Thinking of making a (Not so) nano reef

So I've been doing some reading lately, and the idea of making a nano-reef has gotten stuck in my head. Only problem is, I don't have any experience with salt water I know I want to get a pair of clown fish (not sure which ones yet) and maybe one or two other colorful fish. And corals, definite planning on trying my hand at some soft corals like mushrooms.

So my question is now, how hard are nano reefs to set up and maintain? I'm planning on going with either a 20 or 30 gal tank, I don't want to go any smaller until I get a wee bit more experience at what I'm doing.

A 125g is less work than a 30g as far as saltwater goes. If your just starting saltwater I would start with a bigger tank. Balencing fish and coral in a nano reef can be tricky. I would go with more like a 55g

If you dont have a tank yet, what you want to look for is something the size that you can manage easiest. How much saltwater can you have ready just in case you need it in an emergency. I am able to store 30 gals of saltwater and 23 gals of fresh water. It should be enough if I need to do an emergency 20-30% water change on any of my tanks.

So if you can make say 10 gals of fresh saltwater to do a basic water change, you could easily manage a 50 gal tank.

I would also suggest that you get an all in one, or a tank with a built in overflow and sump system. It is so much easier maintenance and plumbing.

Smaller tanks do need more attention. My 180 gets a 30 gal water change every month, and my 75 gets a 10% water change every 6 weeks or so. My 3 gal pico gets 50% water change every week. It depends on the bioload and the mechanical filtration.

On a 30 gal tank, I would suggest doing a 6-7 gal water change weekly. And with the fish you want, at least 45lbs of rock and a skimmer rated for at least 50 gals.
If you can manage a water change weekly there is no reason you cant manage a 30 gal tank. If you wanted to keep SPS coral it starts getting a little trickier. But there again, with regular water changes that are managable for you, theres no reason you cant do it.

I'm glad you want to give it a try.
You find the system you think you can manage and I will be here to help you out with it.

Yeah I'm still open to changing my plans, it'll be a few months before I even have the ability to start setting up, which is why I'm planning now. Unfortunately size will be a factor, we're looking to finally move out of my in-laws place and get an apartment again, but if we end up with a second or third floor apartment I'm not going to be comfortable with a large tank. But if we end up on a ground floor... I might have to get my 120 set up finally. Cost is a second factor, once we're free of the in-laws I'll be putting in OT to help fund my tank.

Currently I'm thinking about trading the 120g tank (its just been sitting around for 2 years) and my 29 (with the 3d background in it) for what I can use.

There are a couple saltwater fish stores close to your area. I'll pm you.

You can stop in and get some ideas from them.

not extremely hard I started with a 25g then 38g and last a 55g couldn't go any I live on the third floor
Definitly listen to lilfishie she knows a lot

So I have a question, I have a canister filter that has the surface cleaning piece, would that be enough to act as a skimmer along with weekly 10-15% water changes?

I highly doubted people usually stay away from canister filters when keeping a reef tank

I figured I would ask, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to saltwater. The main purpose of a skimmer is to remove surface build up right?

No the skimmer actually removes proteins and solids from the water. You try to get as much water contact with the skimmer as posssible.
A skimmer uses a water pump and ventury fitting with airhose that infuses air with the water and the bubbles/foam will pull the organic waist, proteins and such out of the water and float it into a collection cup. There are some good hang on the back units, but I dont trust any to not overflow the collection cup. I only use in sump skimmers.
google youtube video of protein skimmers
there are some cheap ones out there that are just that! worthless.
To keep surface film or anything collecting on the surface, you want powerheads in the tank keeping the water circulating and the surface water moving. You want a LOT of flow in the tank to keep detritus and left over food and such getting to the machanical filtration. You dont want any dead spots where these thing will build up. That will cause cyano bacterial outbreak and algae outbreak.

Besides the tank, the skimmer is one of the most important pieces of equipment for saltwater tanks.
Its that or you do 50-60% water change every 4-7 days.
Lighting is the next important piece of equipment. Depending on what you want to keep as coral will determin what type of lighting you will need.
Another important piece of equipment, is an RO/DI unit to make fresh water. Tap water can contain too many contaminants that will cause bad algae outbreaks. For a clean system, you really need to use RO if not RO/DI water.

you can find good deals for skimmers on CL if you look around. Or wait for the memorial day sale at BRA

nano anything rules

There is much this padawan must learn!

another option for doing a nano is setting up a nice sump for it (hidden in a stand of course) so you can get away with more stock in less space. josh at petco in lakewood has a neat little nano on the desk there you could ask about.

Nanos still rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So it may not end up being a nano... I'm going sunday to pick up this tank:

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50 gal is a good size. Thats not a bad price either.

For your biofiltration, you going to want 60lbs of live rock.
Do you want to have a deep sandbed or a thin one. Or bare bottom?
I have found that bare bottom and thin sand bed are easier to syphon. You dont want to disturb a deep sandbed. You can syphon the top 1/2" or so. And there are some fish, such as some wrasse's that need a deep sandbed. Some snail and starfish will like some kind of sand.
Just a couple things to think about.

I was figuring on probably around an inch, inch and a half for sand bed thickness.

Once I get this tank I'll have a better idea what I'm going to do with it, but initial thought is to set up one corner for an overflow and route it down into a sump or refugium. I have a tank that was previously one or the other (no dividers inside) that I think will hopefully work. When I get the tank tomorrow I'll post pictures of both.

Sounds like a good plan.
If you want to make dividers, its pretty easy to do.

yeah, with both the tank and the sump being acrylic its just a matter of measuring and ordering the pieces from TAP along with the solvent. Which is the better way to go, a sump or a refugium?

i would do a sump and a HOB refugium. could easily toss one on the sump and theyre cheap from foster and smith.

