Your nano tank wishlist!

[chemisfun11]

Here's the story. I was awarded a $2000 grant to setup a saltwater reef tank in my classroom (I teach H.S. Chemistry) and I know very little about setting up a nano tank. I have about 2 years with my own 90g reef tank, so I'm not a total noob.

I'm open to any suggestions you have, just tell me what I need to buy!

Much appreciated

Lee

 

[sir_dudeguy]

you got 2000 bucks and you're getting a NANO???! lol, thats the only problem i see w/that

But they'er the same as bigger tanks, other than the fish you can have in them (and of course other living stuff) but you set up the same. How big are you actually looking to go?

but if you're curious as to what fish to get, go to liveaquaria.com and look at their nano fish section. Any of those will do fine in small tanks (excluding stuff like 2.5 gallons, 5 gallons, 7 gallons...some get too big for that stuff)

But also, if you're willing to get a custom tank made, I've got this tank thats very cool and i hope to set it up one day. Its 5 ft long, but its only a foot tall and 9.5 inches wide, so its a total of 28 gallons...people here seem to count everything up to 29 as nano (tho i say 24 should be the max size to where its still nano)

But that tank is very cool looking, and would be extremely easy to light and everything. Would only take like 30 pounds of rock (tho more would be better prolly) and good flow and stuff. And you could have like a whole bunch of little gobies or soemthing..the'd look kinda cool.

but for 2000 bucks, that better be one heck of a nano

 

[Agu]

Lee,

Since you're in education I would highly recommend a biotope specific tank. Since you're in NY a local species tank is probably a marginal option. However a Florida species or Caribbean tank is a viable choice. With $2000 I'd recommend a 40 breeder with a sump, aquacultured live rock (part of the educational aspect), a skimmer, and a return pump with multiple outlets. Basic setup including lights should cost around $1200. that leaves $800 for corals, fish, and clean up crew.

Good luck and thank you for being a teacher,

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ya i'd think that'd be a better sized tank than a nano (and 40 is def. not nano tho lol) but definatlely more options as far as being able to make it educational

 

[chemisfun11]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I was planning on setting up a couple of 24g JBJ nanos. One soft coral tank to start then maybe an SPS. I'm mostly going to concentrate on the chemistry of the water parameters.

Keep those ideas coming

 

[JC VT]

Where can this go? Can you make this a peninsula? Do you need a stand, or can it sit on a table?

I have lots of ideas, but more info please!

 

[JC VT]

Oh, a neat thing you could do to focus on chemistry is to use dead base rock, and manually add ammonium hydroxide to cycle the tank. You could have your students track the nitrogen cycle using test kits.

 

[saxerphoner]

I'm a middle school science teacher and my students (and I) would love to have a tank like that in the classroom...

Where did you get this grant from????

Thanks

 

[chemisfun11]

saxerphoner: I received the grant from ING Unsung Heroes Award, you can PM me for the link, I have it at home.

JC VT: Thanks for the lab suggestions. I'm just unfamiliar with extent of equipment people use. I have a sump, fuge, skimmer, Ca reactor, MH/PC lighting etc. on my 90g, do I need every little thing on a system that can have 10% water change weekly with no problems or is it overkill to buy a ton of equipment?

Thanks everyone!

 

[chemisfun11]

JC VT: The tanks can go on stands or a table. I have room for both. Not sure what you mean by peninsula? I figured I'd use JBJ 24g nano since they are readily available unless others prefer a different brand.

 

[JC VT]

Personally I'm not a fan of the all in one kits. They are kinda pricey, and people wind up chopping them up anyways doing DIY mods. Maybe one for a softie tank, and then customize a sps tank?

By peninsula I mean like this badboy: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=935112
There are some pretty cool sumpless/incorporated sump ideas for a tank like that

One thing I would look into is the Tunze osmolator for top off. I'm assuming that you won't have access, or might not want to come in , to the tanks on the weekend/holidays, and a reliable ATO like the osmolator would definitely help ease the mind.

Another thing that would ease the mind is a controller like the Reef Keeper. I don't know if your school shuts down the A/C or heat on the weekends, but if it does then a reliable device to monitor temps and turn on heaters/fans would be great.

I'd like to think for the softy tank, nothing but weekly w/c would be great. If you have an sps tank, you could probably just use that water for w/c on the softy tank.

 

[chemisfun11]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I have a spectrapure top off system(not as accurate as the tunze, but a bit cheaper) and a Reefkeeper 2 running on my 90g.

Nice looking peninsula, but I don't have the room in my classroom. Tanks have to go on a stand or table in about a 2' x 6' area

I like the suggestion for the w/c, save on salt

 

[JC VT]

I meant that type of set up, where the length of the tank protrudes out from the wall.

You could set up two 40 breeders on that 2 x 6 area; one for softies and one for sps. Maybe one of these badboys for softies: http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104063.html

and one of these for sps:
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104064.html

 

[sh0rtlilvietb0i]

im baffled.. i wish i could get a grant LOL

I would buy a 55 gallon or so if I were to keep a tank in a classroom and have diverse (community) marine fishes.. probably brightly colored ones ( no damsels, eek) actually... I would just swim in the 2k...

gotta get back to honors chemistry homework.. how ironic LOL
I hate elements.....

 

[Agu]

If this is for chemistry you might want to set up a control tank with only live rock to compare parameters.

IMHO you'll spend too much on the all in one tanks to justify their purchase.

 

[aclos3]

How long will you be in this classroom? I know that sometimes teachers get moved around from year to year, at least that's how it was at my HS.

You will probably want something that is more moveable than one large system. How about two 3 foot long tanks right next to each other. That way you could run two different, but similar sized tanks, and still get the water volume needed for more interesting/larger species (not to mention a little more stability).

I'm not sure, but I think two tanks with with foot prints of 3'L x 1.5 or 2' long would be best.

How are you on DIY stuff? You could make the sump systems a lot cheaper if you are willing to do a little work with acrylic. (like acrylic panels inside 10 or 20 gallon tanks for the sumps)

 

[aclos3]

I forgot to mention something.

When I was in highschool, a teacher had a fish tank. About halfway through the year a student poured bleach into the tank. I do not know the reason, but it happened... this was a relatively problem free highschool as well.

I would suggest large hoods for these tanks... maybe a common hood with doors that can be locked. I think just making it a little bit harder for students to access the tank would help. You would be able to open the hoods when you are having students take the measurements, and then keep them safe (or at least safer) while you step out for lunch, leave for a fire drill, etc.

I know this is something none of us want to think about, but kids will do really brutal things like this. Just a word of caution that I really hope you think about.