Any Advice

Bogart80 · #1 09/28/2007, 06:41 PM

Hello Everyone,
Let me 1st say thank you to anyone who has ever shared ideas and their experiences on this site.

My wife and I recently moved (love the house) hate that there isn’t any room for my existing 80G tank! (My mother was thrilled) So I took my old 16g that housed our seahorses and I’m going to attempt a nano reef.

I would love any started tips, the reason is on occasion the more and more I read the forums the more confused I get on just what is the most important keys of keeping a nano.

Week 1

2OceanLovers · #2 09/28/2007, 06:46 PM

It is looking great so far. I love your rock work. What are some tank specs, ie lighting, filtration, water movement?

Bogart80 · #3 09/28/2007, 07:23 PM

Some specs: I use a Marineland Emperor 280 Filter System or 280 gph flow rate or around 17 cycles and Hour, I have order a power head and well add as soon as the FedEx man gets here I will have HYDOR KORALIA AQUARIUM CIRCULATION For my lighting I will have to upgrade as with my 40 watt SmartPaq Daylight 10000K and Actinic 460nm together with (1) Lunar light. .35 amps. I only get about 2.5 watts per gallon, which my seashores loved yet my corals will hate. So I’m in the market. Also I have protein skimmer yet it seem a lot of people fill you don’t need or shouldn’t have one for a nano so I’m going to try my best to monitor my levels and If I need to throw it on I will. Any Ideas for lighting?

Bogart80 · #4 09/28/2007, 07:43 PM

Had to post one more pic, my "ydoa" is on the hunt

2OceanLovers · #5 09/28/2007, 08:48 PM

That sounds really good. You can't go wrong with a skimmer on a tank, I don't think. Flow sounds great in there. For lighting, it really depends on what you want to keep. For mushrooms and some softies, your light sounds all right. If you wanted to get into the lps, I would suggest at least doubling the light you have now. For sps and clams, I would suggest to get a 150w metal halide. Hope this helps.

reefer1024 · #6 09/28/2007, 09:12 PM

I think your off to a great start. I hope you don't mind a little constructive criticism. I think the rocks look great how they are now but it does not look like you left much room for corals. Most corals will come on their own rocks and will continue to grow after you get them, so make sure you keep this in mind. Try to plan the tank so it will look good in a year or 2 when everything has grown in. I also find it is a good idea to make sure you have enough room to fit a Mag-float between the rocks and the side glass. My only other suggestion is to add a black background. Good luck, and keep us posted on the progress.

Rue · #7 09/28/2007, 09:31 PM

How can you NOT have room for an 80? LOL...they're big but not that big!

I think you're gonna be upgrading that little tank very soon...

Bogart80 · #8 10/01/2007, 09:43 AM

Ok, the tank seems to be running smooth, and I want to keep it that way.

What type of media should I be using? Or any Buffers?

As I stated before, the only "filter" is Marineland Emperor 280 Filter System which has a second cartage for media. I have tested my water today yet I think my test kit is out of wack so I’m heading to the store today and Ill let them check it again. Ill post results.

Subliminal · #9 10/01/2007, 10:20 AM

If I were you, I'd start looking around for an aquafuge (CPR) or any other brand of hang on refugium, fill it with a little sand and a lot of chaeto, and get rid of that emporer. I used to run those, and I had nitrate problems (it was very efficient in turning waste into nitrate...too good, in fact) and with the HOB fuge, I've had 0 issues with nitrates.

Plus, then you'll have the benefit of 'pods flowing into your tank as well.

2OceanLovers · #10 10/01/2007, 10:23 AM

Some good chemical media to run is purigen and chemi-pure. They are really good about removing the bad stuff. I would remove the bio-wheel from the emperor if you haven't already. They are a huge nitrate factory. I have turned a Emperor 400 into a fuge. You might think about doing that. What results did you get on your test?

Bogart80 · #11 10/01/2007, 12:32 PM

Well it’s true you learn something new everyday. I’m just starting to wonder how many days I am going to need before I have 1 clue as to what to do about my Nano.

After I trip to my LFS I picked up a Sea Clone 100 Protein Skimmer (as the one i had was leaking and just didnt feel the messing with it) along with B-Ionic Buffer (NO.1 AKALINTIY NO.2 CALCUM)

Everything that was tested today was in range except for my PH (Maybe I should chuck the Bio-wheel) I’m going to use the buffer once a day for a week and then go back and have my water tested. If I can start to maintain good levels for about another 2-3 weeks I’m going to started adding the corals.