Back To Basics...

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hey Everyone!

I posted a thread about wanting to start a new nano-reef in the marine chit chat section after selling my 15g in preparation for moving out with my girlfriend last year.
Now that we have settled down and decorated our apartment i've decided i want to begin a new diary and adventure with marine fish after being given the go-ahead by the missus!

I'll be going back to basics as a year out of TFF has left my brain feeling like a dried out sponge, so there's lot more learning to be done along with the usual researching and question asking...

Here are a few pictures of my old nano-reef for the new members that weren't around when i began and a little refresher for those who helped me through my first adventure...

Sorry got a little carried away there

Here is my thread if anyone wants a 15minute read:

Here

I Will read through my thread tommorow as a little refresher to try and remember some of the things i learnt along the way but here are a few little questions that will help me with my cost predictions and planning

1. What was the LR Llbs per gallon again?

2. Substrate per gallon?

3. Turnover targets (15 - 20 X per hour? )

4. Temperature of tank?

Sorry if i'm coming across as idol i'm just getting a limited amount of time to the internet right now as we don't have a connection at our place so i'm using the time i have as productivley as think i can

A few things i know that will change from the previous setup are:

1. Surface agitation - I often struggled with surface scum which came as a result from not enough surface agitation, i tried to counter this by using a hydor flor pointing at the surface but only managed to achieve increased salt creep!

2. Deeper sandbed - Whilst not going deeper than recommended i'll be using a little more this time as i feel i was a little short of it last time.

3. Equipment showing - This time round i want to go for a more natural look to the tank by reducing the amount of equipment on display. I will try to achieve this by keeping a sump in the cabinet below the tank which will house the heater, thermometers and the single external pump. I will have two holes cut into the back of the tank glass - One going at the bottom which will drain the water from the tank to the sump and then the pump will push water back up the piping into a hole, higher on the back of the glass near the centre.

The water going back into the pipe will go through the bulkhead and inside the tank, pointing up towards the surface will be a 'V' shaped outlet which will stir the surface, hopefully reducing the amount of surface scum i have.

4. Temperature control - i will use built-in fans facing the surface to cool the tank, a problem i struggled with in my first nano.

I am not sure what tank size i am going with yet as it will all depend on what styles i see that i like at the LFS. As always my Diary will be slow moving so don' get to excited just yet . I will probably be going with an Arcadia t5 4 tube unit again as i did rate it from my previous experience.

I'll post up the predicted costs of the adventure tommorow after i've calculated everything.

Look forward to replies and thoughts, i know i'll be needing them more and more as this diary progresses

Dan

 

[SkiFletch]

Man reading that thread brings back memories. Guys like Demonmagus, Aquascaper, Chac, Bunjiweb, Mr Miagi, and some of my own posts when I too was wet behind the ears

And since SH is scarce nowadays, let me say on his behalf, "Weclome back aboard Dan"

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Cheers for the post Ski! I know! Strange that so many of them have deserted this place?! Where have they all gone?

I know that you will play a big part in helping me setup this nano just as you did with the last one on the other threads i started

Anyway, the show must go on and here's the latest unimportant update I have done a bit of researching and have found the answers to my questions on the earlier post as well as refreshing my mind

After spending an hour or so pricing up different tank sizes and ideas but at the same time considering maintenance, potential and enjoyment i have decided on pretty much everything i will be going with so i can start picking up things bit-by-bit! I know that you guys here will help me fine-tune these into final choices but this will be my first draft.

The setup will consist of: (Long list but i like to give an idea on start-up costs to new members looking to start a marine tank themselves!)

The Tank

24" x 15" x 15" - I've decided to add on an extra 3" onto the depth of the tank after my previous experience, as i really feel it will help contribute to a better aquascape and allow me access to the 4 glass sides to clean. I really am going for the clean, modern look with this tank, so corraline on the glass will hopefully be unseen, if not minimal!

To keep up the idea i will going braceless which will probably mean it will have to be a custom made tank although the extra 3" depth may have already decided that factor. The Dilema is * Black or clear silicone? *

Finally, the tank will be drilled twice centrally both high and low to have bulkheads connected which will link the sump and tank together. More on this later...

The Stand

The stand again will probably have to be made to suit the tank as well being able to accomodate the sump underneath. Finish-wise i'll be looking for either silver and chrome or black and white, that one IS up to the missus!

