Anything I should keep in mind for first naner?

[sushi]

Hello, I am posting this here in hopes of avoiding everyone telling me not to try a nano tank for my first reef tank. To get this out of the way:

I like a challenge
Size is a factor for where I live
I am stubborn
I am dumb

So, I have been looking more and more at a 14g nano cube. I just want to make sure I am thinking of everything I will need. Nano cubes have a sort of sump and overflow built into the back, I believe, that I can put a filter, heater, and other stuff into. So what exactly do I need? I see some people say they are running without any filtration. I also see some tanks with water dripping down over plastic balls, ceramic rings, and charcoal.

I am planning to buy or make an ATO with an arduino. This is all for fun, I want to eventually make an arduino web based controller for my whole tank.

What things should I be thinking of before I start buying stuff?

Thank you

[scubasteve]

Get a Protien skimmer for sure!

[crabbysd]

heating cooling light mechanical filtration live rock (Natural filtration) live sand
all you need
sincerely
another dumb guy who started with a 10gal reef from petco

[crabbysd]

ps mechanical atos are WAYYYY easier. build it for $10 buy for $35 ebay or $60 -75 here
get the fancy stuff later

[leonel619]

There's nothing wrong with starting with a nano as your fist reef tank. My first reef tank was a 10g with a hang on back filter. Just keep it simple. Just make sure you cycle the rock and sand, don't overstock, have good flow and maybe throw some chemipure in the back chambers or something similar to help with water clarity.
You won't necessarily need a skimmer (water changes should be enough) most small skimmers suck anyways.

[crabbysd]

There's nothing wrong with starting with a nano as your fist reef tank. My first reef tank was a 10g with a hang on back filter. Just keep it simple. Just make sure you cycle the rock and sand, don't overstock, have good flow and maybe throw some chemipure in the back chambers or something similar to help with water clarity.


yea I love my 28g jbj. came with all the basics. wish Id started there.

I do miss my hob filter. the jbj skimmer is not so good.

and if you buy used you may need new bulbs

[leonel619]

yea I love my 28g jbj. came with all the basics. wish Id started there.

I do miss my hob filter. the jbj skimmer is not so good.

and if you buy used you may need new bulbs

Yeah I love the jbj tanks. Or all the AIO lol I just got a jbj 28g from a friend and it's where I'm holding all my rock and corals till I build a stand for another more long term tank.

[sushi]

Thanks for the encouragement! This place is pretty active!

So is there any advantage to having one of those cubes with the separate filter chamber in the back instead of a hang on the back filter system?

I will look into mechanical versus arduino ATO. I really want to play with the arduino, so that is a factor here :)

Speaking of ATO - is it imperative that I use RO water? My old buddy years ago used to top off with straight tap water, chlorine and all. I think the accumulation of minerals over time is probably not the best.

Also, why do a lot of tanks have no glass cover on top? Can't that make more water evaporate or is there some benefit I am unaware of?

Thanks for the help everyone, I've been wanting to buy a reef tank for 10 years... now is the time.

[crabbysd]

Yeah I love the jbj tanks. Or all the AIO lol I just got a jbj 28g from a friend and it's where I'm holding all my rock and corals till I build a stand for another more long term tank.
Swwweet! bout time. we want pics in the new thread.

Last thing for you sushi, think about what you want in your tank. SPS(hardest) LPS Softies. What kind of fish. Not all fish get along, not all corals get along. and most like different flow and water conditions.
My JBJ has 2 1200 maxijets for flow and upgraded leds. If I went softie Id go down to 2 600 or 900 maxies and cover half the leds w gel to cut the lights.
My first tanks were Mandarin dragonette specific so I chose non agressive corals and fish as tank mates.
Dont spend a ton on livestock at first buy from the LFS mainly because quarantining and dipping is still part of the learning curve.
You tank will take on a personality of sorts and will grow some thing like crazy and others will just wither. Still happens to us all.

[jason142]

Thanks for the encouragement! This place is pretty active!

So is there any advantage to having one of those cubes with the separate filter chamber in the back instead of a hang on the back filter system?

I will look into mechanical versus arduino ATO. I really want to play with the arduino, so that is a factor here :)

Speaking of ATO - is it imperative that I use RO water? My old buddy years ago used to top off with straight tap water, chlorine and all. I think the accumulation of minerals over time is probably not the best.

Also, why do a lot of tanks have no glass cover on top? Can't that make more water evaporate or is there some benefit I am unaware of?

Thanks for the help everyone, I've been wanting to buy a reef tank for 10 years... now is the time.

Tap water has very high TDS that can lead to algae issues not to mention the chlorine, chloramine, or any other heavy metal trace that can adversely effect a reef. Most of us do not have glass tops on because of heat issue plus the evaporation is just another method of cooling. I have a 6g shallow AIO that I do not run a skimmer on so I believe that if you do not have a huge bio load and do regular water changes a skimmer is not always a necessity.

[crabbysd]

Thanks for the encouragement! This place is pretty active!

So is there any advantage to having one of those cubes with the separate filter chamber in the back instead of a hang on the back filter system?

The cube doesnt have a mech filter except a sponge. a skimmer or HOB aquaclear is more efficent.

I will look into mechanical versus arduino ATO. I really want to play with the arduino, so that is a factor here :)

Speaking of ATO - is it imperative that I use RO water? My old buddy years ago used to top off with straight tap water, chlorine and all. I think the accumulation of minerals over time is probably not the best.

rodi

Also, why do a lot of tanks have no glass cover on top? Can't that make more water evaporate or is there some benefit I am unaware of?

fashion and no real benifit

Thanks for the help everyone, I've been wanting to buy a reef tank for 10 years... now is the time.



