Ideas on this nano
- Thread starter Joel Jordan
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Tuffyyyyy
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You have a few options, they’ll all work just pick which you want. You can go with a HOB filter and maybe put chemipure blue or something in there. There are also ways to mod a HOB filter to a refugium. You can also just have a power head or two. The rocks do all of the filtering so just keep the stuff moving and be sure to siphon. I’ve seen a couple of tanks on Reef Builders that may be able to give you some more direction.
reeferfoxx
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Use your rock for biological filteration and something for mechanical. If it were my tank I would run a glass nano skimmer. Nothing else.
https://www.marinedepot.com/Reef_Gl...ia7PDY1m9-FjWKaJCRqhfykgGSQPjUhxoCCMAQAvD_BwE
https://www.marinedepot.com/Reef_Gl...ia7PDY1m9-FjWKaJCRqhfykgGSQPjUhxoCCMAQAvD_BwE
Joel Jordan
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And if i do just power heads im pretty sure ill have to do water changes like really often huh?
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
Frequent large or complete water changes are probably your best bet with something that small even using a small HOB filter.. your best bet would be incorporating a sump into your build to increase water volume and provide filtration. Not to discourage you but I just took a tank about that size down, It was a AIO so it had ample filtration but the tank required constant fiddling sometimes multiple times a day.. I’m a very seasoned reef keeper and I could never get anything to grow or thrive in the tank, because of the small volume of water you will experience wild swings of temperature and salinity, after almost 2 years of aggravation I tore it down.. in comparison I have another nano that’s 14 gallons and it runs just about hands off and the tank is thriving.
malacoda
Valuable Member
A once-a-week water change on a tank that small won't take more than 5-10 minutes (not counting new SW mixing time). And they would be the most affordable and efficient means of nutrient control.
I would recommend an ATO system since you'd have to manually top-off for evaporation daily without one.
As far as mechanical filtration goes though, you'll likely end up spending as much or more on the equipment as you did for the tank. And you'd still have watch/maintain it all closely to ensure stability. In the long run, weekly ... or, if necessary, even twice-weekly ... water changes will probably be easier.
As mentioned, a sump is an option. But it would probably end up being bigger than the tank - at which point it would beg the question, why not use the bigger tank for the DT and the existing tank for the sump ...
I would recommend an ATO system since you'd have to manually top-off for evaporation daily without one.
As far as mechanical filtration goes though, you'll likely end up spending as much or more on the equipment as you did for the tank. And you'd still have watch/maintain it all closely to ensure stability. In the long run, weekly ... or, if necessary, even twice-weekly ... water changes will probably be easier.
As mentioned, a sump is an option. But it would probably end up being bigger than the tank - at which point it would beg the question, why not use the bigger tank for the DT and the existing tank for the sump ...
malacoda
Valuable Member
A once-a-week water change on a tank that small won't take more than 5-10 minutes (not counting new SW mixing time). And they would be the most affordable and efficient means of nutrient control.
I would recommend an ATO system since you'd have to manually top-off for evaporation daily without one.
As far as mechanical filtration goes though, you'll likely end up spending as much or more on the equipment as you did for the tank. And you'd still have watch/maintain it all closely to ensure stability. In the long run, weekly ... or, if necessary, even twice-weekly ... water changes will probably be easier.
As mentioned, a sump is an option. But it would probably end up being bigger than the tank - at which point it would beg the question, why not use the bigger tank for the DT and the existing tank for the sump ...
I would recommend an ATO system since you'd have to manually top-off for evaporation daily without one.
As far as mechanical filtration goes though, you'll likely end up spending as much or more on the equipment as you did for the tank. And you'd still have watch/maintain it all closely to ensure stability. In the long run, weekly ... or, if necessary, even twice-weekly ... water changes will probably be easier.
As mentioned, a sump is an option. But it would probably end up being bigger than the tank - at which point it would beg the question, why not use the bigger tank for the DT and the existing tank for the sump ...
reeferfoxx
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This was my old standard 20 gallon. The only filtration was a large hang on the back skimmer.
And yeah, for you and for most nano reefers, weekly water changes..... Depending on tank inhabitants, you may not have to dose or can go longer bi weekly water changes. Otherwise, get a aquaclear 70 with an InTank media basket and stuff it with filter floss. The GAC, purigen, chemi pure, isn't a necessity and should only be used to fix something. Which typically water changes will fix anyway. So the latter filtration options would most likely over filtrate the tank creating problems with coral.
And yeah, for you and for most nano reefers, weekly water changes..... Depending on tank inhabitants, you may not have to dose or can go longer bi weekly water changes. Otherwise, get a aquaclear 70 with an InTank media basket and stuff it with filter floss. The GAC, purigen, chemi pure, isn't a necessity and should only be used to fix something. Which typically water changes will fix anyway. So the latter filtration options would most likely over filtrate the tank creating problems with coral.
Lilmatty5dimes
2500 Club Member
I've got a 12g nano and all it's got on it is an aquaclear 70 with filter floss and a bag of aquaforest phosphate minus. I do water changes weekly about 4g and that takes care of everything. I would highly recommend getting an ato for the tank as well. I've got the tunze 3155 and it's amazing.
Joel Jordan
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OMG Tthank you everyone for the replies, im so getting pumped to get this tank started, this week ill add the sand and buy the new HOB, i thought about just the powerhead but I dont want to risk it that much, Ill keep you guys posted on this
I have a 10g nano that’s been doing great, only difference from what everyone has been saying is instead of a bigger weekly water change I take two measuring cups of water out then add two ( plus some fresh) every day, only takes 2 mins.
Lady at a reef shop gave me the idea, this way nitrates don’t have a chance to build up even in such a small volume of water.
Hope that helps
Lady at a reef shop gave me the idea, this way nitrates don’t have a chance to build up even in such a small volume of water.
Hope that helps
DesertReefT4r
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Small HOB filter like an Aquaclear, live rock and weekly water changes. All that is needed on a small nano tank.
