nano reef questions...

[broadwave]

I have decided to start a nano-reef. The tank will be a 15g Pefecto 24Lx12wx12h. It will probably hold 2 fish and misc inverts. The filtration will consist of live rock and a Prizm skimmer. Water flow will be from 2 hagen 301's in the corners pointed towards the center for max watermotion as well as the return from the skimmer.

I want it to be mostly SPS. So here's my dillema...lighting.

I have been looking at different pendants from PC's to MH to PC/MH combos...Am I getting you confused because I sure am. Since I am aware that SPS corals mostly require MH I am leaning that way. However with a tank that is only 12" deep should I use 175w or 250w or is MH overkill on a tank of that depth.

The other question is aboutthe sand bed. The standard for a DSB is 4" so in a 12" deep tank I have a sandbed tank instead of reef which is what I would rather have. So...if I have a 2" DSB will that suffice? I am starting to wonder if the DSB thing is relative to the size of the system? I will also be adding IPSF live sand activator as well.

Thanks for your help...

[Ol Salty2K]

Save the hobby, leave the world of fish and corals and take up
an ant farm.
Just joking, I'm looking forward to seeing your results

[Chuck S]

You looking at a NANO with SPS. HMM Good Luck on that one. Nano's are hard enough with hardy corals not to speak of trying ones less than hardy. You will have to go with a 2 inch sand bed. A Pendant would be your best choice. Do not put it too close to the water as heat would be an issue with that small volume of water. I have a 25 lit with PC's and heat is an issue. They are closer to the water though. A MH 175watt will do bit the little actinics on the sides.

[broadwave]

Salty.....


AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

You're killing me!!!

I know where you live!!

Just make sure you have a beer waiting for me!!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[broadwave]

Chuck,

You are right that the nano will be difficult...but I think I am up to the task. I have actually gone with the customsealife 96w compact prizm based on my research on GARF and also froma local fish store about 25 minutes from my house.

Here is the nano tank that inspired me to try one with SPS.
http://www.inlandreef.com/nano.html

The only difference between the one at Inland and my nano will be the lights and teh use of a skimmer. All supplements and additive will be the same. On a side note, this tank use to have a skimmer on it...they only rely on water changes now.

Also check out the other "show" tanks they are quite impressive. Unfortunately they do not show the 75 gallon which I feel is the nicest one there.

[Chuck S]

Number one mistake people make on Nano's is not thinking about how fast evaporation can harm things. You let the water go down just a 1/2 inch and you have a very harmful thing indeed. Either someone must top this off every day or one have a nice top off unit but still you need to check it everyday. So it still is alot of work. Good Luck in your endevor. A better way to run a Nano is to make it part of another system as in branching off from a refugium or sump so it is part of another system. It makes it a lot more stable.

[broadwave]

I've got the top off covered.
I'll be using the peristalic pump I have from reef-aquarium.com to top off RO/DI from an old 5 gallon salt bucket.

[cheletnjared]

Broadwave -

I don't know if you have seen this guy's tank yet, but here is the link:
Bonsai reef (http://mistressreef.homestead.com)
Look at his Bonsai reef set-up. It is a 7 gallon mini-bow that houses some softies, SPS, and LPS. - was also featured as tank of the month in the online advanced aquarist magazine. He has some good ideas for topoff, lights, etc..

- Jared.

[broadwave]

Hi Jared...
I hope everything is well..

That is a pretty nice NANO! Now I know I can use the 96w pendant since this guy is only using 32w and haveing good success with SPS.

The water top off if very similar to what I have in mind...only the pump I will be using is bigger /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif