My 10 Gallon Nano

[StephenInVa]

Having scrapped my original nano reef (eclipse corner 5) due to lighting, space limitations, and losing a few corals, I moved up to a larger all-glass 10 gallon tank. Below are the specifications along with photos. I hope to add more corals, inverts, and maybe a small fish when I get back from GA. BTW... Anyone in the Atlanta area have some frags for sale? I'll be there November 9th - 18th.

Equipment
10 Gallon All-Glass Aquarium
Tetra Whisper 20 Filter
Penn Plax 50 Watt Heater
Rio 90 Power Head
Fission Nano Skimmer
Coralife Aqualight with 96 Watt Quad 50/50 Bulb
Coralife 3/4 Watt Blue Moon LED
Coralife Digital Thermometer
10 Pounds Crushed Coral
1 Pound Live Sand
14 Pounds Base/Live Rock

Live Stock
Mushrooms
Xenia
Candy Cane Coral
Clove Polyps
Pink Zoo's
Brown Zoo's
Yellow Polyps
Blue Ricordea
Small Unknown Coral
3 Blue Legged Hermits
1 Zebra Hermit
2 Reef Hermits
Various snails that came with the live rock
(All the corals were purchased as small frags or came with the rock.)

Tank with 2 20 Watt Screw in 50/50 Bulbs

Tank with new Coralife 96 Watt Aqualight

Comparison (left with 2 20 watt bulbs - right with Aqualight)

I have to say I love the aqualight. I should have spent the money in the beginning instead of trying to be frugal. Lesson learned! And I'd totally recommend it to anyone. Even if that does come on just hours of use. Corals that haven't opened since I placed them in the tank are now opening up (after having the light on the tank for 2 hours) and the Xenia has made a noticeable change. I understand the light offers 56 more watts than my frugal lighting but the tank also received direct sunlight through a window for 6-7 hours each day when the 2 20 watt bulbs were on the tank.

Also another note. I read a lot of bad reviews about the Fission Nano Skimmer and I have to say I'm impressed with it so far. By impressed I mean the Xenia I purchased looked bad. It wasn't pulsing, expanding or anything. I have had the skimmer in the tank for about 6 days and noticed it starting to look better and better each day since adding the skimmer. By the 3rd day it was back to a slight pulsing action and expanding a little. Now that I have a decent light it's looking awesome. The mushrooms, zoo's, and clove polyps also improved after adding the skimmer. Mostly with expansion and opening. Nothing compared to adding the new light but a definite noticeable change under the old conditions while using the skimmer versus not having it. Also as you can see the micro bubbles have subsided tremendously. I'm hoping as the skimmer gets some age to it they'll almost cease. Otherwise I'll pick up a new one and try modding it with an idea I've been cooking.

 

[InvaderJim]

Looking good so far. I can't wait till my aqualight fixture comes in I ordered friday for my 10g. There is defiantly a noticable difference between the two.

 

[AVALover5498]

Nice tank.

 

[motoxracing782]

nice tank

 

[StephenInVa]

Thanks everyone. Can't wait to get back from GA and add more things in there.

Jim... The aqualight is awesome. I bought it and haven't looked back. It was way more than it should have been since buying it local (came with a 6500K bulb and had to spend an extra 50 on the 50/50 bulb) but I think it was still money well spent. I also picked up one of the Coralife 3/4 watt blue moon LEDs that clip on the front. Plan on another when I get back from GA. If you get the LEDs to clip on the front I'd recommend 2 of them. Even with one in the center of the light it only illuminates 1/2 the tank. 2 would be so much better. It's awesome how everything under it glows also.

 

[InvaderJim]

That's good to know because I'm going to have a lot of the same corals you are. Candy Cane, Zoas, Ricordea etc.

Think you can get some close up shots of some of the corals?

 

[StephenInVa]

I wish I could. My digi cam sucks. I could do some 35mm macro's... But I don't know when I'll be able to post them since I'm going to be in GA for 10 days starting wed.

 

[2639]

I believe I have the same fixture. I say 'believe' cause I haven't used it in a long time now since I upgraded. Where did you get your replacement bulbs? I'm thinking of using that on a 10 nano project myself and it just seems to make sense

I usually buy all my lighting supplies from Champion Lighting but I like to shop around.

