Melev's new Nano!
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SnookSlayer08
New member
very nice! Unquie tank design.
melev
Well-known member
Last night, I was looking in my angled tank and saw a number of fat & sassy Red Planaria - too many in fact. I stumbled across a tiny few (maybe 6) dots many months ago, and was really shocked to see them. I tried to kid myself into thinking they were figments of my imagination, and I willed myself to ignore them.
So over time, via fission they have increased their little population somewhat, and with my desires to feed my acans I noticed the flatworms were getting too healthy. Disgusted, I decided I was going to treat that tank now before they became a real problem.
The perk of the 20g is that it is plumbed into the main system's filtration. I turned off its return pump, isolating it from the main system, and went in search of Flatworm eXit. Checking my usual bin of medications, I was surprised to find none. Then in my test kit bin, I found a bottle that looked like it had been chewed up by a dog. The solution was yellow with age, and the label was almost unreadable. Still, it was half full.
I dropped 20 drops in my angled tank, and waited 5 minutes. When I checked the tank, many of the planaria were floating in the current, caught on thin gossamer threads. Since some were still moving across the sand, I added 5 more drops to make sure they too got a good dose. I went out to the garage in search of an empty bucket, some airline tubing and some rigid tubing - so I could siphon them out of the tank.
When I got back, I saw the female clownfish out of the anemone, gobbling up the flatworms! How cool is that? I let her eat between 60 and 80% of them, then siphoned out any I could find.
About 10 minutes later, I turned the return pump back on, and let the main system filter out what little bit of medication was in the water. Done!
Super easy, and somewhat fun to watch.
So over time, via fission they have increased their little population somewhat, and with my desires to feed my acans I noticed the flatworms were getting too healthy. Disgusted, I decided I was going to treat that tank now before they became a real problem.
The perk of the 20g is that it is plumbed into the main system's filtration. I turned off its return pump, isolating it from the main system, and went in search of Flatworm eXit. Checking my usual bin of medications, I was surprised to find none. Then in my test kit bin, I found a bottle that looked like it had been chewed up by a dog. The solution was yellow with age, and the label was almost unreadable. Still, it was half full.
I dropped 20 drops in my angled tank, and waited 5 minutes. When I checked the tank, many of the planaria were floating in the current, caught on thin gossamer threads. Since some were still moving across the sand, I added 5 more drops to make sure they too got a good dose. I went out to the garage in search of an empty bucket, some airline tubing and some rigid tubing - so I could siphon them out of the tank.
When I got back, I saw the female clownfish out of the anemone, gobbling up the flatworms! How cool is that? I let her eat between 60 and 80% of them, then siphoned out any I could find.
About 10 minutes later, I turned the return pump back on, and let the main system filter out what little bit of medication was in the water. Done!
Super easy, and somewhat fun to watch.
eaglesrx
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13891108#post13891108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Last night, I was looking in my angled tank and saw a number of fat & sassy Red Planaria - too many in fact. I stumbled across a tiny few (maybe 6) dots many months ago, and was really shocked to see them. I tried to kid myself into thinking they were figments of my imagination, and I willed myself to ignore them.
So over time, via fission they have increased their little population somewhat, and with my desires to feed my acans I noticed the flatworms were getting too healthy. Disgusted, I decided I was going to treat that tank now before they became a real problem.
The perk of the 20g is that it is plumbed into the main system's filtration. I turned off its return pump, isolating it from the main system, and went in search of Flatworm eXit. Checking my usual bin of medications, I was surprised to find none. Then in my test kit bin, I found a bottle that looked like it had been chewed up by a dog. The solution was yellow with age, and the label was almost unreadable. Still, it was half full.
I dropped 20 drops in my angled tank, and waited 5 minutes. When I checked the tank, many of the planaria were floating in the current, caught on thin gossamer threads. Since some were still moving across the sand, I added 5 more drops to make sure they too got a good dose. I went out to the garage in search of an empty bucket, some airline tubing and some rigid tubing - so I could siphon them out of the tank.
When I got back, I saw the female clownfish out of the anemone, gobbling up the flatworms! How cool is that? I let her eat between 60 and 80% of them, then siphoned out any I could find.
About 10 minutes later, I turned the return pump back on, and let the main system filter out what little bit of medication was in the water. Done!
Super easy, and somewhat fun to watch.
very cool to see your clowns eating dead/stunned flatworms!! You always provide great info. on flatworms! I remember reading some very helpful info. on your website about fighting flatworms before I had to fight my own battle with them.
Oh, awesome nano tank by the way and nice corals!!
Alaska_Phil
New member
And the flat worms didn't make your clown sick? I thought they were suppose to be toxic? Guess your clown knew more than me. 
Phil
Phil
redfishsc
New member
Marc, I just read through about half of this thread, and I gotta say that you impressed even this jaded cabinet maker in how you built this tank.
I built a small 10g nano out of Hi-Macs solid surface material (ie, acrylic that looks like granite) with a 1/4" plexi front. I built the overflow and fuge/sump attached to the tank with the same material (so it's one big package) Was quite a lot of fun.
Maybe it's just me, but I think you need a nice green duncan colony in there, maybe sitting on the sand bed. Would make an interesting (and hardy) contrast to the BTA.
I built a small 10g nano out of Hi-Macs solid surface material (ie, acrylic that looks like granite) with a 1/4" plexi front. I built the overflow and fuge/sump attached to the tank with the same material (so it's one big package) Was quite a lot of fun.
Maybe it's just me, but I think you need a nice green duncan colony in there, maybe sitting on the sand bed. Would make an interesting (and hardy) contrast to the BTA.
melev
Well-known member
That's a great idea, actually. I have a duncan, but it is tan and boring, and really not doing too well so far. I'll have to see what other green stuff I might have to put in this tank.
