

Sorry for the questions (Stupid or not) it answers my questions which means less mistake = to less money spent!

Here are the pics....





Thanks I'm open to suggestions so please educate me! Jaosn
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
The AQ 70 with a AQ 20 impellar should do fine for a refugium, there is a thread dealing with this mod here: http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1307 .
On the lighting either change the bulb out for a 50/50 or better yet if you have the room add a second fixture with an actinic bulb.
You will most likely only be successful with low light corals like mushrooms, polyps, etc. or maybe a deepwater coral that would have to be fed instead of feeding itself via photosynthesis.
Dealing with evaporation can be handled either manually with a jug of water topping off daily as needed or by automating with an auto top-off system, the former being the easiest and least expensive route.
When you buy a coral it is usually already mounted to either some kind of plug or to a small piece of LR so all you have to do is place it where you want it, you may have to wedge the LR into a crack or crevice sometimes. If the coral is unmounted you can usually attatch it with superglue gel, methods can vary somewhat according to the type of coral you are trying to mount. If you ask about a certain type of coral we can give you a better answer.
What size tank is that? As far as learning the jargon/language of us old salts (J/K), here is a link that should be helpful: http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23 .
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
:oops:
Looking good I agree with the light if you can fit an extra on or a diffrent light if not the lower light shrooms ect would probably do well, or a fowlr (Fish Only With Live Rock) if you get a bigger filter the heater will fit in it may take a bit of shoe horning but it can be done , I have mine in the back of the filter along with a full unit chemi - pure and a filter pack. If you do a fuge it would also fit there . That particular model is very very easy to hide ...... post pics and lots of them . I am excited to see where you take this tank :mrgreen:
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
I agree with sadie cause putting a bigger filter you will have a better filtration and clear water with chemi pure help of course and you can place it with the heater too so you will have space to create you aquascape without troubles with the heater you know... worring about breaking it or were to put it so is not notisable or were to hide it.. and better lightning more bright colors..... got to love bright colors....and more posibility to get different corals...
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Thanks ed

Thanks Ed for the reply... I ordered 4 pounds of fiji rocks from ebay but I stated I needed small pieces for my nano. Luckly I told him cause he was about to send one large rock? I don't know if that would have been a problem, I think I cuold of pieced myself. So no use of taking a picture of the same tank. I went to my LFS but for some reason they don't have a lower impellar to install, actually none of the LFS had any impellars! Is that common? Anyways, its boring looking at sand and water! Just being patient since this is a expensive hobby.
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Thanks

:eudance I have never seen a forum with such nice people. Thank you for all the links... Once something changes in my tank I'll post more pics. I did find one place thats local for corals but it can work for everyone, just pick your location and check it out. www.Craigslist.org
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Will this work?

I have a current light with a 50/50 13 watt bulb. The depth of my tank to the sand is 10 inches. Is that enough lighting for any coral? If there is another light that has two 13 watt 50/50 bulbs with a ballast would that be better or over due it? Thanks again everyone!
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
I would say maybe some green star polyp and some mushrooms but that is pretty much the limit for corals something like this one would allow for some other things as well. I dont think that 2 13 watt lights is over doing it :mrgreen: If you are good at DIY you may be able to add a diffrent light to the hood you have or gut it and add the configuration you want I am not much help when it comes to electrical but others here are HTH :mrgreen:
http://www.hellolights.com/12aq2.html
http://www.hellolights.com/comfluorsys.html
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
new pics w/ live rocks

Just got 4 pounds of live rocks.



I have another 4 pounds coming in the mail any day now! So I was looking around at my LFS and got this 2.5 gallon tank. Since I'm upgrading everything from the 4 gallon, I'm using those items for this 2.5 gallon.
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
Sweet . I love your aquascaping if you can get a 2nd heater like the one you have in the 4 for the 2.5 you will be very happy with it very easy to hide .... :mrgreen: I can see now this tank will mature very nicely :mrgreen: Keep up the good work
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Thanks Sadie for the help. Okay, I just found out that the Walt Smith Rocks purchased were pre-cured. I scrubbed them cause of algae and have them in my 2.5 with my AQ 300. I'm waiting for my impellar to turn it into a fuge, but for now its circulating the water.


Since its pre-cured how long does it have to sit there? And for my 4 gallon and bought LV's from my LFS that were supposively cured... Is there a rule of thumb in how long I should wait? I have them in catalina water if that makes a diffrence and they have been there for a week now. Can I add anything if everythings at "0"? I know I shouldn't be rushing things and thats the rule of thumb, but it sure is hard :fu
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
wait till your tests drop to 0
ammonia will raise then drop to 0
nitrIte will raise then drop to 0
nitrAte will raise then drop probably not to zero (small ammonts are ok and are combated from going sky hi with water changes and filtration, limiting the food and live stock will help as well ours sits constantly around 10 ppm )
when the tests show zero for a like a week after the rise and fall and remain at zero it is safe to add the clean up crew then test wait for the zeros to come back around before adding anything addtional :mrgreen:
 
Dickie52

Dickie52

New Member
They called it pre cured rock, but will still give you a cycle......

go with the testing like sadielynn said and you will be adding things in no time.... :razz:
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
I just added my AQ70/300 but the glass thickness and the filter has a huge gap! Is there anything I can do for that besides but cardboard. Plus I have been waiting for an impellar for the last week and a half from ebay, along with a 50/50 light. :burningup I just re-did my aquascape and added two more rocks so my cycle is going t take longer :burningup My rocks are pretty high now and are about an inch to inch and a half away from the water surface. Is that bad? I'm afraid about snails or future crabs getting out? Should I worry?
With the AQ70 I hooked up a AQ skimmer to which is big for the 4 gallon tank but I hide it pretty good. I'll post pics up soon.
For the newbies starting pretty fast be patient :lol: Even though I'm new too, I have had all members tell me to be patient or you'll just be tossing money away. So if anyone can help me out please do.... Sadie will probably be the first ha,ha,ha :bounc: I'll post the pic soon... :thanks
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
look at wal-mart in the hardware isle you should be able to find rubber bumpers to fill the gap I will post pictures of them later , if you cant find them I may have a few here that I could send you ........ or perhaps some plexi cut stacked and glued together I would see about chipping a bit away but dont worry about it they probably wont leave the water ..... Island this is a figment of your imagination I am not really answering you LOL
 
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