Look out it's Nano time (Well mini time)

[The_Bandit]

Hey there,

I reckon I have got the PAR (Partner Acceptance of Reef) factor up high enough that I will be allowed to start a nano/mini tank.

I was thinking a 2 footer.... and have a had a bit of a think about it.

Get a 24"x24"x16"(H). Partition off using 3mm black acrylic at about the 2/3 mark - 16" tank, 8" refugium. Drill powerhead outlets through the partition. Put the powerheads in the refugium, so that the effluent flow is into the display area. This achieves 2 things:

1. avoids clutter in the smallish display tank.
2. causes flow over the partition, providing surface skimming and removing biofilm from the display tank.

Light the refugium with 2 (about 5000deg.K) NO fluoros (nice and cheap) and grow macroalgae using RDP. I have a preference for Halimedia spp... they tend to be more robust in an environment that supports SPS IME. And run a 150W 10000K MH (retro'ed into the hood with a cooling fan) over the display

OK, this is where you come in.

Give me your thoughts on setup.... I want more of a coral garden look than a 'fishtank'.... so there will only be 2 maybe 3 fish. I want to keep some SPS (as a semi grow out tank) but the tank will be all small corals, no big Euphyllia sp. or anything

By having a low fish bioload, will a DSB in the refugium be enough ?? I was thinking of having about a 2" sandbed in the front... this gives a more proportional look in a small tank.

Skimmer ? Not sure I will need one if I do a 25% change every week. But I will probably go with a small one, thrown into the refugium.
Circulation... space is at a premium.... any ideas apart from powerheads ?

Please remember I am in Australia, so forget PC's (we don't have 'em !) and if talking other equipment, give flow rates etc as most of the stuff you mention won't be available over here

Thoughts, comments, criticisms appreciated !


__________________


Jamie

[The_Bandit]

Anyone ??

[organicreefer]

sounds like a good little plan to me ,except for the no skimmer part.you eluded to the fact that you might want to keep sps,and imo sps and no skimmer dont mix too well.

[ScottC]

I used to have a 20G mini with 2"crushed coral bed, 40 lbs of LR and a seaclone75 skimmer on it. It ran like a clock for years. I wanted bigger, so that's the only reason I don't have it anymore. I also had 2x55w PCs over it (white+blue)

[MarkS]

Originally posted by organicreefer
sounds like a good little plan to me ,except for the no skimmer part.you eluded to the fact that you might want to keep sps,and imo sps and no skimmer dont mix too well.

Sorry to disagree, but that is absolutly not true. Post a question about this at Aqualink's Skimmerless forum.

Mark

[organicreefer]

sps,in a nano,with no skimmer?im sure its possible but ,not the easiest route i wouldnt think

[The_Bandit]

Hi Organicreefer,

I was thinking of going skimmerless as the refugium (with the macroalgae) should take the majority of the load, and the water changes should do the rest. A 25% water change in a tank this small will be a piece of cake.... compared to my 150G !!!

The other problem with the skimmer is where to put it... space is going to be at a premium.