Getting a nano, needs some advice!

Jeremy0322

Jeremy0322

New member
Been out of the saltwater game for a while since I was in college. Now that I graduated and have a job lined up the girlfriend finally gave me permission to set up a small aquarium (took alot of trips to pet stores and pretty pictures to get her liking the idea). I am not new to the hobby though, been around for about 7 years now and have a BS in Marine Biology, so I have a general idea of whats going on, but this will be my first tank under 30 gallons.

The space I have to work with is about 30 inches side to side and 18 inches front to back. There will be no room for a sump/fuge, at least at the beginning of the build, so it will be a self contained system. I have been looking around for a week or so now and just figured I would get peoples opinions on a few different things.

1: What type of system should I go with? I want something with about 8-10 gallons minimum gallons and could probably go up to 20 MAX, but would be best with around a 15 gallon system. That means, from what I have seen, that I can either go with a custom built tank (I do have experience doing this) or a BC14 which seems like a pretty safe bet honestly if I can get it for the right price.

2: Since I wont be using a sump is it necessary to use a skimmer? I know I will want a reactor of some sort but the idea of a skimmer on a tank this small doesnt seem like the most sensible option to me. I am planning on changing water pretty frequently anyways so I just think the cost/reward ratio isnt adding up to me.

3: Lighting suggestions? If I go with a biocube how bad is that stock light setup. I dont want to grow anything too fancy, some zoas and softies would be perfect, but will they be stressed with the stock lighting on this type of system? If I were to go with a custom build (like a 15 gallon long with a false wall) what system would you all suggest.
***note: I DO NOT want to use MH, just never really liked them.

4: Are there any other AIO's out there that I havent come across yet? I would like to stay relatively inexpensive on this, but I know all to well that is usually unrealistic, im just trying to make sure I dont miss anything before I pull the trigger.


Thank you guys for reading and posting, im sure I will have some more questions in the very near future.
 
Asking a broad question like this is going to get you 100 answers from 100 people. My best advice would be to look around at the setups people have and see what works for your personal style, stocking plans, and budget.


Based on your targetted livestock that you listed, the BC14 should be a great option and you will find plenty of people around here with great examples of how they can turn out. Stock light would be sufficient for low-light basic corals, and you have always retrofit with LED's later if you want to stock higher-light things. The JBJ NanoCube 12 is another common option also.
 
Yea, thats what I kind of figured would happen when I finished typing up the post. I was just looking for other options I guess, what some people would suggest I do, what was easiest to work with, stuff like that based on peoples experiences.
 
One AIO I came across and really liked is the Innovative Marine Nuvo. I just ordered a 16 gallon and am downsizing from a 72 gallon bow.
 
Just got done looking at the nuvo and I must say that is a very pretty aquarium. I still think I like the BC a tad more though, and I am sure I will be able to find one that is pretty cheap, at the moment it mostly comes down to what I can pick up for the right price
 
With that lighting, Zoas and mushrooms plus a few other will be fine. You can move them up and down the rockwork to find the perfect amount of light for them. You could get away with frogspawn and hammers also.
 
If your handy and you can make things "work" there is a lot that can be done with a 20 long (30"x12"x12"). If done right, they give the appearance of a much larger tank in photos and they also are very easy to maintain being that shallow/small.

Here is my new 20 long thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2122702

I would feel comfortable calling this a budget build. The most expensive part was the light, and that was really all i had to shell out. No skimmer, sump, return pump, fuge....
 
After looking at everything I think I am going to go another route and get a 10 gallon standard glass aquarium and add what I want to it equipment wise, probably a skimmer down the road at some point, so now all I have to do it find a light that is 20" that I actually like, preferably T5
 
Lol, well I like the decision to go with a standard 10g. I have one in my office. Lighting is an issue if go with t5s as I have. The Nova Extreme 18" is a no go, too short. I use a 24" Nova Extreme. It overhangs a little but it doesn't look bad. If you don't want the overhang the easiest thing to do is to get a 15g instead.
 
haha, its all good aquatic, I do that stuff all the time.

pweissma: I may have to go with the 24, I dont see a way around it unless I get the 15 gallon tank, but I was looking at 10's because there are EVERYWHERE. Also, any chance I can get a pew pics of your setup with the light overhang to see if I like it or hate it?
 
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Looking at the 15 I do like the dimensions, but where would you even go to get one of them. I wasnt aware pet stores sold that size, haha. I always assumed those were like the 40 gallon breeders, awesome tank shapes that the industry decided wasnt worth selling in large amounts.
 
Petco, petsmart sell them. They're standard sizes. 20h is a slightly higher version. I'll get a picture tomorrow of my 10g. As I has said, it's at work.
 
I have read that thread a few times actually, I like the idea. I kept stumbling upon it during my research for what size tank I want haha

Do you have any other complaints about the light. I would love to go the T5 route! Where do you get your replacement bulbs from? Any other complaints aside from it almost being too long?


Mussin said:
I just got done with a 10G build and used the Odyessea 20" light, I like it but it fits akwardly, fixture is almost too long for the tank. I just epoxide little legs for the light to sit on. Its very bright and has moonlights as well (only $50). Take a look what I did with a 10G for my son.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2122350
Click to expand...
 
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Here's my 10g with a 24" Nova Extreme

6b3a1e1e-520a-c906.jpg
 
Im actually really liking the way that light looks on the tank, doesnt look bad at all, which sucks cause now I dont know what I want to do and I thought I had a decent idea....haha. And aside from that, this is what my equipment list looks like that I want to track down...

-10 gallon glass tank

-20" 72W (4x 18W) T5 HO Light Fixture
- OR - (depending on prices I can find...)
-24 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 4x24W T5HO

- (2) Hydor Koralia nano power heads
- Jager 100 watt heater

- 15lbs of LR
- 15lbs of LS

-Some kind of HOB Filter for a fuge, probably an AC70


*Down the road I wouldnt mind having a small skimmer or reactor


***If anyone looking at this thread has any of this for sale feel free to PM me, im going to start collecting equipment as I come across it
 
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