Wanting to get a Nano so i have questions haha

lank

lank

Member
My background:
While living at home my dad and i started a 165 bow front with ufo led lighting system very nice system btw. Well ive moved out now and got my own place but the itch of the hobby is everywhere so i really want to start my own aquarium. I want a nano around a 28 gal so i can have fish, soft, hard corals and a clam. So my questions is i need help from the masters ha. My dad has always said to stay away form nanos due to water conditions being able to change so fast and rarely ever constant but from what i have read so fare thats far for the truth as along as you do weekly water changes and keep a good eye on it.
I am stuck on the fence (extremely painful) Bio cube or Nano cube
I noticed the JBJ nano comes with a intermediate and a advanced LED system. i am wondering what is the real difference between the two options (want LEDs after switching to them in our 165 im hooked).
Is is worth buying the complete set or just buying the standard tank and moding to what i want?
Skimmers a must if you do weekly water changes?
So hopefully as you guys can help me out with some of these questions. More will most likely follow but im just looking for some help cause after leaving this addicting hobby i NEED to get back in.
Thanks,
Mike
 
lank

lank

Member
opps just saw that some one has asked the same question as i have my fault for not looking all the way down the nano listing.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I like customization... and you can't really get that with one of the pre-made cubes.
The saltwater hobby is very expensive to get in to. If anything, take a hard look at your finances and see if you can really accomplish what you want with what you are currently making. It's hard to start an expensive hobby when you are just getting used to living on your own and paying all of your own bills. Not saying that it can't be done and I don't suggest it - because I did it myself. All I'm saying is - set a budget and stick to it.
I would get a 30g or a 36g bowfront. A 36g is not really considered a "nano" then, and it's just big enough to keep things pretty stable. I'd also invest in a small sump for it, and an awesome internal skimmer and some macroalgae. The rest is up to you.
LED lights are getting better these days, but I would still only trust those that are really made for reefs, such as Radions or the new AI Vega. Chinese LED fixtures have been proven to work as well, but their lamp life and circuitry are kind of.. lacking. As well as being able to customize and replace bulbs..... it's kinda hard to invest in something like that, knowing that there isn't any customer service either.
Keeping hard corals and clams in a small tank is very difficult because maintaining proper calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels - even if doing weekly 30% water changes, can be pretty difficult to make them stable. Also, lower volumes of water have more temperature and salinity shifts which are more difficult to manage in smaller systems. It's definitely not impossible - have seen some SPS dominated 3g vase tanks over on a larger forum, but they have many years of experience and the MONEY to back it up.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
doing a mixed reef ina nano is more challenging for several reasons, as snake mentioned some above, there are others like mixing hard and soft corals the terpenoid compounds released by the softies are more concent5rated therefore do more damage in a nano. the other swings like salinity, temp PH oxygen levels are all managable along with the compounds I mentioned as long as your willing to dedicate time and money toi the tank. weekly water changes on a mixed reef at 28g would be a minimum In my opinion. daily monitering of water levels and temp at foirst untill you get a feel for how much the temp swings with lights on and off.
I myself avoid nanos like the plague, simply for the reasons above. a moderate size tank is actually far easier on you, and is more forgiving. it may cost a little more on the start up but then again you dont have to buy a cube then re-engineer the whole tank so you can keep SPS in it. I like snakes Idea of a 30 or 36 bow its a good starter tank (even though my first tank was a 20g with a 5 gallon bucket for a sump LOL)
but dont let us talk you out of a nano they can be very rewarding and enjoyable. if you get one I'm sure we will all still chip in advice that we can to help you out.
Well what evewr way you choose I will watch and we will all chip in advice and answers for your questions. let us know what you decide.
 
lank

lank

Member
Ok thank you guys alot. So after being reminded by snake that bills and real people things now are in effect ha setting a strict budget is key. Your idea about a 30 or 36 also made me think so i called my dad cause i remembered he had a old 40 gal breeder that i used for a lizard when i was growing up.
So new questions
Could i use my old 40gal that once housed a lizard?
Since you guys both have sent up a number of tanks what would be a good guess on how much money i would be dropping into this project. I have been around this hobby long enough to know not to rush this but with this being my money not the big guys i just want to know if i should hold off a year or so.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
as long as its an actual aquarium not a lizard cage if you reseal the dry silicone you should be fine. wash it really well and your good to go.
and I must add 40breeders are awesome little tanks.
as for the cost I couldnt tell you I have spent so much and wheeled and dealed and traded so much I couldnt ewven guesstimate a price range for you. it all depends on how high tech you go.
 
