Hey Folks,
I'm working out the kinks in my plans to start a nanoreef. I know I want to use a sump/refugium (I have a 30 gal for that), I have an old AquaC Remora that I'll use for skimming, I'm gonna try a 1/10 hp Current Prim mini chiller (our summers get hot and my A/C is just so-so), for lighting I was thinking of using T5s, and I want to take a stab at Astrivan's cryptic tube fuge (I just saw that video and it totally piqued my interest).
Anyway, what kind of a tank would you all suggest? Should I go with an all-in-one type or should I go with a standard tank?
Right now, I'm leaning towards an acrylic 20 gal long. I can use the lights I wanna use instead of having to retro an all-in-one hood.
But I do like the "clean" lines of an all-in-one... but then I don't really care about the "clean" lines.
If you want to use a sump/fuge, T5 lighting and all that other stuff, just use a 20. The all in one tanks look nice and clean, but make it that much harder to use anything besides the equipment they come with.
Yeah, I agree. But I've seen so many posts in other forums where they describe various mods on these all-in-ones. What's so special about them that makes people want to mod them rather than just getting a regular tank? I'm just curious.
You know... I'm not sure anymore. We just plumbed a 60 gallon and afterwards I said... a lot to be said for all in ones. I own them all... large tanks, small tanks, all in one's from different makers, stand alones without a sump and then DIY models I have everything on.
How much time do you have to set one up? What is your experince level at plumbing a DIY one? There will always be problems when first setting it up that will drive you INSANE! None of these frustrations with the all in one setups.
It took 2 months to set up the 60... you would plumb so far and then make a change... had to go find the part or order it online... start again... missing another part because of the mod. And I've plumbed quite a few tanks... and still there are unforseen problems that delay you almost to the point of giving up.
Renee is right. No hassle is the all-in-ones, and they work just fine un-modded (although many work BETTER with a few mods). With a regular tank, assuming you're comfortable plumbing and setting everything else, you're only limited by your immagination.
Well, I had about 6 years or reef experience but been away from it for about 3 years now. I have 0 experience with plumbing. However, I do things really slowly. I've been thinking about this tank for well over 6 months now, lol. I have a few pieces of equipment from my old tank that're in great shape.
I guess I just need to decide if I wanna go DIY or All'n1. Good points so far guys. Thanks for the help!
I got a 24" T5 fixture thats two bulbs and is very nice. BUT the small T5 bulbs are almost as much as the large ones. So, based on that I would also consider the price of CF or a single MH. And if you will have a chiller, there is not as much worry about the MH on a small tank. Plus you have all that sump volume.
If you're doing a sump you are going ot have to do somehting for that (drill or siphon box) on a all in one or a DIY
Well, I had about 6 years or reef experience but been away from it for about 3 years now. I have 0 experience with plumbing. However, I do things really slowly. I've been thinking about this tank for well over 6 months now, lol. I have a few pieces of equipment from my old tank that're in great shape.
I guess I just need to decide if I wanna go DIY or All'n1. Good points so far guys. Thanks for the help!
My Nanocube 24g (72w PC) is fine for a FOWLR, but insufficient for much else without severe modification. Today, you are able to get much stronger lighting - including 150w HQI, but those require chillers or fans to cool off the DT.
If your not plumbing a closed loop, I don't think a simple overflow and return is beyond the grasp of most people. Flexible PVC, vinyl tubing, barbed fittings and hose clamps can reduce the task considerably. You can buy Durso (and probably Stockman) overflow assemblies on line. The trickiest part is drilling your tank, but there are tools that make this process a bit more surefire.
Listen to me... I have done ZERO diy and I'm acting all confident. Sorry...
I vowed not to get another all-in-one, not because I dislike the idea (I LOVE the idea) - but because even the most recent incarnations have serious limitations. For example, some manufacturers claim they have a "full size" refugium. By "full size", one would assume that the refugium takes up most if not all of the back chamber - but in practice they are 1/4 to 1/3 of the sump area. Just big enough for some rubble and a ball of Chaeto. Cadlights seems like they will do some custom AIO work if you contact them. Their AIOs look pretty nice, and you can BYO lighting if you wish.
Conversely, I think there is something elegant about just going out to a pet store and buying a $24 20T AGA tank (24"lx12"wx16"h) and add a DSB, HOBSkimmer, HOBfuge and maybe HOB filter or reactor with 24" T5 lighting. I am thinking of setting up a second tank at work that way.
I started out using a 29gal. I did the plumbing for my sump and had the whole thing. I now have AIO bio-cube, and I love. It looks really good and maintainence on it is real easy. My parameteres have been perfect with not much intrusion on my part. Another thing that might be just me, is I don't have a evaporation problem like my 29gal. Thats just my .02, and I am still a newbie.
Thanks for all your feedback folks. This helps a lot! I've had two nanos in the past for several years. One was a regular 10gal at work with an HoB Aquaclear that I turned into a "mini-sump" for a tiny air driven skimmer. I also had a 6 gal Eclipse that I moded to include that same Aquaclear/skimmer setup as well as the hood where I was able to squeeze in 3 (18 watt?) PC bulbs!
Anyway, both did really well the first couple years. But sure enough, I couldn't export the excess nutrients fast enough, even with bi-weekly 10% water changes. By the last half of the last year I had these two tanks, the algae had gotten so bad in one, I had to tear it down. The 10 gal at work did really well, but I had grape caulerpa in there and that dang stuff took over the entire tank. I couldn't pull that stuff out fast enough!!!
I think I'm going to go with a 20 gal long acrylic tank and drill my own bulkhead. Since I want a decent sized sump/refugium anyway, I'm gonna have to do some DIY work anyway. So I might as well go with a tank dimension I really like.
And rroselavy, your notion about using MH over T5s, especially since I'm going to use a chiller, is well taken. I'll look into that. Anyone have any experience with lighting systems like MH over your nanos? Have you needed supplimental lighting like PC or T5s to fill in the lighting spectrum (just to warm things up a little... I'm not too fond of tanks that look too blue).
Gosh, there's so many things to consider!!! I'm glad you all are so eager to contribute!
The 10 gal at work did really well, but I had grape caulerpa in there and that dang stuff took over the entire tank. I couldn't pull that stuff out fast enough!!!
Whoops. Caulerpa is banned in the state of California, no?
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I think I'm going to go with a 20 gal long acrylic tank and drill my own bulkhead. Since I want a decent sized sump/refugium anyway, I'm gonna have to do some DIY work anyway. So I might as well go with a tank dimension I really like.
If your going the bulkhead route, consider plumbing a remote DSB bucket for nutrient control. You may be able do do this using a 2-3 gallon container in your sump.
