proenca
Nano Reefer
Well, here it is ! My build diary 
So I asked here in my office if everyone was ok with me installing a nano tank and .... big thumbs up !
specs so far ( 23rd March ) :
/// TANK
Blau Aquaristik 10g / 37l , rounded corner tank
/// FILTRATION & WATER MOVEMENT
Tunze 9001 Skimmer - bought from Germany, on transit. will install when arrives
Eheim Liberty 200 HOB - chambers are empty and will be used as a chaeto fuge
Tunze Stream 6020 for circulation
Eheim 50w heater
/// LIGHT
1 x 18w PL for the Eheim / Chaeto fuge (already here)
1 x Aquabeam Mini LED 500 HD Reef for main tank ordered, should arrive in next few days
/// ROCK & SAND
13 lbs ( 6,5 kgs ) of ultra premium Pukani live rock
4 lbs of ( 2kgs ) of fine sand (tried live sand but was backordered badly )
so thats the hardware part, I'm waiting for the rock and sand, and after that, its a go
ideas for the tank :
- gsp for the back of the tank
- zoa, mushroom and ricordea heaven
- some lps - brain, acans, etc
- single fish - gramma loretto or a clown
- couple of lysmata shrimps
- cuc crew of astrea snails + blue leg hermits
upgrades ( yes, because every reefer dreams on upgrades, so its only natural that I start doing so eheheh ) :
- auto top off to keep salinity consistent
- sump for bigger fuge
- time - want to try a couple of croceas as well, but need a good 6 monhts to 1 year mature tank for that
So .. thats it Tomorrow will start posting pictures and showing progress !
About my choices : LED was a priority - last time I've kept reefs, I had 4 x 400w MH over my last main tank. LED was a distant dream. Now, want to keep a good light system with low temperature impact - afterall, nano tanks the swings ( pH, temperature, salinity ) are far more dealier than in a larger tank. bought a skimmer because I'm an old guy and running a tank without a skimmer is just alien to me however, I will try - the idea is to start with a skimmer and progressively make a transition to a sump with fuge and remove the skimmer. for now the skimmer will help with filtration and also by removing the top layer of the oily stuff. Fish are to be kept at minimum so maintenance is ... a tiny bit easier. Soft corals and Shrimps are to be abundant.
Worries : algae control. always had big tanks and therefore always had lots of tangs to keep algae in check. planarias and other pests also worry me - had also six line wrasses and mandarin fishes to keep those at bay but in a 10g, the tank wont provide enough food ( pods ) for those. So those are a nono. salinity swing : I do not have a RO here in the office, so I've made a deal with the LFS that they will bring 1.5g ( or about 5lts ) for already made saltwater with a good salt, about 3 times per month.
So pictures !
First lesson that nano reef tank is teaching me : space is VERY limited. In my head, everything fits. Now, I have my doubts. Between HOB ( which takes quite a bit of space ) , heater and pump, the back part is crowded. And I'm still waiting for the skimmer. We will see.
Live rock arrangements, empty tank :
Top view is something like this :
Filled with RO water made with Tropical Marine Salt ( TMC ) and I'm quite happy with the flow of water. HOB is now with sponges, will leave them for a couple of days ( over the easter period ) to collect floating debris - after that will turn it into cheat refuge
And.... here it is ! Everything completed, cycle is now underway ( or so I hope )
It does make me bit nervous leaving the tank at the office and not be able to check it. Who knows ? Maybe I will install a webcam ehehehe.
But so far, I'm quite happy how the water pretty much cleared straight away - sand was already washed and rock was cured.
LED lights did not arrive yet ( perhaps tuesday ) but so far, it is cycling and will not need them
About me : I've keep every freshwater ( well, a lot ) fish since I'm 10 or 11... Then moved to marine tanks, then reefs, coral propagation, clownfish breeding.... then planted tanks and discus breeding. after a pause, I'm back in reefing - nano's. Its amazing how after all this time ( 9-10 years since my last reef - a 300g ) so many things have changed - and the nano/pico reef is a whole universe in itself. so excited to be back and to explore everything again ! nano aren't really just smaller tanks - whole new considerations to think about !
