scolley's Big Little Nano – yet another build thread
- Thread starter scolley
- Start date
Steve,
I'm always interested in new products in our hobby. Although it looks like I don't have a nutrient problem, I grow a lot of chaeto quickly. Although my PO4 tests O, I know better. I really admire your system and the effort and expertise you put into it, so I'm interested in the progress of this venture .. You know I'm a little old school, but never to old to learn ..:/)
Skip
I'm always interested in new products in our hobby. Although it looks like I don't have a nutrient problem, I grow a lot of chaeto quickly. Although my PO4 tests O, I know better. I really admire your system and the effort and expertise you put into it, so I'm interested in the progress of this venture .. You know I'm a little old school, but never to old to learn ..:/)
Skip
Steve, I just searched the thread for "QT" and "quarantine" and didn't get any hits so forgive me if you've covered that already somewhere in the thread. I swear I asked you about your practices at one time but maybe not. How do you "process" new acquisitions before they make it into the DT? I'm more interested in how you handle corals.
jmsalt1 - thank you so much for passing that along! Though honestly I'm not sure this thread is worthy of such attention.
[personal-option]
I guess - if I were to tread into the personal space for a moment - one of my life's most rewarding experiences was when I read one of my sons' middle school papers where he expressed admiration for the old man's lack of fear of, and ability to succeed at, hard things - by virtue of his planning and willingness to admit to mistakes. In that one moment, I KNEW that I had passed along to that son MUCH of what is important to me personally. What a delight, because I knew that he too could succeed if he followed that example. At least he was paying attention.
Needless to say, this boring, tediously wordy, thread is a reflection of those ideals. Sorry it's so boring, but thank you very much for passing that along. And IMO you do the world a favor by giving your child the tools and information to find and share our wonder in the physical (and fragile) world. :thumbsup:
[/personal-opinion]
Thanks for passing that along.
[personal-option]
I guess - if I were to tread into the personal space for a moment - one of my life's most rewarding experiences was when I read one of my sons' middle school papers where he expressed admiration for the old man's lack of fear of, and ability to succeed at, hard things - by virtue of his planning and willingness to admit to mistakes. In that one moment, I KNEW that I had passed along to that son MUCH of what is important to me personally. What a delight, because I knew that he too could succeed if he followed that example. At least he was paying attention.
Needless to say, this boring, tediously wordy, thread is a reflection of those ideals. Sorry it's so boring, but thank you very much for passing that along. And IMO you do the world a favor by giving your child the tools and information to find and share our wonder in the physical (and fragile) world. :thumbsup:
[/personal-opinion]
Thanks for passing that along.
Thanks you. And yes, I need to figure out how to get more/better SPS shots...
That ATS at least seems like it's going to be great. Can't say for sure until I can see if it - at least - keeps up with the algae production rate of my old DIY waterfall ATS. Everything about it seems really nice - I'm working on a full write up - but the proof of that particular pudding is going to be in the eating. By my current estimate is that it'll be at least six weeks running (five from now).
Until then, I can say that it's well built for a DIY piece of hardware. Generous cord lengths, excellent instructions, and is just a shade away from being silent. With my stand door closed, it is. But it takes a big air pump - 5 liters per minute - and luckily I have a small pro-grade one that is both silent and powerful.
Compared to my old ATS it's SO much quieter, and kicks up SO much less humidity, is SO much less complicated from a plumbing perspective, and frees up SO much room in my sump and stand.
But it's going to be a number of weeks before I know if it's an adequate replacement to my DIY waterfall ATS. Since it's starting perfectly clean, it'll be weeks before algae is attached to all the interior surfaces, and long enough and dense enough on those surfaces to be really productive. Once all its surfaces are populated completely, gets full, and needs cleaning (estimating four weeks), then I'll wait a couple of weeks and clean it again. Since I used to clean every two weeks before, I'll be able to compare the volume of that second cleaning to what I used to get from my DIY ATS. That will tell the tale. And then there will be all my NO3 and PO4 measurements...
jmsalt1 - thank you so much for passing that along! Though honestly I'm not sure this thread is worthy of such attention.
