Nano build for a high school

[derpychicken777]

Hi guys! Back in the area of my old high school, and I’m setting up a small saltwater tank as well as a larger neocaridinia shrimp tank to stay in my bio teacher’s classroom for future students to look at. I want to say it’s a 3 gallon container but I’m not too sure. It has the crappy little LEDs on top, and most likely this tank will never get a water change, only top offs. I’ll probably rely on turf algae and hair algae as main nutrient removal, and the current inhabitants are some aptasia. Some issues though:

Filter: not sure what to use. Currently there is an HOB filter motor in there

I can either try a sponge filter, but I would like some movement to keep the aptasia wavy. If I use this motor, I’d have to DIY a filter around it, and if I used a full HOB I wouldn’t be able to fit on the lid, which would increase evaporation and I fear may increase maintenance.

Lighting: sunlight and this LED. Should be enough for aptasia but once again if i go the full HOB filter route I can’t really use this lid. Any ideas?

Livestock: right now, just some aptasia. I’ll have to rely on algae for nutrient export. Would something like a really small snail or hermit crab do fine in here too? No fish for sure.

 

[derpychicken777]

Just realize I may have posted on the wrong spot sorry!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hi guys! Back in the area of my old high school, and I’m setting up a small saltwater tank as well as a larger neocaridinia shrimp tank to stay in my bio teacher’s classroom for future students to look at. I want to say it’s a 3 gallon container but I’m not too sure. It has the crappy little LEDs on top, and most likely this tank will never get a water change, only top offs. I’ll probably rely on turf algae and hair algae as main nutrient removal, and the current inhabitants are some aptasia. Some issues though:

Filter: not sure what to use. Currently there is an HOB filter motor in there

I can either try a sponge filter, but I would like some movement to keep the aptasia wavy. If I use this motor, I’d have to DIY a filter around it, and if I used a full HOB I wouldn’t be able to fit on the lid, which would increase evaporation and I fear may increase maintenance.

Lighting: sunlight and this LED. Should be enough for aptasia but once again if i go the full HOB filter route I can’t really use this lid. Any ideas?

Livestock: right now, just some aptasia. I’ll have to rely on algae for nutrient export. Would something like a really small snail or hermit crab do fine in here too? No fish for sure.

Neat idea having a nano in a classroom, give students something to look at that's for sure

 

[Nano_Man]

Have you any updates

 

[derpychicken777]

Have you any updates

I've posted a thing to facebook asking for equipment donations and i'll probably go pick it up over the weekend.

 

[derpychicken777]

Update on the progress: two tanks, a 10 falling nano reef and a 3 gallon aptasia tank. Still looking for a powerhead though.

3gallon aptasia:

10 gallon nano:

clove polyps? Wood cloves? Not exactly sure what these are.

macroalgae growing rather fast

 

[Nano_Man]

Starting to take shape keep the posts coming

 

[Eric R.]

This looks like a very good thing, I am now also looking for the alternative to the filter to make it for my school, the problem is there is no water change there, I think I will do the same, thanks for sharing!

I'm running a filterless 20 Long aqueon aquarium in my basement with macroalgae, xenia, a leather coral, and a pair of black and white stripe clownfish. Just a light, a heater, and one jaebo wave pump. Feed flake food twice a day, and a glass top to control evaporation. I don't have to top off at all.

I also have a Fluval Evo 13.5 mixed reef in my classroom, I top that one off manually 2-3 times a week. Just live rock for filtration (plus light, heater, and heater controller), and the return pump for water motion, though I'd like to add another wave pump . I had one on there, but I think the bearings went bad as it started making noise.