 

[2639]

Another question I want to ask is regarding your substrate. Would crushed coral produce the same amount of nitrates as it would in a larger tank? I have some aragonite sand and some crushed coral too but I'm torn between which to use because I like the looks of both :S

I love the look of the crushed coral in your tank and the whole thing is gorgeous!!

 

[InvaderJim]

2639, if you have the quad (96w) fixture then you can get bulbs here:
http://www.hellolights.com/96w5050.html

Crushed coral should be fine as long as the bed is not that deep. I'm using crushed coral in my 10g, but it's a lot finer than what is pictured.

 

[basiab]

I have a 10 gallon with mushrooms, 2 candy cane, a spotted cardinal, royal gramma, clown goby and a pair of neon gobies. The tank is 30 months old. The clown goby and spotted cardinal are about 2 years old, the gramma about 18 months and the neons are new. I have a penguin mini filter, about 12 pounds of rock, 10 pounds of live sand (fine) and a ball of chaeto. My nitrates are 0.
I had a 96 watt and the fission skimmer but decided to remove them. I now have a 65 watt (odessey) and no skimmer. I felt the lighting was too much at 96. The skimmer did not seem to make a difference for me. I change 1 gallon of water a week. I found that if you keep up a good schedule of water changes you have less problems.
One candy cane came as 3 heads and is now 4 and seems in the process of becoming 5. The other had one head and a second that looked doomed. The one split in 3 and the other is now very plump. The longevity of the fish and the growth of corals seems to indicate I have things under control even though my fish stocking could be considered overcrowded.

 

[2639]

InvaderJim, I know it's not the quad. It is the fixture with two seperate bulbs/switches.

basiab, how much water volume do you have in there with all that substrate and LR? That's 10X more substrate than StevenInVa has and his looks to be fairly deep ( of course pics can be illusions LOL )

 

[basiab]

It is about 1 inch deep (maybe less)and it just reaches to the top of the frame so it is even with where you see the glass begin. It is fine sand so a cup of it is much heavier than a cup of crushed whatever.

 

[StephenInVa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8496360#post8496360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2639
I believe I have the same fixture. I say 'believe' cause I haven't used it in a long time now since I upgraded. Where did you get your replacement bulbs? I'm thinking of using that on a 10 nano project myself and it just seems to make sense

I usually buy all my lighting supplies from Champion Lighting but I like to shop around.

I purchased the bulb locally. Same place I purchased the fixture actually.

I've had better luck with my water if I use crushed coral. The ph in my water is really low and the crushed coral seems to help with buffering. I've used sand with mixed results. It's better I guess for all the creepy crawlies that live in it versus the coral. But everything I see making it's way through the crushed coral seems to have no problem. I think it's really a personal choice more than anything. I also like how the crushed coral hold the live rock in place better. Can't wait till I return so I can add more rock and corals.

My substrate is only about 1" to 1 1/4" deep. I'm not sure about the nitrate issue honestly. I'm hoping my weekly 25% water changes take care of nitrate issues though.

 

[2639]

Thanks I just looked at the fixture. I have a 24" 65W X 2 Coralife. Very similar to yours LOL

That's a total of 130 watts. Is yours 95 X 2 or just 95?

 

[StephenInVa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8500309#post8500309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2639
Thanks I just looked at the fixture. I have a 24" 65W X 2 Coralife. Very similar to yours LOL

That's a total of 130 watts. Is yours 95 X 2 or just 95?

It's the 96 watt quad bulb. 2 10,000K's and 2 actinic's rolled into one.

 

[StephenInVa]

New Coral List
Red Brain Coral, Lobophyllia
Green Brain Coral, Favites
Hammer Coral
Frogspawn
Pulsing Xenia
Clove Polyps
Zoo's (green and pink)
Brown Polyps
Yellow Polyps
Mushrooms (red, green, blue)
Blue Ricordea
Hairy Mushrooms

 

[InvaderJim]

Any new pics of those fancy corals?

 

[StephenInVa]

2-3 more corals and I'll be happy. But I'm running out of room. Still room for some more inverts and a fish or two though.

2 new shots. Still a little cloudy after putting everything in and moving it around. Will post another tomorrow.

Light on

Moon lights on (picked up a second one today) (looks incredible sitting here. but my digi cam sucks!)

I took these with my digi video cam. Are a little washed but here's some. May try for some more tomorrow.

Ricordea

Rhodactis

Green Brain (favia)

Frogspawn

Hammer

 

[InvaderJim]

You should try stacking your rocks vertical some more...that might give you a little bit more room.