Jason's Super Tiny Nano

[jasonp87]

I've been working on this a couple weeks now and have been updating a tread over on reef2reef for this tank. I am finally getting around to posting it here.

I started out with some scraps from some left over projects and a small fountain pump I had laying around from an older tank. The result is about 3 gallons of total water volume. I started with these plans and made some changes along the way. First, the got rid of the fuge area. The back was just too small for it and probably not really necessary. Second, I swapped the sides the overflow and return are on. As far as dimensions, everything stayed the same.

The main reason for this tank was as an entry for the Reef2Reef Nano in 90 competition. Check out my thread there too.
http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/nano-90-build-off-competition/163632-jasons-nano-90-a.html

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/untitled.png (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/untitled.png.html)

Next I pulled out the old acrylic bender and bent the piece that is used for the front and sides of the display area.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/2014-06/1B50B71C-CC76-478B-8542-FA46798F665F.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/2014-06/1B50B71C-CC76-478B-8542-FA46798F665F.jpg.html)

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/5D9DED9B-B4A0-40B4-862C-45929C26AB1A.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/5D9DED9B-B4A0-40B4-862C-45929C26AB1A.jpg.html)

After this I cut the acrylic to the correct length and height. This is a trick I picked up from the shows Tanked and Fish Tank Kings. I always noticed they cut after shaping the acrylic. This is because when the acrylic is bent the ends will pinch out creating an unlevel surface. Cutting after shaping removes this area. I also started attaching the displays back wall, and the filter sides, weirs and back. I also drilled the hole for the 1/2" bulkhead before attaching the back. Would have been really hard to get it in there with the front and back already on there.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/7AD51BA4-259E-4FBD-94CD-F0E8BD8C26AC.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/7AD51BA4-259E-4FBD-94CD-F0E8BD8C26AC.jpg.html)

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/069B7B55-9FD5-4C3B-8938-BE4EB9B66985.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/069B7B55-9FD5-4C3B-8938-BE4EB9B66985.jpg.html)

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/ACF18039-F938-4D74-BB7D-1DCBB0DDB8DB.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/ACF18039-F938-4D74-BB7D-1DCBB0DDB8DB.jpg.html)

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/44830E28-FF75-478A-962B-AC45F5A0E114.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/44830E28-FF75-478A-962B-AC45F5A0E114.jpg.html)

[jasonp87]

Next I secured the bottom of the tank and water tested.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/66965A70-7B71-47A5-9605-23C250368973.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/66965A70-7B71-47A5-9605-23C250368973.jpg.html)

The pump I am using has adjustable flow. It fits perfectly and is dialed almost all the way back.

I got my sand and rock added in and allowed it to start settling. I am using Fiji Pink live sand and some dry rock I had leftover from my other build.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/44C4F11B-0EDA-4019-A41A-916844EAAF7C.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/44C4F11B-0EDA-4019-A41A-916844EAAF7C.jpg.html)

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/41E2163F-9816-4E08-88DB-CB236ED2BFA8.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/41E2163F-9816-4E08-88DB-CB236ED2BFA8.jpg.html)

Most of the dust settled over night.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/5014AD92-94CB-429E-BC1E-139D6313659E.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/5014AD92-94CB-429E-BC1E-139D6313659E.jpg.html)

[jasonp87]

Picked up a Par38 and gooseneck end of last week to light this tank.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/8EF91F78-05C4-44E5-87CE-C2AFD2888883.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/8EF91F78-05C4-44E5-87CE-C2AFD2888883.jpg.html)

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/84B900D6-C7C7-4647-B0D5-DBE94ADADAFE.jpg (http://s940.photobucket.com/user/jasonp87/media/84B900D6-C7C7-4647-B0D5-DBE94ADADAFE.jpg.html)

[cHRoNzZe]

Looking nice bro ....... I like the goldfish cracker background...........:lol:

[YokoYoko]

Cool lil' tank!!!!!!

[jasonp87]

Going forward this tank will probably house mostly zoas and palys since there isn't room for something that gets too large. As far as fish I will be pretty limited but I have been eyeing the yellow and green clown gobies. They should be able to stay in the tank for a while since they don't get too big. Then they can either move to my other tank or to another home.

Eventually I would like to have this tank on my desk at work. I will have to see if that's ok though. I also want to make sure it is stable and capable of being left to itself over a weekend.

As far as equipment goes this is pretty simple. I will probably add a small heater and would like an ATO. I have been monitoring the evap rates on the tank and thankfully it is really minimal so I should be fine without one for a while.

[jasonp87]

Cool lil' tank!!!!!!

Thanks!


Looking nice bro ....... I like the goldfish cracker background...........:lol:

haha thanks, last time I set up a tank a few ended up in the sump. Little hands had something to do with it I'm sure. I'm hoping the lesson has been learned and it won't happen again lol.

[CMD2213]

Very nice J.

[Jhuneke]

Very cool! I picture it with a neon green ( small) carpet and some tiny snowflakes or Darwin clowns! :) I have an 8 gallon seahorse tank.. And have to keep a fan blowing over it to keep temps down. With the fan my evap in 8 gls is close to half gl a day. Just added an ato finally.. Keep an eye in temp in such a tiny tank. The pump adds a lot of heat to mine. Can't wait to see it mature :) very nice work!

[Duke4130]

water changes will be easy...LOL

[jasonp87]

Thanks. I was thinking clowns but it's so small I don't think they would be happy for very long. The best fits I'm finding are the micro sized gobies like the clown and neon gobies.

Topping off is pretty easy. I have a water bottle with rodi in it next to the tank. I just put a little in about twice a day. Water changes will consist of taking out a glass of water and replacing it, really easy.

[XO PRESENTS]

Looking good Jason !!!! :)

[spidernano]

looks sick jason

[jasonp87]

looks sick jason


Looking good Jason !!!! :)

Thanks guys. I cut some frags this weekend, may add them in tomorrow. Got some rastas, fruit loops and some zoas I call spider mans. They're chilling in my 25 right now. I'll post pics when they're in and open.

[Sancho]

You have skills with acrylic! tank is so cool.:beer:

[nanoreef1]

Any updates Jason?

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

[jasonp87]

Not much has changed. I put a ruby red in but he didn't last the first night. Not sure why, tank was fine, plenty of pods and it was before the heat set in. The heat has taken its toll since, zoas haven't grown much and have lost a little color, but still alive.

Sorry for the bad pics, acrylic needs to be cleaned.

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/24031E59-6341-42AF-9061-D77430702056.jpg

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/7F80F082-BC9F-4143-90EB-EDD81E8046B4.jpg

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/FF048D55-6FF9-4B85-8758-D834EE7BBBF5.jpg

[Bruce Wayne]

Might get away w a bicolor blenny???

[jasonp87]

I actually broke this tank down, that post was lost when the site crashed. Just didn't have the time for it and my attention was always in my other tank.

[Bruce Wayne]

I meant tailspot, not that it matters now...

[jkennedy1007]

:cry:
Wish ya do another jason

[jasonp87]

:cry:
Wish ya do another jason

One day. Right now I have a one tank limit. I still have this one it's just sitting empty on the back porch.