Tank of the Month - April 2007

[Skipper]

This month we are featuring Louis Tsai's (louist) beautiful nanoreef aquarium:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/totm/images/RChomepage.jpg (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/totm/index.php)

More details can be found here (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/totm/index.php) or by clicking on the picture above.

Congratulations, Louis!


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<center><font color="#FFFFFF" size="-1">If you'd like to nominate a tank
for Tank of the Month, click <a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=189" target="_blank"><font color="#FFFFFF">here</font></a>
or use the button to the right.</font></center>
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<td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="27%"><img src="http://reefkeeping.com/images/nominate1.gif" border="0" title="Click here to nominate a Tank of the Month"> (http://reefcentral.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=189)
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[rbaker]

Congratulations Louis!

Awesome tank!

[cutnup]

is this the first nano to win? congratulations!

[AVALover5498]

Very nice tank louis! Congratulations!:)


-Chris-

[Inflames]

Ive never seen this tank on nano-reef.com. Does louist visit us over there?

Respect the nano :)

[Brewen]

Congratulations Louis! Great looking tank, bigger is not always better.

[HolyScoly]

congrats very nice nano.

[saltyfishy123]

Sweet tank Louis!!!

[hgbarwick]

Your nano tank is an inspiration to all of us nano reefers!

[pbukow]

Amazing nano, love the way the 20K light looks on your corals. Nice lookin blenny too

[JMC1]

Congrats! Great looking nano.

[csb]

Awesome nano... my 5.5g looks like crap and is always full of algae... even with almost 0 feeding and weekly RO-DI water changes. Heh...

Very nice and congrats on TOTM. Love seeing something different on there!

[erniemo]

The best nano I have ever seen-not an easy task.

CHEERS!

[Razzagas]

Great Tank!
I have a couple of questions though...
1) do you collect your natural sea water directly from the ocean? If so, do you worry about pollutants?
2) did the overflow come with the tank, or did you drill the tank yourself?

Thanks! Great JOB!

[mr9iron]

That is a spectactular nano. Congratulations!

[DrMilhouse]

WOW! Simply WOW.

That's beautiful! Great job on that!

[BONDQ]

Very, very nice.

Great work!

[Cyclone123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9657290#post9657290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Inflames
Ive never seen this tank on nano-reef.com. Does louist visit us over there?

Respect the nano :)


Yeah his tank is over there and this isnt the only nano to win. I think a 20 gallon won it also.

GO NANO REEFERS

awsome job louis.

[reefkoi]

Great looking tank, the photography is top notch!

[uhuru]

Truly bad ***.

[cartoonbear]

Really did deserve the TOTM title, truly an awesome tank.

[louist]

Thanks everyone for your kind words! I am very honored to have my little tank considered for TOTM! I guess this stemmed from the little monthly competition we run in the nano-reef forum here on RC. Skipper gave us his support and here we are! :)

To answer the two questions raised by Razzagas:
1) I buy the NSW from a reputable LFS here in Sydney. They supply a lot of the NSW for the reefers in Sydney. Our coastal water is pretty decent if you pump it at appropriate places at appropriate times. Most of the reefers in Sydney use NSW.
2) No, I drilled the tank and plumbed it myself. This tank used to be filtered by a AquaClear 70 HOB filter that was modified into a HOB refugium. Later, I wished to increase the stability of the tank & remove some of the clutter and I decided to revamp the tank.

The upgrade involved drilled 2x 20mm (3/4") holes for the bulkheads and plumbing that into the big blue tub you see. The blue tub is sold as a trash bin, a little like Rubbermaid you guys get. The plumbing parts are called "irrigation fittings" here in Australia, and everything screw together with BSP threads (NPT in the US). During the upgrade, I suffered the loss of ~4 colonies of Acropora and ~6 beautiful frags of "SPS". This was later attributed to the high pH of freshly mixed IO (even after 24hours) since the extra volume of the refugium was much greater than the display tank. My fault really, should have taken it slow. I was reading Steve Weast's thread about his tank crash, and when he said he mixed the salt and pump it into the tank, i thought "oh no!".... may all his corals RIP.

Another lesson I learned was not to drill with your fish still in the tank! My mandarin was scared 1/2 to death and refused to move or eat for a week :( I later weaned her back onto frozen food and she's now happy as before!

Here's a FTS that wasn't in the article:
http://www.zengalleria.com/images/aquarium/CRW_3238.jpg

[aquarius77]

Absolute perfection!

