First nano build, 10 gal

[fishoutawater]

Any input/advice welcome. So far I plan on just using a standard top with light. I did cut up an extra reflector and replace the crappy little one that comes stock. With 2 of the 20 watt 50/50 bulbs that just screw into the incandescant fixture do you think I would be able to put almost any lps in there?
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1376.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1377.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1378.jpg
The pump is a maxi jet 1200. What do you guys think of skimmers for nanos?

[Sinful Aquatics]

Nice set up! Why did you put the pump on the bottom? What kind if livestock do you plan on keeping?

[fishoutawater]

My thinking for the pump on the bottom was that it would keep it below the water line in the overflow chamber and that putting the outputs on the bottom would encourage detritus to be pulled from the bottom of the tank and swept through the overflow. I will probably cut a piece of foam and stuff it in there to pick up large chunks.

[Sinful Aquatics]

Will you place any carbon in that overflow box?

[fishoutawater]

I'm pretty sure I will use carbon in the overflow. With the lid on, it's pretty well covered, do you think evaporation will be substantial? I was just going to use a 1-2gal glugjug for topoff. That should last for at least a few days, right?

[fishoutawater]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1379.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1380.jpg
Forget to mention, this came about because our 6yr old boy decided that fish tanks are cool. This is his first tank. I put some of the sand in it from my reef tank as well as a few pieces of live rock from my sump. He picked out 2 blue yellow tail damsels and put in tonight. First upgrade will be to get rid of the Home Depot twist in cfl 5500k specials. I want to try the 20w 50/50 bulb, would 2 of those be enough for lps?

[Sinful Aquatics]

Should be fine for lps but not sps

[Sinful Aquatics]

Btw could you tell me what you used to connect the mj1200?

[fishoutawater]

I think it was 1" vinyl hose, which just fit over 1/2" pvc, which fit into the bulkhead. I haven't put a clamp on either the pvc, or the mj intake and so far no leaks. The output was 1/2"? vinyl to a valve to more vinyl to a threaded 1/2" nipple threaded into 1/2" pvc.

[Spssteven]

The pump doesn't get hot being out of watter?

I don't think tha is an external pump, so I would guess it would get hot.

[Sinful Aquatics]

I was thinking about doing that on a friends tank since he doesnt want a sump but an AIO. thanks for the input!!

[moneytimetycoon]

That is a nice lil aio set up.

[Scoobers]

To answer your question about running a nano skimmer, I personally don't run one on my 15g nano. I just change about 5 gallons of water a week and have had no issues.

[Agu]

With 2 of the 20 watt 50/50 bulbs that just screw into the incandescant fixture do you think I would be able to put almost any lps in there?

You can keep soft corals, if they're in the top half of the tank. I have a ten gallon frag/junk tank with 2 26 watt daylight curly PCs and that light is marginal at best. The 20w 50/50 bulbs put out way less light and won't support much in the way of corals in a 10 gallon tank ime.


BTW, 1/2" vinyl slips right over a Maxijet nozzel and stays snug.

[fishoutawater]

So new bulbs would be a waste of time it sounds like? Best next alternative would be a couple of t5s? I was hoping to keep it really simple, my Sweetie might take it the wrong way if I start building hoods and wiring ballasts for our son's tank. She might think I have a small addiction problem, lol.

[fishoutawater]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1381.jpg
With old bulbs.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1382.jpg
Old reflector, and new diy reflector.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1383.jpg
On the tank, much better looking.

[Korrine]

much better. Looks more blue and not as yellow. You getting any more rock? It doesn't look very porous.

[fishoutawater]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1388.jpg
Updated photo. Added a couple of pieces of rock, and some caulerpa. This is my first experience with caulerpa and I can't believe how fast it grows. There is a noticeable difference in growth from morning to night. Even with the live rock from my tank and sand, nitrates got reeaally high for a few days, well over 100. Now down to around 20 or so. Time for a small cuc.

[Korrine]

Nice!!!!

What are you looking at for a CUC?

