Boudster's Custom 10.4 Gallon Quad-chamber Nano Thread

[incysor]

Incysor,

Yeah, the reason I wanted a Harlequin in the first place is because of how cool yours is....so you don't think it will be a problem? Do your water parameters change at all while the star is being eaten?

I've never noticed a change. I do a weekly 1-2 gallon water change though. Other than that this tank is almost entirely maintenance free. With the fuge on your tank you'll likely be able to get away with less frequent water changes, although 1g a week is nothing.

B

 

[Agu]

How are you going to create flow through the seahorse chamber ?

 

[boudster]

How are you going to create flow through the seahorse chamber ?

Most of the flow will end up going through the media chamber, but there will be some holes both on the side and back baffles of the seahorse tank to allow some flow through there as well.

 

[boudster]

Ok, so I told Nick @ Nick's Acrylic Reef to go ahead and put together the 30" X 10" X 7.5" tank.....but I'm going to wait another day before I tell him to go ahead with the rest of the tank (chambers, etc.) to see if anymore feedback comes in. So this is your last chance to help me improve my design....and thanks for all the help so far!

BTW....the entrance to the media chamber will have a slot where I can slide in a sponge or some other type of filter media to keep debris out of the pump. I will put some sort of grate on the outlet to keep renegade snails out...and will stick some carbon and phosban in there.

 

[incysor]

So you've ditched the idea of an overflow entirely? Are you concerned about surface scum?
What about a skimmer? My understanding is the dwarf seahorses require quite a bit of food, and they're not the best swimmers/hunters. I'd want a way to attach at least a cheap HOB skimmer.

B

 

[boudster]

So you've ditched the idea of an overflow entirely? Are you concerned about surface scum?
What about a skimmer? My understanding is the dwarf seahorses require quite a bit of food, and they're not the best swimmers/hunters. I'd want a way to attach at least a cheap HOB skimmer.

B

I would like to avoid a skimmer if at all possible....I really don't like HOB stuff. Maybe if there is a really small one out there....do you know of any?

I'm really not worried too much about surface scum as I will be pointing the returns from the pump upwards towards the surface.

I just don't see any good way to have an overflow......I could have the media chamber be an overflow....but it's not very big.

Suggestions? I would definitely like an overflow if possible.

 

[boudster]

Considering the actual tank is 9.7G, is a 1.6G chamber big enough for 1 regular sized seahorse?

 

[boudster]

Ok, I'm rethinking the "no skimmer" attitude as a skimmer would greatly reduce the need for water changes and would keep the water nice and clear.....but with the tank only being 7.5" tall and needing to fit into a compact space, are there really any options out there?

 

[dcoufal]

How about clamping a PhosBan reactor to the back of the tank... You could run carbon and/or phosban instead of a skimmer. Not the best solution; but, it's an idea if you go without a skimmer.

Dwain

 

[bennerkla]

boudster- You'll be fine with just water changes. Keep a close eye on your perameters, and if they get out of wack, you'll need to adjust. I just don't see how a protein skimmer is possible with this tank. I would LOVE to have one on my 5.5 but there is just no room. With your OCD of symetrical stuff (I have it too,) you won't want an unsightly skimmer on the back. Plus you have absolutally no room for a pump.

 

[incysor]

Actually Nick has made some workable mini-skimmers that might fit. I believe they're airstone driven, and smaller than the picolo airstone skimmers which were the smallest mass-produced ones I was able to find.

B

 

[boudster]

I'll ask nick about that....thanks!

 

[tedu]

If Nick can't help you out, I've got an old air driven mini skimmer you can have to play with.

 

[boudster]

Thanks Ted,

do you know approximately how tall it is?

 

[wayne in norway]

Given the ease of one or two gallon water changes I can't imagine why you're even thinking of skimmers. If you're worried about getting water consistency do what I do - cheat. Once a week or so I take out 50 % (1 bucket) of my nanos water and swap it with 1 bucket of water from my main system. You have an inwall supply of what I would assume to be aged, correctly mixed seawater to use!

 

[dcoufal]

boudster - I've made Remora clones as small as 12" tall x 2" wide x 1" deep before, that worked quite well.... Might be able to go as small as 8" x 1.5" x 1" and power it with a small powerhead. (There is no collection cup at this size... you have to use a tube to an external collection facility - i.e. milk jug. )

Dwain

 

[incysor]

Given the ease of one or two gallon water changes I can't imagine why you're even thinking of skimmers. If you're worried about getting water consistency do what I do - cheat. Once a week or so I take out 50 % (1 bucket) of my nanos water and swap it with 1 bucket of water from my main system. You have an inwall supply of what I would assume to be aged, correctly mixed seawater to use!

It may not be necessary at all. However keeping dwarf seahorses requires pretty heavy feeding for a nano tank. He'd also like to keep a harlequin shrimp. Again lots of waste with disolving starfish. The refugium may be able to keep up with it without any problems, especially with a 10-20% weekly water change. But it doesn't hurt to have one if you can fit one in.

B

 

[boudster]

I think I'll start w/o a skimmer, but may add it in the future if I find one that works. BTW....I'll be posting a new and improved design soon (Thanks Incysor for all your help with designing this). The Fuge and Seahorse chambers will be bigger, the main chamber will be just a tad bit smaller, and the whole tank will be 30 X 12 X 7.5 instead of 30 X 12 X 7.5

BTW Dwain, when I post the new design let me know if you think you could make a skimmer that would fit.....of course you will be compensated if you can do it

 

[bennerkla]

... and the whole tank will be 30 X 12 X 7.5 instead of 30 X 12 X 7.5

????

boudster- The power behind all protein skimmers is time. You need to give the microbubbles time to "cling on" to the skimmate, and time comes from height. A small, 10" high protein skimmer isn't going to do much for your tank, and the microbubbles will just be released into your system, causing almost more harm than good.

 

[dcoufal]

????

boudster- The power behind all protein skimmers is time. You need to give the microbubbles time to "cling on" to the skimmate, and time comes from height. A small, 10" high protein skimmer isn't going to do much for your tank, and the microbubbles will just be released into your system, causing almost more harm than good.

Actually, the 12" version I made created a nice foam.... Microbubbles can be a problem; but a piece of carefully placed sponge/micron cloth can prevent them - as long as you remember to clean/replace it weekly.

Boudster - I wouldn't mind making one just for the "fun" of it to see how well it would work for you. If it worked - sweet. If it didn't work well - it was worth a try, right? Oh, answer your dang cell phone man....

Dwain