College Nano Plan

[Clowning_Around]

I.e. If they are strick on the 10g then you may want to consider those other compoments remote as opposed to inclusive of the ome enclosure...

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[extendedmango]

Food for thought, 10g display + ato, refugium etc = mpre than 10g of water....

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I think colleges only care about display volume, but I may be wrong.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[extendedmango]

Automatic feeders are almost never worth the cost IMO. On a big tank, where you can handle the bioload of random drops of pellets, maybe, but on a small tank, absolutely not.

Reef Frenzy frozen food should be fine, but if you wanted to add in pellets for convenience, I've been using, and like, the New Life Spectrum small sinking pellets. I've been using them for years and years, they generally have a very good reputation, and I've seen public and private large aquariums use it for their food as well.

Reef frenzy works great on my current tank so I will continue using it on the nano if possible, but I don't think dorms usually have freezers so I may need to switch to pellets. Thanks for the recommendation!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ReefWreak]

I think colleges only care about display volume, but I may be wrong.

They won't know the difference, you can always justify it as display volume anyway I think my dorm had a 20g limit when I had my 24g nanocube. Nobody even asked though, everyone just thought it was really cool and wanted to come in and see the aquarium.

Reef frenzy works great on my current tank so I will continue using it on the nano if possible, but I don't think dorms usually have freezers so I may need to switch to pellets. Thanks for the recommendation!

Not sure how much has changed, but they used to have the small split fridge/freezers. I doubt it has changed, but you never know. The top had a small rack that would keep frozen things frozen. That's what I used for the mysis I used to feed my fishes. I used to do frozen only with that tank (that was 10 years ago )

 

[extendedmango]

At this point I've kinda given up on the custom tank and I'll probably get the peninsula 14. I would rather have a larger refugium section but going custom would be too expensive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Clowning_Around]

I think colleges only care about display volume, but I may be wrong.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just mentioning it before you make your purchases when its so easy to check policy beforehand...

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[extendedmango]

Just mentioning it before you make your purchases when its so easy to check policy beforehand...

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

An thank you for doing so. I'd make so many mistakes trying this on my own lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[extendedmango]

Currently I am trying to decide between these three tanks.

1) Innovative Marine Fusion Peninsula 14

It costs $199.99 and has about a half gallon refugium space.

2) Artfully acrylic AIO 16

This tank costs 299.99 but it comes with a screen lid and has a 1g refugium space and more extra space for the equipment.

3) Coralife biocide 16

Cost 224.99 and I'm not sure about the refugium size but it seems to be a good over all tank

There seem to be no reviews for the AIO 16 but both the Coralife and IM get solid reviews. I don't need a light b/c I have my AI primes, and the coral life LEDs are dissapointingly white. I also want at least one sps frag ( I love birdsnest coral : ) ) and I don't trust the biocube to keep one healthy.

Which tank would you choose if you were in my position?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[extendedmango]

Thanks in advance!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ReefWreak]

Peninsula 14. I hate the front curved glass on my biocube. Just build a nice mesh net so fish don't jump, use your AI Prime, and maybe add a powerhead or two to the back wall to crank the flow up. Looks like a really nice tank.

I would also go for minimal rockwork (my other post mentioned a single rock in the middle, and I think that still holds true, and would be really cool for the peninsula).

If you are going to be moving the tank a lot, I think it makes sense to also go without sand. Easy to siphon out detritus, easy to scrape clean if you keep the rockwork simple, and makes moving a breeze as you'll never have to worry about hydrogen sulfide or other issues when moving a sand bed.

 

[extendedmango]

College nano plan!

College nano plan!

Peninsula 14. I hate the front curved glass on my biocube. Just build a nice mesh net so fish don't jump, use your AI Prime, and maybe add a powerhead or two to the back wall to crank the flow up. Looks like a really nice tank.

I would also go for minimal rockwork (my other post mentioned a single rock in the middle, and I think that still holds true, and would be really cool for the peninsula).

If you are going to be moving the tank a lot, I think it makes sense to also go without sand. Easy to siphon out detritus, easy to scrape clean if you keep the rockwork simple, and makes moving a breeze as you'll never have to worry about hydrogen sulfide or other issues when moving a sand bed.

Is there any reason you chose the peninsula 14 over the Artfully acrylic AIO? It is much more expensive, but it has additional space in the filter section and one of the clear view lids (which are worth 100+ on similar tanks)

I totally agree with the single rock idea, I'm actually thinking of buying two dry large pukani rocks and trying to sculpt them into a cool shape with a wood chisel. Brs made a video on how to do it.