Beautiful tank, Congrats!

[RevHtree]

Great tank Louis! BRAVO!

[AS11423]

Great job. Truly deserving TOTM.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

That's a very nice nano!

[AndyB4784]

This is prob the coolest TOTM I've seen since becoming a member.

Great Job.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

This is still my favorite since joining....sorry for kinda OT...
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/totm/index.php

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9658753#post9658753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
This is still my favorite since joining....sorry for kinda OT...
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/totm/index.php
Ali's tank is awesome. As much as I love his Montipora, it is most likely twice as big as my tank :lolspin:

[Phillybean]

Woooo Nano as TOTM! Great job and a great looking tank...I wonder how many people will be rushing off to get a nano after looking at this beauty!

[richnbowl]

Great tank. Two questions though.
How do you like the AquaMedic Oceanlight fixture you have?
and
What type of calcium reactor do you have running your system?

Again great tank.

[johnvu713]

i hate you...Nice tank

[PUGroyale]

Beautiful tank :thumbsup:

It's nice to see some smaller sizes getting their due!

Bigger isn't better... better is better :)

[gomle69]

Nice:)

[Rokdog]

Awesome! Beautiful tank

[beaker5]

Very nice nano! I don't think i've seen one as TOTM before. Congrats.

[PITSTOP]

Beautiful nano Louist - your system redefined my concept of what is possible in small systems - excellent husbandry!

[b_mattias]

how long have you had it? maybe I missed it but I don't think the article said.

[guitar_lord]

I have a great appreciation for your hard work and dedication to the hobby
Congrats on TOTM!
Great looking nano!

[Illuminati]

Congrats! Awesome setup.

[HecticDialectic]

Incredible that it's only an 8 gallon display. I would have guessed it was a 20-30G cube had I not seen the desk picture.

[kneepuck]

Very nice nano; I'm interested how you constructed & installed the, "external Durso standpipe." Can you elaborate?

congrats on a beautiful tank

[marino420td]

Gotta love when TOTM goes to a photographer! Great Shots Louis. I follow a lot of your threads in the photography forum (if anyone isn't familiar with his macro nature photography, I suggest you check it out. He is the best I've seen).

The tank looks great as well. Congrats!

[dynaschm0e]

Wow! Beautiful tank, great photography, a nano inspiration. Good work Louis!

[Samala]

[color=green]Congratulations Louis! You've struck such a nice balance with this tank, very hard to do with such a small space. I think this TOTM is very well deserved!

>Sarah

[Hobster]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful tank. It is refreshing to see a tank that is not 100's of gals, has every high tech electrical device and costs more than many cars.:) Plus you have it right where you can enjoy looking at it.

[Victor1046]

Congratulations Louis! A true inspiration!

[kellienurse]

Beautiful tank, it's amazing all the sea life in such a small tank.

[ezcompany]

good job, score one for the nano team! congratulations

[Kelpie]

Very nice Louis; I aspire to do as well.

I have an Aquaspacelight that is very similar looking to your AquaMedic Oceanlight. Please tell me where you found the legs for yours.

K.

[Jadams]

Absolutly gorgeous tank! Congrats!!!! :thumbsup:

[MJSavage]

Awesome and well deserved!

Mike

[slumpysix]

Outstanding tank! Congrats!!

[fancyfish]

Kudos. Grea tank. Kudos to reef central as well for finally awarding this honor to something other than a large sps dominated tank.

[alipset]

Beautiful.

[fisheebill]

Very nice, congratulations!
I wish I could use natural seawater.
Love the bubble algae looking hitchhiker.

[highquality]

Wow, very nice! I too am excited to know how long some of the sps have been in there. some of the colors were fantastic. way to go, you clearly put a lot of work in.

[nUgZ]

I've always been a fan of your tank and your photography. Congratulations Louis.

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9659170#post9659170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by richnbowl
Great tank. Two questions though.
How do you like the AquaMedic Oceanlight fixture you have?
and
What type of calcium reactor do you have running your system?

I like the AquaMedic Oceanlight. My main regret is the lack of actinic for aesthetic purposes :) I couldn't stand the buzzing sound from the magnetic ballast and changed it to an OSRAM electronic ballast.

