My New Nano - I Have Life Already!

[mike_danger]

Hi all,

I have decided to get into the saltwater game by setting up a Nano Tank. I may regret it later, but I am taking things very slow (with the help from the pinned post, very useful thanks!). However back to the title of this post...

I bought my new tank on Tuesday its an ‘aqua one – 418’. I also bought some LR on the same day so I could set it all up to mature. I have done this and its looking good. But when I was looking at the tank yesterday, I saw a small (maybe 1cm) white shrimp crawling around! But more exciting is when I was looking today I saw a CRAB!!! This is no lye, it’s about 3 cm long!

They have of course come in with the live rock, but I’m amazed they have survived, I would presume its all going good in there if they are alive! Sorry I’m being an over excited newbie, but I find it amazing!

Michael

 

[bunjiweb]

I like the tank! What kind of lighting does the lumminaire come with?

What are your plans for stocking it? Is a pump hidden behind the Live Rock? And are you thinking of putting a skimmer on there? A back-pack skimmer would fit well onto that open-top tank.

Ben

 

[mike_danger]

Hi,

Yeah I am really happy with it, my lfs has one set up and that is what tempted me to get it. It was well priced for a marine set up... £200.00 for the set up + £70.00 in live rock.

Filtration is done via an undergravel filter (you can see the pipe in the left of the pic). But I have a power head behind the live rock for a more rapid water movement.

I'm really not sure on the lights, there doesnt seem to be any markings on the unit or any info in the instructions to what they are, so if any ones knows I would be very greatful.

Would you suggest I get a skimmer, what benifits do they do?

Michael

 

[bunjiweb]

well, it really depends on how often you are prepared to do water changes. If you are realistically going to keep up with a 10% weekly change then you dont need a skimmer. However if you plan to stock the tank well and are not totally sure on the maintanence side of things then a skimmer can be a good back up. Not only for removing day to day protein skum etc, but also if you have any fatalities of fish in a tank that size the skimmer will help remove alot of the rubbish released into the water. Ditto for corals aswell.

Something like an AquaMedic Bio-Flotor or a Red-Sea Prizm skimmer.

Or you could go for the smallest TMC V2 skimmer that could hang on the back.

Ben

 

[mike_danger]

Oh cool,

So could if I missed day or so in the waterchange the skimmer would help.

What about this one?

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

MIchael

 

[mj32]

Some red sea skimmers have had a bit of a slagging off on this forum - never tried it so i dont know.

I put a TMC V2 skimmer on our tank (the smallest model was about 79quid delivered) works realy well and will skim a tank of a much bigger size for any future upgrades too

Thats my 2 cents worth anyway....

 

[bunjiweb]

They are an average skimmer, although alot of people use them without complaint. You have to fine-tune them properly otherwise they can be noisy.

Make sure you get it for under £60 including delivery if it is used.

You could get something as basic as this..

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquarium-Protein-Ski...1QQcmdZViewItem

Ben

 

[PaulEbs]

Back to your original post Mike, I am also fascinated that you already have small life..

..I'm a tropical keeper, but really interested in keeping a nano reef one day..

So do the crabs, shrimps etc stay on the live rock even when it's dry and grow when placed in the right conditions? I always thought with a new marine set up you have to go 6 months with a tank of rock, then add some life to it?

Any more pics buddy? Really like the tank!

 

[mike_danger]

Thanks for all the nice comments, I have read up on the crab and I think I have a gorilla crab which is actually bad as it will cause problems later killing fish, so i am planning to remove it. I have actually just seen a new creature, heres a pic, any ideas what it is?

With regards the skimmer... I think I will get one, but need to go for a slim line one to fit behind my tank. Like the red sea one, but does it make alot of noise? Any more suggestions on which one to get?.

Also when I bought the tank they lfs told me to buy a powerhead as the reef needs a strong current. I have installed this behind the live rock (seen below). Do I still need this with the skimmer?

Michael

For Paul:

I dont think it will take 6 months to mature. The lfs where I bought the tank from said it could be ready within anywhere from a week to a couple months. I have just got a test kit of ebay so will test, and will only put livestock in when it was matured.

It is a really nice tank, and I think very cheapo set up for marine. It cost my £200.00 for the tank, stand, gravel, heater, salt, 2 test kits, hydrometer, buffer and 30l of ro water. Then an extra £70.00 for live rock.

Michael

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Looking very nice mike

 

[SkiFletch]

Lookin great mike. two comments, put on the shorter strainer that comes with your maxijet powerhead. that long one is notorious for clogging. second, thats a bristle worm you have there. good detritus eaters

 

[steelhealr]

I'd pull that undergravel filter before you setup gets too advanced. They are not a good choice for filtration in a nano tank IMO and that live rock on top of it is going to setup up dead areas. SH

 

[mike_danger]

What Does IMO mean?

What should i do about the live rock then, should i take a hammer to it to remove some of the purple?

Also with regards to filtration, i have posted in the hardwhere section about it and wld be greatful of your comments...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...0&#entry1240729

Thanks!

 

[Silverlady]

What Does IMO mean?

I think it means In my opinion.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

Thanks for all the nice comments, I have read up on the crab and I think I have a gorilla crab which is actually bad as it will cause problems later killing fish, so i am planning to remove it. I have actually just seen a new creature, heres a pic, any ideas what it is?

With regards the skimmer... I think I will get one, but need to go for a slim line one to fit behind my tank. Like the red sea one, but does it make alot of noise? Any more suggestions on which one to get?.

Also when I bought the tank they lfs told me to buy a powerhead as the reef needs a strong current. I have installed this behind the live rock (seen below). Do I still need this with the skimmer?

Michael

For Paul:

I dont think it will take 6 months to mature. The lfs where I bought the tank from said it could be ready within anywhere from a week to a couple months. I have just got a test kit of ebay so will test, and will only put livestock in when it was matured.

It is a really nice tank, and I think very cheapo set up for marine. It cost my £200.00 for the tank, stand, gravel, heater, salt, 2 test kits, hydrometer, buffer and 30l of ro water. Then an extra £70.00 for live rock.

Michael

Well congrats on the new aquarium and about the picture that looks to me like a Sea Cucumber. I dont know what type it is though. Maybe if the picture is clearer to me.