[fishoutawater]

Not sure, I like cerith snails, maybe 2-3 of those to start. Crabs make me nervous, I don't like buying snails to feed crabs. Something out of the ordinary would be nice, have any suggestions?

[100%hydrophylic]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+2844&pcatid=2844

these guys are interesting to me

i like bumblebee snail coloration
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+565&pcatid=565

[fishoutawater]

Thanks for the links, I had no idea that bumblebee snails were carnivorous, like mini nassarius I guess. Those are very cool astreas as well, but I don't care much for them for the fact that if they get turned over they can't right themselves.

[100%hydrophylic]

lol, the only snails i know of that can right themselves is nassarius, and they aren't algae eaters. im pretty sure thats a very select group that can flip themselves over. mine usually dont fall over very often, but sometimes one will constantly fall over and i think thats an indication that its the end of their life. thats just speculation though.

if you really dont want to deal with flipping snails over then just get hermits.

theres some pretty cool ones. these are the ones i prefer.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1479&pcatid=1479

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1639&pcatid=1639

or if you just want cheaper "get it done" crabs
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+623&pcatid=623

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+620&pcatid=620

[fishoutawater]

How do crabs compare to snails when it comes to algae/cyano grazing? I have never seen a snail or crab eat cyano, I have a little of both in my other tank. I'm leaning towards the halloween crab you posted the link to. Would 2 of them be too much for a 10gal?

[100%hydrophylic]

no, in a 12 gallon i kept 2 electric blues, 3 scarlets, and 3 blue legs. along with turbos. generally nothing will specifically eat cyano. if somewhere claims a crab or snail eats cyano usually thats very dependent on the individual specimen. the only thing i know of that is more common for eating cyano is a queen conch, but those are way way to big for most aquariums. i have this unknown mollusk in my fuge that seems to eat cyano, but ive noticed that it doesnt really seem to go specifically for the cyano. if its in its way it eats it, or at least clears it from the glass.

my favorite combination for clearing hair algae is turbos and hermit crabs. turbos clear an area, but usually leave small patches behind and in cracks in the rocks and the claws on hermit crabs are good for picking out those small patches. i have also found emeralds very useful in bubble and hair algae. i know there are alot of reefers that swear by just snails, but i prefer a combination. variety and diversity in any environment is good.

[fishoutawater]

Ghetto glug jug made from a canning jar for topoff. Working great so far. Caulerpa still visibly growing every day. Nitrates are down now and have added a few snails. Except for the damsels not getting along, started with two, now have one, everything is doing well. Also added some zoa's, they are doing well also. The small clumps of chaeto that are in the tank have not grown at all.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1393.jpg

[fishoutawater]

Updated picture, added a few cerith snails, pod population is starting to explode. Would it be unrealistic for me to hope to be able to put in a couple of small pipe fish? I just added a pound of live rock rubble to encourage even more pod breeding.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1424.jpg

[fishoutawater]

Quick update. Added a small torch that wasn't doing well in my other tank, too much flow I think.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1430.jpg

[camw1313]

What kind of lights are you running now?

[fishoutawater]

Same as in prior post, I really don't know why the blue has faded so much. Too much heat? Cheap bulb? I'm hoping to make a diy led setup soon, so I'm not too concerned about it.

[bruce922]

That is pretty cool how you put the supply and return hidden behind the tank. Are you worried that if it leaks the tank will run empty, or do you ahve some kind of fail safe back up for that.

[fishoutawater]

Not any more than I worry about my externally plumbed Velocity pumps on my other reef tank. One for a return, and one for a closed loop.

[fishoutawater]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/105_1463.jpg
Time for an update. Damsel went back to the store. Got some more macro, a little gsp, and a little xenia frag. The damsel took out a lot of the pods, and I am fighting a bit of hair algae and some cyano. I am adding to the cuc very slowly so I can see which snail eats what and how fast. There are 5 cerith and 1 turbo, for now the cerith are doing better than the turbo. Also 5 hermits.