nano reef filtration

[shaw3029]

hi there, im thinking of setting up a nano reef in somthing between a 5-10 gallon tank, im been reading though quite a few articals and books but cant figure this out, so heres my question (appoligies if this has been answered before)

is it possible to have only live rock and sand as a filtration system? would i be right in saying as long as i have only invertibrates and no fish then that would be alright, so all i would need would be the tank, heater and live rock and sand?

thanks for your time

[calvin415]

That's mostly correct, your additional filtration will come by water changes which will replenish your trace elements that your inverts use up. I would suggest some kind of HOB filter with a surface skimmer in order to clean the surface scum, a place to run carbon (if needed), and provide circulation for your tank (circulation is a must).

[shaw3029]

well i really dont want a filter, is it that much of a must would no fish, just invertabrates, i think i can just about hide a heater, sorry to sound like an idiot, but why would i need to run cardon? also what would i use for circulation, a power head?

[calvin415]

You could use the filter for circulation and kill two birds with one stone. I had a 2.5 gallon (see link in my sig) but even with a power head, HOB filter, and no fish I had surface scum, it's enevitable unless you skim the surface. The filter (with a surface skimmer attachment) will help remove this, otherwise you will be loosing precious light (can't penetrate the scum). As for carbon, it can be used to help polish the water, I've got a 23 Gallon SPS tank, with no fish and run chemipure (a type of carbon) 24/7 and it makes a huge difference. Hope this helps clarify, if not ask away!

[shaw3029]

so i could get a small filter with a surface skimmer, how exactly is carbon added? and what does it do?

also, do you know any good small filters with surface skimmers attached?

thanks alot, youve been really helpfull.

[calvin415]

The carbon is added in the filter box behind the filter floss or in the filter floss depending on the type used... Carbon is like a sponge for nutrients in the water, the nutrients can cloud or at least affect the clarity of your water (yellow tint). Here are a couple links to some surface skimmers and a HOB Filter which most people use and some retro into the refugium if you look in the DIY area. You could probably get away with any type of HOB filter if you don't plan to retro it, just make sure the surface attachment will work for it.

 

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp...product=HG11006

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp...product=HG10240

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_filter...wer.asp?CartId=

[shaw3029]

i understand now, i think X) so the cardon is like an extra thing added inside the filter ( i was originally thinking it was added c02 like in freshwater tanks, then rember carbon is the base most living things are made up of )

 

so then, a small filter with a surface skimmer attached, a heater, live rock and sand, should be all i need to set up and maintain a small nano reef with invertabrates only? and obviously the lights added, i ask, is there a filter or light which is the best available on the market?

 

thanks for all your help.

[calvin415]

The Aqua Clear seems to be the most popular choice among nano-reefers because of the amount of room they have in them. Plus they can be modded with some DIY work. As for lights, it depend on what you want in your tank. When you say inverts do you mean shrimp, crabs etc, or do you mean corals? If you mean corals what type are you looking to keep? Softies? LPS? SPS? Your needs will determine what type of lighting you should get.

[shaw3029]

ive just looked up the Aqua Clear and it seems as if its only readily available in america, i come from the uk and i think ive found the same filter although im not sure, and its lested for 30pounds, thats 4 times the $15 american price, i have a friend in america at the moment, you may or may not be able to answer this, but is it just a case of altering the plug sockets to allow to work in the uk? i appoligise in advance for seeming like an idiot.

[calvin415]

No the plugs in Europe are for 220, all American wiring is for 110, you would need a seperate transformer to handle the power conversion... I'm sure they sell them there since there are so many US Military families in Europe with their American electronics. Just have him bring back some American power strips so you don't need multiple transformers and then you can use all the American supplies you want!

[shaw3029]

could do, trouble is my mates only in america until tommorow, so it may be a bit late, is this a similar filter or am i completly on the wrong track http://www.fishandfins.co.uk/interaquafilter.htm

also, whilst im at it, is the filter, and light the only bit of electrical equipment il need?

also as regards to the light supply i havent thought about the invertebrate too much, although i would like a hermit crab, and if im correct theres certain stuff i wouldnt be able to keep with him (to be honest i dont know too much as to what type of stuff i would be able to keep in a nano tank) would i even be able to accomadate a hermit? ideal i would like a hermit, a banded coral shrimp,and the usally clean up crew. i just thought i would set up the tank and then go add the live rock, sand clean up crew leave it to settle and in this time start looking at the sort of other invertebrate.

 

is there any sort of light which will allow all types of coral to live and grow? or is that not possible?

 

thanks again

[calvin415]

No this filter is an in aquarium filter by the looks, it's basically a pad hooked up to the bottom of a powerhead and it filters on the intake. This won't do anything for surface skimming. You might have to just pay for some serious shipping and order everything from the US and then get a power transformer.

