Boudster's Custom 10.4 Gallon Quad-chamber Nano Thread

[boudster]

I have been researching Nano's for quite a while.....and have been trying to decide exatly what I want. I want to do something unique, and I think I have finally come up with the design that I like the most.

Before having this tank built (www.nicksacrylicreef.com) I want to make sure I don't have any major flaws in the design. I hope you will take the time to read this thread and comments so this tank can turn out as nice as possible!

Here is the pic, followed by a more detailed explanation of how this will work.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676mynano.gif

As you can see, this is divided up into 4 chambers.....I'll start from left to right.

The rightmost chamber is the refugium.....one of my favorite things to watch is a refugium with all the crazy critters moving around. I've found that if you keep it organized and clean and keep the cheato pruned it can be a pretty attractive part of your system. I plan on adding sand from Garrick's Sand Vat (TM) (http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7073&start=0) , a bunch of live rock rubble, and cheato. No Caleurpa! I'll probably add some sort of cool critter that I couldn't keep in my main reef section, like maybe a small reef lobster or something like that.

This is also where one of the returns from the overflow chamber Will be. I'll explain that later in this post.

The middle chamber will be the actual nano-reef. I plan on a shallow sand bed, with a moderate amount of live rock. Notice there will also be a return from the overflow in this section to provide additional flow. I plan on keeping all types of corals from mushrooms, to softies, to SPS frags in this section of the tank. I will probably go with one small goby, as well as a nano-sized clean up crew. I'm hoping to stick some cool critters in there like a harlequin shrimp, staghorn hermit, some sort of cool looking nubranch...the list will develop over time.

The water will then flow into the third chamber, which will be a small seahorse chamber. A some rock rubble and sand will be accompanied by some red Macroalge and that Calcium Based Macroalgae...can't think of the name right now. Hopefully the critters from the fuge will make it over to this chamber with ease to feed the seahorses.

From this chamber the water will go into the overflow. Here I will keep as powerful a pump/powerhead as I can reasonable fit (any suggestions). The water will then be pumped through a bulkhead in the back of this chamber, where it will quickly tee into 2 seperate pipes (PVC running on the outside/back of the tank. Both will have their own ball valves to control flow. One will flow directly into the main reef (through another bulkhead), and once there wil probably be directed 2 different directions. The second, which will have the valve more closed than the first, will flow into the refugium (through another bulkhead). Enough flow to provide enough flow for the cheato...but not too much to disturb the fuge.

At this point I am thinking of going with High Output T5's for my lighting......does anyone know where I can get a 30" T5 setup for a decent price?

I will also invest in some moonlights, and would like to find a way to light the fuge seperately at night without disturbing the rest of the tank (any ideas?)

Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback, comments, suggestions as this is my first nano setup. I think this will be a unique design and hope this thread will provide a good read for many of you!

[boudster]

Ok, I have already had a few people point out a flaw in the design. The water should flow from the reef section into the overflow rather than from the seahorse chamber.....otherwise there will be too much flow for my dwarf seahorses.

Any other ideas?

[Agu]

Looks like an interestig layout :) .

The return pump chamber may be too small. All your evaporation will be shown there as it's the lowest portion of the tank. Once you add a return pump and plumbing there'll be less than a gallon of water in there. You need to either enlarge that chamber or set up an auto topoff.

The seahorse area is too small for anything but dwarf seahorses afaik. Btw, is it Halimeda (calcium based macroalgae) you're trying to think of ? Also if you ran all the flow through that chamber it would probably be too much for the seahorses. You may want to check out that part of the plan in the seahorse forum.

FWIW, you're showing 10" wide on the right side and 12" wide on the left side.

I'd personally skip the chamber on the front left and make it part of the main tank.


jmo,

[bennerkla]

1.2 gallons is pretty small for a seahorse I would think, especially more than 1 like you are talking about.

You are talking about 30" T-5's. The refugium needs a low kevlin rating, like 6,500, while the reef needs 10,000 with actinic supplemation. You could be a 24" light setup to light the reef and seahorse tank, and a different setup for the fuge. Are you going to build a canopy? If not, this is almost impossible without spillage. Also, mounting moonlights is much easier with a canopy. Trust me, I've been working on my 5.5 nano for 3 months now; learn from my experience.

Here is my suggestion...

You should run a closed loop to allow more room for your seahorses. 2.4 gallons is enough room for a seahorse, plus you'll have more space to look at. If you like looking at a refugium, that's cool, but a 6,500 K light will attract algae. My refugium is disgusting, I'm glad I don't have to look at it. Just my opinion and in my experience.