That calcium reactor is made by Aquatica Australia, which is no longer in business. He sold all his stuff at a garage sell and I picked it up for AUD$40 (USD$33). It works OK, but the tuning is a lot more fiddly than my other DBReefTech CR-5C.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9659720#post9659720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by b_mattias
how long have you had it? maybe I missed it but I don't think the article said.
This tank has been setup almost 1.5 years. Keep in mind that small colonies look big in nano tanks. This is also one of the main advantages of a SPS-dominated nano tank; you get to enjoy the look of a "mature" tank in a much shorter time. In addition, in Australia, we get frags in trades, but we never really purchase frags. The reefing culture is a bit different from the US. We have cheap corals and really expensive clams! There are also very very limited aquaculturing.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9659892#post9659892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kneepuck
I'm interested how you constructed & installed the, "external Durso standpipe." Can you elaborate?
I based this design on "Tigahboy's" (nano-reef.com) schematic drawings. He uses this same design on some of his tanks. Is basically a durso as we understand it, but sits outside the tank. Here are some photos that should clear things up. The green airtap on the top allows you to control the amount of airflow into the durso.

http://www.zengalleria.com/images/aquarium/CRW_2634.jpg

http://www.zengalleria.com/images/aquarium/CRW_2712.jpg

I always get asked if surface skimming is an issue with a setup like this. In the case of a nano tank, no. I switch the return pump off for feeding, and this drains all the surface water into the filter bag. However, this same design does not work on a large tank with a very large surface area. On my 4' tank, I made a skimming box that screws onto the bulkhead, and this allows for surface skimming . If anyone is interested in that, I'll post a photo of it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9662907#post9662907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kelpie
I have an Aquaspacelight that is very similar looking to your AquaMedic Oceanlight. Please tell me where you found the legs for yours.
Kelpie, I got the legs from Chris of Nano-Tuners. The legs should work with most AquaMedic lights since it uses the same groove as the ones used by the flaps. So you will need to choose between one but not both unless you take the dremel to it. Shoot Chris an email, he's very good with inquiries.

The bubble-algae looking hitchhiking crab is actually a decorator crab that live in macro algae. He can change looks very quickly. One moment he is definitely a chaetomorphia-camo one, and the next moment he's holding Caulerpa instead. It's quite funny when he's hanging onto a mangrove, while holding Caulerpa :D

[cital]

Great Tank, Congratulation! I wanted to ask, do the mounting legs for the light come with it, or did you have to make/buy those separately?

[Kigs]

beautiful tank! well deserved :) congratulations

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9666963#post9666963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cital
Great Tank, Congratulation! I wanted to ask, do the mounting legs for the light come with it, or did you have to make/buy those separately?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9666652#post9666652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louist
Kelpie, I got the legs from Chris of Nano-Tuners. The legs should work with most AquaMedic lights since it uses the same groove as the ones used by the flaps. So you will need to choose between one but not both unless you take the dremel to it. Shoot Chris an email, he's very good with inquiries.

[ShrekPL]

No coment. Absolutely the best.

[seahorsedreams]

That is simply awesome Louis!

[Misled]

Well deserved Louis. Very nice indeed.

[Denadai]

Awesome nano reef. Congratulations !

For how long do you have the mandarim ???

[sbwood007]

You are the Nano Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[visualscapes]

Awesome tank Louis!

What kind of drill bit did you use to make the holes for the bulkheads? TIA!

[triggerman41]

wow, thats awsome

[mrsgoose]

Gorgeous tank - very clean and beautiful! My question, however, I thought a true nano tank was self-contained? I didn't realize you could have such a large refugium/sump and still be considered a Nano. I'm very new to the hobby and am struggeling with a 29g. Your tank is an inspiration!

[Ocean In A Box]

louist -
Really fantastic setup!!
Inspirational to those w/ nano's or starting one.
Can you explain more detail about how you drilled such a small tank, whole location and why, materials/tools used, etc?

Thanks,

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9671037#post9671037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Denadai
For how long do you have the mandarim ???
I've had the mandarin for the same length of time the tank has been setup, ~1.5years. She was the first fish introduced into the tank and currently is the sole inhabitant. At one stage she shared the space with a seahorse (H. barbouri), who taught her how to eat competitively.

This mandarin was eating frozen food at the LFS (I got an audition). However, I still had to train her to recognise the pipetter and me. These days she will surface as soon as the pumps go out. In fact, she will attack the pipetter if food is dispensed too slowly.

