SlimSlyk
05/26/2006, 03:58 PM
Hello,
I'm pretty new to this, and I figure that designing my own tank will be the best way to get into the hobby. Please feel free to correct any mistakes I may make.
I didn't want to go too small, as I hear they get more difficult, but I need something that will fit on my bookshelf for now. 24x12x12, a nice even number to get close to 15 gallons.
I will have a false back on the tank, made of black acrylic, with overflow notches cut into it. This will fall into the back where chaeto will be growing under a light that runs 18 hours per day, 3AM to 9PM. The heater (Probably an Ebo Jager) will be back here, as well as two mini-jet 404s, which will supply flow in the following way to either side.
Wave Maker -> Mini-Jet 404 -> 5/8" Tube Hose -> 1/2" Female Elbow Adapter (Which will go through the false back) -> 1/2" MPT Loc-Line Connector -> 1 1/4" Flare Nozzle
I think that should work out pretty well, two of them will be on either side of the rear alternating probably every 40 seconds or so. This will be done using a wave maker power strip.
This will leave 12.5 gallons worth of water for the display area, which I will probably put a 1" sandbed in, some live rock, cleanup crew, and maybe a couple fishes.
As for lighting, I have done some research, and PowerCompact seems the best way to go. Under the hood, I was thinking about a 21" 65W 10,000k Coralife fixture for the front which will run on a regular lighting cycle from 6AM to 6PM, and a 21" 65W Actinic Coralife fixture which is mounted over the center of the false rear, which would be the bulb run 3AM to 9PM. This way it would provide the front the Actinic light that it needs, and the Chaeto some light as well. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Actinic should satisfy the Chaeto, no? I know that plants only use blue light.
I am not sure whether a skimmer is required or not. If I can avoid having one and still have a healthy tank, I would very much not like to be required to have one in this nano.
I'd like to put some soft corals in the tank, a shrimp (They taste goo... I mean look cool), and a couple fishes. I personally think that a false percula pair and a cardinalfish would look good, but I have some conflicting information on the size of tank they need.
Comments/Criticism? Will probably start on this end of June/Early July
I'm pretty new to this, and I figure that designing my own tank will be the best way to get into the hobby. Please feel free to correct any mistakes I may make.
I didn't want to go too small, as I hear they get more difficult, but I need something that will fit on my bookshelf for now. 24x12x12, a nice even number to get close to 15 gallons.
I will have a false back on the tank, made of black acrylic, with overflow notches cut into it. This will fall into the back where chaeto will be growing under a light that runs 18 hours per day, 3AM to 9PM. The heater (Probably an Ebo Jager) will be back here, as well as two mini-jet 404s, which will supply flow in the following way to either side.
Wave Maker -> Mini-Jet 404 -> 5/8" Tube Hose -> 1/2" Female Elbow Adapter (Which will go through the false back) -> 1/2" MPT Loc-Line Connector -> 1 1/4" Flare Nozzle
I think that should work out pretty well, two of them will be on either side of the rear alternating probably every 40 seconds or so. This will be done using a wave maker power strip.
This will leave 12.5 gallons worth of water for the display area, which I will probably put a 1" sandbed in, some live rock, cleanup crew, and maybe a couple fishes.
As for lighting, I have done some research, and PowerCompact seems the best way to go. Under the hood, I was thinking about a 21" 65W 10,000k Coralife fixture for the front which will run on a regular lighting cycle from 6AM to 6PM, and a 21" 65W Actinic Coralife fixture which is mounted over the center of the false rear, which would be the bulb run 3AM to 9PM. This way it would provide the front the Actinic light that it needs, and the Chaeto some light as well. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Actinic should satisfy the Chaeto, no? I know that plants only use blue light.
I am not sure whether a skimmer is required or not. If I can avoid having one and still have a healthy tank, I would very much not like to be required to have one in this nano.
I'd like to put some soft corals in the tank, a shrimp (They taste goo... I mean look cool), and a couple fishes. I personally think that a false percula pair and a cardinalfish would look good, but I have some conflicting information on the size of tank they need.
Comments/Criticism? Will probably start on this end of June/Early July