All in all, this is one of the coolest designs I've ever seen, hopefully it'll work out for you!!

HTH,

Bennerkla

[bennerkla]

BTW, if you are talking about SPS corals, I would HIGHLY recommend you get a 70 watt MH retro kit to install in your canopy. You'll thank me later.

[boudster]

Bennerkla,

Glad to see you're paying attention to this thread.....I have read your entire thread and that was one of my big motivations to do this.

I am definitely wanting to do a canopy, and a base similar to what you did with yours. For it to go with my office, however, I would need some sort of stainless steel look....I just wonder if this would cause more heat problem than a wood canopy would.

Anyone have any thoughts on that?

I have modified the original design to lessen the flow through the seahorse chamber......although I definitely like your idea about the closed loop. Let me make sure I understand what you're saying:

So instead of dividing the chamber on the left into 2 seperate chambers, I would keep it as one (same size as the refugium), and I would run an external pump to pull water out of that chamber and pump it back into the main chamber and fuge? Is that what you're thinking.......I think that is a much better design...I don't know why I didn't think of doing that. That would also solve the problem of the water level getting low really quickly in the pump's chamber.

What does everyone thing.....should I go that way instead? I'm thinking yes.

As for the lighting......I really want to stay away from MH if possible because of heat and electricity usage. I have been inspired from the Reef Central Tank of the Month a few months back that used only T5's in an SPS dominated tank....also, I love the color that the T5's give off. I would be willing to sacrifice keeping the harder, higher light SPS corals in exchange for going with the T5s.

Lasty, I need some more advice as to the fuge lighting. Nick at nicksacrylicreef.com suggested doing black baffles to seperate each chamber....that way I could light the fuge from the side of the tank at night without bothering the other inhabitants. This seems like a good idea...as I could just run the 65K fuge light from the side at night, but do y'all think the black baffles would look funny?

Thanks for all the advice so far....keep it coming!

[boudster]

Just realized by not splitting the rightmost chamber into 2....I go back to the problem of having too much flow through the seahorse chamber.........any suggestions?

[boudster]

Originally posted by Agu
Looks like an interestig layout :) .


FWIW, you're showing 10" wide on the right side and 12" wide on the left side.




Good thing I didn't major in Math.....all the more reason to not divide that chamber into 2.....the pump chamber would only be 4" X 6"....much too small.

I really want to keep that rightmost chamber for seahorses....now the issue is not having too much flow.

Ideas?

[Don_Gnomio]

i would skip the seahorses altogether.....

but other than that it looks good....

[boudster]

Originally posted by Don_Gnomio
i would skip the seahorses altogether.....

but other than that it looks good....

I know it complicates things.....but I really want them. What if I move the baffle that splits the leftmost chamber back so that I have 8"X8"X6" for the Seahorse chamber....and drill a minimal amount of holes so in the baffles so that it gets less flow. That would leave a 2"X6"X8" are in back of the seahorse chamber which I could leave open, as part of the main reef. That way the majority of the water would flow through that part into the external pump.

I really like things to look symmetrical, so I would really like to stick with the 2 6" end chambers with the 18" middle chamber

Think that would work?

[mightymouse]

make the 2.4 gallons the seahorse area and the other arera your fuge just make a kind of strainer to keep the chaeto from going down ur overflow just a thought and you may wanna skip a harlequin too much for a 6 gallon main section plus always having to have a dieing starfish in your tank isnt good for water quality

[bennerkla]

boudster- the black baffles is a great idea. That would not look weird at all. Why don't you just run the overflow into the refugium?

[boudster]

Originally posted by bennerkla
boudster- the black baffles is a great idea. That would not look weird at all. Why don't you just run the overflow into the refugium?

The reason I didn't want to run the overflow into the fuge is because I didn't want all the pods getting chopped up in the pump....with the flow going the other way the pods would get to the main section before they would ever have a chance to enter the pump.

[boudster]

Ok, I think I've got this figured out....I will post the new design soon

[bennerkla]

You could just run 3 mini powerheads.

[boudster]

Originally posted by bennerkla
You could just run 3 mini powerheads.

No powerheads....whenver I set up a tank the goal is to see as little equipment as possible. Here is the setup that I think will work the best....I realize that I can probably only keep 1 small seahorse.....that's ok with me.

Note, I had to change the heigth to 7.5 inches so it would fit in the area I want it to go. It is now a 9.7 gallon Nano. :D

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676nano.gif

The media chamber is really part of the main reef chamber, but I will add a sponge or something to keep debris out of the pump (thanks Incysor) and I can also stick some filter bags down there with carbon and phosban.

