I'm officially a Nano owner -- Elos Mini

[rachelcb80]

I've had a 125 gallon reef for two and a half years now but with three kids and a household to keep up, I've been falling more and more behind with the maintenance. It's become more of a chore than an enjoyment so I decided to downsize. I'm hoping by having something smaller to maintain, I can have fun with the hobby again and have a tank that's well kept.

I decided on the Elos Mini and so far I'm really happy with that decision (other than the fact the stand didn't come with the correct hinges so my door isn't lined up with the stand. The new ones are supposed to be in the mail). I don't seem to be having many microbubbles so it looks like I may have lucked out there. The drain is a little noisey but I'll let it be for a bit and see if it quiets down on it's own.

I'm hoping to get to transfer stuff over from my 125 this weekend. It'll just depend on what my ammonia and nitrates look like. I used Eco-Rox from bulkreefsupply.com and had them curing for over a week before I put them in my tank. I seeded the new sand with some sand from my 125 but I'm trying to keep shared stuff to a minimum between tanks because of how downhill my 125 has gone (bubble algae, hair algae, etc.) I'm trying not to rush things but I really want to tear down the 125 and be done with it.

Here are a couple pictures from last night. The water's still cloudy but has cleared up totally this morning. Once I get wires tucked away and some stuff in the tank I'll take better pictures. (The littlest rock in there is just thrown in to finish cycling with the rest because I'm going to use it to frag some stuff off on. It probably won't stay in the middle of nowhere like it is now)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/20090533.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/20090534.jpg

[geonator]

congrats on the new tank starting to look sweet... keep us posted on your progress.... welcome to the world of nano tanks

[CurvBall]

Everytime I see one of the ELOS tanks I think to myself, "Why didn't I just get one of those in the beginning!?"

Stunning tank, sure it's going to look great with all the stock in. Good luck with the transfers.

[rachelcb80]

CurvBall, I really do like this tank. I have to give my husband credit for me having this one though because I probably would of gone with the Solana if he wouldn't have insisted on the Elos. Someday, way down the road, if I ever decide to get a bigger tank again I would go with one of the larger Elos's in a heartbeat. I've been very pleased so far with my Mini.

[seaworldkid1]

welcome to the good life of the nano world. i love the elos tanks, the 200 to the 39 are amazing tanks you will love it.

[rachelcb80]

Just wanted to post some updated pics. I'm not really good with the camera so excuse the mediocre pictures.

First is a front shot. It sure looks empty in there for just having torn down my 125. (Most things went back to my LFS because they were either to big, or not what I wanted in this little tank)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/5-3-09001.jpg

Left side

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/5-3-09003.jpg

Right side

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/5-3-09002.jpg

Full shot of tank and cabinet. I tried and tried to find something close to the color of the stand but that light maple is impossible. I also haven't decided what to do with the picture on the wall. I think I need to center it over the tank but then it'll be really close to that dumb intercom.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/5-3-09005.jpg

Sump

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/5-3-09004.jpg

Inside of cabinet. Ignore the plastic cup. It had water in it that I was using to get my dosing pump set up with. My two part containers will go in that spot.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/5-3-09006.jpg

I still haven't quite figured the skimmer out. I've fiddled with it quite a bit but still don't have a good feel for it. I'm also really not happy with the e-Lite color alone. I'm waiting on an Elos moonlight and I'm hoping that addition will help the colors come out a little better. Does anyone who has experience with the e-Lite have any reccomendations on what might help?

[JCR's Reef]

Glad to see you kept the rockwork that way. Looks pretty sweet! Love the brain coral.

[Agu]

Looking good and congrats on the upgrade :D .

[rachelcb80]

Thanks guys.

Agu, I really do feel like I've upgraded. Not only do I really love this tank but everything feels so much more organized and under control. I think I can already say that I'm hooked on being a nano owner! :)

[IridescentLily]

I'm a stay at home mom too. :) I'm going to be watching your thread here if you don't mind. I'm going to be getting one as well, it'll be my first reef though so i'm a bit nervous about setting it up and all that.
I was also going back and forth between getting a Solana or an Elos mini, it's good to see you have no regrets.

I really like your rock overhang. Did you drill that and put rods to hold the rock or did you do putty or other?

[rachelcb80]

IridescentLily, I definitely have no regrets with my Elos tank. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if I ever decide to get a bigger tank again, I would probably go with one of the larger Elos tanks. It's just a really nice set up. I went back and forth between the Solana and Elos as well. My husband was the deciding factor because he liked the Elos better.