I feed her once a day until she is full. There are no competition for food in the tank. The hermit crabs try, but they are just bus boys.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9674743#post9674743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by visualscapes
What kind of drill bit did you use to make the holes for the bulkheads? TIA!
I used a 28mm diamond hole saw to drill the holes (28mm hole saw for 20mm fittings). I got the holesaws as a set of 4 off Ebay. The seller was unfriendly and I never heard some him, but it was cheap and shipping was pretty efficient. They were ~USD$37 inc. shipping. These drill bit will have much less diamond content than their $90+ counterparts, but I wasn't planning on making drilling tanks a career! The 28mm bit lasted me 3 holes (2x5mm glass, 1x10mm glass). When that worn out, I just use the 25mm bit instead :D

The way I drilled was this:
1. Drill a scrap piece of perspex to use as template
2. Clamp the template to the tank glass (easy to do since holes are close to edge, you can use sticky tape too). The template is to prevent drifting when you just started
3. Plug your ears with tissue unless you wish to lose your hearing for a few hours
4. Get a small container and fill it with water and have it close by. This will be your cooling tank.
5. Start drilling! Apply only feather light pressure and try to be perpendicular to the glass. Every 40 seconds (or when your arms get sore), stop and dip the drill bit in the container or water to cool it. Using this method, the bit never got beyond ~25 celcius.
6. As you get close to the end, go SLOW and GENTLE. This will facilitate a cleaner exit hole. I stuck a piece of sticky tape across the exit hole to hold the drilled out glass

That's it. It's pretty simple. It's time consuming, but using my cooling method, it's very clean, no mess. I used this same technique to drill my 4' tank which has 10mm glass.

As for the hole location; I drilled close to the top since that's the level I wanted the bulkhead and water level. Keep in mind that this setup works well for a nano tank, but isn't ideal in a large tank. I did a modified version of this for the 4'.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9676746#post9676746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrsgoose
My question, however, I thought a true nano tank was self-contained? I didn't realize you could have such a large refugium/sump and still be considered a Nano.
There's never been a official definition of the cut off size. However, usually it's the size of the display tank that determines whether it is a nano tank or not. Some people consider an 80g to be a nano tank. Personally I don't have a definition for a nano tank either, but I know one when I see one. Like a federal judge once stated, "I can't tell you what pornography is, but I know it when I see it" :D

[cfishrun]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9660055#post9660055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
Gotta love when TOTM goes to a photographer! Great Shots Louis.

Agreed! What camera/lens do you use for those macro shots?

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9681256#post9681256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cfishrun
Agreed! What camera/lens do you use for those macro shots?
I was wondering when that question would pop up :D

All the photos you see there are taken with the Canon EOS 10D with:
70-200 f2.8 IS L
180 f3.5 macro
MP-E65 macro
28-80 f3.5-5.6 (the "Dog Toy")

FTS and non-macros are with the 70-200 or 28-80. All macro shots are with the 180 f3.5 and all super macros (> 1x) are with the MP-E65.

In case you are wondering, I am not a professional photographer. I just somehow ended up in two very expensive hobbies :confused: Early mid life crisis? :D I am actually a bioinformatician in medical research. Photographing insects is my main repertoire before I starting reefing.

I'll post more photos if people are interested. Some may no longer be relevant to the tank as it is now. Or unless you guys want to go totally OT and see some photos of bugs? :)

[nUgZ]

Post all the pics you want Louis. They're all awesome.

[tktodd]

Perfection!!! :eek1:

[mana]

small but Great Tank!!! :eek1:

Congratulations Louis :thumbsup:

[raskal311]

The most deserving TOTM yet.

[MalHavoc]

Truly amazing. You've made me want to get back into reefing again, Louis. Kudos for that.

I was curious about your sand bed in the main display. How much fiddling did it take to keep your powerhead from creating bare spots near the front glass? When I had my 180 set up, my two Tunze streams created bare spots that forced me to fiddle with rock positioning in order to eliminate.

Well done!

[visualscapes]

Louis, thank you so much for your excellent description of how you drilled your tank. Much appreciated!

[Pmolan]

Wonderful

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9683946#post9683946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raskal311
The most deserving TOTM yet.

That is a bold statement.
Super sweet nano louist!

[jfish298]

very nice nano

[PrangeWay]

Sweet. And finally some variation! Great job on the tank.


PW

[Old Yeller]

Congrats on a beautiful nano

[agoutihead]

where can an all glass tank like this be located? i really like the fact there is no plastic stripping.

louist... is there anyway i could order it from your country and have it shipped to me?

do you know of a store i can find online to do that?

what happened to your sea horse? this is something i really would like to add to my nano as well.

