Nano Tanks of GIRS

[slovan]

I don't know if I just started paying attention to threads about nanos since I started one back in November but I thought it'd be cool to have thread on the GIRS forum to share information and show their nano tanks. Maybe we can start one for large tanks and regular sized tanks as well.

I guess I'm becoming addicted to this hobby since the 210 wasn't enough. I saw a good deal on an Oceanic BioCube and couldn't resist. I never thought it'd be hard to keep one but I was wrong. Sometimes I feel like it's more work than the 210. Anyway here's what I'm starting out with. It's a 14 gallon nano and I'm in the process of upgrading things on it. I'll kick it off with some pics.

Starting out:

Now:

 

[Covey]

How is that Sfiligoi light?

That thing had to cost way more than the tank.

 

[slovan]

It's nice and very well built. A little more than a regular pendant but I wanted it to be different. After owning an inclusive system like the BioCube, I found that I didn't like the components of it and I'm slowly parting it out and building my own system.

 

[BigBlue187]

Heres a pic of mine.

I have a 14g Bio Cube.I think nano reefs are awsome I haven't had a problem yet. I will post some more pics when I get my MH.

I think I'm going to have to get rid of the waving hand coral and those giant mushrooms. They are getting a little to big for the nano. Those giant mushrooms just split for me a few days ago.

 

[slovan]

I like the nano BigBlue! Considering it's your first tank and you haven't been in the hobby long, it sure looks better than mine. Keep up the good work and keep us posted on the changes.

 

[leeweber85]

here's mine, its an AGA 5.5g. It looks really bad right now. It was looking pretty nice but some of my experiments took a toll on it. I was growing microthalema for awhile untill one of my experiments slimed over the whole tank for weeks. I really don't pay any attention to it at all. I try to keep the top off within 2" and do a waterchange about every 2 months. The gigantic powerhead is a new addition I just had an empty HOB filter prior to that. I really should restart it and make it look nice again... one of these days..

 

[slovan]

Looks like you have a nice base to work off of Lee! Maybe an afternoon cleaning it up and reaquascaping it will do the trick. Plus I'm sure you have some nice corals from your 125 that you could put in there!

 

[slovan]

So how do you guys keep the redslime out of your nano? Especially you BigBlue since you have the same tank. The Oceanic pump that comes with the cube isn't powerful enough to circulate water effectively in the tank so I have issues with redslime.

Earlier this week, I changed out the Oceanic pump and put a Maxijet 1200 on it. It creates a lot more flow in the tank and I'm hoping the increased flow will help prevent the redslime from coming back.

I'm also getting a Tunze 9002 nano skimmer for it tomorrow so we'll see how it works. I'll post some pictures of it tomorrow.

 

[got2lb]

Nice looking tanks! So how small does a tank have to be to be considered a nano? My wife has always wanted seahorses and I've been wanting to setup a 24 tall or something like that for them.

 

[slovan]

I don't know but this is our forum and I suppose we can make up our own rules. IMO, I think anything under a 55 would be considered one.

 

[BigBlue187]

I'm a member of Nano Reef.com and they consder a 30g and smaller a nano. Anything bigger then a 30 is regular. But thats just what they say so who knows.

I think a 24 would be a sweet set up for some seahorses. I was at Coralville Bay pet shop and he had some dwarf seahorses that were kick a$$ looking.

Slovan I have the same problem with red slime I have been just sucking it out with a turkey baster. If that pump and skimmer works let me know and I will have to upgrade my pump and stuff.
I was just worried that a bigger pump would put out to much flow and my corals wouldn't open all the way up.

Where did you get the pump from?

 

[got2lb]

Maybe I'll have to go with a 29 then! Then plumb a 100gal. rubbermaid into it for a sump! Suppose that would still count?

 

[slovan]

BigBlue, you can buy the Maxijets for less than $20 from Dr. Fosters. Or you could support your LFS and spend $40.

I'll keep you posted on the skimmer and the results of using the Maxijet vs. the stock Oceanic pump.

 

[BigBlue187]

This is a dumb question but is a maxijet a powerhead or a water pump? Maybe someone could hook me up with a link or something. Solvan I seen that you said you had changed out the pump and replaced it with a maxijet. So I'm taking it that it is a water pump of some kind?

 

[slovan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9311773#post9311773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBlue187
I'm a member of Nano Reef.com and they consder a 30g and smaller a nano. Anything bigger then a 30 is regular. But thats just what they say so who knows.

30 gallons is a good rule. Unfortunately we have someone like Matt who is pushing the boundries already! I think a 29 with a 100 gallon sump is okay Matt, I think it's the size of the display that matters. Why not max it out with a 30 gallon? :lol:

 

[slovan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9311937#post9311937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBlue187
This is a dumb question but is a maxijet a powerhead or a water pump? Maybe someone could hook me up with a link or something. Solvan I seen that you said you had changed out the pump and replaced it with a maxijet. So I'm taking it that it is a water pump of some kind?

It's not a dumb question at all! It's a multi-purpose pump that could be used either way. Here's the link.

Most people have a couple of them because they're so handy for mixing water or use them for water changes.

 

[BigBlue187]

So are you using it like a powerhead or like a water pump? If you are using it like a water pump how is it pushing the water from the third chamber to the tank? Maybe I will just wait till you post some pics. That might help me to understand.

 

[slovan]

I'm using it as a water pump. You can use the existing polytubing and insert it over the output of the maxijet. You'll have to cut off a little bit of the tubing but that's all there is to it. It's less than a minute of your time to switch it out.

 

[whome]

I have a 12g nano cube started 12/7/06. One of the first things I did was change out the stock pump for the MJ 900. I also added a hydroflo nozzle for the wave effect. Nice action and also cuts the pump output by about 75. Here is a link on MJ flow info.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium...stems_maxi-jet_mini-jet_micro-jet.asp?CartId=

I pulled the ceramics and bioballs and put just LR in the back. Have never had (knock on wood) any red slime. Still have some hair
algae but phos is 0 so guess it is just tank still maturing.

Pictures:

 

[leeweber85]

I don't have any fish, just a hermit crab so there really isn't any photsphates going into it. It's kinda of a miracle everything is alive considering the neglect it gets. reaquascaping and vacuuming up the sand would do wonders. My biggest pet peeve is that its hard to aquascape and it overflows when I stick my hands all the way in.