Nano Advice

[allgoodsystems]

So I got me a 29 gallon nano. In the overflow it has 2 sections. On the right side where the overflow is there is a sponge. The left side has the pump. Do I put small pieces of live rock on the left side or remove the sponge and put live rock in the entire overflow? I have read that the sponge is bad unless you clean it everyday.

 

[ameares8]

To be honest, when I had my Red Sea Max, I thought the sponge was more of a nitrate factory than anything. It is no different than a sock filter though. It collects the big junk and you just go through the ritual of daily cleaning. If you wanted to keep the sponge, I would invest in the big sheets and cut your own so that you do not need to clean it everyday. You can swap them out and wash them at your leisure. Just my opinion. Maybe someone will chime in on where to put the LR, but I see no difference as long as it is in the tank.

 

[commonstranger]

When I had my nano and the custom 60 I had made. I had no sponge in the first chamber. I would put live rock in the first and and second chambeer and use the factory filtration pad and that would be it. If you ever start having a micro bubble problem which I doubt will happen then I might use a piece of sponge or filter pad but that would be only if that was a problem. You can also put a small piece of chato in the first section and hang a small light on the back but that would be up to you.

 

[ameares8]

I agree with the chaeto Rhett. Allgood, you can buy a submersible fuge light for your chaeto. I cannot remember who has it online, but someone on here is sure to know where you can get one. I think they are $10 or something like that.

 

[NeveSSL]

In my nano, I have 3 chambers in the back of my nano. First chamber is soon to have a media rack. Check them out here: http://shop.mediabaskets.com/ With this setup, you use filter floss (pillow stuffing) or other filter media (such as what Stevie sells at InTank) in the top part of the media rack and just throw it away about every 3-7 days depending on how heavily you feed and how much junk is in your water.

The same guy sells underwater bulbs, for what its worth.

Second chamber is going to have a Tunze 9002 skimmer and the 3rd chamber will simply have temp probes, pH probes, ORP probes, top off, etc.

Something to keep in mind is that the only difference between live rock and a sponge is how hard they are. If live rock rubble is not cleaned, it will also become a nitrate factory.

Just what I'm trying right now.

Brandon

 

[andywe]

Brandon,

I ahve one of those media racks. If chamber 1 is your intake...make sure the pull to chamber 2 is through the bottom. If you have a JBJ then your good.

 

[NeveSSL]

Indeed it is, Andy.

Mine is just a straight 24g JBJ from the Critter.

Brandon