My Nano Reef Set-up/diary (upgraded 45g) Step-by-step

Hi there

Finally after many years of keeping freshwater fish and a lot of uncertainty and hesitation I have decided to set-up my first marine tank. This was mainly inspired by reading Steelhealr's Nano Reef Set-up several months ago.

As going marine aint just a simple matter I have spent the last few months doing as much research on the subject as possible. This has included reading and following several other marine journals; both on this and other websites.

As well as researching up as much info online as possible I have also been reading the following books and have found them very useful so would recommend them to any beginner who is just starting up (like me), along with any experienced aquarist who may be interested in expanding his/her knowledge of the hobby:

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist
The Simple Guide to Min-Reef Aquariums by Jeffrey Kurtz
The New Marine Aquarium by Michael Palleta

So finally after concluding it was time I start my own nano reef, I've decided I am going to start my own journal on this site as it was here where I originally received my inspiration.

So I hope you people enjoy and share this long slow journey with me as I set-up my nano reef and develop my knowledge through all the ups and downs that the hobby may bring.

Please do feel free to post any suggestions, input or recommendations as all advice and info is appreciated as it will help both myself along with any future want-to-be aquarists' develop knowledge and understanding of the hobby!

Also as I am only a beginner please do be patient and understanding as I am sure to make mistakes and so would appreciate all comments to help me correct them. Also I may do things different to how you may so any ideas that work for you would also be appreciated especially if things dont go to plan.

So here goes...

As I am limited to the amount of space I have to set up the tank, after originally reading Steelhealr's journal I was quite intent on getting myself a 24G Nano Cube as it has "everything" needed to get started for a first marine tank but after much research and looking at the prices here in the UK, I decided to change my mind as it has too many limitations to explore different ideas and I could set up my own design for more or less the same price.

So instead I decided to opt for a Juwel Rekord 96 glass aquarium as it is the most suited tank for the space I have to put it!

The tank is approx 32" (81cm) x 16" (41cm) x 12" (30cm) (WHD).

Upon getting the tank I decided to take off the background and paint the back black using a gloss enamel paint using a mino gloss roller as the paintbrush tended to leave brush marks!

Also I took out the standard Juwel box filter from the corner of the tank as I do no intend on using it as I plan on using live rock, a protein skimmer and a refugium instead to help filter the tank and keep the water clean along with routine weekly water changes.

The standard hood for the Juwel tank contains a small T8 tube which I know is far too weak to keep some of the corals I wish to have in the tank in the future when the time is right and the tank is ready. So I have purchased a hang-on-the-sides overhead illuminare system instead. This contains 4 24w T5 tubes, 3 x 14000k tropical daylight and 1 x marine actinic. I hope this light is adequate to help me keep seme types of soft corals and lifestock.

Along with the aquarium here is a list of other items I have also bought/got so far:

1. Acrylic Refugium 20" x 12" x 4" Hang-on-the-Back type
2. Eden 228gph Self rotating powerhead - to generate flow/ create waves
3. Heaters x 2, 1 100w for main tank. 1 50w to go in refugium
4. Small 400lph powerhead for refugium
5. Clip-on light 6700k 11w full spectrum for macroalgae in refugium (when ready)

Here is a list of items I believe I currently require:
1. Protein Skimmer- Deltec MCE300 Hang-On-Back
2. A marine reef salt, still not decided which one (Tropic Marin Pro/Instant Ocean/Pro Reef Crystals)???
3. RO Unit, posiible ROman
4. Refractometer - better than a hydrometer
5. Another powerhead to create greater current- any suggestions??
6. Moonlight - LED's or tube not sure yet??
7. Timers- for both T5's and Moonlighting
8. THERMOMETER!!!
I believe I have got everything listed there that is required in order for me to be ready to fill with water? If you beleive I have missed anything then please do say???

Next stage for me once I have got all the equipment will be to carry out a "dry run" to see if everything is working in order. I will kepp everyone posted on when everything arrives and I am about set-up, but as for now I am off as I've been here for almost 2hours writing all the above!!!

So I hope I aint been jabbering on too much and I hope others will read this and send me some feedback!

Cheerz everyone

PS. Ive took loads of pics and they all saved as JPEG images on ma pc but for some reason I cannot upload them as files are apparantly too big... does anyone know how I can make files smaller so I can put some pics up??

Sounds like you're jsut about ready. I'd get the extra powerhead situation sorted out first. I really like the newer Hydor Koralia powerheads. Since the product is still relatively new, its long-term reliability is as yet unknown, but the design and efficiency are phenomenal. If you don't go with a Koralia, I'd look at Tunze Nanostreams.

As for the pictures, I'd go ahead and open them with MS paint and re-save them as jpegs, this will re-compress them and bring them down under 1mb each.