[personal-option]
I guess - if I were to tread into the personal space for a moment - one of my life's most rewarding experiences was when I read one of my sons' middle school papers where he expressed admiration for the old man's lack of fear of, and ability to succeed at, hard things - by virtue of his planning and willingness to admit to mistakes. In that one moment, I KNEW that I had passed along to that son MUCH of what is important to me personally. What a delight, because I knew that he too could succeed if he followed that example. At least he was paying attention.
Needless to say, this boring, tediously wordy, thread is a reflection of those ideals. Sorry it's so boring, but thank you very much for passing that along. And IMO you do the world a favor by giving your child the tools and information to find and share our wonder in the physical (and fragile) world. :thumbsup:
[/personal-opinion]
Thanks for passing that along.
Congrats on being a great parent and not just a best friend to him. Check out the lounge's parent thread.
Thanks Kuda! But I'm not sure if I would ever use the word "great" in a sentence that was referencing my parenting skills (or lack thereof)! LOL But we try.
That particular episode was particularly gratifying because as parents we can see if we have instilled our value system in our children by merely observing how they conduct their daily lives. But this was not about values, the ethics governing behavior. This was about a different kind of learning - about methods of approaching the world's challenges. So it was indeed nice to see that he was paying attention in that area too, 'cuz I was already comfortable with his ethics.
Might see you in the lounge. Thanks for the invite. :thumbsup:
That particular episode was particularly gratifying because as parents we can see if we have instilled our value system in our children by merely observing how they conduct their daily lives. But this was not about values, the ethics governing behavior. This was about a different kind of learning - about methods of approaching the world's challenges. So it was indeed nice to see that he was paying attention in that area too, 'cuz I was already comfortable with his ethics.
Might see you in the lounge. Thanks for the invite. :thumbsup:
feh
New member
Still got the discus tank I see. I'm working on a new reef. I want something a little smaller. Getting a tank and sump built and building the stand myself. I'm still amazed with the build for that discus tank. Nice reef though. Any things you would have done different with the stand for the reef?
Thanks. My initial stand build was constrained by cost and my lack of ability to build a really nice stand from scratch. So a rebuild would be dramatically similar. There are a few I could address, some would be unchanged. So let's forget what I might do different, but ask instead what would I like to be different (assuming money and skill are no issue.)
Stand height - This is approximately that stupid 29"-30" height the aquarium builders locked in on years ago and have not changed. IMO ANY stand should be AT LEAST 36" high. 42" would be well worth considering.
Wet compartment height - at roughly 17" high, there was only BARELY room for my waterfall ATS, and no room for a new skimmer once I figured out how lame my Tunze 9002 really was. Skimmers seem to be the most common stand item. In any future stand I'll look at the full range of skimmers for my tank size, and build to accommodate the tallest one - whether I intended to buy it or not. Keeping options open...
Wet compartment light - it's gone out twice. And a PITA to change. So I should have found some kind of light that can work in a very humid environment, and will never need replacing - LEDs would work - and use that. Now I've got no light because it's out - again - and is such a PITA to replace with the stand compartment so small, and the top (that the light is mounted to) is so close to the surface of the sump water. No room to work.
More of the small, rear, bulkhead holes - I put in one extra 1/4" hole in back as an extra. Well I just ran two airlines to the sump that I never anticipated. That's one hole less than I needed. More extra's would have been smart.
Pre-tubing the small, rear, bulkhead holes - Once the stand is in place, those holes in the back of the stand are impossible to reach. To combat that I should have attached a small length of airline tubing to each of the extra (unused) bulkhead holes. They would be idle, and hidden behind the stand until I needed them. But when I did, I'd just attach whatever feed I had (like the new airlines for the new turf scrubber) to that tubing. No need to move the tank to get behind the stand.
Overall mistake... one I made on this stand, and one made on my 180g stand - not sizing for expansion. I continue to make the mistake of thinking that I've got everything planned out, and that if I can just fit it all in, and make it somewhat accessible, I'm good. Well that's fine until equipment needs changing or repair. The new equipment may not fit. And a repair - while possible - may be WAY too much work in the tight space. So in my next stand I will resist the temptation to cram everything possible in it, and make sure I have space for expansion (new stuff), and room for easy repair.