[stephenpd]

Hi Louist,

Congrats on a great looking tank.

I just wondered what LFS you go to. I live in Sydney too and have trouble finding good SPS coral frags. Thanks!

[kookerson]

Usually we are use to seeing very large tanks as the TOTM.....its really nice to see a smaller tank for a change! Congrats!

[Victoria]

Just kidding! Great tank, great shot. I really think you deserve TOTM. Your hard work shows!!!!! I really think that nano's can be more work than a larger tank, because things can change so fast. It just looks great!
Victoria:lol:

[Str8baller]

Awesome tank!!

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9685374#post9685374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MalHavoc
How much fiddling did it take to keep your powerhead from creating bare spots near the front glass? When I had my 180 set up, my two Tunze streams created bare spots that forced me to fiddle with rock positioning in order to eliminate.
It is a bit difficult to see in the photos, however I do have a bald spot at the front left corner. I have really really fine grain sand in there and it gets moved very easily.

I solve the problem partially by having corals such as Acanthastrea sp. and small colonies of Zoanthids on the substrate.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9693428#post9693428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agoutihead
where can an all glass tank like this be located? i really like the fact there is no plastic stripping.

what happened to your sea horse? this is something i really would like to add to my nano as well.
I believe Amano Design Aquarium (ADA) sells tanks like these in the US. In fact, a little nicer than this. What I like the most about this tank is the edgeless front and lack of black trim.

I doubt it will be economical to have a tank like this shipped across the Pacific. For the same cost, you could have it made in starfire in the US! which would be 10x better!

The seahorse passed away quite a few month back. She was doing very well in the tank and had adapted a few techniques of surfing the current to get to where she wants. Then she got external gas bubble disease (EGBD or external gaseous edema) which I cured using Diamox (an Acetazolamide, used for altitude sickness). She did well for a bit longer than started getting recurrent EGBD followed by an internal infection. Since antibiotics are strictly controlled (as it should be) in Australia, I wasn't able to get the antibiotcs required to treat her. She later passed away from that infection, may she RIP!

Seahorses are fascinating creatures, but make sure you are aware of their requires and certainly read up about diseases and treatment. RC's forum and Seahorse.org are the best places to start. I'll put them into a larger nano, not a small one. They need some room for movement also.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9696957#post9696957 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stephenpd
I just wondered what LFS you go to. I live in Sydney too and have trouble finding good SPS coral frags. Thanks!
I got to:
Aquamart at Castle Towers
Strictly's Auburn
Strictly's West Ryde
Auburn Pet center
Kim's Aquatics at Ashfield. This is my main LFS where there are lots of corals. Biggest selection of marine stock in Sydney. However, since they are also the #1 stop for many of the MASS (Marine Aquarium Society of Sydney) members, unless you are there to attend the "stock arrival party", you won't find much stunning colors. Stuff get bought straight out of the shipping boxes and if there are arguments as to who got it first, one person purchase it and split it in the car park :)



Thanks everyone for your great support! :) My next goal would be to see if I can get my new 4' into a TOTM material in the coming years :)

[louist]

Here are two photos on the seahorse. She was a bit younger in the second photo. The Sinularia was her favourite hitching spot since it gave her a view over the Tubastraea colony, which means mysis!
http://www.zengalleria.com/images/aquarium/CRW_0890.jpg

http://www.zengalleria.com/images/aquarium/CRW_5373.jpg

Lastly, I would like to point out a mistake in my write up. I mistakenly ID'ed my blenny to be a "lawn mower blenny", but she is in fact a Peacock Rockskipper Blenny, Istiblennius meleagris. Thanks to Kylie for the correction. One of the distinguishing feature is the "flame tongue" horns on this blenny.

[extinguishfire]

How do you keep the glass so clean. I find that with my nano that the rocks get so close to the side that I have trouble keeping them clean. It looks like your aquascaping is close as well to the glass.

[louist]

extinguishfire, I use a plastic scraper. It's the ones used by painters for scraping stuff and filling stuff (you probably can tell I am not a painter :D ).

It's cheap and works well. It chews through coralline too.

[marino420td]

Go for it. Lets see some bugs! I love your avatar photo.

Do you have any macro photography of critters in your refugium?

[agoutihead]

i tried doing a search for those particular tanks you mentioned are sold in the US and i didnt come up with anything on google.

do you have any links by chance?

