Ordered my nano tank today

[opihi]

i've been wanting to get a nicer home for my mantis. i looked at the minibows, the eclipses, and just didn't find anything to my liking....

until today.

i was reading kmu's thread (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=356144) and saw that lee mar makes a cool 5 gallon cube tank. i ordered mine today and it should be here next week. :rollface:

basically, i'm setting up this tank as a home for the mantis (who needs a name, by the way), and to keep zoos and ricordea in.

it'll be a 10" cube tank. my initial plans are to get the 2x 13w kits from ahsupply (http://www.ahsupply.com/twox.htm). i was thinking about getting both lamps in 50/50s. will this be enough to keep zoos? i've heard conflicting stories on the light requirements of zoanthids. i know it will be enough for ricordea and other corallimorpharians.

please lmk your thoughts. i'm really jazzed about setting up this cube tank, and i want to do it right.

mahalo,
jeff

[LVfishguy]

You know me, I love small tanks! I think that it should be enough light but I am not the formost expert on lighting for peoples tanks. What are you going to run for filtration?

[BRI7969]

it will be enough lite just not realy good coulor

[opihi]

chris: i'm thinking of using LR and carbon for filtration in addition to weekly water changes.

bri7969: do you speak of your experience in keeping zoos? can you please explain your statement?

thanks guys

[TippyToeX]

Sounds sweet Jeff! Do you have a link to the 5g nano, I'd like to see what one looks like. :)

That's enough light for zoanthids. I think what BRI7969 means is some people are not happy with the color (in any K or mix there of) PC's give to zoanthids.

[opihi]

hey Amy,
thanks for the explanation. do you have any other suggestions for an ideal zoo tank?

no links for the cube, but here's kmu's pic from his thread.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1786Desktop.JPG

[dallast]

looks nice to me, jeff!

i have found with my 6 gal. eclipse that lots of water changes are the way to go. my tank is pretty full though, even has a tomato clown and a rbta, along with many more corals, but since i started the nearly every other day 1/2 gal. changes, my tank looks fantastic.

if you can maintain the water changes, the filtration is secondary, imho.

i'll try to get a new pic of my nano for you all to peruse!

lights, i would have more if i could fit them in!

[dallast]

my little nano as of 8-5-04

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/507/5619nano_8-5-04_2.jpg

things are starting to get a little too large for this tank, don't you all think?

[Razing Kane]

thats a sweet tank dallast

[TippyToeX]

Great nano Dallas! :thumbsup:

[dallast]

thanks, guys!

i would love for it to be over-run with corals .. no rock to be seen! maybe someday......

[opihi]

lookin good dallas.

what kind of lighting are you running? do you use any thing for curculation other than the eclipse system and that micro jet?

[dallast]

no...that's all i run in that tank. for about two months, just after rosy the rbta got chewed up by the pump, i took it out and only had the minimal flow from the eclipse system. everything looked great! i think the livestock in this tank loves ultralow flow. none of my euphyllia in my big tank open like this one does...i'm sure it's due to the flow.

and one more time for the road......water changes!

[opihi]

it's partially complete.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffhee/images/IMG_2484.JPG

i found this reptile substrate sand called Bone Aid (http://www.petluvers.com/t-rexboneaidcalci-sand-black.html) at petsmart. it's supposed to be 100% pure calcium carbonate, so we'll see how that works out. i'm most concerned about whether the sand is dyed or contains any chemicals, as mantis shrimp are particularly succeptible to chemicals. i think it'll be okay though because the bag says that it's digestible for reptiles.

please don't laugh at the acrylic work, i did it all using the tools i had on hand. (a dremel & a circular saw with wood blade, not the most accurate things)

right now it's got some shroomies, a kenya tree, & some sickly looking rics that never seemed to prosper in my main tank. not sure if it was too much flow or what. my mantis goes in tonight! :D once i get some decent lighting, i'll invite one of you photography peeps over to take better pics of the giant frilly shrooms on the right. it's got irridescent greens, blues & purples in it. i don't know if they're rare or what, but i haven't seen anything like them in the 4 years i've been in the hobby.

my next project is to build a canopy to hold a pair of these 20w bulbs (http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/20,watt/Class//T1/F55+0047+0868/Itemdy00.aspx) i found online. they're pretty cheap per watt, considering they're self ballasted. plus, i'm limited to 9 & 13 watt length standard PC bulbs since the tank itself is only 10.5 inches wide.

hope y'all like it :)

[EvilInSin]

I like it! Is that Chaeto in the back corner? and what color are your Rics? they look yellow? cool if they are supposed to be yellow!

[opihi]

yes, that's chaeto. you need some? i got lots.

the ric on the left is green, the 2 in the foreground are orange. they're light in color because they weren't doing well in my SPS tank.

[dallast]

hey, i've got some slow, but steady growing turf algae in my nano. do you think the chaeto would be a good addition to outcompete for nutrients? does the stuff overgrow rocks...does it have holdfasts like caulerpa?

wish i could put a tiny 'fuge on the nano!

[TippyToeX]

You know I love it Jeff. :D I think the acrylic work is wonderful.

[opihi]

Dallas: the chaeto does not overgrow everything like caulerpa. it may out compete some of the turf algae, it's worth a shot. i'll bring a ziploc for you if you bring me a stalk of the devil. err, i mean xenia.

Aim: thanks!

[EvilInSin]

I didnt know you could just let the Cheato go free in the tank! cool to know thanks! I may need some eventually and will keep you in mind! ;)
I hope your ric's color perks up! were they under MH in the big tank? I still dont know what to do to make mine split etc.
I like your oranges as is! hehe

[opihi]

yep, chaeto grows freely. i'll trade anyone a big baggy of chaeto for rics & zoos. they don't have to be big, just a couple polyps of zoos and a ric color i don't have. (i used to have 7 or 8 different types, but they kicked it during my move here :()