I'd like to see your nano some time. Another guy on RC made one out of Corian, and it looked really cool but ended up leaking.
I'd like to see your nano some time. Another guy on RC made one out of Corian, and it looked really cool but ended up leaking.
redfishsc
New member
Here's the build thread.
As far as leaking, take a closer look at the joints I used--- they are not standard butt joints, they are lock-shouldered. This should help prevent leaks.
SO REEF CENTRAL BLOCKS LINKS TO FELLOW REEFING SIGHTS? HOW HONORABLE
http://www. nano-reef .com/forums/index.php?showtopic=173945&pid=1895892&st=0&#entry1895892
As far as leaking, take a closer look at the joints I used--- they are not standard butt joints, they are lock-shouldered. This should help prevent leaks.
SO REEF CENTRAL BLOCKS LINKS TO FELLOW REEFING SIGHTS? HOW HONORABLE
http://www. nano-reef .com/forums/index.php?showtopic=173945&pid=1895892&st=0&#entry1895892
Last edited:
melev
Well-known member
That is a neat little tank, and I like your thinking process. I agree the sump in the back would have been better, but you're making it work. And it seems that you don't like a skimmer yet, with that big cheatomorpha ball over your Maxijet.
Remember, top off is key on a tiny tank.
Remember, top off is key on a tiny tank.
redfishsc
New member
Thanks Marc.
Yes, top-off is a struggle with this little brute. I have the double Azoo fans cooling it (the Nova Extreme puts off more heat than you might think, and I have it closer to the water right now than you'd normally put it).
With the fan blowing, the temp stays locked onto 77.9 to 78.3, very rarely wanders from that range.
But, I have to dose nearly 2/3 gallon a day into that tank. I was using Kalk, but that's just too much kalk to dose every day in that little of a tank.
I just added a medium sized hyndophora to this tank as a frag swap with a fellow reefer here on RC, can't wait to see it color up (it's kept well away from neighboring corals).
Well anyhow, not trying to hijack the thread here, lol.
Yes, top-off is a struggle with this little brute. I have the double Azoo fans cooling it (the Nova Extreme puts off more heat than you might think, and I have it closer to the water right now than you'd normally put it).
With the fan blowing, the temp stays locked onto 77.9 to 78.3, very rarely wanders from that range.
But, I have to dose nearly 2/3 gallon a day into that tank. I was using Kalk, but that's just too much kalk to dose every day in that little of a tank.
I just added a medium sized hyndophora to this tank as a frag swap with a fellow reefer here on RC, can't wait to see it color up (it's kept well away from neighboring corals).
Well anyhow, not trying to hijack the thread here, lol.
redfishsc
New member
Yeah, I've put some thought into the ATO with a float switch. the problem is location, I just don't have room for a float switch in the sump 
.
Right now I'm using a 1-liter bottle with an airline valve coming out of it, and tubing going down into the intake of an HOB filter for dripping kalk.
I can get it down to about 1-2 drops per second, but I really would like to get it down to 1 drop per 15-30 seconds so I can add freshwater throughout the day rather than in a couple big 30-minute trickles. That, and a very slow drip would allow me to use a bigger FW container.
This is the fun part of reefing... troubleshooting and brainstorming...and viewing your reef when it's healthy.
Thanks Marc, for the way you post all your reef stuff. We're reading and learning!
...ehhh.... I am kinda glad though that you don't post pics of your "professional stripper" job....
.Right now I'm using a 1-liter bottle with an airline valve coming out of it, and tubing going down into the intake of an HOB filter for dripping kalk.
I can get it down to about 1-2 drops per second, but I really would like to get it down to 1 drop per 15-30 seconds so I can add freshwater throughout the day rather than in a couple big 30-minute trickles. That, and a very slow drip would allow me to use a bigger FW container.
This is the fun part of reefing... troubleshooting and brainstorming...and viewing your reef when it's healthy.
Thanks Marc, for the way you post all your reef stuff. We're reading and learning!
...ehhh.... I am kinda glad though that you don't post pics of your "professional stripper" job....
melev
Well-known member
I noticed last night how cool my little tank looked with just blue LEDs. The way the corals burst with color reminded me of the NightSea vision article we had last month, and so I tried to do something similar with my Nikon D70s, the CurrentUSA blue LED fixture, and Photoshop 7
I hope you find them appealing. They are leaning toward being more artistic than real, but I didn't stray too much from the original images.
Blood red favia
Mini carpets glowing green (upper left), acans (lower left)
Duncan polyp
Eagle eye Zoanthids
Branching pink hammer coral
Zoanthids sp.
RBTA and clown
Reef shot
Acans and more (lit from the front of the tank) - top down shot
Zoas and ricordea
I hope you find them appealing. They are leaning toward being more artistic than real, but I didn't stray too much from the original images.
Blood red favia
Mini carpets glowing green (upper left), acans (lower left)
Duncan polyp
Eagle eye Zoanthids
Branching pink hammer coral
Zoanthids sp.
RBTA and clown
Reef shot
Acans and more (lit from the front of the tank) - top down shot
Zoas and ricordea
Mykel Obvious
New member
Cool artsy shots, Marc! How many (and which brand) LEDs is that?
I'm contemplating doing a floating hood so I can use retrofit T5s and LEDs over my 65 (no one makes a 36" 8 bulb T5 fixture with LEDs for some reason)
Mount those puppies and get us some daylight shots
I'm contemplating doing a floating hood so I can use retrofit T5s and LEDs over my 65 (no one makes a 36" 8 bulb T5 fixture with LEDs for some reason)
Mount those puppies and get us some daylight shots
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