37 Column Nano

[saltycreefer]

So I've decided to set up a nano reef again. Seems I do this every fall and then get bored with it when warm weather arrives. Hopefully that wont happen this time. I plan on building this tank to be as automated and easy to maintain as possible, so any suggestions along the way are welcome.
The tank I'm going with this time is a perfecto 37 column. Here is a shot of the tank with some of the equipment I've put together so far.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/saltycreefer/Photo001.jpg

[saltycreefer]

Equipment pictured includes,a second hand kalk stirrer which came cheap from Jason @ Greenwich Aquaria, a 250 watt electronic ballast, 2- 1/2'' eductors, 3/4'' check valve, & a 250 watt Phoenix hqi bulb.
I have a lot more equipment kicking around from previous setups that I need to dig up from storage, including a chiller, water reservoir for gravity topoff, a 55 gallon tank that I plan to use as a sump, a euro reef skimmer, I may set up a ten gallon as a fuge, An hqi pendant, etc.

[saltycreefer]

Mostly starting this thread as a personal tank log, but anybody's welcome to critique or give some advice as I go along. Forgot to mention the tank dimensions, it's 20''x18''24''. Almost a cube.
I havent quite decided between doing an all Montipora or different morphs of A. Millepora. I do plan on barebottom with either white anthelia or zoos as a carpet. If anyone has pics of a tank similar to what I'm planning please post.

[thrillreefer]

Are those the eductors on the right side of the pic (inside the tank)? Have you ever used them/ how well do they perform/ which brand are they? interesting idea for the BB with anthelia, sort of reminds me of freshwater tanks with small saggitarius, in a way.

[saltycreefer]

The ones I got are sunday eductors. Havent used these specifically before. I have 1'' ones running on one of my clients' tanks and they are incredible. Can't remember what brand they are though. The thing I liked about the sunday brand is they can pivot.

[Chibils]

A column -- could make it into a seahorse tank. :)

[pheromo]

i just started a 30 oceanic cube and was keeping it BB but since its so tall, wihtout being so long, its already getting a little hard to appreciate ... but the idea of the anthellia, which grows like a weed, is a fantastic idea idea ... if u find some white or i think they even have blue, let me know i'm in NYC ...

[saltycreefer]

Pheromo,
I have someone with a field of the white anthelia who's going to give me some when I'm ready. There's probably enough to spare. Will let you know for sure.I've had blue in the past and it was really fussy, the white seems indestructable.
Chibils,
I think seahorses are great, but I think I'm going to go with some of the teeny gobies and possibly a carribean dwarf angel pair for something a little bigger.
Just spoke with a friend who is going to help me build a stand. He has tools I've never even heard of, so hopefully it will come out nice. I can't wait to get this tank running, it's been about a year without one.

[leeweber85]

I look forward to seeing your progress, I'm setting up the same tank...well trying to, I haven't gotten very far! but hopefully will have it up and going over winter break. I'm curious how the aquascaping will turn out. Here is my lame build thread:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1154588

[pheromo]

thanks dude would love to see a pic of it ....

[saltycreefer]

Glad to see someone interested. I think i'm going to use mostly branch rock. I really wont know for sure until I build the stand and get water runing through it. I think branch rock is the way to go.

[pheromo]

i think more people will be interested when u have a stand and water running through it .. i like tall tanks, myself ...

[axia55]

I am following along, I just got an Oceanic 33g Cube last night which is 20x18x21, almost the same size as yours.

[saltycreefer]

Scratch building a stand. I will just get the stand oceanic makes for the 33 cube. I wont be able to get that til thursday. In the meantime, I'll get to my storage space and see what equipment I can pull together. I really want to get this going. I've also decided to do Montiporas only with the anthelia bottom...I think it's gonna be a sweet tank!!!

[pheromo]

i haven't been able to fin any white anthellia in NY .... hmm? is it rare? i have the pink stuff, that is different right? ... still going with branch rock? ...

[saltycreefer]

Do you have pics of the pink stuff? Not sure if it's the same as the white I'm talking about. I'll see if I can find a pic for you. I know that it really hasn't been around in a few years. It used to come in a lot in the late 90's to an LFS I worked at at the time. Nobody seems to bring it in anymore.
As long as I can find decent pieces, I'm still going with branch rock. I had a look at some NICE Kupang rock last week that I'll get if I dont use branch.

