Trying out the nano world looking for guidance

[Waddleboy]

hello all. So my dad saw my tank and decided he wanted one, so me being a good son (sometimes) i decided ill get him one for fathers day, but being they just moved to small apartment, cant give him a big tank so i figured ill try out the nano side of things. I was going to make him something for his desk probably 10-15 gallons? I am most likely going to make it out of acrylic to go with the rimless approach and do an all in one system with the tank split in the back 4" for the filtration. The back 4" will have a section for a skimmer, fuge, and return.
I have built and 90 and 150 gallon and this little nano tank scares me more than those so i was looking for some help.

Dimensions i was looking maybe 16x16x12 (tank footprint 16x12 ~10gal) or 20x16x12 (tank footprint 20x12 ~12 gal) or 20x20x12 (tank footprint 20x16 ~15 gal). I will probably use 1/4" acrylic for the smallest and 3/8" for the bigger ones. I would round off the front corners.

Thats the plan. I was wondering what you guys suggest for a skimmer, heater, light (leaning towards LEDs), ATO (can i do this with a tank this small?), Return pump, Powerhead (do i need one?)

This are the items that i have ideas about so far:

Return: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/eheim-1000-compact-aquarium-pump-40-267gph.html
Protein skimmer: http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...allons-AquaticLife-AK01114-FIPSISVSLF-vi.html
heater (50w): http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/finnex-hmo-heater-series-digital-with-remote-probe.html
light: http://www.marinedepot.com/Innovati...-Innovative_Marine-0I10204-FILTFILDTN-vi.html
powerhead: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/hydor-pico-evo-mag-180.html

Thanks for all the help hopefully people have done this idea before and can offer insight.

 

[agruetz]

Here is what I have.

aquatic life T5HO w/ timer/moon lights etc... w/ a 25 antic/25 purple and 50 10K white. For filtration I am using a aqua clear 110 with a mix of purigen, phosguard, filter floss and a ploy filter. I am using a Hydor Koralia Nano Circulation Pump/Powerhead and a JBJ ATO system.

I will be adding a AquaMaxx HOB-1 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer soon. Keep in mind I over filter for the plan to go to a larger tank. However I will say even with the above I have still been having a phosphate issues they hover around .08. I am hoping the protein skimmer finishes that issues off. I hope this helps.

 

[Waddleboy]

thanks def like the lights. I thought about T5 but havent fully committed to the idea yet. at 20" i can put a t5 on smaller idk if i can. Also how is your ato set up? Also fyi, a protein skimmer wont help you with phosphates. Put a lit chaeto or some sort of algae in your skimmer, that would do a better job

 

[Waddleboy]

I think i decided on dimensions of 24x24x12 with back 4" as a the skimming section. I was going to set something up like this in the back 4": http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2131166. Hopefully with skimmer on the overflow teeth section that small filter media, followed by return. I will be using 1/2" acrylic to make it. Is that overkill? Can i use 3/8? Cost difference in the end is $30 so i may go with 1/2" to make it with minimal bowing. Also ill be changing the light to this: http://www.marinedepot.com/Kessil_A...ndant_Lights-Kessil-YH1111-FILTFILDLP-vi.html and powerhead to this: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ads/hydor-koralia-nano-evolution-425-gph.html