red tiger

red tiger

Member
***** is having $1 a gallon sale, maybe yours is to! I bought a 40 breeder for $43 bucks! Usually $115, might worth looking into it!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by lank http:///t/392889/wanting-to-get-a-nano-so-i-have-questions-haha#post_3491716
Ok thank you guys alot. So after being reminded by snake that bills and real people things now are in effect ha setting a strict budget is key. Your idea about a 30 or 36 also made me think so i called my dad cause i remembered he had a old 40 gal breeder that i used for a lizard when i was growing up.
So new questions
Could i use my old 40gal that once housed a lizard?
Since you guys both have sent up a number of tanks what would be a good guess on how much money i would be dropping into this project. I have been around this hobby long enough to know not to rush this but with this being my money not the big guys i just want to know if i should hold off a year or so.
As long as you clean out that tank really well and make sure it will hold water long term, I don't see any problems,... other than if it is a "true" reptile tank... then the glass would be too thin to keep water in it long term. I mostly trade little green pieces of paper for my equipment and livestock. You're looking at spending $300 on a stand, $200 on a decent protein skimmer. $350 for a decent lighting system. $100 for a DIY Sump and about $125 for a return pump. You will most likely spend another $120 in powerheads... and then that's not really getting into stuff that would really make your SPS corals grow well, such as a very small calcium reactor, an auto top off unit and reservoir and possibly even a phosphate reactor. So, lots of research to do. Lots of planning.
If you buy one thing a month for your tank and get it all started and going like that - then in a year you can finally get water put in it. I've had to do that before when my wife and I were both going to college and barely working. Some people with very large builds also do it that way - a little at a time. You can also start your tank with a minimal setup... stand, tank, sand, rock, sump, return pump, powerhead, heater, lights and powerheads and then slowly add all the bells and whistles afterwards.
 
lank

lank

Member
So i went home today to look around at old stuff that we have that i could possibly use for the aquarium build. So this is what i have come up with.
Main tank: 40 gal 36x19x19 its a think glass aquarium
Sump: found a 20 gal high 24x12x16 aquarium in the basement.
Pump: Syncra silent 5.0 1321 gph wet dry
Lights: 55 watt Actinic blue and 55 watt 10,000 k linear PIN (U shaped lights)
So this is what i have on hand already
So the main tank doesnt have any plumbing so would i have to drill the tank to add pluming? What would be the best way about going at this project if you know of a thread that could point me in the right direction that would greatly help.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
You can drill have bulkheads or you can get a hang on back overflow box I personally prefer drilled because you never risk losing siphon and overflowing. I have had many a floods due to the siphon failing on the HOB style boxes.
 
lank

lank

Member
Ok ya that makes sense oh having more water and not having the tank cluttered with heaters and filter.
So my question is with what i have on hand lights and pump would i be able to set up a working frag/ small reef aquarium?
What about the pluming? Whats the best way to set up a 40 gal breeder with out having to drill any holes in the tank?
 
lank

lank

Member
Haha wow well that good ha. We have around 6 of these that i could use if that makes a difference? What lights should i go? MH (what wattage) T5s?
 
lank

lank

Member
What would be the best way to plumb these two tanks together? I would like to not drill the tank because i have never done this before. I am worried that not drilling and if something goes wrong the tank could overflow. Just would like to know how to go about this. If someone who knows of a thread that shows how to do this that would really help. I have been looking but i havent found one that i can really follow.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
These guys are a great video resource with a ton of information and product reviews
+1. The BRS guys are pretty good.
Check out the glass holes guys.
https://www.google.com/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&rlz=1C2PRFB_enUS501US501&q=glass-holes.com&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=dc3856d8d691a444&biw=1024&bih=653&pf=p&pdl=300
They have DIY overflow kits that you can purchase that have everything. Research a bit and think about it.
I recently drilled a frag tank and it was pretty easy. I re-watched a bunch of videos before I felt comfortable.
If you drill the plumbing is pretty easy. You just need to get the water from the main tank down to the sump tank and then back up. Youtube some sump builds to get the feel.
Like Snake said it is not cheap to set up a reef tank... Especially if you are looking to keep SPS coral. You need pristine water and you need to test regularly (you may need to dose ). But you could set it up and then add the equipment as you have the funds. That's what I would do.
I know that when I set up my first 29g I had over a grand into it pretty quick. It's kinda funny people out of the hobby think that the tank is a big expense. It really is one of the cheaper things you buy.
 
lank

lank

Member
Thanks guys so im thinking of making one of those DIY PVC overflow systems. They seem very easy to make and look like it would work fine. I would plan on making 2 of them one on either side of the tank.
My question to you guys is about the flow rate. The pump i have at home is a Syncra silent 5.0 1321 gph wet dry. Is 1321 to much gph for a 40gal breeder? My other question is have any of you guys used these or know if they do really work? Read that they are loud not sure how they would be because its a syphon.
 
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