[saltycreefer]

Searched anthelia and found this pic which looks most like the one I'm getting.<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/saltycreefer/anthelia.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[axia55]

You might also want to check out the stand for the new Current Solana, that is 20x20" so it should fit our tanks. Pretty nice looking too!

[zma21]

I had that exact tank.

I wouldn't buy it again, the dimensions are horrible.

[pheromo]

the white is much nicer than the pink ... i don't like branch rock myself ... i think u can make a beautiful strcuture, but it just takes the right pieces ...

[pheromo]

p.s. like all art, horrible dimensions make for interesting interpretations of space ...

[saltycreefer]

The dimensions are actually perfect for what I'm going do do with this tank, and it fits my space restrictions well. I may start working on this thing today, I just need to find my hole saws. Ordering a stand to arrive on thursday (hopefully).

[saltycreefer]

Got my stand today, went with the Current Solana??? Not sure what it's called, but I called it a lot of colorful words as I was building it! Took me 2 hrs. Was tweaked a little, some of the pilot holes didn't match up, problems with the door staying closed. Got it all worked out though. I found a front piece to an overflow box that I'm gluing to the inside back of the tank where my drain will be. I think it will work pretty well. Will try and make some progress this week. The next step for me is drilling the drain in the tank. Have done it a few times before, so hopefully it will go smoothly.

Here's the tank on the stand.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/saltycreefer/cimg24642.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

I'm going to cut the back of this overflow out and glue it to the glass over my drain.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/saltycreefer/CIMG2424.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

What I rocked out with while building the stand.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/saltycreefer/1195201059fld4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[Capt_Cully]

I've seen a few people starting to set that tank up (those dimensions). I haven't seen one up and running yet. Looking forward to the FTS once you get it going.

[everl0ng]

i have one that i have lying around. all of the glass sides are tempered, not just the bottom so be careful when drilling. i was going to drill mine, but i have never drilled before so i decided to just purchase a lifereef overflow. now the tank is empty and just sitting around since i downgraded to a NC24. if something happens to yours, you know where to get another lol. good luck and keep us posted!

[saltycreefer]

All the sides tempered??? I better call perfecto before I do anything else.

[saltycreefer]

Just called Perfecto, they told me just the bottom is tempered...hope the guy was right. I'm going to drill it tonight.

[everl0ng]

double post

[everl0ng]

oh, that's awesome to hear. maybe i can resurrect my tank then!!

[Devtech]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11359118#post11359118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltycreefer
Got my stand today, went with the Current Solana??? Not sure what it's called, but I called it a lot of colorful words as I was building it! Took me 2 hrs. Was tweaked a little, some of the pilot holes didn't match up, problems with the door staying closed.

man salty i kno what your saying, if u look at my build thread i bought the whole set for the Solana aquarium, that stand is a pain in the arse to build! it took me 3 hours i gave up the back piece wouldnt slidie in place or even fit for that matter, and the door wouldnt even stay closed like the magnet was being forced to let go... it sucked majorly i decided that the major parts that hold the tank up are in place and turned the cheek on the things i didnt finish on it.

[saltycreefer]

Yeah, set it up! We can battle! Haha!

[everl0ng]

well i ended up using my perfecto stand for my NC24. two of the edges hang off of the stand only SLIGHTLY. nothing to be alarmed about though (hopefully hah).

[Devtech]

yea only thing im worried mainly about is my skimmer i want to upgrade just dont kno which one will fit in there perfectly...hmm WHAT TO DO WHAT TO DO! lol gl on your build!

[saltycreefer]

DEv what are the inside dimensions of your skimmer area?

[saltycreefer]

My holesaw seems to be shot, and I dont really want to order a new one so I will be going old school with a hang on overflow box. Will be going to Atlanta for 4 days on Thursday. Probably wont have time to work on the tank until I return...

[pheromo]

glad to see everything is coming along

[TKByrnes]

I also have the same tank ill see if i can dig up some pics of it when i had it up and running. Cant wait to see it full of life!!