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9711946#post9711946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agoutihead
i tried doing a search for those particular tanks you mentioned are sold in the US and i didnt come up with anything on google.

do you have any links by chance?
Look like these:
http://www.pbase.com/plantella/nature_aquarium_gallery_2005

Website:
http://www.adana.co.jp/index_e.php

[Aquaticman74]

Beautiful tank!

Congrats!

[manosdr]

Congrats very nice nano reef...:)

[Aussiewench]

Another Sydneysider here. This tank is beautiful. Well done.

[extinguishfire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9703385#post9703385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by extinguishfire
How do you keep the glass so clean. I find that with my nano that the rocks get so close to the side that I have trouble keeping them clean. It looks like your aquascaping is close as well to the glass.

I was wondering how you clean the side glass with the limited space you have between rock and side glass. I always have trouble with my nano cube.

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9703385#post9703385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by extinguishfire
How do you keep the glass so clean. I find that with my nano that the rocks get so close to the side that I have trouble keeping them clean. It looks like your aquascaping is close as well to the glass.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9710669#post9710669 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louist
extinguishfire, I use a plastic scraper. It's the ones used by painters for scraping stuff and filling stuff (you probably can tell I am not a painter :D ).

It's cheap and works well. It chews through coralline too.

:D

[NanoCube-boy]

Hey Louist, Awesome tank man, I give props for your nano tank. I never seen a nano tank in a TOTM, it's must be a lot of work because everything so confine. I have problem with my nanocube, and it's tough to keep the tank happy. Any tips? ahah

I seen a few stuff you have in your tank that I like. I saw the Mandarin, Tubastrae, and the calcium reactors.

I understand why you have to over feed and change massive water because I saw the Sun Coral in your tank.

What kind of calcium reactor is that?That look really cool.

[shockakahn69]

what camera do you use for those pictures, i've been looking into photography and i'm looking for a good camera to start out with/ one to eventually own, thanks

[NanoCube-boy]

Yea man, I can't ever achieve the pictures like you taken. I only have a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P8 with 3x optical zoom, 3.2 mega pixels.

Do you think I can take some nice photos like yours, with my camera?

[reefnubee7]

Wonderful tank!!

I looked at the drawings of Tigahboy's (that you refered to) and still have a question. Apologies if it is too basic.

Does the tank drain through the Durso standpipe and into the filter bag and then into the sump?

Thanks.

[agoutihead]

you have truely inspired me!

because of you i just spent money i dont have on a nano tank and fuge setup.

i built myself out of acrylic a 16x15x13 cube with a built in overflow partition. it then goes to a 10 gallon fuge with fiji mud in one section, sand in the middle and a return pump.

i have just set up the fuge as of yesterday, my tank should be ready by tomorrow as i built it myself.

i decided to go with the sunpod 70w 16.5" light fixture. im hoping to combat the heat issues you were having with the 150w. plus i get built in moonlights.

ill post pics when everything is set up.

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9760704#post9760704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoCube-boy
I understand why you have to over feed and change massive water because I saw the Sun Coral in your tank.

What kind of calcium reactor is that?That look really cool.
I target feed the tank, so there is very little to no left over food. The mandarin doesn't compete with the Tubastraea, so that has really simplified feeding the coral.

That calcium reactor is made by Aquatica Australia, which is no longer in business. It's a very simple reactor which you can easily make if you are handy with acrylic.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9762926#post9762926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shockakahn69
what camera do you use for those pictures, i've been looking into photography and i'm looking for a good camera to start out with/ one to eventually own, thanks
Camera is Canon EOS 10D. Lenses are:
180 f3.5 macro
70-200 f2.8 IS L
MP-E65
28-80 f3.5-5.6
Manfrotto 055NAT tripod with 3-way pan head
I also use a sand bag as support since tank is on a desk.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9780660#post9780660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoCube-boy
Do you think I can take some nice photos like yours, with my camera?
I am not familiar with P&S, but whether you can get photos like these depends on the close-up/macro capability of your camera. Some P&S can take accessories that clip onto the lens and this allows for better macro ability.

Taking good macro photos comes down to careful technical execution, practice and patience. Macro is one of the harder style of photography as any new owner of a macro lens will tell you :) So don't feel bad if your photos are not turning out well. There's been a few articles in RKM on photography, you might want to check those out. Check the photography forum also, there was a recent thread by a guy who used a reversed lens technique on his P&S to get excellent macro results.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9780827#post9780827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnubee7
Does the tank drain through the Durso standpipe and into the filter bag and then into the sump?