The Sump

Will house pretty much all of the tanks running equipement to help again with the clean, modern look im after. Here will be:

* Tank - 18" x 10" x 10"
* Heater
* Digital Thermometer & Cheap Thermometer
* External pump which will send water back upto tank, looking for around 25X per hour turnover this time round
* Section for Rowa-Phos filter media to help with removal of phosphsates, one of the small problems i had last time

There will be no refugium down here however as my only aim for the sump is to reduce equipment viewable in tank. Should i use a cheap thermometer on the tank as well to keep an eye on any possible fluctuations?

The Piping

I know that this part of the setup can't be sorted out just yet as i will need to get more specific on how far the water from the sump has to be pushed back upto the tank, depending on tank viewing height etc.

*Getting to the Sump*

Basically there will be a small hole drilled into the tank at the bottom which will have a bulkhead connecting the tank to the piping. A 90 degree angle will turn the piping so it is heading down to the sump before another 90 degree angle turns the piping into a pre-cut hole in the stand. A final 90 degree bend turn the piping into the sump where the outlet will be sunk under a few inches of water to reduce noise.

There will be no chambers in the sump such as oxygen towers, refugium etc... Here the water will be heated, temperature checked, phosphate removed before being drawn into the external pump.

*Getting to the tank*

An external pump sitting in the sump will generate 25X per hour turnover AFTER compensating for power lost after piping bends and so on. The external pumps outlet will have piping fitted to it which will tank the water to the roof of the stand, here a 90 degree angle will send the piping towards a second pre-cut hole which the piping will run though. Then the piping takes another 90 degree turn so it is heading vertically upwards towards the tank. A final 90 degree bend will send the piping towards the inlet bulkhead which will immediatley connect onto a 'V' shaped outlet pointing upwards which will break the surface creating my surface agitation.

I know this is an area i require alot of your help including thickness of piping, external pump choices along with troubleshooting regarding to back-flow, caused through powercuts etc.

The Lighting System

Arcadia Overtank Luminaire T5 4Tube ( 2 x 24w Daylights + 2 x 24w acinics )

Connected to 2 seperate lights timers which will give me the following light schedule:

2pm - Acinics On (Sp?)
3pm - Daylights On
10pm - Daylights Off
11pm - Acinics Off

This schedule has been suited to my work schedule so i can get the maximum amount of viewing time when i am at home.

RO Unit

Popping back to RO-Man for a 75GPD 4 stage system which will again be plumbed up to the bath using hozelock tap connectors. Upgrading from a 50GPD unit for faster RO water. Will opt for an inline TDS meter this time round i think whilst also sticking with the DI unit.

Filtration

Biogically again - Of Course!! (Other than the phosphate remover)

1.5 lbs per gallon of Fijian Live Rock
1.5lbs per gallon of Arag-live substrate

Bits and bobs left to buy that make up total startup costs:

* Master Kit - Any good brands?
* Refractometer
* Ebo Jager 125w Heater
* Reef Crystals salt
* Water change equipment ie. Heater, Powerhead & Drums
* Miscs - Food, cleaner crew, nets etc

Total costs after researching = £943.50

That figure includes EVERYTHING i have calculated that i will need from extension leads to magfloats and gives me a fully running tank ready for fish (After cycle of course! )

This will be broken up into recruiting the setup bit-by-bit such as allocating a set amount of the household income every month
to get the things i will need. I will update with coming together pics along with bombarding you all with questions

This time around i hope my thread will be full of information and tips for beginners along with my own questions to other members which will help my setup.

* Just a recap of questions incase i lost you *

1. Would you go with black or clear silicone?
2. Both thermometers in sump or would you put one in tank?
3. Good master kit?
4. Good external pump brand? (I'm in the UK)

Don't be afraid to put comments, thoughts in as they are very helpful and appreciated. I always try to respond to every comment

Cheers anyway
Dan

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Just a little update:

Have Bought my first box of nano equipment

Refractometer
Digi Thermometer
Cheapo thermometer
Vacuum
Nets
RO Drums
6 way extension lead
2 Digital timers


I'm ordering the bulk of equipment at the end of this month (Payday!) such as my lighting system, RO Unit, heaters, external pumps (When the lifesaver Skifletch has killed aly questions ) and pretty much everything else except the tank/cabinet/sump!

Hopefully the system should all be paid for by the end of july but then it's a matter of waiting for it to be built and so on

Anyhow i'll just go into hiding until the end of the month