Nano "TANK" suggestions.

F

FishyMan

New Member
I've had 29, 55, 100 gallon reef tanks before and left the hobby. It's been almost 5 plus years and I feel like I want to get another tank. Maybe a nano.

I really want to keep:
2 fire fish or 1
2 clownfish


That's been my primary love in life. I love gobys but I understand my tank is going to be small. I'm thinking about the desktop ones. Looking for suggestions or ideas.

Thanks.
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
With two clown fish I would stay above 20 gallons personally. But then again I tend to try to have as hands off of a tank as possible.
 
F

FishyMan

New Member
It's just a suggestion. If not maybe 2 firefish ?
i'm not looking for a heavy bioload, just rocks and 2 fish.
I seen some nice 12 gallon all in 1s.
 
F

Fishy

New Member
I have a 3 month old 12 gallon nano cube with one clownfish and one firefish. I had a rough start (my first saltwater tank) but things are going well now. I just set up a 6 gallon nano too mostly for two crabs I didn't want in my 12 gallon. I really like the 12 gallon nano cube but don't recommend the 6 gallon if you have room for the 12 gallon. The 12 gallon is much better. I'm sure the larger 24 gallon they have would be even better (wish I had time, space, and money!).

The story of my reefs is at:
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/marine/myreef.htm
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
SaltWaterNewb has a nice tank that is not an all in one found in the nano section. It may show you what a 10 gallon tank can do and look like. I have a 12 gallon Nanocube that I got from a friend and honestly I think if I had not received it free I would rather just do a 10 gallon DIY.

2 firefish should be fine but when I bought three two of them beat up the third. My clown fish are pigs so feeding them in anything less than a NC24 or BC29 might require a stricter water change schedule.
 
S

SaltWaterNewb

Member
Thanks Tim. I agree, I am not an all in one fan. Nothing really wrong with them, I have seen some VERY nice ones. But for my money I would rather build mine exactly the way I want it.
 
F

FishyMan

New Member
TimSchmidt said:
SaltWaterNewb has a nice tank that is not an all in one found in the nano section. It may show you what a 10 gallon tank can do and look like. I have a 12 gallon Nanocube that I got from a friend and honestly I think if I had not received it free I would rather just do a 10 gallon DIY.

2 firefish should be fine but when I bought three two of them beat up the third. My clown fish are pigs so feeding them in anything less than a NC24 or BC29 might require a stricter water change schedule.
Click to expand...
Can you elaborate?

I like the clean cut look, but I haven't been in this scene a while. I was w/ 90 gallons and everything but I hope to tone things down. I haven't decided what I want to keep yet, but mostly softies, and nothing too serious. Although minature SPS would be nice. I do have 250WATT HQIs at home. lol
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Most all in ones have sponges, ceramic rings, and filter floss of some sort that really doesn't lend itself well to reef tanks. All of those items IMO work well, too well in fact. They turn all excess nutrient matter into nitrates rapidly. Also food particulate gets caught in the sponge (as it should) but then get turned into nitrate too quickly.

Most people agree to remove all the innards in the back and only use sponge that is cleaned frequently (2 or 3 days tops). Also most lighting that is standard in the all in one is power compact. That is ok lighting but with such great options as MH and T5 I honestly believe that if you are DIY inclined in the slightest you can get a great tank that will house exactly what you want cheaper than an all in one that may need modding.

Besides I love sumps and it is really hard to plumb an all in one. A 10 gallon is easy to drill and put in bulk heads. Or you can turn the 10 gallon "side ways" and have a sump built into the tank and have a "6 gallon DT" with 4 gallon sump behind it.

If you don't want anything extra think about that 10 gallon with your own sump built into it. Or you can do a 20 long and put a 5 gallon "sump" in there.
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Wow. That actually looks like that may be plug and play. I would still pull the bio balls out though. I love my T5s but I don't know how well those 8watts would do. Probably not maxima clam on the bottom of the tank but maybe up on the rock work. I run 6 x 54 watts and my crocea clam doesn't do great at the bottom, but half way up its doing GREAT. So I think if I had to try it again that may do nicely. I like the clean lines too. Thanks for sharing that!
 
M

Marine1

New Member
NP buddy. I really like the streamline look of the Cadlight tanks.

They are a bit expensive for the larger tanks, so I ended up getting an oceanic biocube 29. I am still waiting for a furniture like stand to set it up on. I've already made all the mods for the fuge, and I think it will serve me well for a slightly larger nano reef tank. I was going to get the aquapod with the 150 watt sunpod at Drs Foster & Smith but I have young kids so I can't have an open tank. We'll see how the stock lighting on the BC29 works out with some softies.

Good luck with your choice of tanks. IMO this would be the best bang for your buck for an all in one system:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=13976
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top