At Ben's suggestion, I have decided to go with the black Acrylic panels to separate the chambers.....I think this severs to purposes:

1) When you're looking into one of the chambers you won't see through the sides to the adjacent chamber(s).

2) I can light the fuge without disturbing the rest of the tank.

Any more tweaks before I have this thing built?

[dcoufal]

How about making the black acrylic on the seahorse chamber have more holes and creating 2nd duplicate divider. You could have a couple of small brackets on divider that would allow you to raise/lower the 2nd divider to allow easy flow adjustment into the seahorse chamber.

Does that make sense?? I hope so....

Dwain

[boudster]

Originally posted by dcoufal
How about making the black acrylic on the seahorse chamber have more holes and creating 2nd duplicate divider. You could have a couple of small brackets on divider that would allow you to raise/lower the 2nd divider to allow easy flow adjustment into the seahorse chamber.

Does that make sense?? I hope so....

Dwain

I like the idea, the only problem is that the acrylic would be twice as this in the left chamber and it would drive me crazy because I'm very symmetrical....it's an OCD thing. :D

Maybe I could get some small plugs for the holes so I can increase or decrease flow by adding or removing plugs....do you think that would work? I really do like your idea of being able to tweak the flow.

Anybody have any final thoughts on the tank design....I'd really like to get this thing submitted to Nick's Acrylic Reef (http://www.nicksacrylicreef.com)

[bennerkla]

Looks good to me, just make sure you split the flow coming out of that main reef bulkhead. You don't want all the flow in one concentrated area (like my tank, but oh well).

With that many holes, the light spillage will still be a factor I think. It might not, but I would recommend more small, tiny holes rather than 10 big ones. Make them towards the top, don't have any on the bottom half of that acrylic because of the sand.

I'm really nervous about this, it seems like it might work but I don't have a good feeling about it. I'm worried that you'll get it and have something come up like I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT!!!

IMO just wait another couple of days to let more people look at it, maybe post it on the Reef Discussion board and make sure that it is going to work.

cya,

Ben

[dcoufal]

Originally posted by boudster
I like the idea, the only problem is that the acrylic would be twice as this in the left chamber and it would drive me crazy because I'm very symmetrical....it's an OCD thing. :D


The sliding piece could be inside the seahorse pen - made from 1/8" clear acylic.... It doesn't have to be thick as it isn't structural.

You know.... there are pills for that OCD thing. ;)

Dwain

[boudster]

Originally posted by bennerkla

With that many holes, the light spillage will still be a factor I think. It might not, but I would recommend more small, tiny holes rather than 10 big ones. Make them towards the top, don't have any on the bottom half of that acrylic because of the sand.

IMO just wait another couple of days to let more people look at it, maybe post it on the Reef Discussion board and make sure that it is going to work.



The picture only has 10 holes because I was too lazy to draw more.....they will definitely be small holes and will be well above the sand level.

I agree...I'm going to give it a couple days to see if anyone comes up with a show stopper......It may need a few tweaks...but once it's done it should be a pretty unique nano.

BTW, Have you updated your thread in the last couple days with any new pics....I haven't checked since last Friday.

[boudster]

You know.... there are pills for that OCD thing. ;)

Dwain

Yeah....it's called Klonopin and it works wonders!...but I still need things to be symmetrical! :rollface:

[bennerkla]

Boudster- I got a new brain coral, did you see it? I definately agree your nano will be awesome.

[boudster]

Originally posted by mightymouse
you may wanna skip a harlequin too much for a 6 gallon main section plus always having to have a dieing starfish in your tank isnt good for water quality

Point taken.....didn't think about the starfish issue. I guess I'll settle for some Sexy Shrimp instead...unless I can find something else that isn't as common

[boudster]

Originally posted by bennerkla
Boudster- I got a new brain coral, did you see it? I definately agree your nano will be awesome.

I'll go check out your brain right now....you should put a link to that thread in your signature so we don't have to search for it....what can I say, I'm lazy

EDIT: Just saw your thread.....sweet addition!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/bennerkla/brain2.jpg

[bennerkla]

Thanks! Looked even better yesterday

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/bennerkla/brain45.jpg

[boudster]

A little off topic for the nano-forum, but while I have people's attention just though I'd show some pics of my 2 month old 150G in-wall tank :)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/july_tank3.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/july_tank2.jpg

[niko5]

Nice brain Bennerkla... And I also agree it will be a very cool very unique nano.

[boudster]

Originally posted by niko5
Nice brain Bennerkla... And I also agree it will be a very cool very unique nano.

As long as you build it right! :lol: J/K, I have seen Nick's work and he does an awesome job!

