If you were to Start it all over today?

[wiks10]

I have had a 75g Sw before but want to try nano.

My question to you all is?

If you were starting today and were aware of the tank (leak/break) issues what tank 24g and under would you choose? I really like the "All in One" and want to keep soft corals and maybe one fish.


I'm not looking to flame just some honest opinions.


Replys please list All equipment you would use... ie Tank, Heater, Skimmer, Pumps etc


Thanks!!!!

 

[stewie24]

My personal preference would be a 20 long. The problem with tanks under 24 gallons is the depth for aquascaping. It doesn't leave much room (what like 13 inches max?). With a 20 long, it gives the appearance of a bigger tank (at least in my opinion). If you are really handy, or have a lfs around you that drills tanks, here would be my suggestion:
Buy 2 20 long tanks.
Get an iron stand that holds 2 30" tanks. (i have one and it cost me like 35.00)
Drill 2 holes for the top tank (or have them drilled)(if you don't know about bulkheads/sizes you'd want to ask in the diy forum)
Convert the bottom tank to a sump/fuge
Get a return pump
get an in sump skimmer (won't clog your display w/ heater or anything else either)
get a nice metal halide light for the tank

Right now i'm using a 10 gallon w/ a 70 watt mh light on it, skimmerless and 2 minijets for circulation.
I'll soon be moving to a 10 gallon drilled w/ a 20 long sump/fuge underneath.


Stewie

 

[Brooks_McClary]

I totally agree. Though if your going to get a 30" stand I'd go for a 29 gal display tank and use a 20 gal high for the sump. They will fit nicely in most stands. Then I'd get a MH/PC combo hood. Otherwise, Im totally on board with you Stewie. I just like taller tanks.

I have heard nothing good regarding the all in ones. Just varrying degrees of "less trouble".

 

[Poorcollegereef]

I have a 20L drilled with a 20g sump tank and it works really well. Im with stewie on this one. Its like having smaller tank, but with some of the volume security of a slightly larger tank. Aslo the aqualight/coralife 150MHclamp on works really well on this tank

 

[crazylegs]

I'll go ahead and jump on board here with the 20L suggestion, just in case you aren't convinced yet! It's all about the surface area, and the 20L provides plenty of it.

 

[Carl_in_Florida]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
wiks10


I would do a 29 sumpless, Most sumps are a waste of pump velocity.

 

[stewie24]

Ok, maybe not a sump, but at least a fuge! GOGO cheato! lol
Stewie

 

[mr pink floyd]

id get a 40 gallon breeder, extra depth

put a fixture with 2 150DE, 2x65 or 96 watts actinics, aoms e lunars, get a 29 or 20 long for sump

 

[dantodd]

one more vote for a 20L. lots of aquascaping room and shallow for good light penetration. I went with (and would again) 220W PC. It was really cheap, $40 for a workhorse7 ballast.

The one thing I would consider doing differently is to add a sump. I went with a "homebuilt" all in one but think that a real sump with CL would make for a better display.

http://www.ir.org/Aquarium/20L/20L-full.jpg
http://www.ir.org/Aquarium/20L/partitions.jpg

I recently added a few snails and things are much cleaner now...

Good luck.

 

[UrbanSage]

Re: If you were to Start it all over today?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7276358#post7276358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wiks10
I really like the "All in One" and want to keep soft corals and maybe one fish.

No one can come up with a good all in one? I was hoping to see the opinions on this as well since I would like to get one for work.


<a href="http://www.vaernhoej.com">My Site</a>

 

[dantodd]

I guess the answer is that those who have done it before would not go with an all-in-one.

 

[Carl_in_Florida]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7296923#post7296923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
I guess the answer is that those who have done it before would not go with an all-in-one.

agree

 

[UrbanSage]

But what if that is not an option?
Is there no good all in ones out there?

 

[dantodd]

Most of those who are still running all-in-ones seem to be doing it with fairly modded tanks. You can check on http://www.nano-reef.com as I'm sure more people will be happy to give you their opinions.

A lot of people seem to be buying modded tanks from http://www.nanocustoms.com/ but steady yourself for the prices.

 

[Kogo]

the "all in one" is not any simpler than a simple nano with seperate parts.

this is a two plug system with a $10.00 pump and $50.00 light. the wood is DIY. personaly i dont much care for the looks or limitations of an all in one (just my .02)

over all though, if i had to have just one nano, it would be the 20L driled with a fuge.

 

[UrbanSage]

I suppose I will see what I can dig out for a DIY nano

 

[midknight]

Have never had an "all in one" for a tank before, much prefer picking my own parts. Also if something goes on the system then you can just replace that.

 

[Agu]

The all in one aquariums make perfectly adequate reef tanks if you're aware of their limitations and set them up accordingly.

However you've asked people who enjoy the "process" of designing and building custom tanks. They look at a piece of glass and wonder how many ways they can modify it :lol: .

 

[dantodd]

I have to admit that is SORT OF correct. I prefer to say that I have an idea of what I want and then ask, how can I get that? If the all-in-ones were what I wanted I'd be happy to use one. Well, if it was also price competitive with building my own. Well, maybe I'd have to find something that needed to be fixed.

 

[WILL2002]

I WOULDN'T LET MY WIFE KNOW HOW MUCH EVERYTHING COST, AND MULTIBLE 20 TO 40 GALLON TANKS.