Finally... I'm a proud nano owner!

[Travis]

Well we decided today to start our nano tank! Pretty excited :mrgreen:. Here's the setup. The tank is a eclipse system six (6g). We got a 32w PC retro that will fit the eclipse hood that I will install when it's ready for corals. It has 10# of LS and for now 6# of LR. After it cycles I'm going to take a couple small rocks from the other tank and put them in the nano. I do plan to use the bio-wheel for now until I'm comfortable with removing it. After that I will run the filter w/o the bio-wheel for gas exchange. Probably will put in a small PH aswell.

I figure it's going to be a fishless system... I don't really know of any fish that would be happy in a 6g tank long term and I don't want any new fish in the 125g so... fishless it is.

I plan to use water changes to control the nitrates so there will be no skimmer, fuge or sump.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I'll post some pics Monday...

[RazerCorals]

Hey if you got like a 2-3" SB you could get a yellow jaw fish. I green chromis or blue chromis would also be satisfied in that tank.

[Travis]

Thanks for the fish suggestion Watchman, I'll look in to those fish.

I put two small Krill in to start the cycle but I'm wondering if two is to much? Any suggestions?

Thanks,

[RazerCorals]

Well with my tank I used live rock from my 40 when I broke it down. The only thing new was the sand, which I seeded from my 40. I also used caulerpa to cycle my tank. I had corals and 2 fish in there the first day and lost nothing until I upgraded to MH which burned some corals. I added a 3rd fish but he died somehow.

[steve1s]

I put two small Krill in to start the cycle but I'm wondering if two is to much? Any suggestions?

One would be plenty. In such a small volume you don't need alot. Just something to produce ammonia.

With the live sand, you should keep tabs on the ammonia process. You might miss it... :P

Cheers
Steve

[Travis]

Thanks Steve, I pulled one out. I checked the Ammonia this morning and I'm not reading any yet... What is your thoughts on a bio-wheel on a nano? I'm not sure really what to do. Not use it, use it for awhile or just leave it in permanently. Any thoughts?

[steve1s]

What is your thoughts on a bio-wheel on a nano? I'm not sure really what to do. Not use it, use it for awhile or just leave it in permanently. Any thoughts?

It really depends on the amount of surface area the rocks used will provide. 6g is not that much and should be based on what you stock in the tank. There are several >2" gobies that could go into a tank like this as well as decorative shrimp/crab types. If it is to remain "fishless" then I would say just go with the rock, but make sure it is porous and not dense like Fiji Rock. If you do end up using the wheel, make sure it does not get removed. It will become an intricate part of the filtration and on a smaller system like that could devastate it.

After it cycles I'm going to take a couple small rocks from the other tank and put them in the nano.

Why not place the rock in now? It will add to the already present bacteria and strengthen the population.

Cheers
Steve

[Travis]

Why not place the rock in now? It will add to the already present bacteria and strengthen the population.

I was just paranoid that the ammonia would harm the life on the rock.

[steve1s]

In most cases the ammonia will not last long enough to cause any real damage unless the rock has encrusting coral life.

If you feel safer doing it that way, it's up to you. :P

Just remember to give the tank some additional time after adding the live rock prior to animal additions.

Also keep in mind that once the "krill" is removed you still need something that causes waste to keep the bacteria alive. You can use 1 or 2 sinking pellets a few times a week until you are ready to add something.

Cheers
Steve

[Travis]

I went a head and put a couple rock from the fuge in... Full of little critters 8) . Never though about it until you mentioned it but those rocks will help keep the ammonia down and should speed up the cycle. Anyway, I would like to find one fish that would be happy in there alone. I'll look at the Gobies... Maybe a Mandarin. jk. :mrgreen:

Watchman, does the yellow jaw fish go by another name? I can't find them.

Also, do Gobies dig holes in the sand?

[steve1s]

Yellow head Jawfish (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=188)
Neon Goby (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=194)
Sharknose Goby (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/neongobies.htm)

Cheers
Steve

[joey182]

I saw a minibow with a royal gramma and a clow goby so wy dont you put 2 clowngobys?

[Travis]

Thanks joey, I'm wanting to keep the bio-load down to a min.

Here it is :mrgreen: .

[RazerCorals]

Well unless you're doing that yellow head I would get a lot more live rock. I'd also buy it piece by piece and get what will stack well. You won't need too much rock so I would suggest doing this. Make it look nice instead of having pieces that don't stack.

[Travis]

I don't plan to put in anymore. I would rather leave room for the corals. I have decided to use the bio-wheel also.

[joey182]

Very nice!!! I have a 10 gallon nano and I have an eclipse 1 twinlamp hood and itsdoing great. I had to put in a cooling fan. though what a pain. I have two occelaris clowns in mine. So far my only coral is some yellow colony polyps. There are lots of fish you could put in it.

2-3 clown gobys get the green spotted ones!
1 blue damsel
1 yellow watchman goby

Oh yeah those clown gobys like to have something to purch on. Like a branching rock or coral. I hope yours turns out great. I would post mine but I dont know how my sister has a digital camera and she does all the time with her friends ill have to get her to do it for me.

[Travis]

Thanks Joey, I haven't decided on a fish yet...

[joey182]

Hey travis what corals do you keep in your 125 gallon???

[Travis]

Currently not much. About 3- months ago I upgraded from 2- 55g to the 125 so I have been waiting to add any more corals.

Currently I have a few different leathers, Xenias that are growing like weeds, Zoos, and that's all I think... I lost my shrooms when I switched to MH, I didn't go slow enough acclimating them to the new light :cry: .

The plan is to have SPS corals and some clams, maybe some LPS but I have another 3- months of waiting.

[RazerCorals]

Yes you do have another 3 months of waiting. I waited the full 6 months and am just starting SPS now. So far everything is good on the one frag that I do have. I have MH lighting. It was definately worth the wait so that my tank is mature and can support these corals better. Also I will probably get a few clams. Perhaps a Purple/Teal, Gold, and Orange/Red.

[Travis]

Watchman it suck doesn't it :? . I'm not a very patience person but this hobby has made me have Patience...

BTW, I did end up adding more rock to the nano :oops: . It just didn't look right.

[Travis]

What about a Ocellaris Clownfish. Would he be happy in a 6g? Alone?

[RazerCorals]

Well I have 1 + a yellow watchman in my 20 gallon. I think it'd be alright alone. I'm debating whether he has lost his color cause she's alone, been sleeping in these polyps I have, or not getting the right food. I switched back a while ago on food but she hasn''t got her color back. :(

[Travis]

Is he/she the dominate fish in the tank? I'm not sure about the Ocellaris Clownfish but if it is the dominate fish the color change may be natural????

[RazerCorals]

Yes she (hint) is the dominant fish in the tank. I've never seen a orange clown go almost completely black. You know like a black percula, they're pretty cool.

[Travis]

I had a Bluefin Damselfish turn completely to a very dark blue when it became the dominate fish of one of my old tank.

I agree, the Black Percula are very cool...

[Travis]

Found me some fans!!!!

[Travis]

Worked well :D

[Travis]

Here it is at 5mo :)

[Goku's Reef]

Ohhh, dude:

That is a cool nano. I tip my hat to you sir.

:D

[Travis]

Thanks Goku!

[Goku's Reef]

Travis,

How did you install the fan for your lights?

[Yano7]

What are your lighting specs?

[Travis]

How did you install the fan for your lights?

I used two screws and put a little silicon around them. I found an old power supply in the house and used it to provide 12v power.

What are your lighting specs?

Lighting is a CustomSeaLive 32w PC retro. I'm currently running a smart lamp (10k / actinic).