Now let's get these plans finalized so I can submit the final design for him....I'm ready to get this thing started!

Anyone see any other critical changes?

[foremptyfields]

Very unique tank. But is a 1.6 gallon area for dwarf seahorses enough?! I know they dont get very big, but 1.6 gallons seems very small to me.

[bennerkla]

It is small but acceptable for seahorses.

[boudster]

Originally posted by bennerkla
It is small but acceptable for seahorses.

I'll probably just put one in there.....but it should also be remembered that although they are confined to a 1.6 gallon area, it's not the same as putting them in a 1.6 gallon tank...since they will be benefiting from the entire biological filtration of the 9.7 gallon nano.....I will do more research and if it is determined that it is too risky to put a dwarf seahorse in a 1.6 gallon area then I will find something else interesting to put in there.....

Maybe some critters that I can collect from the Gulf of Mexcio that would need to be seperated from other tank inhabitants to to their aggressive nature. I would think, however, that 1..maybe 2 dwarf seahorse would be ok in that chamber due to the fact that it's much different than actually putting them in an actual 1.6 gallon tank.

[boudster]

I think I will keep 1 small fish in this setup....I would like it to be a goby to pair up with a pistol shrimp.

Any suggestions on which type of goby/pistol shrimp combo would work best?

[boudster]

Now to lighting....

I have someone that is giving me a 150W MH HQI DE setup. Would this be too much light? It would certainly allow me to keep anything I want....but I worry about the heat, and I wonder if it would melt my softies even if they are at the bottom of the tank.

Thoughts?

[bennerkla]

It might work, but IMO I wouldn't try it. 70 watt is perfect. Remember, you'll probably want to supplement with actinics anyway, which will add even more wattage.

[incysor]

Originally posted by mightymouse
make the 2.4 gallons the seahorse area and the other arera your fuge just make a kind of strainer to keep the chaeto from going down ur overflow just a thought and you may wanna skip a harlequin too much for a 6 gallon main section plus always having to have a dieing starfish in your tank isnt good for water quality

I've had a harlequin that gets fed a chocolate chip starfish about once a month or so for going on a year now with no problems in a 6g nano.

This tank will be considerably larger with a fuge. I don't think it'll be an issue.

Here's a link to pics of it...Warning...There are lots of images. :)

http://marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9076


B

[incysor]

Originally posted by boudster
I think I will keep 1 small fish in this setup....I would like it to be a goby to pair up with a pistol shrimp.

Any suggestions on which type of goby/pistol shrimp combo would work best?

Yashia Haze Goby
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1145

Randall's Shrimp Goby
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=197

I used to have the 2nd one...Very pretty fish. I've always wanted the first one, but everytime VTF gets one I'm broke. :rolleyes:

B

[incysor]

Originally posted by boudster
Now to lighting....

I have someone that is giving me a 150W MH HQI DE setup. Would this be too much light? It would certainly allow me to keep anything I want....but I worry about the heat, and I wonder if it would melt my softies even if they are at the bottom of the tank.

Thoughts?

Over that shallow of a tank I think it would be too much. Of course it could be an SPS/Clam tank instead.

:lol:

B

[boudster]

Originally posted by incysor
I've had a harlequin that gets fed a chocolate chip starfish about once a month or so for going on a year now with no problems in a 6g nano.

This tank will be considerably larger with a fuge. I don't think it'll be an issue.

B

Incysor,

Yeah, the reason I wanted a Harlequin in the first place is because of how cool yours is....so you don't think it will be a problem? Do your water parameters change at all while the star is being eaten?

[boudster]

Well, if anyone wants to trade me the 150W DE HQI for a nice nano light setup, shoot me a PM.

[incysor]

Originally posted by boudster
Incysor,

Yeah, the reason I wanted a Harlequin in the first place is because of how cool yours is....so you don't think it will be a problem? Do your water parameters change at all while the star is being eaten?

I've never noticed a change. I do a weekly 1-2 gallon water change though. Other than that this tank is almost entirely maintenance free. With the fuge on your tank you'll likely be able to get away with less frequent water changes, although 1g a week is nothing.

B

[Agu]

How are you going to create flow through the seahorse chamber ?

[boudster]

Originally posted by Agu
How are you going to create flow through the seahorse chamber ?

Most of the flow will end up going through the media chamber, but there will be some holes both on the side and back baffles of the seahorse tank to allow some flow through there as well.

[boudster]

Ok, so I told Nick @ Nick's Acrylic Reef to go ahead and put together the 30" X 10" X 7.5" tank.....but I'm going to wait another day before I tell him to go ahead with the rest of the tank (chambers, etc.) to see if anymore feedback comes in. So this is your last chance to help me improve my design....and thanks for all the help so far!