Thanks.
Yes, that's it.


agoutihead, that sounds great! I wish I have the skills to build my own fish tank (imagine the possibilities!). I look forward to seeing your tank journal in the nano tank forum.

[NanoCube-boy]

Louis, Thank you for your replies.

I'm not handy with acrylic, but I know this guy that is, but I was just asking about it.

I figured you might say the attachment macro lens. Yes, it's very tough to achieve nice macro photos sometime and I guess I need more resource and practice.

[Ocean In A Box]

agoutihead, everyone -

If you like louist's tank, here is something that I think looks pretty similar...great price too. (I am not affiliated with this at all, just found on eBay)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Finnex-8-Gallon-Glass-Aquarium-fish-tank-w-light-filter_W0QQitemZ200083891303QQihZ010QQcategoryZ20755QQcmdZViewItem

Tank dimension: 15.75" x 10.25" x 11.80" high
Tank style & material: round corner glass tank (5mm glass)
Lighting: 24W power compact fluorescent lighting, silver aluminum hood, with
polished reflector, acrylic lens. 50/50 daylight/actinic blue bulb
Filter: hang on filter, 63 gallon per hour flow, sponge and carbon cartridge filtration

[NanoCube-boy]

Ocean in a box, awesome user name dude. Nice tank there, very cool looking tank on ebay you had found.

Louis, I forgot to ask you something. Do you have a lid or something to cover that little tank?

[shells]

Awsome little tank!! i've got a 29 going that i'm trying to dial in.
all i have on it is a tunze nano skimmer with the second chamber
for carbon, other filter media and a tunze nano turbelle.

i've got 3 firefish, an anemone, pulsing xenia, zoas and something
called blue coral?? i'm not that familar with, it was on the rock
with the zoas and it came out of a 300 gal tank that was dismantled. i also have a torch and crabs and snails.



shellie

[Racenrich]

Louis,
Finally had the time to read the writeup on your nano....VERY NICE. :thumbsup:

To be honest, i think your photography skills surpass the nano setup !
Again great job!

Rich K.

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9792327#post9792327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoCube-boy
Louis, I forgot to ask you something. Do you have a lid or something to cover that little tank?
Nope. I didn't feel the need since I wasn't keeping any fish that has a track record of jumping when spooked.

Shellie, take your time with it and it will be much more rewarding at the end. :)


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9794592#post9794592 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Racenrich
Louis,
Finally had the time to read the writeup on your nano....VERY NICE. :thumbsup:

To be honest, i think your photography skills surpass the nano setup !
Again great job!

Rich K.
Thanks Rich! I love your avatar :D Tell me that's you on the bike?!

[wakkats]

Awesome!!!

[Euclid537]

Beautiful!

[zombiedust]

Louis, you are my nano hero.....That is the sweetest !

[Ocean In A Box]

NanoCube-boy,
Thanks...I'm in the middle of a 33g Oceanic cube project right now and I'm shooting for the "Ocean In A Box" look for sure. ;)
louist's tank is the epitome of what a nano reef should look like & what I'm hoping mine turns out to be some day.

[Racenrich]

Louis....i wish it was....granite it's a pic of my two favorite hobbies....okay i have 3 favorite hobbies......:D!

Rich K.

[brownsugar]

Hey Louis,

Great tank I'm another fellow Sydney resident. I have been to all the stores you mentioned above except for Kim's which i got the chance to visit today for the first time and then it all made sense.
I'm pretty sure they will be my new favorite LFS. I usually get my saltwater refills from Strictly (5.50 a drum) i dunno if it was on special or thats how it is normally but it was 3 bucks a refill at Kim's

Have you had a chance to check out St George Aquariums Rockdale & Majestic Aquariums in Taren Point? There a bit south but yeh very much worth the visit.

I just had two question about your Tunze items who did ya buy them from or did ya buy from online ?

And where did ya get ya metal halide lights for that size tank was it a DIY project or am i just not looking at the right places ?

Once again a great tank its a tribute your husbandry and its about time a nano made TOTM - even sweeter if its a fellow Aussie

[paininthewrasse]

I love that acan in the bottom right corner.. Stunning..

