Hi lil reefers. Advice on a nano?

[fishnu]

About eight years ago I rebuilt a DAS Hex tank from scratch. Stripped, sanded, drilled, stained and varnished, and built my 1400 gph circulation and sump. Water lines to the basement for fast drains and refills from pre made and stored saltwater.

Now I live in an apartment in Manhattan and can't do this.

I was thinking of doing a nano of around 30 gallons but I really don't like corner boxes. I'd much prefer a glass cube design with a slimmer and refugium in sump.

Can anyone recommend a design like this that works?

I know a lot of folks like the biocube 29 but I am not particularly interested in mechanical filtration.

 

[homer1475]

There is no mechanical filtration in a properly setup biocube. The only mechanical filtration I have is filter floss. The rear chambers act as a sump in my setup, housing my skimmer, reactor pump, heater, probes, return pump, etc, etc.

If your looking for a 29G cube setup, you can't get much better then a biocube. The stock t5 lighting will let you have just about any coral with the exception of the higher end SPS's.

Most of the newer AIO cubes are setup this exact same way. Only way out of using an AIO is to et your own tank, drill it, setup a sump. Same as any other tank with the exception of an AIO.

 

[ReefWreak]

Welcome to the city, fellow transplant.

Let me know if you ever want to meet up and talk tank, or see how a fellow reefer is making do with apartment limitations.

I have a 29g biocube, and I ardently believe in no mechanical or chemical filtration in the rear chambers. Just a skimmer, and siphon detritus from back there, maybe a refugium if you're interested in perusing that direction.

I like the 29g biocube, as it's simple and all-in-one. I particularly like having the hood, though I know it makes lighting selection a bit more difficult, but I like the streamline nature of it. Nice tight package. All of my dosing, test kits, and accessories are in my stand, and all that I have outside of the stand is buckets for water changes and a chiller.

Good luck!

 

[skp]

I think a red sea reefer 170 will give you a lot of 'bang for your buck' in terms of water volume for the footprint.

 

[Firedog1962]

+1 for the Red Sea Reefer 170, has a sump that you can customize add ons. Much cleaner and more room then Bio Cube JMO

 

[CafeReef]

if you are looking for a refugium in the stand and a kit that is all together, CAD Lights makes some really nice looking setups for a good price. I would recommend getting it from Marine Depot and not from CAD Lights directly as they have some bad customer service out there, BUT they make a great looking tank. I personally want one. Otherwise, Innovative Marine is always a great way to go and then you could do a 7 gallon Mr. Aqua cube tank and mabye build a sump/refugium.

 

[soulpatch]

a bit bigger but another option: http://www.scaquariums.com/product-p/sca-40gpnp.htm

The red sea tanks are awesome but you do pay for that name some. If you have the budget to go to the red sea though do it as I have yet to hear someone upset about that purchase other then they wish they went bigger...

 

[BMMMW]

Look at the different Mr Aqua design. Also love the innovative marine designs, but also have the AIO design on most I believe.