As for stocking, while inverts are not fish, they still poop and that will create a bio load on the water. Not a big deal, but fish won't be much different than the inverts you want to keep. Refering to you electrical equipment question; heater, light, filter, and any additional circulation you might want now or later will all require power. Which light will be suitable for all corals? That would be a Metal Halide setup. However if you don't have a desire for SPS or Clams, you could get by with either VHO lighting, or PC lighting. Try reading what others have done with their 10G setups and then just copy them.

 

This is a great inexpensive setup that will get you going with corals and a few inverts or fish. Only thing I would add is the surface skimmer attachment, and you can order all these parts from Marine Depot, including a powerstrip, provided they will ship overseas.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...3&highlight=10g

[shaw3029]

sps corals are stony ones right? if thats the case then i dont really like them anyway, in the case of clams, i like them, but at over $50 (ive translated the price for you ) each i think il leave them alone for now.

i think ive managed to get my head around the lighting, i think this would work... http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatal...E_LIGHTING.html buy an arcadia reflector, and which ever light most suits the tank, il have to work that out after ive decided on the invertebrates.

 

onto the filter, after searching many uk sites (i think you americans have it easy, its damn hard to find uk aquariums dealers, you seem to be able to find good stuff in places like wal mart.)

anyway, here is what i think is a suitable one... http://www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/ishop/102...shopscr289.html i dont think it has a surface skimmer, but i think i could attach one? i thought i would be able to do away with filters using live rock and sand, but seemingly not.

 

i also emailed the marine depot about shipping to the uk, they dont seem to say on their website.

 

thanks again.

[calvin415]

SPS are the stoney ones... I didn't like them at first, now I'm hooked on them and clams! The filter in your last post is still an internal filter... Let me know what Marine Depot says, if they won't ship international I could alway accept the shipment for you, and then forward it to you if you are willing to pay for the shipping costs. A buddy of mine owns a UPS store, so I can get about 10% off the shipping cost, but I don't know how much the shipping is.

[shaw3029]

im waiting on marine depot to get back to me.

with the filter i showed you, would it do the job? and would it be possible to attach a skimmer?

sorry for all these questions. thanks for answering.

[calvin415]

No problem. I'm sure it could be rigged, but I don't think that's what you want...

 

Here would be what you for a nanoreef and it's in the UK! It's a filter, skimmer and has a suface skimmer attachment!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Red-Sea-Prizm-Pro-De...bayphotohosting

[shaw3029]

it wont let me access the page, could you give me the item number, or item description? then il be able to find it. thanks

[calvin415]

Item number 7705349282

[shaw3029]

thanks, il take a look at this, i also found this website... http://www.s-t-m.co.uk/ i just realised its about 15mins from where i live, ive never noticed it before, and it seems like its a whole lot better than my other lfs, would you be able to take at look at the site, and see if theres any suitable stuff, i mean, i dont wanna spend too much.

 

thanks again

[calvin415]

Definately a lot of nice high quality stuff, but most of it is for large reefs and is going to cost a lot because it's all top end... A great resource if you want to go all out, but for 10 gallons, it's all just way to much.

[shaw3029]

what about for just general invertabrates, or the live rock/sand, il have to visit the place soon. i had a look at the ebay item, isnt it a bit big? (i dont know, it just seems like an overkill) the item you showed me earlier, the... Aqua Clear is that all i would need for the filtration, or would that need an atachment, if so, i may be able to get my friend to get it and bring it back, although they leave tommorow i think.

 

the marine depot did get back to me, apparently the info was on their site, i just couldnt find it... http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_marine...ping.asp?CartId although it doesnt say how much it cost to ship, if i find out what i need, i plan to buy the lighting over in the uk (there doesnt seem to be much price differance) then email them asking for some sort of rough price.

thanks again

[calvin415]

Oh yeah, definately get your live stock locally, and the better the store the better your livestock will probably be. If you can get an aqua clear that would be a very easy way to go, the skimmer is in-fact over kill, but it's the only thing on ebay that has a surface skimmer and hangs on the tank instead of sitting in it. 10 gallons is small and you don't want to waste your limited space with internal filtration. Definately get your lighting there. The T-5's will be good for most corals and some are able to use them for even Clams and SPS! Good luck, and be sure to take pictures along the way!

[shaw3029]

so would the aqua clear be all i need, or is there need for a skimmer attachment, and a carbon bag? i found it available on http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?webt...&sku=1556110595 and http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp...202074%3A202100

im now thinking of phonening my friend over there, so i need to make doubly sure that this filter is what im going to need, and like i said i think they are leaving tommorow, then again it doesnt take much to pop into a wal mart on the way to an airport.

[calvin415]

You need the surface skimmer attachment, but they sell it at marine depot... Not sure you'll find it at walmart, but maybe petco or petsmart.

[shaw3029]

would it be possible to find the attachment for me, im not too sure what im looking for, sorry if its too much, i just dont want to get my mate to get the wrong thing.