My Desktop Reef

[seahorse_man]

Ahoy and welcome to my little tank build!

I have been planning a larger tank for a while now (around 60g, I'm still figuring that out), but I wanted something small to hold myself over until I can make that happen. I decided my desk would be the best spot since I work from the computer for what feels like 24x7! It will definitely be in an area I'm always in and I will get tons of viewing time. As long as I'm careful with splashing SW around the electronics, it will be perfect! ;Woot

I want to start by saying as of now this is at an early stage and the tank isn't setup yet, but I wanted to document the process as best I can, and maybe even get some input along the way. I will update this main post as more things are confirmed, and try to post updates as often as I can.

So, let's dive in and get to the good stuff!

Tank & Equipment

Tank: Waterbox 10g Cube
Light: AI Prime

Below is the proposed equipment I still am debating and haven't ordered yet:

- Skimz SS6.0 Wavemaker
- Hygger 50W Heater
- Cobalt Mini-MJ 606 (to replace the horrible stock return pump)
- 10lb Caribsea Fiji Pink live sand
- 20lb APurpleReef live rock
- Still deciding on if I want a nano skimmer or just go the biological route and get a media basket.

Current Livestock

- Yellow Leaf Scropionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus)
- Duncan mini colony
- Leptastrea Frag (got it cheap, not super impressed with it so far)

Livestock Plan

The primary inhabitant will be a small Yellow Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus). I used to have some of these many years ago before I took a break from the hobby and always loved them. They've had one at my LFS for a while and since nobody else wants him I think it was meant to be. They don't swim or really do much, so the tank size should be just fine and I will make sure there are rocks and areas for him to perch. I plan on keeping up on WCs as well and keeping an eye on the bioload.

Keeping him will be a trade off. I won't be able to have shrimp, small nano fish, or anything of that nature. While that kind of sucks (I like shrimp!) I definitely am prepared to make that sacrifice. He's pretty cool and plus....everybody has shrimp and little fish swimming around, this will stand out and be more unique!

I also plan on some "easier" corals as well. Zoas, shrooms, blastos, leathers, and things of that nature. Pretty much just some softies and LPS that I like and aren't too demanding. I was going to make a zoa garden but decided on something a bit more eclectic.

 

[btmedic04]

Sounds like a really solid plan! I look forward to seeing this come together! My vote is to go with the media basket and skip the skimmer. I went with a floss holder and put marinepure spheres in the back of my nuvo 10. Coupled with weekly 2 gallon water changes, I've been keeping everything from gsp to acropora just fine.

 

[seahorse_man]

Sounds like a really solid plan! I look forward to seeing this come together! My vote is to go with the media basket and skip the skimmer. I went with a floss holder and put marinepure spheres in the back of my nuvo 10. Coupled with weekly 2 gallon water changes, I've been keeping everything from gsp to acropora just fine.

Thanks! Are you dosing anything like calcium, mag, etc.?

Good to know about the media basket success. I don't think I've ever had a tank without a skimmer, so it's something new I'm considering for sure.

This is what I was thinking of getting (if I skip the skimmer): https://intankaquatics.com/waterbox-cube-10-chamber-two-media-basket

Then using some floss, carbon and these looked good: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/90g-gems-ceramic-media-marinepure.html

 

[btmedic04]

I currently dose tropic marin all for reef to cover my alk, cal, mag and trace elements. So far it has been working great in keeping my parameters stable. The intank media basket is perfect as are the marinepure gems. A little tip for the gems is to put them all in a media bag so they stay nice and tidy

 

[Dub_G]

I've been thinking about a 10 gallon tank for my desk at work too. My problem would be not getting my work done watching the tank all day.

 

[seahorse_man]

I currently dose tropic marin all for reef to cover my alk, cal, mag and trace elements. So far it has been working great in keeping my parameters stable. The intank media basket is perfect as are the marinepure gems. A little tip for the gems is to put them all in a media bag so they stay nice and tidy

I heard good things about that, nice to hear it's been working on your nano. The Waterbox came with a little media bag and plastic bioballs in it, I was planning on taking those out and replacing them with the marinepure gems!

 

[seahorse_man]

Currently debating on a few options for filtration.

I see that inTank has a media basket for chamber one and two. I was planning on leaving the filter sock in chamber one and getting a media basket for chamber two. Now I'm debating on if I want to get a media basket for both chambers or just get a basket for the first chamber and add a little skimmer in the second chamber. Kind of hesitant to get a skimmer, since most nano skimmers are usually pretty junky. Might be the best to run both though (basket and skimmer) since that would give me the best of both worlds.

 

[btmedic04]

That's another option. I'm not sure what the dimensions for chamber 2 are on the waterbox 10 but I have an eshopps nano in chamber 2 of my nuvo 20. It works pretty well but the pump air intake needs monthly maintenance or calcium carbonate will build up and occlude it.

A third option to consider is seeing if intank makes a refugium basket for chamber 2 and runs chaeto with an opposite lighting schedule. That's what I originally tried to do for my nuvo 10 but my chaeto melted away after being covered in cyano.

 

[seahorse_man]

That's another option. I'm not sure what the dimensions for chamber 2 are on the waterbox 10 but I have an eshopps nano in chamber 2 of my nuvo 20. It works pretty well but the pump air intake needs monthly maintenance or calcium carbonate will build up and occlude it.