Theres a 14g nano for sale on the boards right now.

arduino is cool, but basics first cuz we know all the headaches and hair pulling you are about to invite upon yourself.
RODI yes, they dose chlorine at unpredictable times. start clean stay clean. new live rock new live sand.

Advanced aquarist is your friend. Boards can be full of rumor misconception and well meaning advice.
GREAT bunch here on the boards btw. some real experts.

[crabbysd]

Tap water has very high TDS that can lead to algae issues not to mention the chlorine, chloramine, or any other heavy metal trace that can adversely effect a reef. Most of us do not have glass tops on because of heat issue plus the evaporation is just another method of cooling. I have a 6g shallow AIO that I do not run a skimmer on so I believe that if you do not have a huge bio load and do regular water changes a skimmer is not always a necessity.

Shusi Meet Jason. He is one of the experts. AMAZING tank.

[crabbysd]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/beginner

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/beginnings

[swplimited]

Hello and welcome, in my experience biocubes are great I ran my 29gal biocube skimmer less with nothing more than a sponge chemipure and a fuge with live rock and cheato in the middle chamber, that tank had 2 medium maroon clowns, a lawnmower blenny, yellow watchman goby, pistol shrimp, and 5 Rainbow bubble tip anemones (started as 1 the size of a quarter), a pretty high bio load for 29 gal I am a huge believer in refugiums, and for biocubes those magnetic fuge lights work great, if you have any more questions hit me up with a pm and I can explain how I built the fuge and all, for the low low price of $FREE.99 lol ohh and +1 on defiantly don't use tap water

Here is a great deal on a 14 gal set up
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?120324-14-Gallon-BioCube.-150

Or if you are looking for a shallow reef AIO 18 gal tank
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?119963-JBJ-RL20-frag-tank-225-obo

[sushi]

Hello and welcome, in my experience biocubes are great I ran my 29gal biocube skimmer less with nothing more than a sponge chemipure and a fuge with live rock and cheato in the middle chamber, that tank had 2 medium maroon clowns, a lawnmower blenny, yellow watchman goby, pistol shrimp, and 5 Rainbow bubble tip anemones (started as 1 the size of a quarter), a pretty high bio load for 29 gal I am a huge believer in refugiums, and for biocubes those magnetic fuge lights work great, if you have any more questions hit me up with a pm and I can explain how I built the fuge and all, for the low low price of $FREE.99 lol ohh and +1 on defiantly don't use tap water

Here is a great deal on a 14 gal set up
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?120324-14-Gallon-BioCube.-150

Or if you are looking for a shallow reef AIO 18 gal tank
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?119963-JBJ-RL20-frag-tank-225-obo


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/beginner

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/beginnings

Alright thank you for the URLs! I am reading now...

I emailed about the 14 gallon tank. Looks perfect!

In one of those articles it talked about siphoning off the sand during water changes. Do they mean put the tube near the sand to suck stuff off the surface, or do they mean suck up some sand so you can rinse it off and put it back in the tank?

[swplimited]

Just the surface so extra food and poop doesn't build up

[sushi]

Ok, a poop sucker. Thank you.

Did any of you use wet sand from the beach in your tank?

[crabbysd]

NOOOO. "Live sand" youll use is argonite, crushed coral like your live rock. its a BIG part of your biological filter. buy it new.


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.htm

[swplimited]

+1 spend the cash and buy live sand Petmountain.com sells substraite for about $20-$25 for 20 lbs, best deal I have found and it's a good brand, caribsea is what I use

[Supermoto]

Best thing I did for my nano is fork out the cash for good lighting and good rock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sushi]

NOOOO. "Live sand" youll use is argonite, crushed coral like your live rock. its a BIG part of your biological filter. buy it new.


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.htm

That is a great article, I just finished reading it. Ok, so if I went and scooped sand from the beach here, the grain size would not have enough variation to support a healthy mix of sedimentary creatures. All the sand around here looks pretty much exactly one size (at each beach).

So if I buy the good live sand will it already have all the worms and such that are mentioned in this article? Or just bacteria and I need to find the worms and other cleaning animals elsewhere?

Theoretically, if I wanted to make a tank that replicated the beach at La Jolla, then could I use sand from there? I don't want to do this, I am just wondering.

Thank you for the article, now I see the importance of varied grain sizes and the role the sediment plays in the tank.

[leonel619]

When you buy live sand, it will have the necessary bacteria to kick start your live sand bed. Worms and other bigger critters will come in as hitchhikers on live rock or maybe corals attached to pieces of rock.

[sushi]

When you buy live sand, it will have the necessary bacteria to kick start your live sand bed. Worms and other bigger critters will come in as hitchhikers on live rock or maybe corals attached to pieces of rock.

Alright, thank you. Maybe the fish store would give me a scoop of wormy sand if I bought some live rock.

When people have big arches or tall live rock shapes in their tank are those glued together or do they find pieces of rock that are that shape?

[leonel619]

You can use reef safe epoxy. Or some people I know drill the rock and use acrylic rods to hold them in place.

[crabbysd]

Beach Sand is mineral. Mostly silica and doesn't work the same as argonite. Beach sand also comes with lost a trash. Some human some not. The beaches here are temperate. Cold water. Reefs are tropical warm water. Temperature animals don't generally do well in high temps. Don't mix oceans as the saying goes.