Nano research.

SparePart · Sep 6, 2018

I am new to forums in general. I have an old aquarium I want to turn into a nano reef. I have spent months exploring BRS information and looking at R2R. I am interested in ideas and experiences as I build my system. I don't know if any of my ideas would translate to an actual tank.

As it sits, my aquarium is about 29 gallon and is 24" long, 12" wide, and 16" in depth. It's actually a terium that I will try to use and aquarium. As a result, I have tempered glass, so I can not drill. I am working on resealing the inside and removing trim in order to paint it black.

I am planning to have the tank placed as a peninsula my kitchen bar. Then building an all in one style "sump." For filtration I was planning on placing a pain of acylic about four inches from the back wall. Exact spacing will be determined once I get a return pump. I have a fresh water tank, and I was going to use that air pressure to run a protein skimmer. Something like Reef Glass or Mame. Overflow drilled on one side, and baffles placed in back for flow control. I was planning on using acylic for that filter system just for ease of drilling my overflow. I don't suspect 29 gallons of water would be at risk of dislodging my filter area.

One of my big questions is regarding flow. My idea was to install an oversized return pump to create flow on one side of the tank, and a power head on the other. I do not know if that's a feasible idea. The return and power head would be on the same wall, but at opposite sides of that wall . Reasoning is that I think that would make the flow run up one side of the tank, and down the other. Along with that, the power head might shift a terbulant zone around the tank in the direction opposite return flow. Being a peninsula tank, the glass should be clear all the way around. Does this sound like a good working flow solution? Clear as mud?

Lighting was going to utilize an AI prime. I have one coming for my freshwater tank. I figured that both tanks running on one app would be convenient. Along the same lines, use AI's new Nero power head so I can operate it in the same app. I figure that 3k gallons per hour would be great for my small tank.

With all this said, I haven't begun to gather parts. I am in the process of resealing tank. I should order return pump within the next month. From there, "sump" build will begin.

What about SparePart? Well, I'm a parts guy in central Florida. I have been in the automotive and agricultural part business for years. I always thought saltwater tanks would be to hard for me to fit into my life. Two jobs, married, and kids in school.

I stumbled upon the BRS 160 tank build on YouTube, and have been exploring reefing for over a year. I used Reefopoloza in Orlando to introduce my wife to the hobby, and she loved it. We had a great time, and I was so excited to talk to Jake Adams and explore the tech, along with talk with Randy from BRS about nano tanks. With the green light given by my wife, I have been scheming. I think I might be able to come up with a low maintenance design that would help me greatly.

Have I excedded an acceptable length? I am not familiar with forum norms. I might of rambled a little to long.
My appolgies,
Cheers

Ranjib · Sep 7, 2018

you are off to a great start. I think you have pretty good foundation. Lights and flow are ok. They might be challenging for some SPS but they are good enough for most LPS and all softies. I think its a very good start. I have one nano and two pico tanks, and happy to offer any help i can, let us know if you have specific questions. But I have never built tank , in general have limited experience with wood and glass staff.

You have any stocking plan? what about filtration? ancillary equipment .. like heaters?

SparePart · Sep 7, 2018

I do not have a stock plan as of yet. I was going to stick to LPS and softies for this tank. I have read that bird's nest doesn't require as high light and flow demand as other SPS, so they might be a possibility. Zoanthids will most likely be in the mix. I also would like a Ricordea Florida and Scolymia. I was considering Xenia and Star Polyps on glass as well. I would like a Lord, but I am affrad that it might get to big for my little tank. My wife likes Acanthopllia, so that's on my radar as well right now. I have no idea what fish and invertebrates i want in my tank yet.

My main goal is to get the colours right. I don't want an all brown tank with a couple bright fish. I am looking around the internet to see what colours would go well with each other and enhance each other. Then size is an issue.

For filtration I was going to use filter floss in the overflow along with several thicker layers of filter pads and Marine Pure square rock. I was going to go bear bottom, but I might need the surface area that the sand provides for bacteria and detritivores. Still up in the air about it. Not sure which would be cleaners and easier to maintain, because of how little I am in the house at times.

