9g nanowave research, input needed!

[Nvioland]

Hi everyone,

I joined here a long time ago, but never posted--until now. A couple years ago I suddenly got this idea that I wanted a saltwater fish tank, and its currently a lightly stocked 29g FOWLR. Being a college student, I didn't have (and still don't have) a great deal of money, so the idea of a nano really caught my interest. I've recently decided to bite the bullet, and ordered a 9g nanowave, modded by nanotuners.

Needless to say, I was very impressed with everything that came in the mail. I ordered the intermediate starter kit from them, because I didn't want to go through the trouble of shopping around for things piece-by-piece. Although now, before even filling the tank with saltwater, I've encountered my first nano problem: a leak!

1. Has anyone else experienced this problem right off the bat?

2. I'm also curious to know, from anyone who's started with a larger saltwater tank and moved to a nano, what challenges you've faced. Are the water paramters really so much more touchy than in, say, a 29g?

3. I'd like to hear from seasoned nano-reefers about any surprises I may encounter.

4. My main goal is to house a mixture of corals. Are there any particular test kits and supplements that are really good, yet affordable? I feel like I'm so heavily influenced by advertising, and I just want to know what really works well.

5. Also, is it okay if I steal live rock and sand from my 29g FOWLR to forego cycling? Am I better off taking a full stock of rock and sand from my pre-existing tank, or mixing half old-half new?

6. And one other thing I feel like an idiot asking: I know anemones can sting sometimes, but what about corals? Are they something you really need to be careful with when handling?

 

[Nvioland]

I noticed there were 40 reads, but no replies. Did I make a bad investment in buying the nanowave?

I bought it because of the built-in fuge/light and protein skimmer.

Plus, the manufacturer is already sending me a replacement tank to correct the leak problem.

 

[Illuminati]

In a tank that size you'll want to keep up with your top offs to avoid salinity swings. I know it's a closed top so that will help. Also keeping it lightly stocked will help things to, what fish are you thinking of?

I think with the tank you have the stock tanks have major overheating issues but since yours is modded by nanotuners then they probably added more fans which will help. Keep an eye on the temps.

As far as test kits go I have a Hagen kit, it has all of the main tests (Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrile, Ph, CA, DKH, Etc..) I think I got it from either Dr. Foster and Smith or Marine Depot.

You can add live rock from your 29 but it's not a good idea in my opinion to mess with established sandbeds. To many stories of tanks crashing from stirring it up. Also you won't "forgo" cycling, there may be a little spike but I would wait 3 weeks for it to be stable, after the diatoms show up add the cleanup crew and you'll be on your way.

Question 6 - Yes Palythoa's and Zoanthids have a poison in them called Palytoxin. It's always best to wear latex or Nitrile gloves when working on the tank.

Also to save some money go to Dr. Foster and Smith online and get your supplies, when your done checkout and the 3rd page in there is a place for coupons, type in the coupon code dodge and save 15% off your order. Hope that code still works, it did a week ago.

 

[Nvioland]

I was thinking of keeping it VERY lightly stocked. I was still considering even keeping any fish at all--might just want to keep inverts.

Although, I was reading up on certain shrimps, and they were cautioned against with sessile inverts. The book I was reading (Shimek's Guide to Marine Invertebrates) said they're generally not detrimental to clams and corals, but that they may steal food from them. I'd really love to keep a Tridacnid clam, but I've read that they can be difficult to keep too, especially in such a small tank. (I also don't have the lighting in the 29g to move it to when it gets big.)

I had previously ordered Walt Smith LR on ebay, but I found a new LFS to buy from, so I'm considering buying anything wet from an actual store. No shipping! I think I'll just splurge and get new.

I bought a bottle of those 5-in-1 strips, but still need other tests for ammonia and calcium. Any word on whether the 5-in-1 strips are a gimmick? I picked up the Kent nano-reef part A & B, only because it was what was on the shelf. I think one part is a buffer, and the other is a supplement. Is there something better that I should be using?

I have one of those powerstrips with the day and night timer (had the timer fix for the moonlights), but it's already full (8 outlets). I got a cheapy UV sterilizer, but I'm wondering if I should get an auto-topoff in its place. Any recommendations for a topoff that will easily fit?

The guy at LFS told me fuge mud was a waste of money, and that I should just fill it with some mud and macro. Thoughts on that? What kind of macro is best suited? The fuge is built into the back with a 5w cf lamp.

 

[Cptn Spaulding]

The Nanowave is awesome. The skimmer definitely works, and the fuge is great for chaetomorpha or whatever other algae you wish to put back there. I used it at first for a mantis set up, then a naked clownfish/RBTA setup. Those RBTA's grew and multiplied so fast it was ridiculous. I realize this post is 5 years old, I hope you put it to good use though.