BTW....the entrance to the media chamber will have a slot where I can slide in a sponge or some other type of filter media to keep debris out of the pump. I will put some sort of grate on the outlet to keep renegade snails out...and will stick some carbon and phosban in there.

[incysor]

So you've ditched the idea of an overflow entirely? Are you concerned about surface scum?
What about a skimmer? My understanding is the dwarf seahorses require quite a bit of food, and they're not the best swimmers/hunters. I'd want a way to attach at least a cheap HOB skimmer.

B

[boudster]

Originally posted by incysor
So you've ditched the idea of an overflow entirely? Are you concerned about surface scum?
What about a skimmer? My understanding is the dwarf seahorses require quite a bit of food, and they're not the best swimmers/hunters. I'd want a way to attach at least a cheap HOB skimmer.

B

I would like to avoid a skimmer if at all possible....I really don't like HOB stuff. Maybe if there is a really small one out there....do you know of any?

I'm really not worried too much about surface scum as I will be pointing the returns from the pump upwards towards the surface.

I just don't see any good way to have an overflow......I could have the media chamber be an overflow....but it's not very big.

Suggestions? I would definitely like an overflow if possible.

[boudster]

Considering the actual tank is 9.7G, is a 1.6G chamber big enough for 1 regular sized seahorse?

[boudster]

Ok, I'm rethinking the "no skimmer" attitude as a skimmer would greatly reduce the need for water changes and would keep the water nice and clear.....but with the tank only being 7.5" tall and needing to fit into a compact space, are there really any options out there?

[dcoufal]

How about clamping a PhosBan reactor to the back of the tank... You could run carbon and/or phosban instead of a skimmer. Not the best solution; but, it's an idea if you go without a skimmer.

Dwain

[bennerkla]

boudster- You'll be fine with just water changes. Keep a close eye on your perameters, and if they get out of wack, you'll need to adjust. I just don't see how a protein skimmer is possible with this tank. I would LOVE to have one on my 5.5 but there is just no room. With your OCD of symetrical stuff (I have it too,) you won't want an unsightly skimmer on the back. Plus you have absolutally no room for a pump.

[incysor]

Actually Nick has made some workable mini-skimmers that might fit. I believe they're airstone driven, and smaller than the picolo airstone skimmers which were the smallest mass-produced ones I was able to find.

B

[boudster]

I'll ask nick about that....thanks!

[tedu]

If Nick can't help you out, I've got an old air driven mini skimmer you can have to play with.

[boudster]

Thanks Ted,

do you know approximately how tall it is?

[wayne in norway]

Given the ease of one or two gallon water changes I can't imagine why you're even thinking of skimmers. If you're worried about getting water consistency do what I do - cheat. Once a week or so I take out 50 % (1 bucket) of my nanos water and swap it with 1 bucket of water from my main system. You have an inwall supply of what I would assume to be aged, correctly mixed seawater to use!

[dcoufal]

boudster - I've made Remora clones as small as 12" tall x 2" wide x 1" deep before, that worked quite well.... Might be able to go as small as 8" x 1.5" x 1" and power it with a small powerhead. (There is no collection cup at this size... you have to use a tube to an external collection facility - i.e. milk jug. ;) )

Dwain

[incysor]

Originally posted by wayne in norway
Given the ease of one or two gallon water changes I can't imagine why you're even thinking of skimmers. If you're worried about getting water consistency do what I do - cheat. Once a week or so I take out 50 % (1 bucket) of my nanos water and swap it with 1 bucket of water from my main system. You have an inwall supply of what I would assume to be aged, correctly mixed seawater to use!

It may not be necessary at all. However keeping dwarf seahorses requires pretty heavy feeding for a nano tank. He'd also like to keep a harlequin shrimp. Again lots of waste with disolving starfish. The refugium may be able to keep up with it without any problems, especially with a 10-20% weekly water change. But it doesn't hurt to have one if you can fit one in.

B

[boudster]

I think I'll start w/o a skimmer, but may add it in the future if I find one that works. BTW....I'll be posting a new and improved design soon (Thanks Incysor for all your help with designing this). The Fuge and Seahorse chambers will be bigger, the main chamber will be just a tad bit smaller, and the whole tank will be 30 X 12 X 7.5 instead of 30 X 12 X 7.5

BTW Dwain, when I post the new design let me know if you think you could make a skimmer that would fit.....of course you will be compensated if you can do it ;)

[bennerkla]

Originally posted by boudster
... and the whole tank will be 30 X 12 X 7.5 instead of 30 X 12 X 7.5

????

boudster- The power behind all protein skimmers is time. You need to give the microbubbles time to "cling on" to the skimmate, and time comes from height. A small, 10" high protein skimmer isn't going to do much for your tank, and the microbubbles will just be released into your system, causing almost more harm than good.