A third option to consider is seeing if intank makes a refugium basket for chamber 2 and runs chaeto with an opposite lighting schedule. That's what I originally tried to do for my nuvo 10 but my chaeto melted away after being covered in cyano.

So there are some skimmers that will fit in the second chamber, but I'm not sure how they will fit with the light mount back there as well. Don't want to have the light off-center.

Thinking I'll trust my gut for now and skip the skimmer, I feel like it's going to be more trouble than it's worth. Plus, once I get everything setup I can always add a skimmer later on if I feel it's needed.

Current plan is a media basket for the first and second chamber. The first basket will have filter floss and then carbon. The second basket I'll run chem-pure and then below that marinepure gems. Third chamber will have the return and heater. Just need to keep an eye on evaporation so the heater doesn't hit air.

As for a refugium that might be an add-on later on via a small HOB.

 

[seahorse_man]

Let there be water!

Going to be having more and more updates here as I close in on getting it setup. Got a bunch of boxes delivered filled with supplies and slowly putting things together.

The first and the most important project was setting up my RO/DI system. I got the 5 stage 75GPD from BRS. I chose to not get the plus since it came with a dual TDS meter and I wanted a triple so just bought the accessories separate.

I have near future plans to hook it up to a 55g drum with a float valve, so I will save the tube/wire management for when I'm done with that and make look a bit nicer. The unit is in the garage and I plan to setup a water mixing station with the 55G drums (one RO/DI and the other SW).

TDS Readings:

Tap - 250ish
RO - 6
DI - 0

I love this system so far and it was well worth the investment! I picked up a bucket of Tropic Marin Pro Reef (LFS) and a refractometer from BRS, so mixing is next on the list!

 

[seahorse_man]

Rock is already in the tank, just never posted the update. I'm a few updates behind and need to catch up. Rock is A Purple Reef. Customer service is meh, but the rock is great. Comes clean, pest free, cured for 12+ weeks and well packed with minimal chips and only one little break.

 

[seahorse_man]

Don't think anybody cares - but going to keep this going as a diary to myself at least.

Mini update is that I ordered the Reef Glass Nano Skimmer while it was on sale. Decided to give it a shot and see how it performs. I figure even if it pulls out wet skimmate (or very little), it has to help more than not having anything at all, and not at a huge cost to space due to it's size. At the very least it will provide some extra oxygen for the water, so why not.

https://www.marinedepot.com/reef-glass-nano-protein-skimmer

Looking into an ATO next, just a little hesitate to trust ANY of them. Probably will end up just using a 3-5 gallon (or smaller) reservoir with whichever one I choose so if everything fails at once; the flood wouldn't be too big.

 

[btmedic04]

A lot of folks lurk and read, but don't post. More than likely that's whats happening bud. Don't worry about it, we are still reading your thread

As for an ATO, I have the icecap ato in my nuvo 20 and autoaqua smart ato micro on my nuvo 10 and both have been great! I took a cereal container and drilled a hole in it for my reservoir on the nuvo 10. It comes out to about 2-2.5 gallons and is easy to refill since I only have to flip the lid up

 

[Auto-pilot]

Wow the rock looks pretty cool, is it expensive??

 

[seahorse_man]

A lot of folks lurk and read, but don't post. More than likely that's whats happening bud. Don't worry about it, we are still reading your thread

As for an ATO, I have the icecap ato in my nuvo 20 and autoaqua smart ato micro on my nuvo 10 and both have been great! I took a cereal container and drilled a hole in it for my reservoir on the nuvo 10. It comes out to about 2-2.5 gallons and is easy to refill since I only have to flip the lid up

Thanks and good idea for the ATO reservoir, might have to steal that idea.

Wow the rock looks pretty cool, is it expensive??

It wasn't a lot to me, considering what it is. I got 20 pounds for $79 and that INCLUDES shipping, so $3.95 per pound shipped. The price does drop a little the more you buy.

Their prices are here: https://www.apurplereef.com/apps/webstore/

 

[Auto-pilot]

Wow I wonder how they get them that color. It looks really nice

 

[seahorse_man]

The picture is horrible and I'll need to get my good camera out to take a decent picture, but here is "Leafy" (who is actually yellow) checking out my new Duncan. Once I get some decent pics I'll update the main post as well.

 

[seahorse_man]

I ended up going with the Tunze 3155 ATO, it's the only system I could find that has an optical sensor and backup mechanical switch in such a small package. I figure that along with a small reservoir will provide a good amount of safety.

Going to use a cereal container like @btmedic04 suggested, just deciding which one I want and will fit my space best. Kind of like the look and shape of this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VJ08SY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ivRiDb8MXGDNB or maybe this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077NMWWM7/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_FwRiDbCK9HQ1Y

 

[Rakie]

I like it, I always wanted a predator reef but so many of them won't get along and die trying to each one another!

 

[seahorse_man]

I like it, I always wanted a predator reef but so many of them won't get along and die trying to each one another!

Thanks! He'll be the only fish in there so no need to worry about fighting! Well, every now and then I toss a feeder fish in there....but they don't last too long.

I will miss having the usual reef critters, but it's a good trade-off I think. Much more unique than the usual reef inhabitants!