Heater, I think Cobalt Aquatics. I feel that it should to fine. I will also have a temperature gauge in the tank to watch it.

SparePart · Sep 7, 2018

Other then those things, testing equipment. I don't think a full control is necessary, nor nor reactors on such a small tank.

Ranjib · Sep 7, 2018

Sounds good to me. I'll recommend going with carbon or chemipure blue in flitration, instead of marine pure blocks. If you do use marine pure block, make sure they are not getting strong flow (i.e. they should get low flow.. always)

SparePart · Sep 7, 2018

I was plannupl on running carbon bag within the baffles. Maybe some GFO mixed in.

I didn't know that Marine Pure needed low flow. I was going run all the flow through it, but I will need to rethink that. I will put it in the chaimber with the skimmer. Could I put it with the return pump?

Thoughts about sand vs bear bottom?

OhDumb · Sep 7, 2018

My first reef tank was a 29g. It's a great tank to start out. Here is what I would do if I was going to do it....

Skimmer - there are several nice nano skimmers like the Ghost that you can drop into your internal sump. Just whatever you decide make sure it fits.
Make some some baffles in your sump. This would contain your GFO and GAC for filtration (Chemipure Elite is just that mixed together). If you start getting high nitrates then you can always carbon dose if you have a skimmer. I have an internal sump on my nano and made an insert out of light diffuser to drop in a sock of GAC and a sock of GFO. Easy to pull in and out and it forces the water through it.
AI Light will be great for this tank and you can do some beginner SPS like you mentioned at the top and LPS/Zoa/Softies down low. I run the AI prime over a 13.5g nano now and only have it at 60% and my PAR is 190 on the top of my rocks. Cranking it up would get your more if you needed it.
I like a sand bed. I just vacuum during water changes. But, it really comes down to personal preference and what you plan on keeping down there.
In your sump, you really only need to run floss/pad to catch the big stuff. I recommend cleaning it twice a week. No real reason to run a thick layer of it. All your nitrifying bacteria will be in the rock.

This is all based on how I like to run my tank. I like a skimmer, a small pad to catch big stuff that is easily cleanable or replaceable, GAC, and GFO. I used to carbon dose to keep nitrates down, but I'm farming zoas now and need my nutrients a bit higher so I don't have to dose aminos.

SparePart · Sep 7, 2018

Baffles are a must.

I would not of thought to go light with filtration either. I do tend to over engineer thinks when I try to build. I am no engineer, and don't build often, but when I do it's strong and crooked.

Before I start my sump build, I want at least the return pump and possibly skimmer. If finances allow. Those item will define my sump size. With that said, it also limets my choice of equipment, but hopefully it should be efficient.

I will also need to device items to make cleaning easier. I will post pictures of my progress when I start my build. If not in this thread, then a new build thread.

I was leaning toward no sand, but the extra area for nitrifying bacteria is very appealing as well.

OhDumb · Sep 7, 2018

I would go online or in person and check out some all-in-one tanks. Take a look at how they do it for ideas. Return pump will be smaller than the skimmer. You'll need to add a couple of power heads in the display anyway for more circulation. But, I would shoot for 6-10x turnover on the return.

If you think the internal sump won't work out you can always go with a hang on skimmer and hang on box filter. Just remove the internals of the box filter and add a sock of GFO and one of GAC. It might even be cheaper and get you up and running sooner. Since it's a peninsula you are going after you might be able to fit it on one of the ends (measure and verify). Then you can just have a couple of power heads for circulation and not have to worry about a return pump at all.

SparePart · Sep 7, 2018

I was given two hange on back filters, but I was worried that I might get film ontop of the water if I used them.

OhDumb · Sep 7, 2018

You can use one of those and a hang on skimmer. You need lots of low in the tank with power heads though. You need to have at least one power head agitating the top of the water. That's either with a return pump or power heads. Either way you are going to need to be having gas exchange going on at the surface with agitation. I took a video on my phone for another guy talking about the same thing. I'll post it from there in a minute.