[dcoufal]

Originally posted by bennerkla
????

boudster- The power behind all protein skimmers is time. You need to give the microbubbles time to "cling on" to the skimmate, and time comes from height. A small, 10" high protein skimmer isn't going to do much for your tank, and the microbubbles will just be released into your system, causing almost more harm than good.

Actually, the 12" version I made created a nice foam.... Microbubbles can be a problem; but a piece of carefully placed sponge/micron cloth can prevent them - as long as you remember to clean/replace it weekly.

Boudster - I wouldn't mind making one just for the "fun" of it to see how well it would work for you. If it worked - sweet. If it didn't work well - it was worth a try, right? ;) Oh, answer your dang cell phone man.... ;)

Dwain

[boudster]

Originally posted by boudster
The Fuge and Seahorse chambers will be bigger, the main chamber will be just a tad bit smaller, and the whole tank will be 30 X 12 X 7.5 instead of 30 X 10 X 7.5 :spin2:



oops

[bennerkla]

When is this going to be built?

[boudster]

Originally posted by bennerkla
When is this going to be built?

Here is the final design.....It is being built this weekend. Thanks again to all for the ideas.....this works much better!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676mynano3.gif

[incysor]

Originally posted by bennerkla
????

boudster- The power behind all protein skimmers is time. You need to give the microbubbles time to "cling on" to the skimmate, and time comes from height. A small, 10" high protein skimmer isn't going to do much for your tank, and the microbubbles will just be released into your system, causing almost more harm than good.

My coralife piccolo knockoff does a great job of pulling nasty looking/smelling skimmate out of my 10g. It's about 8" tall.
But you're absolutely correct that if I had space for a 16" tall one that it would do a better job. I'm certainly not going to argue that point. But saying that a mini skimmer won't do much isn't accurate in my experience.

Microbubbles don't hurt anything. People don't like them for aesthetic reasons, although, I've never understood peoples drive to keep all the bubbles out of the display. If you go diving anywhere on a reef, there are tons of bubbles and stuff floating around, so to me bubbles seem realistic. I've never heard of anything being harmed by bubbles.

B

[incysor]

It looks like it's gonna be an awesome tank Jim. I can't wait to see it.

B

[boudster]

As a testimony to the importance of getting good advice before planning a setup on your own, along with a testimony to the value of ReefCentral, here is the evolution of the tank plan over the past week (for those who haven't followed this from the start)

Plan #1
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676mynano.gif

Plan #2
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676nano.gif

Current Plan
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676mynano3.gif

[incysor]

Originally posted by boudster
Bennerkla,


I am definitely wanting to do a canopy, and a base similar to what you did with yours. For it to go with my office, however, I would need some sort of stainless steel look....I just wonder if this would cause more heat problem than a wood canopy would.

Anyone have any thoughts on that?


Hi there,

I'm Incysor's wife, and I have a solution for your canopy finish issue. There are some pretty cool metal laminates out these days, for example:
http://www.alsacorp.com/laminates.htm
http://www.formica.com/grades.jsp?chip_id=5

This was a result of a cursory google search for stainless laminate. There are peel and stick metal sheets available, and you can probably hunt around & find one that is the right finish & price for what you want.

Feel free to ask about whatever other finish products you might need, I can prolly track it down.

Good luck!
Shannen

[bennerkla]

incysor- Where did you get your skimmer? Could you hook me up with a link online? I'd like to try one out on my 5.5 maybe. Thanks.

[incysor]

http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/aquarium/sander-skimmers.asp

http://www.qualitymarineusa.com/drygoods/skimmers.html

http://www.aqua-sander.de/produkte/piccolo.en.html

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/erol.html#16493x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Fsearch%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26q%3Dpiccolo%252C+skimmer%252C+%2524*% 26btnG%3DSearch

Here's a pic of one.
http://www.kolumbus.fi/martin.lindstrom/piccolo.jpg

I can't remember if I bought this one from bigalsonline, (they don't have them anymore), ebay, or nano-reef.com. They come up on ebay and n-r fairly often.

If you don't want to wait, you could try this. The small lees counter current skimmer is a slightly better model, but it's a bit taller, but cutting it shouldn't be too difficult.

http://66.98.194.185/forums/showthread.php?postid=118017

Sorry I wasn't able to find an easier solution.