If you've kept FOWLR for eight years you shouldn't have any trouble with setting up a nano reef. My 125 gallon was my first salt water tank and I'm glad I started out with something on the larger side for my first tank. They're so much more forgiving than little tanks. I got it when my oldest was 18 months but was pregnant with my second child. It all went down hill when I became pregnant with number three. I was exhausted all the time. :)

The rock overhang is three rocks, drilled with acrylic rods and epoxy for extra support. The bottom is attached to a sheet of acrylic for leverage.

[Shekki]

Welcome. Stop by and say hello on the Elos forum. The light does seem very overbearing at first, but you'll get used to it. Putting a black background on mine helped tone it down a bit.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/Monkeyrobb/Aquarium/09-8.jpg

[IridescentLily]

Thanks rachelcb80, that's good to hear. I'm relieved it may not be as hard as it looks if i've had a fowlr tank previously.
Very impressive the way you created the rock overhang, and it's fabulous looking.
Your ricordea island is cool, and i love your centerpiece Trachyphyllia, it's a pretty red color.

Thanks much.

[iFisch]

Is this what you have?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~Elos_20_Gallon_System_Mini_Aquarium__Cabinet_Stand___e_Lite_LED_Fixture_Saltwat er_Aquarium_Supplies_Aquariums_Complete_Kits_Compelete_Kits_(Heavy)~vendor~Elos_USA~SearchStr~~actio n~view~idProduct~EO7233~idCategory~FIAQCKCH.html

[rachelcb80]

Shekki, do you run your Icecap moonlight during the day with the e-Lite? If so, do you feel like it improves the color? That is one big toadstool! The cleaner shrimp obviously likes it!

Iridescentlily, in my 125 gallon tank I always just had the boring rock wall along the back. I really wanted something different and minimal for this tank. The rock is super easy to drill and I just cut plastic coat hangers for my acrylic rods. You should get your rocks now and in a couple months when you get your tank, you'll have made up a really amazing aquascape. :)

iFisch, that link wouldn't work for me but Marine Depot does sell the Elos tank set up, with or without the e-Lite. I got mine from Ocean Reeflections though because they had a greater selection of stand colors (and a better price).

[IridescentLily]

Hi rachelcb80,
Thank you, i was wondering in the back of my mind if those plastic coat hangers would work. I was thinking i'd have to get those acrylic rods that come with window blinds.
I do need to get live rock first and quickly. I am planning on starting the live rock process first. I'm having such difficulty deciding where to get it from. There are so many choices on here it would seem.

Also, regarding your question to Shekki if i may; I had planned to purchase the mini sans e-lites i was more able to justify the tank going that route. I'm now in the process of trying to figure out what to get that is fairly simple. I've narrowed it down to a PFO brand reflector. I've looked around awhile and after seeing Spleify's 40 gallon tank thread on the reef discussion section here I understand i can utilize a higher k rating lamp that way with a touch more blue perhaps.
And it looks like the pfo reflector is an appropriate size for the dimensions of the mini from what i saw and read. I think the fixture is 16" long and 9" wide if i'm not mistaken. I'm also trying to search in this section to see if anyone has this type of reflector setup with their Elos mini specifically.
I was also looking at those led lights you were mentioning above. I love the look of those. Those look like a great choice.

Thanks again.

[Jadams]

Nice Elos tanks! I wish i could afford one... :lol:

[lucas73]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14964666#post14964666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jadams
Nice Elos tanks! I wish i could afford one... :lol:

Same here Jeremy,nice looking tanks ladies:thumbsup:

[rachelcb80]

Just wanted to post some updated pictures. Not a whole lot added in the past couple of weeks but a few things none the less. I've given a lot of thought to what fish to put in my tank since I can only have a few and I decided on keeping my Mandarin out of my 125 and getting a pair of Picasso Clowns. No one give me grief for the Mandarin. I have a pod culture going in a 20 gallon tank in the laundry room and until that gets going well, I've been adding two bottles of Tigger Pods a week to the display tank. My wallet is skinny but the Mandarin is well fed. My Picasso clowns just came in yesterday and I'm really excited about them. They're so cute how they cruise all around the tank.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/20090562.jpg

Wouldn't you know they would pick a corner where I missed a spot with the mag float. :P

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/20090557.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/20090552.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/rachelcb80/20090550.jpg