Need info about a NANO.

[aimeovaldi]

I am considering setting up a 10 gallon hex (18" tall) nano reef. What amount of live sand and live rock will I need. How about a millineum filter. What live stock can it hold, I would like to have a couple of fish, such as a maroon clown and yellowtail damsel. A couple of anenomes (don't know what kind would be good... any suggestions?) and some inverts (I'm open for suggestions there also) ANY help would be greatly appreciated. I am relatively new to saltwater, only about 6 mo0nths, and have never had or tried a nano. Thanks in advance.

[rocket_155]

Hi
i think you might want to check out http://www.nano-reef.com/info/

[aimeovaldi]

Thanks! I went through and read some and printed some to read later. It appears helpful.

[Zack]

Hey i added you to the nano group a lot of good info down there!

[aimeovaldi]

Thanks for adding me to the forum, I will get on later.

[Zack]

no problem enjoy

[Pineapple House]

What amount of live sand and live rock will I need.
I would aim for about 1" of livesand at the bottom, likely you aren't going to be having a full scale 4" DSB in your tank, so this would be the next best thing. 3" wouldn't do too much good, and 1" would basicly have the same affects as 3" would have.

I would like to have a couple of fish, such as a maroon clown and yellowtail damsel.

I would likely just go with the clown. Maroon clownfish can get quite big, and would likely outgrow your 10 gallon. Percula Clowns don't get too big, and aren't as aggressive. 2 small percula clowns might do fine in your tank.


A couple of anenomes (don't know what kind would be good... any suggestions?)
I wouldn't recommend an anemone to anyone. They have a horible survival rate in captivity, and very few make it past the 4 month line. Your clowns will do just fine without an anemone. A frogspawn, torch, xenia, leather, colt, etc. can be used as a substitute for an anemone.

PH =)

[aimeovaldi]

Since it is a Hex 10 gallon, and 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide, I could go with a full 4 inch DSB. I figure I will use 10 - 12 lbs of LR, either fiji or marshall island. a powerhead or 2, and a small whisper filter for movement at the surface. This will be my first experience with coral, so I will need help in deciding what ones to include. I would like a star fish and some turbos, and a peppermint shrimp also. I will think about the percula clowns, may be a good choice. I suppose a 2 x 32 will be sufficient lighting? Let me know what you think about the proposed setup. I am also getting ready to add a 75 gallon fowlr to my collection of tanks. I currently have a 46 bow fowlr, 29 fowlr, a 55 african cichlid (fresh) and a 37 fresh community tank.

[Zack]

make sure the whisper has nothing in it sounds good!

[rocket_155]

Hi
don't go for the hex tanks for a nano-reef, as they don't have enough surface area to volume.
Also you'll need about 12-14lbs or LR for a 10 gallon tank.
I would also suggest not using the millennium filter as there is no need for mechanical and chemical filtration.
Also 10lbs of LS would be recommended for a 10G.
A DSB has not recommended in a nano as there is not enough room for there to be any benifit from nutrafying bacteria (hence the 12-14lbs of LR).

I agree with pineapple house about the anemone,also they tend to get abit to large for such a small tank, and more often then not they are the cause of many nano crashes.

PM if you would like anymore help or information.

hth :)

[aimeovaldi]

Maybe I should forget the hex tank and get a 20 gallon standard. Now I feel confused.

[Zack]

IMO yes you should!

[rocket_155]

I agree with zack ,you would be better off in the long run with a standard tank not a hex :) .

[aimeovaldi]

I will nix the hex and go with a 10 or 20 gallon standard. I am back to square 1.

[rocket_155]

you can still go with your origonal plan gust on a rectangular scale. If anything the standard tanks are easier to scape then a hex tank.

HTH

[Zack]

Yes I agree with rocket 100%, keep us updated! :D

[aimeovaldi]

Now I need to decide if I want to go with a 10G, 20G which I already have extras, or a 7G bowfront (glass) I have a line on. I would really like to stay with a small tank. I have never tried shrimp or corals and wolud like to do so on a small scale.

[Zack]

well the rule in saltwater and reef is the bigger the better. More room for error in a larger tank! But if smaller is your ONLY choice, I would go with the biggest there and that is a 20. I would really push you to go here and learn a lot more about nano reefs! http://www.reeflounge.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12

[aimeovaldi]

I understand that larger is better, I would like to try a smaller version. I already have 6 tanks up at this time and my wife is already complaining about the cost.

I have 3 salt tanks: 46G bowfront FOWLR, 29G FOWLR, 10G Saltwater converted Guppy brood tank, 55G African Cichlid tank, 37G community tank and a 5G bowfront Barb tank at the office. So you may see my dilemma.

[Zack]

what about taking down one ortwo of those tanks?

[aimeovaldi]

Well, they all serve a different purpose for me. The salt tanks are a constant source of pleasure, and are beautiful to view. Yhe guppy tank is a food source for the salt tanks. The African Cichlids are so territorial that they provide hours of watching enjoyment, and they breed like crazy. The 5G is in my office at work and has to stay, it provides the only sanity available there ( I am a corrections administrator). I guess I could dump the community tank. I am just so attached to them all. What to do, what to do.

[Zack]

I know how you feel before I got into a reef I had 6 tanks!!! I got rid of them all but 1!

[Pineapple House]

I agree with Zack; The bigger the better. The 20 gallon would cost about the same as the 10 gallon (when it comes to electricity), but it would likely take up twice as much space. You have to put a lot of thought into this. A 10 gallon wouldn't give you too much room when it comes to stocking the tank, while the 20 gallon would give you a bit wider choice of selection. I would go with the 20 gallon. If you cannot posibly do this, the 10 gallon would have to be the next best thing.

PH =)

[rocket_155]

bigger is not always better in the case of a nano. IMO you should go for a 7G bow front as the 20G will cost you more in the inital setup (take this from a guy that has had a 20G, 24G, and a 10G set up all at once :mrgreen: ). The bow fronts are a better starting point, as most of the smaller tanks are made from acylic not glass and can scratch easly.

[phistio]

on note of the anemones...take it from someone with experience, that they will soon outgrow your tank!

they quickly outgrew my macro-nano 25...you can see my pics in my sig...

[Pineapple House]

they quickly outgrew my macro-nano 25...you can see my pics in my sig...
Holy Smokes Phistio :shock:

I remember Jeff's had a giant Ritteri Anemone about the size of a very large dinner plate, but wow was that beautiful! :-D

PH =)

[phistio]

you think that's bad...they're double the size that they were in that picture...that picture was taken like 3 or 4 months ago...the purple on extends 12" easily...and the white one (now rose in color) is about 8"... :shock: :shock: :shock:

[newreefers]

I like my 10 gal.

[Zack]

Very nice man!

[Darren-Thefishman]

i like my 20 gallon but i was disapointed to find a flame angel stuck in my heater this morning!!!! jeesus thoose pricy guys what was he thinking anyways i have a ritteri anemone in mine and its split 3 times!!!!!! jeezus he likes my tank 1 time he was as big as a FRIZBY i will post some pics tomorrow my digital is charging!!!

[Joey88again]

Get a JBJ 12 gallon nano cube I have one. It has a built in compact flourescent smartlamp, built in wet/dry filtration. But I will be taking out the sponges, ceramic biomedia, and bioballs. I think I mite just run carbon, and maybe a phosphate remover. All I had to buy is sand, rock, and a heater, plus the salt and stuff. I fit my visitherm 50 watt heater in the filter . It is deep so it is easy to stack the rock. You can see mine and Irvinemans, in the nano reef section, under does anyone hav a 12 gallon nano.