I was planning on having a sand bed b/c I like the look and was hoping to have a goby and pistol shrimp. I didn't know about hydrogen sulfide issues when moving, is there any way around that.......

Anyway, thanks for all the help reef wreak. You have been very active on my thread and your posts have been both helpful and knowledgeable!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ReefWreak]

Happy to help. We've all been the newbie, sometimes multiple times, and talking things through helps make a better end result and share knowledge.

The peninsula tank... I like the design, especially if you're going to use the tank as a peninsula layout (more than using the AA tank as a peninsula layout). Also, it's worth keeping in mind that while acrylic is repairable when scratched (as opposed to glass, which is not repairable), it scratches MUCH more easily than a glass tank. Be prepared to stock up with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers (or their cheaper knock-offs from China on Amazon or Ebay).

The hydrogen sulfide, eeeehhhhhh it's effectively irrelevant, but dirty sand beds that cause pollution when disturbed are not. I only mention it not that I'm actually worried about it, but more because it represents the pollution issue. If you're not diligent about vacuuming it frequently, it just holds detritus in the sediment, which could cause nutrient issues if disturbed.

You're also supposed to put your rocks on the glass bottom before adding a sand bed, which if you are moving the tank frequently, you won't likely be able to do since you probably won't siphon and wash out your sand bed every time. Again, I made every mistake and have done every thing I'm recommending you to NOT do, and somehow my tanks have done reasonably well.

If you do want to maintain your sand bed diligently, I'd recommend keeping it shallow (1-2"), and not putting any frags or other stuff in or on it, since it'll make it more difficult to vacuum. So that means everything mounted to the rock.

 

[extendedmango]

You're also supposed to put your rocks on the glass bottom before adding a sand bed, which if you are moving the tank frequently, you won't likely be able to do since you probably won't siphon and wash out your sand bed every time. Again, I made every mistake and have done every thing I'm recommending you to NOT do, and somehow my tanks have done reasonably well.

I already made this mistake on my current tank : ). The pistol shrimp collapsed 1/3 of my rocks, but thankfully none of the coral was damaged.

I think having the frags securely placed and glued to a single rock will eliminate the issues that occur when placing the rock on the sand bed, but I may be wrong.

I'll think about which tank I want but I'm leaning towards the peninsula as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hambonej20]

I had a 10g for three years in college. Soph-senior year. The only time I didn't check on it was spring break of 12' go figure... I lost about over under 1 grand. * Stay committed and it will also help meet the gals. Until of course that reefer shows you up.

 

[extendedmango]

College nano plan!

College nano plan!

I had a 10g for three years in college. Soph-senior year. The only time I didn't check on it was spring break of 12' go figure... I lost about over under 1 grand. * Stay committed and it will also help meet the gals. Until of course that reefer shows you up.

Ya I had a thread like two months ago debating wether or not it was worth having a tank in college, and nobody regretted having a small reef in their dorm room.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LedZep fan2]

As a grad student I know the desire to keep a tank while in school. I ended up going with the IM 10 and absolutely love it. Fits perfectly on my desk and gives me a break from studying :spin1:

I would highly recommend getting an ATO system. I don't know what I would do without one throughout the day and during breaks!

 

[extendedmango]

As a grad student I know the desire to keep a tank while in school. I ended up going with the IM 10 and absolutely love it. Fits perfectly on my desk and gives me a break from studying :spin1:



I would highly recommend getting an ATO system. I don't know what I would do without one throughout the day and during breaks!

What equipment do you run (other than ato) on this tank?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LedZep fan2]

What equipment do you run (other than ato) on this tank?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am running the following

- Ghost Desktop skimmer
- Tunze nano ATO
- inTank media basket
- MP10wes vortech
- AI prime
- Cobalt heater with a finnex temp controller
- IM spin stream

 

[extendedmango]

College nano plan!

College nano plan!

Okay new question

Are seahorses a possibility for a college nano? I know about dwarf seahorses and while I think I can dedicate time to raise brine shrimp right now, I think it would be too much for me during college. Has anyone tried? There is also hippocampus capensis (sold as zu lulus on ocean rider), which supposedly eats misis and fits in any tank that is at least 12 inches high. Any thoughts?

I will mirror this post in the seahorses and pipefish section of this forum.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[extendedmango]

The verdict is no this won't work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk