I spent the last year experimenting with a 10 gallon (v.1.0). Like most people, I was anxious to start a tank but didn't want to loose too many animals while I figured out how things worked. I decided to start a journal on my new tank. Any advice, ideas, or opinions are welcome.
Nano Reef v.2.0
The tank is a finnex 22 gallon glass m tank with rounded corners, purchased used without the light. The tank itself looks very clean, but I noticed the left and right sides are not quite square. The right side depth (not height) is 18 1/8th inches while the left side is 17 7/8ths, so in total there is a quarter inch difference between the two sides.
The actual tank volume is 19.5 gallons measured out gallon by gallon. The stand is sturdy, but the finish is bubbling up in some places. Still, for the price the tank is a good deal, and IMHO the best bang for the buck nano out there. Too bad they're discontinued.
There is an acrylic false wall with an overflow intake on the left and hole for output on the upper right. In addition there are a few smaller intake holes towards the bottom of the false wall. I closed these up with some box tape to keep delicate creatures from being sucked in. Behind the wall the compartment is 4 inches deep and partially separated by another wall which leads to a series of rain trays. Removed the rain trays and moved all the equipment to this side creating a sump section, and leaving a refugium area where the overflow is.
The main problem is the stock plumbing contains 5 90' turns that hurt the flow. I've replaced that with flexible tubing leading up to 1 90' elbow that pokes through the false wall and is connected to a fluval 303 spray bar. I think the stock pump (343 gph) is adequate for a moderate flow tank.
I also added an mj 600 in the refugium area and used up all the left over 90' elbows to plumb it over the top of the false wall. The main purpose of this smaller pump aside from a little extra flow is to give pods a way of getting into the main tank without having to work past the skimmer.
Topoff is handled by a tunze osmolator hooked up on the diving wall in the back, one side holding the laser eye while the other holds the emergency shutoff float. I had to cut the float valve bracket a little so I can get it low enough to be effective. The reservoir is a 4 gallon square bucket that fits perfectly into the stand.
I hooked up a b11 silent air pump as a backup. I don't really like the look of the bright blue airstone nor the suction cups for holding it in place. I'll have to look around for something a little sleeker.
I'm using the fixture from the v.1.0 tank, an 80 watt pc orbit fixture. Unfortunately, the fixture is 20" and it sticks out. It's not as nice a fit as the finnex pc fixture that comes with the tank, but I already have it so I'll use it.
More to come.
Nano Reef v.2.0
The tank is a finnex 22 gallon glass m tank with rounded corners, purchased used without the light. The tank itself looks very clean, but I noticed the left and right sides are not quite square. The right side depth (not height) is 18 1/8th inches while the left side is 17 7/8ths, so in total there is a quarter inch difference between the two sides.
The actual tank volume is 19.5 gallons measured out gallon by gallon. The stand is sturdy, but the finish is bubbling up in some places. Still, for the price the tank is a good deal, and IMHO the best bang for the buck nano out there. Too bad they're discontinued.
There is an acrylic false wall with an overflow intake on the left and hole for output on the upper right. In addition there are a few smaller intake holes towards the bottom of the false wall. I closed these up with some box tape to keep delicate creatures from being sucked in. Behind the wall the compartment is 4 inches deep and partially separated by another wall which leads to a series of rain trays. Removed the rain trays and moved all the equipment to this side creating a sump section, and leaving a refugium area where the overflow is.
The main problem is the stock plumbing contains 5 90' turns that hurt the flow. I've replaced that with flexible tubing leading up to 1 90' elbow that pokes through the false wall and is connected to a fluval 303 spray bar. I think the stock pump (343 gph) is adequate for a moderate flow tank.
I also added an mj 600 in the refugium area and used up all the left over 90' elbows to plumb it over the top of the false wall. The main purpose of this smaller pump aside from a little extra flow is to give pods a way of getting into the main tank without having to work past the skimmer.
Topoff is handled by a tunze osmolator hooked up on the diving wall in the back, one side holding the laser eye while the other holds the emergency shutoff float. I had to cut the float valve bracket a little so I can get it low enough to be effective. The reservoir is a 4 gallon square bucket that fits perfectly into the stand.
I hooked up a b11 silent air pump as a backup. I don't really like the look of the bright blue airstone nor the suction cups for holding it in place. I'll have to look around for something a little sleeker.
I'm using the fixture from the v.1.0 tank, an 80 watt pc orbit fixture. Unfortunately, the fixture is 20" and it sticks out. It's not as nice a fit as the finnex pc fixture that comes with the tank, but I already have it so I'll use it.
More to come.
