Nano Reef at work questions

[Sacrifice]

Good afternoon nano folks. I'm right in the middle of talking myself into starting a nano reef in my cubicle, but I have a few questions and I'm on a bit of a tight budget.....aren't we all.

 

Here is what I'm thinking...keep in mind I'm trying to go cheap.

 

Tank: $99 - Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 10g - MarineDepot.com

Heater: $24 - Eheim Jager TruTemp 50w - MarineDepot.com

Flow: $41 - Jebao WP-10 - Amazon or eBay

Light - $40 - Par38 bulb - eBay

Light Stand - $20 - Office Max/Home depot/Lowes/Office Supply store

Media Baskets - $41 - InTank Media basket

Rock - $30

Sand - $10

The plan is to have some inverts along with zoas, acans and maybe some LPS.

 

1.) Are there any good articles on maintaining a nano reef at the office? Of course it's a M-F 9-5pm.

 

2.) I'd eventually like to purchase a nice ATO system but I just can't afford one at the moment. Would the tank's salinity swing way much over the weekend while I'm gone?

 

I'm sorry if these questions are answered somewhere already but I literally joined the site minutes ago when I stumbled upon your IM 10 club thread.

 

***EDIT: I should mention that I only have about 1 years worth of reef experience under my belt but that was a few years back when I had a 40g mixed reef tank.

[chanathon]

The key is consistency. Take into consideration office temp swings, evap rates, and how you're going to do water changes at work. Think of contingency plans for anything that can go wrong (power outtages, tank leaks, sick fish etc). Also, being in a cubicle, make sure your uppers even approve.

 

I have an 8 gal system at my work that was set up last Oct. So far, things have been going pretty well; aside from the occasional power outtage. I have not lost any livestock aside from an Elegence Coral, but that's another story. I do water changes every week and just buy premixed salt water from my lfs to make things easier. I keep a glass top on my tank to minimize evaporation. I really dont even have to top off.

 

To be honest, this is was my first real venture into saltwater and I haven't found this office tank to be any harder than freshwater. Just keep up with daily glass cleaning and weekly water changes, and everything is fine!

 

Good luck!

[RJWalters]

Man you guys are lucky you can take your addiction to work with you

[Sancho]

Go for it! If possible add a ato I use a cereal container from target $13 with a tunze nano ato. My 8 empties it in about 2 weeks. You can put the ato container under you desk. And bring a fresh one in every 2 weeks or so. That way your not adding freshwater to the tank everyday. A heater may not be needed as most offices maintain a certain temp. I have not run a heater on any of my tanks in about 10 years. I let the ac and heat in my house regulate temp. As long as your bio load is not heavy you can go a month or longer without water changes once the tank is established. My 8 has gone 4 months without a water change. And I am sure it could go longer. I do run a skimmer though. In a small tank you can get away with no power head. So with the money you saved on the heater and wave maker you can get an ato. An office tank needs to be on auto pilot. A ato is the first thing you should invest in. The next is a controller to monitor the tank if stuff goes bad.

[Sacrifice]

Thanks for all the answers everyone. I do have approval from my boss, however after discussing the situation with my wife she'd rather save the extra money and setup something even better at home first. I think that I'll go that route before venturing out to work with a nano.

[braaap]

Thanks for all the answers everyone. I do have approval from my boss, however after discussing the situation with my wife she'd rather save the extra money and setup something even better at home first. I think that I'll go that route before venturing out to work with a nano.

 

Good call. If you don't have a tank at home then get one for there first. That way you can both enjoy it and justify the cost of the office tank. Personally I'll never run 2 tanks again. Too much work and it takes the enjoyment out of it for me.

[D Z]

 

Good call. If you don't have a tank at home then get one for there first. That way you can both enjoy it and justify the cost of the office tank. Personally I'll never run 2 tanks again. Too much work and it takes the enjoyment out of it for me.

I know the feeling. Every month or so I get the bug to want to setup a second tank, then I really start to think about the work involved and that idea quickly goes away...

 

OP - you could always do what I did. I have a 34G tank at home which is my pride and joy. I have a 1 gallon Jarquarium that I brought to work. I can neglect the hell out of it as there is only some softies/zoas, not fish. It is light enough that I can just pick it up(completely full) and carry it around with me. This will very important if my office changes or I need to bring it home for any reason. Best part - it was extremely budget friendly!

[DefStatic]

I had an office betta tank, Evolve 4. Was fine for a while. People loved it.

The problem became two things. First, I suspect someone after hours feeding the fish. I had a massive algae outbreak over a weekend and found extra pellets all around the tank. Either someone was messing with it, or someone brought their kid into work and they messed with it. I even had a sign that said DO NOT FEED THE FISH.

 

The final problem came when I was gone for two weeks. A co worker I trusted was to feed and top off. Well, he ended up calling out sick for two days before the weekend. I guess something happened and the fish died the first day he called out. So it sat for four days. I guess it started to stink up the place. So someone dumped the tank and stuck it out back.

The tank was barely salvageable, but I did. I lost some expensive plants too. Then there became a rule of no tanks. I was so ticked. It was a fluke set of circumstances.

If I could do it again, I would get a larger tank and do only plants/aquascape. Maybe one betta, and have second coverage if I am out.

I did my water changes before or after work. Or during my lunch.

[Fishstiks]

i have the IM 10 on my desk at work! It's a fun little tank!

If you are not planning on any SPS corals, you might can skip the wp10 and just upgrade the stock pump. I upgraded mine with a Rio+ 600. I originally ran a WP10 with it, but after it bit the dust, I did not replace it. I have a spinstream on my return, and found I need no extra flow. I keep mostly LPS in the tank.

Another idea would be to upgrade the pump, and use the stock pump in the tank for extra flow.

 

Also, agree with keeping up on water changes. I did weekly water changes at first, but now that the tank is older and well established, I onlky do them every other week. I just do it on my lunch break or after work.

[tibbsy07]

Don't use the Wp10 in the IM 10. Too much flow, not enough control. Seriously. I had the RW-4 and on the lowest setting was blowing my tank around. I have a stock return pump and the rio+ 50 for added flow in the tank. I'd go with Fishstiks recommendation and get a better return pump and use a spinstream. Definitely weekly water changes.