Nano Reef Planning and Plottinng

[Katch]

I've been keeping freshies for some time now and currently have a high tech planted tank complete with auto dosing ferts and CO2.

 

Just got back from diving the Red Sea with my girlfriend and she's finally agreed to a small marine tank. I know nano tanks are harder to keep than larger systems but I feel up to the challenge.

 

Here's the plan.

 

I have a custom tank (built by me) that is 25 x 30 x 38cm (WxLxH) that I am going to drill for 2 x 3/4" bulkheads.

 

I'm going to convert a 12 x 8 x 8 inch clearseal into a sump by gluing in 5 baffles. This should give my system a total volume of about 35 litres.

 

I've got a Newjet 800 for sump return and I'm going to get a Koralia Nano 900 for more water movement.

 

I'm planning on getting 3-4kg of cured fiji liverock and 2-3kg of live sand. Some of the sand will go into the sump with Cheato to make a refugium with an arc pod 9w light over it. I'm also going to pick up a nano skimmer to go in the sump as well.

 

The outflow from the main tank will have a surface skimming weir.

 

The main tank will have a Boyu 3 x 8 watt T5 lummiere (2 white one anctic blue)

 

My stocking plan is:

 

CUC - 1 skunk shrimp, 2-3 hermits, some snails (type?)

 

Fish - 2 nemos and maybe 1 goby (type?)

 

Corals - not sure, suggestions

 

I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions while I get the equipment together.

[duderubble]

Looks basically OK. I think you won't be satisfied with that amount of main lighting. I'd suggest 150W MH. I haven't tried LED, but some folks like them. 24 watts of T5 seems pretty skimpy. But I could be wrong.

 

Also in a small sump the sand may not be of any benefit. I have some in my 10 gal sump but I don't know if it really does anything. Also live sand is a waste and makes a mess. I recommend dry aragonite rinsed before putting in. Put the rock down before the sand for a firmer foundation.

[GrandLotus]

Also live sand is a waste and makes a mess.

 

+1

[Paleoreef103]

Looks basically OK. I think you won't be satisfied with that amount of main lighting. I'd suggest 150W MH. I haven't tried LED, but some folks like them. 24 watts of T5 seems pretty skimpy. But I could be wrong.

 

Also in a small sump the sand may not be of any benefit. I have some in my 10 gal sump but I don't know if it really does anything. Also live sand is a waste and makes a mess. I recommend dry aragonite rinsed before putting in. Put the rock down before the sand for a firmer foundation.

Those T5s aren't T5HO which means they really don't have much umpf in them. You would probably only need a 70W MH or a small LED array (you could do a DIY 3X3 Cree array, a PAR38 LED bulb, or a couple of Ecoxotic Panorama strips for a tank that size).

 

I think a sump would be nice, but that's an awfully small sump. I'd think about dropping 13 bucks at Petco and pick up a standard 10 gallon tank for the sump.

[duderubble]

I missed that about the sump, yes you would be far better with a 10 Gal. There's a poor example in my tank threads.

[Katch]

Thanks for the advice.

 

The lighting will have to do to start with as I can't afford anything else right now but will look into a DIY 3 x 3 LED array in the future.

 

Not sure I can fit much more sump in the cabinet but I'll measure it up and see - I was also thinking the sump will be too small but thought a small sump would be better than no sump at all.

 

I'll definitely go for dry aragonite sand though.

[duderubble]

If I only had that much sump, I'd go for a AC HOB filter. You can mod one into a fuge. And avoid all the problems of a sump. You could also make or have made a sump to fit your space.

 

As for the lighting, just wait on any coral until you have something better. You could start with FOWLR.

[Katch]

Ok the largest sump I can fit is 25 litres; this will bring the system up to a total of about 50 litres when filled.

 

I'll be putting a fuge into the center of the sump. I won't have room for a hob in this setup.

[Katch]

I'm moving this discussion here now that things are moving forward.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=284912

[Jenna Ann]

If I only had that much sump, I'd go for a AC HOB filter. You can mod one into a fuge. And avoid all the problems of a sump. You could also make or have made a sump to fit your space.

 

As for the lighting, just wait on any coral until you have something better. You could start with FOWLR.

 

 

I'm trying to decide between the AC70 mod or a sump using an overflow box. What problems are you meaning with regards to "avoid all the problems of a sump"?