Slowswim's Nano

[SlowSwim]

Hey,

I've been away from the site for a good year now, as reality took over and my tanks had to go. But im ready to throw money at this hobby once again.

Im going to be using a AquaOne 500 for my nano.

If you guys can remember i retro fitted the hood with a atinic.. well ive replaced it with a 18k T5 11w . For the other lighting thats already supplied ive found a site that distributes 8k replacements with half and half blue only 11w.

I'll be adding some powerful PC yes PC fans hooked up to a 12v plug to help keep the heat down.

Im looking for a suitable Protein skimmer, I've been looking at Jebo 178 hang on skimmer. Ive read some reveiws and people say its good once its broken into.. some have said that the flow adjustments dont work well. Anyone useing it?

I'll be using a fluval External filter minus the sponges.. but using Some resins to help with the Phophrates and some active a carbon. And in replace of the sponges im gonna try using bioballs.

I have bought an RO unit which i will be setting up soon.

Anyone know of a decent brand of salt? I used to use redsea

I'll be using LR but im going to let that settle in before i start getting live stock. as i dont want any suprises this time namely being the dreaded Aptasia.

Stocking i was thinking about mainly Mushrooms, polyps and leathers.. and possibly a pistol shrimp goby pair..

any suggestions welcome thank you



- Matt

 

[seffieuk]

Welcome back to the salty side Matt look forward to seeing your tank come to life

I'm afraid I have no experience of any of the tech stuff you asked so can't be of much use, just wanted to say welcome

Seffie x

 

[SlowSwim]

Thanks for the welcome seffie I should get some pics up at some point get a diary going

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Welcome back.

With regards to the skimmer I believe I have read that Jebo are not overly great, I could be wrong though and I know someone on here knows about them. What sort of budget do you have for it? You after a HOB one?

With regards to the salt I use Instant ocean. It works for me but the mag and calcium are not that high (they are ok but could to with being a tad higher). For softies and LPS though it works great for me. Everyone has their own opinions on salt brands though and the only one I have ever used is IO so dont really have anything to compare it too.

Looking forward to the photos

 

[SlowSwim]

Thank you,

Im working on a low budget, probably not the best to work on this hobby with but its what im working with.

With regards to the Skimmer, I've decided to go with a TMC v2 Nano cost me £48.95..
It was a royal conundrum trying to get it to fit my tank as the AQUAone 500 has a small area volume in the hood, so not much room for the collection cup.

I had to take out the flap at the back and file a groove to create enough space for it to fit.. only problem is that i have to take the collection cup off before i can lift the hood up not much of a problem really just have to be careful not to forget

I got my RO fitted but it came poorly assembled, The instructions said that the intake must first flow through the carbon reactor before the sand/dirt reactor so that any dust from the carbon can't go into the main membrane..
Took me ages to get the joints to seal as well nightmare

I got some pics of the mods will be putting up soon

- Matt

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Cool. Im using the same skimmer and I have been very impressed with it.

 

[SlowSwim]

The PL lighting is 7.1k But AQUAone have brought out 8k PL 11w attinics as well as normal sprectum lighting.

If anyone wants the link of the supplier just ask.

more pics to come

 

[SlowSwim]

Shot of the where the protein skimmer will be, as you can imagine the Hood if opened fully while the cup is in place it would damage it.. I'll have to buy warning signs

Cool. Im using the same skimmer and I have been very impressed with it

Good, im glad i bought a good one then

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Only thing I would say about that skimmer is adjusting it the way you are supposed to (with the dial/knob to control the air flow) doesnt work very well. I found the easiest way to do it was to close the outlet hole up (turn the dial so all the air goes into the skimmer) and then just adjust the hieght the skimmer is sitting in the water until the foam hits about halfway up the collection cup. This also means less micro bubbles going into the tank as well.

 

[SlowSwim]

Thanks for the advice.

Im having delays as i can't get the salt mixed untill the refractometer comes in stock again next week. I may go hunting tomorrow for one.

Tank is nearly full of RO.. Im starting to see things in the tank like a merage! lol Floating images of zoos and mushrooms!

 

[seffieuk]

Thanks for the advice.

Im having delays as i can't get the salt mixed untill the refractometer comes in stock again next week. I may go hunting tomorrow for one.

Tank is nearly full of RO.. Im starting to see things in the tank like a merage! lol Floating images of zoos and mushrooms!

It's like being a kid at christmas isn't it

Seffie x

 

[SlowSwim]

It's like being a kid at christmas isn't it

Seffie x

Yeah it is! Except santa wont bring me corals hehe

 

[SlowSwim]

I've finally got the tank salted up to 1.026 25 C Using Redsea Ro salt (Probs a gimmick but can't hurt).

I should be getting some realy nice LR pretty soon, I'm getting smallish peices to try and get a better aquascape rather than a few Large peices. I may get a couple of tonga branch we will see

Piccys comming soon

- matt

 

[SlowSwim]

Hey guys got some piccys for ya!

Got my LR today 15lbs Slightly cured..

I tried to get small peices but the guy had very few.

Once the tank cleared up abit i've noticed a few aptasia already.. so it looks like when im ready for CUC peppermints are gonna be a first purchase.. Plenty of macros n stuff on the rock for CUC to deal with..

Hope you like

 

[ben1987]

cool, aqua one tanks are great looking.