[spy_spy]

hey louist!! that's one sweet nano.. real nice. hope you can post shots of your diy reactor. or maybe show us how such a small reactor works.

thanx

[Ocean In A Box]

louist-
I'm wondering if you or anyone else on the web knows if I could buy already made external durso's like in your pictures a little earlier in your thread?
Contacted Rich at http://www.dursostandpipes.com/ but he doesn't do externals I guess, said the one in your link must have been made by the thread author. (you!) ;) I didn't realize you made them.
Anyone have more exact details on how to make and materials list, I'd love to try it myself, otherwise looking to buy already done.

Nice job again on your tank and entire setup louist!

[louist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9822573#post9822573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brownsugar
Hey Louis,

Great tank I'm another fellow Sydney resident. I have been to all the stores you mentioned above except for Kim's which i got the chance to visit today for the first time and then it all made sense.
I'm pretty sure they will be my new favorite LFS. I usually get my saltwater refills from Strictly (5.50 a drum) i dunno if it was on special or thats how it is normally but it was 3 bucks a refill at Kim's

Have you had a chance to check out St George Aquariums Rockdale & Majestic Aquariums in Taren Point? There a bit south but yeh very much worth the visit.

I just had two question about your Tunze items who did ya buy them from or did ya buy from online ?

And where did ya get ya metal halide lights for that size tank was it a DIY project or am i just not looking at the right places ?

Once again a great tank its a tribute your husbandry and its about time a nano made TOTM - even sweeter if its a fellow Aussie
Hey Brownsugar, $3/25L is Kim's usual price on NSW. They used to do me $3/30L (because I have 30L drums) but not lately, perhaps because I've been really busy and haven't been in much at all.

I heard about St George and Majestic however St George doesn't even open on Sundays! They are very far from me and I know of two reefers who live rather close to both shops, and I am sure they clean out the nicest stocks :D

I got all my Tunze stuff from Michael of Reefing Life. As a member of the Marine Aquarium Society of Sydney (MASS), I get 10% discount off the retail price and Michael's customer service is 110%. He's helped me through all the whole Nanostream disaster (of the 4 pumps I have, 3 have failed. 2x6045, 2x6025).

The metail halide is an Aquamedic Oceanlight 150. I got it from Chris of Nanotuners. However, I did change the ballast to an OSRAM one, which came from Tim of Advanced Reef Aquariums (another MASS sponsor, and regular at meetings).

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9881248#post9881248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spy_spy
hey louist!! that's one sweet nano.. real nice. hope you can post shots of your diy reactor. or maybe show us how such a small reactor works.

thanx
Spy_Spy, the only photo I have of this reactor is the one you see in the write up. I wish I have the DIY skill for something like that. It's nothing special in terms of design. It is just an acrylic box with a recirculation pump and holes for CO2 in, water in and water out.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9891264#post9891264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ocean In A Box
louist-
I'm wondering if you or anyone else on the web knows if I could buy already made external durso's like in your pictures a little earlier in your thread?
Contacted Rich at http://www.dursostandpipes.com/ but he doesn't do externals I guess, said the one in your link must have been made by the thread author. (you!) ;) I didn't realize you made them.
Anyone have more exact details on how to make and materials list, I'd love to try it myself, otherwise looking to buy already done.

Nice job again on your tank and entire setup louist!
Ocean In A Box, I am not sure if you can buy readily made ones. These are easy enough to make though. Considering your skill in your nano-in-the-wall, I am sure you will have no problems. Besides the bulkhead, all you need are these:
1. PVC-T with slip fittings and NPT thread
2. PVC cap for the T
3. PVC pipe for joining stuff together and for the rest of the plumbing, or a hose barb/director if you want to use vinyl hose.

I would give you the part numbers, but I don't think they are relevant for you guys. Take a look at Dural Irrigation's website (www.duralirrigation.com) and they have pictures of all the fittings. I got all mine from there. The ones I used are under LDPE and poly-fittings. They are a.k.a "rual fittings" or "irrigation fittings" here in Australia.

[louist]

That link above should be:
www.duralirrigation.com.au

[krzyphsygy]

Awesome tank Louist.......

Question, what are the legs you are using for the light fixture on the tank?

Where can I get them?
Are they made for that light?
If not , hoe did you get them on there??

Congrats on TOTM....

[krzyphsygy]

Awesome tank Louist.......

Question, what are the legs you are using for the light fixture on the tank?

Where can I get them?
Are they made for that light?
If not , hoe did you get them on there??

Congrats on TOTM....

[Chrisrush]

Same question as Krzyphsygy. Anyone know where you can find a the light bracket for the Aquamedic MH lights?

[Chrisrush]

Found it.

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=193