First nano tank

[Bunkerbean]

Guys I need a little help and advice. I am looking at getting started and picking a setup. I have looked at all the nano systems and this and that. I was wondering though is it cheaper or a better idea to just buy like a glass tank and add filters and lighting yourself? Or is it cheaper to go the full system route like the FINNEX M, or Aquapod or whatever?

 

[Shooter7]

Might depend on what kind of "look" you're going for. Some folks prefer the all encompassed, neat look of the prefab units. Myself, I like just the simple standard small tank due to the flexibility of what I can do with it. There are bunches of mods to the prefab units that have been posted, though, so they have some flex to them too. However, my 10g has gone from a homemade canopy with PC's in it and a HOB filter, to a prefab PC light on legs with no canopy and powerhead for circulation, to now having a 150w halide in another homemade canopy with a HOB filter and closed loop plumbing for circulation...all with the same 10g tank.

 

[Ruskin]

Well getting the parts together yourself gives you more flexibility on certain things like lighting and filtration, and tank size for that matter. You get exactly what YOU want because YOU pick it out.

On the complete system you are stuck to what the manufacturer has included (apart from modding but then you are paying extra for a "complete system"). But you get almost everything (no heater w/ Nano-Cube) you need and it's all in a convienient package.

I personally bought a Nano-Cube 24 becasue i liked the clean look. The only equipment you can see in my tank is the water flow outlet, everything else is tucked away in the back chambers. I swapped the stock pump out for the Max-Jet 1200 like many others do and am very happy with my setup.

 

[Jadams]

Either way is great! I have both types and love doing things both ways! If all else fails and you cant make a decision between the two: just buy both...jk

Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do, and post some pics so we can check out what you did.

CHEERS!

 

[blkdrgn]

What are you going to put in it? If going with corals you will need to upgrade the aquapod, etc. systems. then you will have to find skimmers, heaters, chillers, etc. that will fit with the cover closed. This leaves you out with so many choices. Now if you want to use a HOB refugium/sump it probably wont fit. You will have to custom something so when you open the cover it won't hit it. Also you might want to upgrade the lights for corals and most likely the return pump.

This is my experience I went though when I got my all in one system. Yes it does look nicer IMO but It's a lot of work to make it work. But if you're going to do a FO setup than out of the box is more than enough.

 

[Rosseau]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9824817#post9824817 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shooter7
Might depend on what kind of "look" you're going for. Some folks prefer the all encompassed, neat look of the prefab units. Myself, I like just the simple standard small tank due to the flexibility of what I can do with it. There are bunches of mods to the prefab units that have been posted, though, so they have some flex to them too. However, my 10g has gone from a homemade canopy with PC's in it and a HOB filter, to a prefab PC light on legs with no canopy and powerhead for circulation, to now having a 150w halide in another homemade canopy with a HOB filter and closed loop plumbing for circulation...all with the same 10g tank.

Agreed. I have as much fun playing with the canopies etc. as I do stocking and looking at the tank.


The best advice I can offer is to keep reading and looking at tanks on here and other websites.

I would re-do my first tank if I could - I rushed a little bit into it (though I read a lot, you can always read more). In the end it was the lack of research that upped my cost, not my choice of a pre-fabbed tank over a DIY "bare" system.

 

[Slakker]

If you do go pre-fab, avoid the Eclipse System 12. I love mine, but it's gonna take me some real finagling to upgrade the lighting to support anything photosynthetic (besides algae...agh) 13w of CF is certainly not enough light for a reef tank.