That's about it. Happy with everything else. Hope that helps.
feh
New member
I know what you mean. I'm also working with the hardest footprint (cube) with this build. I went with 3 doors for wet compartment access. The stand still isn't complete but getting there. I decided to do something a little different with stashing my electronics. I going to build a slide out equipment cabinet. Similar to a slide out pot rack you see in some nicer kitchens. I'm planning to make it removable as well to make things easier. Its the only part of the stand I haven't built yet. I had been waiting to get my controller and such so I could lay things out and see what kind of space I need and have to work with. So far looks like I have plenty of space for expansion, but I'm still thinking on how and where to mount the transformer for the Radion. Its a little bulkier than expected.
CausticGuy
New member
Just read through this ENTIRE thread! Great build log. Love it! I am amazed you packed soo much into that small of a stand. Your planning paid off for sure, despite your admitted mistakes 
I'd LOVE to see that, if you do it, get pics, and have details.
I thought about that myself - would actually reduce interior space - but would have made lots of the maintenance SO much easier. Like replacing the stand light, or messing with ATO plumbing. But the sump is so heavy, I could not find a suitable slide unit. Please share your results if you are successful. Good luck!
That's a HUGE slog of a read! Hopefully some of it was enjoyable enough to make it worth it.Just read through this ENTIRE thread! Great build log. Love it! I am amazed you packed soo much into that small of a stand. Your planning paid off for sure, despite your admitted mistakes
IMO planning can be a key component success in this hobby. Granted, many are successful without it, getting to a great place through lots of trial and error. And I believe that the LACK of planning is why so many people fail in this hobby. That does not mean that you need a Gantt chart and build diagrams to be successful. But it does mean you do thorough research before you DO anything. I'm amused at the "What does this fish eat? I got a good deal on it at my LFS today" posts. IMO those are people that either:
- Have lots of time, patience, and money (all three) to persevere through lots of trial and error.
- Will get frustrated with their results, or find themselves spending more time or money than they intended, and get out of the hobby fairly soon.
- Stay in the hobby and have lame reef tanks.
- Will learn from the pain their lack of research caused, and start researching before acting.
Sorry... plannng rant off.
invertinoob
New member
And the whole thing from behind.
I'm happy with how "clean" it looks. Not that anyone sees behind the stand. But it matters to me.
Wow that looks so good!
I need to provide a tank update. It's a mixed bag. Some good, some disappointing. In no particular orders:
Brains, and other large single polyped stony corals all dead, or dying. First it was the brains that seemed to catch a disease from the dying coral that arrived from Live Aquaria. But now my button coral is showing bone, and my BEAUTIFUL Indonesian "brain" (have never accurately identified it) that I've had for YEARS is dying. I'm gut sick over it. Have tried spot feeding both, but does not seem to be changing the slow death. I'm bummed.
I'll go into great detail later, but my four month trial of the SURF2 ATS is not working out. Will likely trash it and revert back to my old turf scrubber that actually works. But I'm trying REALLY hard to get it working, and in the interim my tank is suffering. Particularly evidenced by algae on the glass (requires cleaning twice a week), and diatoms in the sand. I'm not troubled by it, because I know the cause - lack of a productive scrubber. But I don't like looking at the results.
My SPS on the rocks have grown large enough that I had to move the Vortechs a few inches. They were too close to the pumps, and getting skin blown off. I knew that day would come someday, so it's kind of milestone that I'm happy about.
After two years of running at 100% at the peak of the day, I've dialed the Vortech's flow back to 80%. I've convinced myself that the speed of the strongest currents was just too high. As "broad" as a Vortech's current is, the fastest portions of it are still blistering in a small tank. I'm sure that dynamic is different in larger tanks, where the flow has a chance to better disperse.
My corals are killing each other. If it's not overshadowing, it's touching and killing, or just plain growing over (like my reef WEED, the Pokerstar monti) the other corals. This is getting to be a PITA. But I finally realized - too late in some places - that I can stop some of the encrusting monti's by putting a dab of purple reef epoxy over an edge that's threatening other corals.
The SPS that aren't being killed by their neighbors are growing very well. But an update on that really requires pics. Huh?
