General Nano Rules For Newbs

[steelhealr]

We were all there once. I think I got zero responses on my first every post. SH

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Just a few more questions if you don't mind

When you do a water change, how do you bring the PH up to the same level as the tank. My tap water PH is at 7 in the tank the live aronite would bring this up to 8.1 or so? is that correct?
If so how would i do this in the bucket where there is no arog? Would i have to use chemicals or could i just use some of the extra sand i'd have left from my carribsea bag to use in the water storage container?

Just wanted to bump that question back up

Just another update (Or Info). I am going to get two individual daylight tubes and then two actnic tubes as i have been told that they out-perform the 50/50's by far. My lighting price alone now reaches £228.00 for absolutely everything eg. Reflectors, twin lighting unit and tubes.
It's a bit of a knock back but if it makes more corals available to me i'm more than up for it!

Thanks Dan

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hey all

My nano may be up and running a few months earlier than expected
My cory fry are being moved to the 22g until they are old enough to be sold and i'm getting rid of my fish (Don't flame me, i really need a change and marine is the only way to get my family interested into at least one of my hobbies)

I got that job i mentioned earlier in the thread so the money for that will help with everything. I finally bought everyones Xmas presents and my next phone bill is this week so after that i should be able to order my lights!

I've worked things out and hopefully LR should be in the tank by the end of January at least. For lights i'm going with an arcadia over-tank luminaire which holds four 24w bulbs. How far will this lighting take me up through corals? I was looking at a 150w MH but i couldn't find any 14k only the 10k and the amount MH's cost two actnics with the 10k would totally kill me for cash

I found out that my tank is actually an 18US gal instead of the 15 thought it was. Would this be okay for three fish or just the two? I'm hoping for one True percula, a firefish and then something blue (Anything that is blue and nano-compatible?)

Finally would this be an okay cleaner crew? (If not please add your suggestions, they are really appreciated )
4x Nassaurius (Sp?)
4x Cerith
4 x astraea
1 x turbo
1 x cleaner shrimp

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..lighting looks good for lps and some sps. Might need higher for clams. Two small fish would be fine. If you like the color blue, you could look for a blue assessor, but, they can be a little aggressive. Look at a purple firefish if you aren't fixed on blue...gorgeous fish.

Cleanup crew looks dead on...nice lineup there. SH

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hey again SH and thanks yet again for your reply

I don't think i will be keeping any clams so this light should be fine for me. I'm glad the clean-up crew sounds good, i was thinking about keeping a hermit crab but after reading around i have decided against it. I have checked out the blue assesor and although they are nice compared to the purple firefish they look outclassed by those colours! The only reason i thought of something blue was because the colours orange and blue normally go together really well but i guess my actnics will do that for me so i'll go with a firefish.

Thanks Dan

I'll post again when i order the lights which should be sometime soon depending on whether my mum gives me my Birthday money early or not (27th Dec)

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hi everyone!

The nano is still on for sure...But i'm now unsure whether i want to use the rekord 60 or use a 11gallon (10.7) tank 18x12x12 (inches). If i went for the 11g i would save myself £150 for everything apart from corals. I'm not sure what to do. I have done calculations for both tanks for EVERYTHING and obviously the amount is quite different.

rekord (18g) - £486.57
11g - £334.05

The disadvantages of the 11g would be i wouldn't get a firefish also and obviously less room for corals. The advantage is the cost and the size means i can fit it nicely in the lounge instead of my bedroom.

The price i have quoted is if i have my light calculations correct. I would use two interpet t5 36w 16" tubes (one Daylight and One Actnic). I would get two individual light ballasts so that i can turn on/off for each bulb separately as the twin ballast wont allow me to do so. This only thing i think im confused on now is if i have chosen the correct reflectors. Please take a look at these and tell me if they are okay to use with t5 tubes

18" Reflectors

Questions Time!

1. Are those lights okay for this tank? (mainly zoos, mushrooms i thinking)
2. Is that reflector t5 compatabile?
3. What tank should i go with?!

11g would be a single true perc and the 18 would be a true perc and firefish. Hmmmmm Desicions Decisions...

Thanks very much for your help in advance

 

[steelhealr]

It's a little tough for me to comment on the light as I am unfamiliar with it. However, the larger the tank, the easier/better off you'll be. If it were me, I'd choose the 18G. SH

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Yea thanks SH i guess i'll stick with the 18g, I'm ordering the light for it tommorow with the powerhead and then i'll have to wait for my Bday and left over Xmas money (Getting after Xmas). Thanks again

Dan

Edit: As the lights are on a luminaire how can i cover the tank without blocking out the lights?
I have 4 cats and they are always trying to get at my FW fish but there is a hood there. Something that would keep the cats out but let the air in would be good Hmmmm...
Any ideas?

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Okay Everyone

I've just ordered my lights, refractometer and tommorow i'll be picking up a powerhead and my digital thermometer

I'm going to start a separate tank diary as i've clogged up this thread with questions. Thanks very much for all your help Sh

Thanks Dan