Nano cube- 10g, HOB filter

[ceruleanspiral]

Went to MACNA (will do post on that later) and entered my son in the aquascaping contest. He didn't win- but all the contestants got to keep their tank and rock used (gravel too, but I dumped that).

I bought him a nano light and a plexiglass panel, feet to lift it and hold it, and a cutter to make a lid (we have cats). We have more rock than is necessary (lol), and I have a 5lb bag of live sand I never used on my Biocube. I also have bottle bacteria and a small Penn Plax heater.

I need a HOB, but I'm worried about the size. I see a lot of suggestions for Aquaclear 70 or 110, but they are usually talking about tanks that are in the 20-40gal range. I have an Aquaclear 110 on my 75gal freshwater tank and it is over 13" long. Definitely won't fit. The 70 specs say 8.5" Long x 8" Tall x 6" Deep, which I assume would fit in the 11" of space- barely.

Would I need the 70 or would the 50 work for a 12x12x12?

Tentative planning for stock:
Tangaroa goby
Pistol shrimp
Maybe another type of shrimp (fire red?)
Yellow Stripe Clingfish
Maybe a pygmy wrasse or Geometric Pygmy Perchlet (depending on funds/availability)
Mini feather duster
Crabs- a couple hermits, emerald, and my son wants a pom pom
Various snails (probably a few dwarf cerith and nassarius, maybe a nerite)
and coral (not sure what he likes yet)

 

[flchamp89]

I've ran an AC70 on a 10g for SW and used the 50 for FW. Legendary HOB but their recommendations are stretching it. My advice is the lower the bioload the easier your life will be.

 

[Devaji]

I think a lot of ppl like them bigger to fit the heater in there as well as other stuff to keep the tank looking clear i would say just go with the AC 70....

or a canister filter with an inline heater would work to. as long as you do mantaince on the canister filter.

 

[Devaji]

oh hears another option..... go gwe another 10 gal at the next petco dallor per gallon to use as a sump and get a HOB over flow or drill it and bamm a 10 gal sumped tank. almost as cheap as the AC70? depending on if you can find a good deal on a HOB over flow.