I need to take pics, and got some new tools to help. I recently got this VicTsing iPhone lens kit. I only wanted the macro function, and IMO, it's garbage. But I also got this NEEWER iPhone lens kit, and it's macro seems to work pretty well. But my trial pics were unsteady enough that I got one of these Square Jellyfish Smartphone Spring Tripod Mounts. It screws right into my tripods, holds the iPhone rock solid and steady. And possibly most important, I purchased the Camera+ iPhone app. It has a dynamic white balance adjustment function that seems to work reasonably well. Not perfect, but good enough. (If you buy one, be sure to read the web-based documentation, it's white balance functions are not remotely intuitive IMO.) So I've got no excuse now for not trying to get some nice tank pics.
Got to give that a whirl soon.
Brains, and other large single polyped stony corals all dead, or dying. First it was the brains that seemed to catch a disease from the dying coral that arrived from Live Aquaria. But now my button coral is showing bone, and my BEAUTIFUL Indonesian "brain" (have never accurately identified it) that I've had for YEARS is dying. I'm gut sick over it. Have tried spot feeding both, but does not seem to be changing the slow death. I'm bummed.
I'll go into great detail later, but my four month trial of the SURF2 ATS is not working out. Will likely trash it and revert back to my old turf scrubber that actually works. But I'm trying REALLY hard to get it working, and in the interim my tank is suffering. Particularly evidenced by algae on the glass (requires cleaning twice a week), and diatoms in the sand. I'm not troubled by it, because I know the cause - lack of a productive scrubber. But I don't like looking at the results.
My SPS on the rocks have grown large enough that I had to move the Vortechs a few inches. They were too close to the pumps, and getting skin blown off. I knew that day would come someday, so it's kind of milestone that I'm happy about.
After two years of running at 100% at the peak of the day, I've dialed the Vortech's flow back to 80%. I've convinced myself that the speed of the strongest currents was just too high. As "broad" as a Vortech's current is, the fastest portions of it are still blistering in a small tank. I'm sure that dynamic is different in larger tanks, where the flow has a chance to better disperse.
My corals are killing each other. If it's not overshadowing, it's touching and killing, or just plain growing over (like my reef WEED, the Pokerstar monti) the other corals. This is getting to be a PITA. But I finally realized - too late in some places - that I can stop some of the encrusting monti's by putting a dab of purple reef epoxy over an edge that's threatening other corals.
The SPS that aren't being killed by their neighbors are growing very well. But an update on that really requires pics. Huh?
I need to take pics, and got some new tools to help. I recently got this VicTsing iPhone lens kit. I only wanted the macro function, and IMO, it's garbage. But I also got this NEEWER iPhone lens kit, and it's macro seems to work pretty well. But my trial pics were unsteady enough that I got one of these Square Jellyfish Smartphone Spring Tripod Mounts. It screws right into my tripods, holds the iPhone rock solid and steady. And possibly most important, I purchased the Camera+ iPhone app. It has a dynamic white balance adjustment function that seems to work reasonably well. Not perfect, but good enough. (If you buy one, be sure to read the web-based documentation, it's white balance functions are not remotely intuitive IMO.) So I've got no excuse now for not trying to get some nice tank pics.
Got to give that a whirl soon.
Thanks Rob.
But if to anyone trying that themselves, I'd recommend at least a couple more of those RO/DI sized tubing bulkheads. Would have come in handy for me. And if you don't use them? Each one is ten minutes and $5 wasted. Worth the risk IMO.SantaMonica
Well-known member
Some growth pics would help figure out what settings need adjusting.
I've got LOADS of growth pics, with progress logs of everything. And I've tried it all... time, more time, hosiery over the light to reduce brightness, shorter photo periods, very short photo periods, increasing water flow by replacing the air bubbles with flow from a small water pump. I've kept meticulous progress notes. And it all fails in a system that has had a DIY ATS productively and consistently producing harvest-able algae for years, until I replaced it with a SURF2.
If you want to help, I'd be delighted to take it. But here on RC, where the community can follow progress. And in another thread - dedicated to my journey with this product.
If you are still interested in assisting, please let me know. Id be happy to start a dedicated thread. NOTHING would make me happier than for this product to be a suitable replacement for my old scrubber. At this point though, nothing would surprise me more either. But I'd be DELIGHTED to be wrong. Maybe you can help with that.
