Perfect Nano Reef Components

[SugarFox03]

I just wanted to see what everyone thought was the perfect components to a Nano reef aquarium. I want to replace, upgrade, and add on some things to make my life a lot easier, and help my reef tank. I have time to plan, as I am not making my purchase for about a month or so, but I want to have as much information about different pieces of equipment as possible, so I make the right decisions.

What is your take on pumps, powerheads, uv sterilizers, lights, controllers, ATO, reactors, chillers, heaters, etc...

I have a 26 gal bowfront with a 10 gal sump/fuge. I love the set up, but want it to be a little less worrisome for me. I'm planning on buying a controller (I've been researching the Reefkeeper 2, AquaController Jr, and Lighthouse controller by Premium Aquatics) and I'm also getting the Tunze Nanostream 6025. I want to replace my return pump with something a bit more efficient. I'm currently running a Rio pump, and I know the quality of these pumps...I also want to add a uv sterilizer, but don't even know where to begin with one of these - are they necessary? Do I need to have any reactors (calcium, Phos-Ban) with my system?

If you had your choice, what equipment would you buy? I'm happy with my lights, although I do wish I could upgrade to a 250w MH...maybe next years tax return. I'm also not looking to replace my skimmer, as my Remora does a pretty good job.

Thanks in advance for any comments/suggestions! Its much appreciated!

[Rosseau]

Ah, the ideal nano thread.

All I can offer is that, for me, a good nano must have as little of the equipment showing as possible.

[smash102]

Ditto Rosseau. The cleaner the design/rock formation and the less visable equipment the better.

[SugarFox03]

I'm more interested in the equipment used.

I agree in that the least amount of equipment you can see, the better, as it has a nice, clean look.

Why do you use what you use on your system? (this is for everyone!)

[oldreefer76]

depending on what you plan on keeping I would go with the Tunze 6045 instead of the 6025, I have the 6045 in a 15g and love it, it is by no means to much flow in my BB tank

[NanoClown]

OK mine would be the

-finnex M-tank 32 or 40B with 20L sump/fuge
-flow, for finnex, quiet1 3000 mod return, 2x Tunze 6045
on the 40B, a CL on a quiet1 4000 or 5k, and a quiet1 3000 return
-no UV sterilizer
-regular 2 switch ATO
-RK2 on either
lights
-30in 250w Sunpod on the finnex, 36in 2x150w Sunpod on the 40B
-1/15 hp chiller i think i would go with the current USA
-1x150w stealth and a 50w stealth for backup on either system
-no reactors just a doseing pump
-Tunze nano skimmer on either system

ya, but i dont have the $$$ for it so all i can do is dream

[RobSW1]

This is how i set up my tank

Tank- 29- black background
Sump- 20L
I believe sumps on nano are a must, water volume and such
Flow- Return Q1 2200
CL- Q1 3000
PH- 2- Koralia 1's
Flow is Negotiable- but i am partial to SPS
I run about 2200 GPH so 70x turnover
Lighting- 250w HQI 14k
Anything over 16 inches i would run a 250, 12 and under 150
Skimmer- SS-65
If i had to get a diff one i would get the ER-RS 80
Fuge- Chaetomorpha under HD shoplight
Heater- 150w stealth- i am gettinga backup soon.
Chiller- NONE.....woooooo tank stays at 79F even with my 250
Aquascaping- I like open space, left side small sloping to the right.
ATO- none yet...i use kent aquadoser

Everyones is diff. and i dont think anyone can have a perfect tank.

HTH
rob

[SugarFox03]

Thats for the responses! Why the Tunze 6045 over the 6025? I thought the 6045 would be too much for my tank, as its more than double the 6025, which is what...600+ gph? I'd be replacing 2 MJ400's that are in the display right now...so with the 6025 I'll already have 3 times the flow. I'm keeping a mixed reef: mushrooms, zoos, monti caps, acans, euphyllia, clam, trumpet, and I plan on getting a plate coral and a cynarina sometime soon. I also want to pick up a few more acans and some sps frags. I will also be upgrading my return pump, so I hope that will give me some more flow too (looking at the Q1 2200 now instead of the Mag Drive)

[RobSW1]

The Q1 2200 is awesome, it is really queit and does not add too much heat into the tank like mags do. If you do upgrade, you will love it.

[cherubfish pair]

Originally posted by oldreefer76
depending on what you plan on keeping I would go with the Tunze 6045 instead of the 6025, I have the 6045 in a 15g and love it, it is by no means to much flow in my BB tank

I know the 6025s can't be put on a wave maker, but what about 6045s?

[hahnmeister]

A list of best of the best equipment?

Well, a sump for starters... either a nice size one built into the tank itself, or a true external sump underneath. A simple baffle built in is all you need to make a refugium in one half, and a sump in the other.

Equipment?

-return pumps? eheim hobby pumps.
-flow pumps? tunze nano-streams
-skimmer? DIY, deltec, Tunze, or H&S
-wavemaking? part of the nanostreams/6055
-alternate? Oceansmotions Super Squirt with an eheim hobby pump feed.
-lights? Icecap SLR reflectors, Vossloh-Schwabe waterproof endcaps, and T5 bulbs to go with. Yeah... T5s over halides.
-tunze osmolator autotopoff.
-deltec calcium reactor
-Kent Hi-S membrane for RO/DI

[SugarFox03]

I just got my Q1 2200 yesterday and want to set it up today. First, I'd like to put in inline instead of in the sump. I just feel it would be easier to keep clean, and would make the pump last longer. I need to pull off the part on the pump and put the new plate on so I can do this. The part on it now doesnt have the threaded extension.

I have tried everything to pop this thing off and cannot do it. Am I doing something wrong?

[lbaskball45]

My setup

Biocube 14gal
No additional powerheads added
50watt heater
External XP Filstar Filter connected to
JBJ Nano chiller

And lastly
My digital acquatics controller (with temp & ph Probe)

[cherubfish pair]

How about a closed loop with an Oceans Motions Squirt?

[hahnmeister]

Heat is a problem with large pumps on small tanks, although perhaps a nice external pump, although large, would avoid that. A Pan World 40PX might do the trick with an OM...

[phenom5]

well...i throw out my thoughts for you.

since your happy with your remora, and since you've already got a sump setup...

i would go with the MH upgrade, the new return pump (sounds like you've already got that), the nanostream(s). since you said you'd like to make things easier...add an ATO.

i would definately skip the UV sterilizer...absolute waste of money. and i wouldn't bother with a CA for a tank this size, i think you'd be better off using a 2-part additive (B-Ionic for example...i think you can get auto dosing systems) or kalkwasser.

as for the nanostreams & flow...tunze stream pumps are great, and the flow is completely different then your typical PH. the move a lot of water, but it's a gentle, wide spread flow. the fact that your thinking about SPS makes me agree with the 6045 suggestion. actually, i would probably go with 2 6025. 2 of those would give you some crazy, random, turbulent flow...and your SPS will love you for it.

or...if you've really got some cash buring a hole in your pocket...run a OM super squirt on your return line or on a closed loop as cattleman suggested.

[Crackerballer]

Mine would be:

Modded (for flow) AP24 or JBK 29
Minimum 150w MH, and some form of T5 of PC Actinic
Small heater
Canister filter to hold Additives (chemi-pure, purigen)
RK2 With a Nice chiller.
Autotop off running from an RO/DI
Maybe a doser
All setup in a manner that all you see is the stand and the inhabitants