B

[boudster]

Originally posted by incysor
Hi there,

I'm Incysor's wife, and I have a solution for your canopy finish issue. There are some pretty cool metal laminates out these days, for example:
http://www.alsacorp.com/laminates.htm
http://www.formica.com/grades.jsp?chip_id=5

This was a result of a cursory google search for stainless laminate. There are peel and stick metal sheets available, and you can probably hunt around & find one that is the right finish & price for what you want.

Feel free to ask about whatever other finish products you might need, I can prolly track it down.

Good luck!
Shannen

THANKS!

[tedu]

I'll bring the skimmer with me for you to look at when I come pickup my rock.

[boudster]

Cool deal.....

I should be home anytime after 3:30 tonight.

[boudster]

Originally posted by incysor
Hi there,

I'm Incysor's wife, and I have a solution for your canopy finish issue. There are some pretty cool metal laminates out these days, for example:
http://www.alsacorp.com/laminates.htm

Good luck!
Shannen

Wow...that is some really cool stuff. I didn't even know that existed! Thanks Shannen.

I especially like this:

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/sheetingfx/images/brushed_stainless_L.jpg

My only worry is that I'm too clumsy to stick it on correctly..:lol:

I am definitely considering going with this.

[boudster]

Well, work on the nano tank has begun!....pics to come soon. Tedu stoped by the other day and brought me a tiny little skimmer to try out, so if it fits I will probably use it.....and it was free! Can't beat free :D, Thanks Ted!!

My wife has been out of town during this whole process of starting up the nano, so needless to say when I told here about it yesterday it was an interesting conversation :lol:

She's cool with it though.....each of us get an "allowance" to spend on whatever we want each month....so as long as I use that money instead of our grocery money she doesn't get mad :lol:

[boudster]

And finally, some pics. The tank is in progress. Here is the pic of the skimmer that Tedu gave me

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40676nanoskimmer.jpg

Still don't know if this is going to work or not, but once I have the tank in hand I'll see if it will fit

[boudster]

And here are the very first pics of the tank.....still in the assembly process:

(Pics compliments of Nick's Acrylic Reef)...Thanks Nick!

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/Pile%20of%20tank.JPG
Pile of acrylic!

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/divider%20holes.JPG
One of the chamber walls

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/seahorse%20divider%20overflow%20control%20close.JPG
overflow control

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/seahorse%20divider%20overflow%20control.JPG
Other side of overflow control

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/seahorse%20divider.JPG
full view Seahorse chamber divider with overflow control

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/reef%20overflow%20divider.JPG
Back wall with overflow control

http://www.nicksreef.com/images/Jim%20Nano/reef%20overflow%20control.JPG
Other side of back wall with overflow control

It's nice to see this work in progress....looking forward to getting the whole thing assembled!

[incysor]

Swweeet!

[bennerkla]

Can't wait to see this thing in action!

[incysor]

Yo Jim! Any pics of this set up and running yet?

B

[xtrstangx]

Ditto

We want pictures!

[boudster]

Ok, OK.....It's not up and running yet but I do have the complete system and am working on the rock wall background. I'll post some pics tonight......I've just been too busy to set it up.

[boudster]

Ok, so after about 5 months I finally got a chance to set this thing up (wife and kids were out of town for a week) Here are some pics:

First, a couple of shots of the empty tank (this fine handywork is by Nick's Acrylic Reef)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nao_emptyfront.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_emptytop.jpg


And here it is all set up, complete with Boudster's rock wall background (http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=2)(TM) :)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_tank.jpg
Full view

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_fuge.jpg
View from right side (refugium chamber)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_chamber.jpg
View from left side (dwarf seahorse chamber)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_main.jpg
Main reef chamber

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_top.jpg
View from top (as you can see, the lighting is still in progress)

I am using a Maxijet 400 and 1200 as my water circulation (they sit in the back chambers and flow into the fuge and main reef chamber. For lighting I am running 3 24" t5s using a Workhorse 7 ballast...and for the fuge I am currently using a Home Depot Special....but I have a mini-pc light I will hook up once I get a hood built.

So what do you think? I'll post pics of the corals below....I haven't added any fish yet.

[boudster]

More pics:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanoric2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_zoashroom.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_zoa1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_urchin.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_sponge.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_sexyshrimp.jpg

[boudster]

and more...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_ric1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_redshroom.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_purpleshrooms.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_pinkpanther.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_pantherzoa.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_hammer2.jpg

[boudster]

yet more...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_hammer1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_greenshroom.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_right.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_middle.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_left.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_maxima.jpg

[xtrstangx]

Everything looks really good.. Are you worried about the Urchin scratching the acrylic front?