So I asked here in my office if everyone was ok with me installing a nano tank and .... big thumbs up !
specs so far ( 23rd March ) :
/// TANK
Blau Aquaristik 10g / 37l , rounded corner tank
/// FILTRATION & WATER MOVEMENT
Tunze 9001 Skimmer - bought from Germany, on transit. will install when arrives
Eheim Liberty 200 HOB - chambers are empty and will be used as a chaeto fuge
Tunze Stream 6020 for circulation
Eheim 50w heater
/// LIGHT
1 x 18w PL for the Eheim / Chaeto fuge (already here)
1 x Aquabeam Mini LED 500 HD Reef for main tank ordered, should arrive in next few days
/// ROCK & SAND
13 lbs ( 6,5 kgs ) of ultra premium Pukani live rock
4 lbs of ( 2kgs ) of fine sand (tried live sand but was backordered badly )
so thats the hardware part, I'm waiting for the rock and sand, and after that, its a go
ideas for the tank :
- gsp for the back of the tank
- zoa, mushroom and ricordea heaven
- some lps - brain, acans, etc
- single fish - gramma loretto or a clown
- couple of lysmata shrimps
- cuc crew of astrea snails + blue leg hermits
upgrades ( yes, because every reefer dreams on upgrades, so its only natural that I start doing so eheheh ) :
- auto top off to keep salinity consistent
- sump for bigger fuge
- time - want to try a couple of croceas as well, but need a good 6 monhts to 1 year mature tank for that
So .. thats it
Tomorrow will start posting pictures and showing progress ! About my choices : LED was a priority - last time I've kept reefs, I had 4 x 400w MH over my last main tank. LED was a distant dream. Now, want to keep a good light system with low temperature impact - afterall, nano tanks the swings ( pH, temperature, salinity ) are far more dealier than in a larger tank. bought a skimmer because I'm an old guy and running a tank without a skimmer is just alien to me
however, I will try - the idea is to start with a skimmer and progressively make a transition to a sump with fuge and remove the skimmer. for now the skimmer will help with filtration and also by removing the top layer of the oily stuff. Fish are to be kept at minimum so maintenance is ... a tiny bit easier. Soft corals and Shrimps are to be abundant.Worries : algae control. always had big tanks and therefore always had lots of tangs to keep algae in check. planarias and other pests also worry me - had also six line wrasses and mandarin fishes to keep those at bay but in a 10g, the tank wont provide enough food ( pods ) for those. So those are a nono. salinity swing : I do not have a RO here in the office, so I've made a deal with the LFS that they will bring 1.5g ( or about 5lts ) for already made saltwater with a good salt, about 3 times per month.
So pictures !
First lesson that nano reef tank is teaching me : space is VERY limited. In my head, everything fits. Now, I have my doubts. Between HOB ( which takes quite a bit of space ) , heater and pump, the back part is crowded. And I'm still waiting for the skimmer. We will see.
Live rock arrangements, empty tank :
Top view is something like this :
Filled with RO water made with Tropical Marine Salt ( TMC ) and I'm quite happy with the flow of water. HOB is now with sponges, will leave them for a couple of days ( over the easter period ) to collect floating debris - after that will turn it into cheat refuge
And.... here it is ! Everything completed, cycle is now underway ( or so I hope
)
It does make me bit nervous leaving the tank at the office and not be able to check it. Who knows ? Maybe I will install a webcam ehehehe.
But so far, I'm quite happy how the water pretty much cleared straight away - sand was already washed and rock was cured.
LED lights did not arrive yet ( perhaps tuesday ) but so far, it is cycling and will not need them
About me : I've keep every freshwater ( well, a lot ) fish since I'm 10 or 11... Then moved to marine tanks, then reefs, coral propagation, clownfish breeding.... then planted tanks and discus breeding. after a pause, I'm back in reefing - nano's. Its amazing how after all this time ( 9-10 years since my last reef - a 300g ) so many things have changed - and the nano/pico reef is a whole universe in itself. so excited to be back and to explore everything again ! nano aren't really just smaller tanks - whole new considerations to think about !
