My crazy 15g nano....work in progress

[lotsoftats]

I am planning a DIY 15g nano.....What makes it crazy you may(or may not) ask....the sump fuge will be a 40b.

I was wondering if you had this tank what would you put in it.....fish,coral,inverts etc.....I was thinking small gobies and blennies

here is the basic idea.

15g display
40b sump/fuge combo
Eshopps psk-200 skimmer
150w metal halide
3 TLF reactors....gfo,carbon and pellets
4g AT0

I am looking into buying my first controller....I think I will get the new apex jr or RKL....I have never owned a controller so i do not know the pros cons of each....I need to do some research on that subject.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

I believe I can relate to what you are attempting to do here. I am attempting to add a 55g sump to my 20H display tank. Stocking is largely a matter of personal taste, everyone likes different stuff. But I do have a few pointers:

Be very picky when selecting stock for the tank, don't buy something just to put something in the tank. You will run out of room VERY quickly, especially once stuff starts to grow in a bit.

Keep your fish load LOW, even with the added system volume, dissolved oxygen could drop quickly in the event of say a power outage, especially in such as small space. Gobies would be a good choice.
I am [attempting] to build my tank in this fashion because I don't like an "empty" looking tank, especially when it comes to corals. I am attempting to design my system in such a manner that when my corals start to outgrow the display, it is simply a matter of switching out the tank itself, with as little disruption to the overall system as possible. I am also trying to gain overall stability, both of which I think can be accomplished by this.

I would look into going w/ LED's over the tank, especially one this size. I put 2 x PAR38 bulb over my 20H and I love them. I have a little bit of everything (softies, LPS, SPS) and everything is doing very well. The price on these have come down to the point where a couple of these can be had for about what you would spend on a halide fixture, plus much much longer bulb life, and a LOT less heat (big consideration on these small tanks).

Good going on the ATO, It has made the upkeep on the tank much easer, don't know what I would do without it. I am currently looking into incorporating a dosing pump for kalkwasser into the ATO as well.

I consider a controller to be a big plus. I have a controller on my wish list as well. However, make sure you have a backup for EVERYTHING, in the event of a catastrophe (think pump, heater, topoff failure, etc). Even with the controller, IMO everything should have a failsafe.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

You're probably going to want a fan blowing across your sump to help cool the heat from the halide.

I'd suggest a goby and pistol pair. There are some really nice shrimp gobies available besides the standard yellow watchman.

 

[TurtleSoup2]

metal halides produce a lot of heat, is there any reason you pick that light? you could build a LED fixture, or buy a t-5 fixture too. you didnt list what pump you will be using for the return? Ive heard that those TFL reactors are none to leak, maby if you want look into those nextreef reactors. if i had this tank i would make it a mixed reef tank. you could add a clown gobie(some may kill sps corals) a goby and pistol shrimp pair. There are alot of different types of blennies to choose from.

 

[lotsoftats]

I believe I can relate to what you are attempting to do here. I am attempting to add a 55g sump to my 20H display tank. Stocking is largely a matter of personal taste, everyone likes different stuff. But I do have a few pointers:

Be very picky when selecting stock for the tank, don't buy something just to put something in the tank. You will run out of room VERY quickly, especially once stuff starts to grow in a bit.

Keep your fish load LOW, even with the added system volume, dissolved oxygen could drop quickly in the event of say a power outage, especially in such as small space. Gobies would be a good choice.
I am [attempting] to build my tank in this fashion because I don't like an "empty" looking tank, especially when it comes to corals. I am attempting to design my system in such a manner that when my corals start to outgrow the display, it is simply a matter of switching out the tank itself, with as little disruption to the overall system as possible. I am also trying to gain overall stability, both of which I think can be accomplished by this.

I would look into going w/ LED's over the tank, especially one this size. I put 2 x PAR38 bulb over my 20H and I love them. I have a little bit of everything (softies, LPS, SPS) and everything is doing very well. The price on these have come down to the point where a couple of these can be had for about what you would spend on a halide fixture, plus much much longer bulb life, and a LOT less heat (big consideration on these small tanks).

Good going on the ATO, It has made the upkeep on the tank much easer, don't know what I would do without it. I am currently looking into incorporating a dosing pump for kalkwasser into the ATO as well.

I consider a controller to be a big plus. I have a controller on my wish list as well. However, make sure you have a backup for EVERYTHING, in the event of a catastrophe (think pump, heater, topoff failure, etc). Even with the controller, IMO everything should have a failsafe.

Thanks for all the advice and info.....I will be keeping the bio-load light.....I know most would stick a pair of clowns in there....but I want to be different...small stuff for this tank....I have a kalk reactor for my JBJ ATO just need to get an aqua lifter pump...thinking of going with zoas,lps and either plating or encrusting monties probably a mixture of both.

 

[lotsoftats]

You're probably going to want a fan blowing across your sump to help cool the heat from the halide.

I'd suggest a goby and pistol pair. There are some really nice shrimp gobies available besides the standard yellow watchman.

The fixture I am using is a JBJ 150w hqi viper with the built in fan.....i also keep our home on the cool side 72 year round....wife hates it....lol

 

[lotsoftats]

metal halides produce a lot of heat, is there any reason you pick that light? you could build a LED fixture, or buy a t-5 fixture too. you didnt list what pump you will be using for the return? Ive heard that those TFL reactors are none to leak, maby if you want look into those nextreef reactors. if i had this tank i would make it a mixed reef tank. you could add a clown gobie(some may kill sps corals) a goby and pistol shrimp pair. There are alot of different types of blennies to choose from.

I am not exactly sold on the LED's yet....I have a buddy that had some high dollar SPS under leds and they looked great....he downsized tanks and put a halide on the smaller tank and when he transferred them the were brown and ugly....he had several people tell him that when he sold frags.

I have used the TLF reactors for years and never had a problem.

I got the halide in a trade for a 75g tank.

 

[pico-reefer]

your not the only one, i have a 2 gal display and a 20 long sump/fuge LOL

 

[lotsoftats]

your not the only one, i have a 2 gal display and a 20 long sump/fuge LOL

Thats cool...can you post a pic?

I would love to see it.

 

[lotsoftats]

anymore advice?

would love to see pics for a setup like I am working on...small tank big sump