Do both just put a divider in the middle and have your refugium on one side. I'll post a pic of mine.

Below is the right side of my 55 gallon sump/fuge. The water comes in on the right, right next to the skimmer. After that it has to go by three baffles.

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The next area is full of live rock and macro algae. Finally, i used egg crate to make a section for my return pump. There is no sand here, it is MUCH easier to clean a sump/fuge with no sand, and macro algae is a good nutrient export instead of a deep sand bed. You can also see the heater here, and the egg crate box full of rubble and ceramic noodles for growing pods.

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There is no sand here, it is MUCH easier to clean a sump/fuge with no sand, and macro algae is a good nutrient export instead of a deep sand bed.

Bummer, looks like the guy flaked on the tank. Last email I got said he was going to contact me today to come up around 2pm to get the tank but I've not heard anything back.

lame

aww that stinks, wat size tank are you looking at anyways? might help to look here, or if your selling GL here

I agree with the no sand in the fuge. It is a lot easier to clean. I only keep macro algae in the fuge too. As a matter of fact, I have an emerald crab and a couple scarlet reef crabs in my fuge. I cant remember the last time I cleaned it. I clean out the return section periodically, but never the fuge or skimmer area come to think of it.

Oh, yeah, that guy is rude not to contact you, one way or another.

No kidding, even an email saying he had sold it to someone else would have been nice.

Well this works out, got a line on another 50g tank, glass this time. they didn't give me the height measurement, but said it was a foot deep and 4 ft long. Any guesses on the height?

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^^ that is my favorite volume calculator.

It's most likely a 55g that they thing is a 50g.

Don't be to hasty to buy. There is always a good deal to be had. I bought a 57g rimless from a guy over at RF for $273 with most of the saltwater equipment. RF is a great place to look. I believe their is a nice 33g solana floating around on there for cheap ($300ish)

Yeah I was looking at the measurements and realized its probably the same size as the 55 I have sitting in storage that I bought off Spyral. I think I want something a little deeper than just 12"

Definitely get something deeper. A 75 gal tank is really nice. I went from a 55 to the 75 and am really happy with it. Its 18" deep. 4' long and 22" tall.

I think gallon wise a 50-55 is the biggest I'm going to go for now.

a 56 column tank is also a neat way to get a deeper footprint. a nice big stack of rocks and a good BG and man it could be a nice little SW setup.

Anthraxx wrote:a 56 column tank is also a neat way to get a deeper footprint. a nice big stack of rocks and a good BG and man it could be a nice little SW setup.

But you can't have very big fish:(

I'm not looking to get big fish >_>

Found a good deal, hoping they keep their word and hold the tank until Friday!

For $180 I'm getting:

40 Gallon Breeder tank
Black metal stand
Instant Ocean SeaClone 100 Protein Skimmer, 100 gal
Coralife Full spectrum lights
Aqueon activated carbon filter 50/55
Live sand
Live Rock

Now I know the live sand and rock probably won't be "live" when I get it as they've already taken the tank down but that's fine with me as it won't be going up right away anyways. Just means I'll have to pick up some live rock once I do set it up to help re-animate these rocks!

Depending on how big your pieces are you could drop some in my sump until you are ready.

I'll let you know!

Judging from the picture they supplied looks like it won't be too much live rock. That's easily obtained though. It also doesn't look to be drilled so I'll be looking into having to do that as well XD

On a side note, where does everyone get their RO/DI water that doesn't have a RO/DI unit, and how much is it per gallon? As I'll be living in an apartment when I set this bad boy up I might not be able to install a RO/DI unit.

Most people would buy the filtered water from Safeway, just grab a couple of five gal buckets and fill them up.... not sure how much but I think it's around 35cent/gal... it's not really RO/DI but still better than your tap water.
Also, it doesn't matter where you live, you can always install the RO/DI unit at your place, either in the kitchen or bathroom, it's very simple.. your rental $$$ might already covered for the water bill so why not

Have you thought about getting water from the Seattle aquarium
I thinks its like 5 or 10 cents per gallon

hey if a column tank really interests you my GF is selling her tank. doesnt have a lot of the saltwater gadgets but itd be a decent start. just check out my FS post and lemme know man.

Seattle Aquarium? Never would have thought of going there for water. A bit far though to head there just for water.

Anthraxx - Not wanting another column, I already have my 30 hex for that =P

grocery stores near you are a great start for water, also consider looking up either LFS near you or aquarium maintenance companys near you. most that service salt water will have premixed water. just an idea.

Yay so I got the tank today. So it won't be a nano reef anymore lol.

Its not drilled so eventually I'm gonna have to look into that, as well as a stand and hood for it. I'm probably going to have to get a bigger light, this one is smaller than the tank, infact it sits nicely on top of my 29g tank.

It is recommended to use RO/DI water. It helps keep down algaes. Seattle aquarium does sell NSW. Parameters are not ideal for reef but is fine for FOWLR systems.
Couple of LFS's will sell RODI water. Oceans by Design in Kent and Barrier Reef in Renton. You can use the filtered water from the grocery store too. Not perfect, but better than tap. Just dont get water with salt added. Most drinking water has salt added to it.
If you can get a hold of the perfect size tank, Oceans by Design and Red C Aquarium both will drill them for you. They both will build tanks too. Keep looking. Hold out for the right tank. Dont settle too soon for something that is not quite what you want.

I have the tank I wants, its a 40g breeder. I'll try to get pictures up tomorrow.