I have been doing a partial dry run using normal tap water to check the tank is steady with no leaks and the eqipment I have is in working order. Everything so far seems to be fine.

I've bought a newjet 2300lph powerhead, was going to go for a nanostream but couldn't really afford at the minute. Also got myself a refractometer and a 200ltr bag of seachem reef salt as it seems to have a good spec and also contains "ideal seawater concentrations of magnesium, calcium, and strontium with proper alkalinity and pH for closed reef aquarium systems", so I thought it sounds good?!

Just wainting for some equipmet to arrive then can mix the salt in the tank and have a proper dry test run to see if everything works.

Going to leave getting a RO unit and a protein skimmer at the time being as funding is low as want to get decent live rock once tank is set. Going to instead fill the tank with RO water bought from LFS. Should have my own RO unit by the time the tank has cycled!

Sounds like a plan 1entra, As long as you got your heater and power head you can go ahead and mix your salt water up, But I wouldnt add salt till the water at 26 degrees, makes the process quicker, then just keep your power head going to keep water nice till you ready to add the rest!




Get some pics up asap really wanna see the tank in its glory and makes for a better journal/diary!

pengy666 said:

Get some pics up asap really wanna see the tank in its glory and makes for a better journal/diary!

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I've got loads of pics i wana put up but the files are too big and this forum will only let me upload 100kb attatchments whereas all my photos are about 500kb-1mb! I just can not seem to reduce the size!

So please can anybody help me overcome this and reduce the pic size?

Cheerz

You need to compress them with some sort of picture editing software. JPEG is best as it can compress really well without losing too much quality.

Finally managed to redce the size of a few images to under 100k. Here is the the tank from behind after it had been painted black!

Tank with overhead Illumminare

Tank whilst running initial dry run to test equipment and check for any leaks. Still waiting on few bits and bobs before can get fully started!Back view of tank with refugium attatched but no lighting as of yet!

I appologise for the poor picture quality but it has resulted from crompressing the images into smaller format! It is the best I can do at present but hopefully will be able to get the hang of things and get better pictures uploaded!


As mentioned ealier I have decided to use a hang on the back acrylic refugium as part of my filteration system in my tank. This should aid my live rock in keeping the tank clean and free of problems. As soon as I can afford one I will be getting a Deltec MCE300 protein skimmer to also aid with keepin water in top condition.

Below is a drawing of how I expect my refugium to look once complete. A 400lph powerhead is going to be used inside the tank to pump water through the inlet into the filter compartment where is is going to pass through a filter sponge to mechanically remove any large pieces of fish waste etc. Then the water will move through both the phosphate remover and the activated carbon; which should chemically remove any phosphate and chemicals in the water; before moving through the live rock rubble and into the main chamber. Here it will pass through the macroalgae and back out through the outlet tube and back into the main tank!

A 11w clip-on 6700k full spectrum light is to be used to help grow the macroalage. Hopefully I will be able to also culture amphipods and copepods in the refugium!

skip the mineral mud, seems like a bunch of expensive snake oil. And i would put the rowa-phos and carbon after the macro algae otherwise the rowa-phos may starve the macro of some nutrients. Plus its cheaper to grow macro than it is to replace GFO. Put live rock rubble in the refugium under the light, not in a small compartment. Other than that it seems pretty good.

If you want good quality pictures on here, you could use photobucket. You upload images onto there and then give the links in the post.
Great start will be watching closely as ive just finished my cycle with a juwel, by the way, how did u take the black filter box out? I dnt kno how to take mine out lol.

Will

fiskkeeperpro said:

If you want good quality pictures on here, you could use photobucket. You upload images onto there and then give the links in the post. Great start will be watching closely as ive just finished my cycle with a juwel, by the way, how did u take the black filter box out? I dnt kno how to take mine out lol.Will

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Hi there will, Thank you for your comments. I will try using the the compression method for now but if it continues to be a pain then yes I will give photobucket a go! T be honest with you my back filter was a bit lose so I gently pulled it off. Then I used a flat razor blade to scrape/cut off the glue that was used to hold the filter in place but was left on the the sides of the tank when the filer was removed. Good look with your tank also, I will find your thread and keep on eye how you are getting on.Cheerz

littleme1969 said:

You need to compress them with some sort of picture editing software. JPEG is best as it can compress really well without losing too much quality.

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Quick thanks to littleme1969 for her input, its what helped me finally get some pics on my thread.Cheerz

kl, i will try and take of my filter using a razor knife, and unfortunatlley i didn't create a thread to show my progress through this great hobby.

fiskkeeperpro said:

unfortunatlley i didn't create a thread to show my progress through this great hobby.

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Wel how about you start one off now. take a few pics and just state where you are now along with everything you've done so far including a list of equipment etc. It should keep you occupied and show how u progress over time. Oh and it would also be nice for others to follow your journal and see how your getting on