[boudster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6608904#post6608904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtrstangx
Everything looks really good.. Are you worried about the Urchin scratching the acrylic front?

hadn't thought about it.....thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye on it.

[Carl_in_Florida]

neat idea

[brainiac]

its like having a tank with diffrent channels, like a tv. i like it.

[Carl_in_Florida]

Is this thing in your kitchen? could you take a couple steps back and shoot a pic?

Carl

[boudster]

Yes, it's in the Kitchen.....I will get another pic from farther away soon

[Kigs]

Wow, incredible. I've thought about doing something like this countless times but never achieved it, mostly because I didn't know how to start it.

Your tanks look amazing, I can't wait to see it develop.

Have you thought about putting smaller rubbles in your main tank? just my opinion, but nano tends to look better with smaller rocks, instead of being filled with big LRs.

Once again, great design. :thumbsup:

[boudster]

Here's a shot from farther away:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nano_far.jpg

And here are some Macro shots:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro16.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro15.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro1.jpg

[boudster]

More Macros:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro14.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro13.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro12.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro11.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro10.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro9.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro8.jpg

[boudster]

and yet more:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro7.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro6.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro5.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro4.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/nano_macro3.jpg

[stewie24]

Those are some pretty nice macro shots. What kind of camera? I enjoyed them. Thanks!
Stewie

[boudster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6647341#post6647341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stewie24
Those are some pretty nice macro shots. What kind of camera? I enjoyed them. Thanks!
Stewie

It's a Fuji Finepix E550

[rockindacheeks]

if you dont mind me asking... how much did something like that set you back?

[boudster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6650781#post6650781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rockindacheeks
if you dont mind me asking... how much did something like that set you back?

I think it was around $150....or maybe it was $120...can't remember exactly. I'm sure Nick at NicksAcrylicReef.com could give you a quote.

[rockindacheeks]

that tank is pretty awesome... im considering something similar now that ive seen how awesome it looks.

[boudster]

Anybody know of a place to buy dwarf seahorses that eat prepared food such as cyclopeeze? I want to keep them, but I do not want to start a brine shrimp hatchery in my home.

[rxdi]

Nice tank, I like the the idea of the multiable chambers. Something like this would work great in my kitchen. :idea:
On your pictures of the mushrooms I noticed you have a couple flat worms on them, you might want to get them off before they spread.

[boudster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6665085#post6665085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rxdi

On your pictures of the mushrooms I noticed you have a couple flat worms on them, you might want to get them off before they spread.

Thanks.....and all this time I thought I had purple mushrooms with orange spots.....well, I just siphoned the "orange spots" right out of the tank. :lol:

[boudster]

A few recent pics....I've added some new corals as well as a baby Bangaii Cardinal...who somehow managed to get into the "sump" chamber in the back of the tank...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanorightangle.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanoleftangle.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/fugeangle.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/chamberangle.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanoright.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanomid.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanoleft.jpg

[boudster]

And now some close-ups:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/hammerredshroom.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/greenzoa.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/bigric.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/asstshrooms.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/yellowporities.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/yellowpolyps.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/xenia.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/thing.jpg

[boudster]

and more...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/zoaporities.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/rics.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/ricpolypcuke.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/redgreenzoa.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/pinkzoa.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/nanoleather.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/macromacro2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/lightric.jpg

[boudster]

And here is a "Macro" shot....along with a few other macro shots:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/macromacro.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/zoashroommacro.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/xeniamacro.jpg

(anyone know what this is?)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/thingmacro.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/polypmacro.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/orangezoamacro.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/Macro%20Shots/macropinkzoa.jpg

[aural]

this is an awesome tank! very cool concept. My wife would KILL Me if i set one up in the kitchen!

great work from start to finish :)

[lanamarks]

Check the seahorse forum but I'm pretty positive that dwarves do not eat anything but live brine. Unfortunately the seahorse section is two small for anything but dwarves. But you could keep several in there (6 or so I believe). Very nice tank.

[boudster]

Here's my nano at about 3 months:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/tank3months.jpg
main chamber

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/wrasse.jpg
my six-line wrasse

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/greenzoaredshroom.jpg
and a couple of macro shots

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/crabs.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/boudster/Aquaria/My%20Tanks/nano/bbcrab.jpg

[alien9168]

Verry cool and nice sump! :)


-alien

[bennerkla]

Great tank! I remember discussing this original plan, and then I lost the thread. Finally the search feature actually worked, and bingo! Everything looks great!