Theoretical Nano

[OohFeeshy]

Having a birthday coming up means lots of lovely cash . I'd like something different, and since my current area of interest is in the actual tank as opposed to the livestock, I was thinking about a nano. Note, this is all thereoretical.

1. I was thinking something in the 7g range, possibly a cube style one, possibly rectangular
Considering I'd only be having inverts, possibly a mantis shrimp, I'd imagine I wouldn't need a huge amount of LR. So would, say, half LR, half base rock be OK? Say, maybe 2/2.5kg LR and the rest base.

2. I've found a shop that sells Aquaclears, and one of the articles mentioned these are commonly used filters, apart from the LR. Well, specifically, I was thinking of a mini fuge, but I'm not 100% sure what a fuge is full of, so, hint hint?

3. Apart from a mantis shrimp, what other livestock could this tank hold (not with a mantis...) ? A goby/shrimp partnership? I've always liked skunk cleaner shrimp, but do they need something to clean, and is the tank big enough?

4. What sort of lighting does macro need? The lighting requirments of corals is too much for me, and I do prefer the weedy look of macro. I've read warnings about it 'going sexual'- but what effects does that have, apart from perhaps it overgrowing?

5. How fussy are said shrimp etc about SG? IMO it wouldn't be worth buying a refractometer, so I'd be looking at a floating hydrometer or swing arm, are these accurate enough?

I think that was about it for now, and in case you were wondering, I'd either be using RO (from a lfs) mixed with whatever salt, or after testing etc (not sure on state of water), NSW.

 

[Donya]

Can't help with all the questions, but I've dealt with small tanks and macro.

What sort of lighting does macro need?

Not a lot, but it probably depends on the macro type. A simple T8 "grow light" has worked for me to grow Caulerpa and Chaeto.

I've read warnings about it 'going sexual'- but what effects does that have, apart from perhaps it overgrowing?

It can make the water nasty. If the tank is close to unstable, it could crash from the sudden nutrient excess. Macro dying off suddenly can have the same effect, just like any other organism dying in a small volume of water. Quick changes in salinity/pH can cause macro to shrivle up and be unhappy, and that may preceed a dieoff. Overgrowing is different issue...when the macro is really healthy and growing well, IME you have to keep it in check manually by trimming.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Having a birthday coming up means lots of lovely cash . I'd like something different, and since my current area of interest is in the actual tank as opposed to the livestock, I was thinking about a nano. Note, this is all thereoretical.

1. I was thinking something in the 7g range, possibly a cube style one, possibly rectangular
Considering I'd only be having inverts, possibly a mantis shrimp, I'd imagine I wouldn't need a huge amount of LR. So would, say, half LR, half base rock be OK? Say, maybe 2/2.5kg LR and the rest base.

If you wanted a cube shape tank i think a 12" cube would be about 9 gallons and wouuld be pretty cool. I'd reccomend use 100% LR in such a small system where LR is your sole Filtration. In smaller tanks there really isn't that much room for the denitryfying bacterias to work their magics and giving them even less space wouldn't do anyone any favours (Will maybe your wallets) LR is a part of nano you really shouldn't skimp on.

2. I've found a shop that sells Aquaclears, and one of the articles mentioned these are commonly used filters, apart from the LR. Well, specifically, I was thinking of a mini fuge, but I'm not 100% sure what a fuge is full of, so, hint hint?

A fuge is a place that you can use to grow macroalgaes which help to pull nitrates out of the water, you can also add LR rubble to help the filtration and be a refuge for all the beneficial critters like copepods etc to multiply.

3. Apart from a mantis shrimp, what other livestock could this tank hold (not with a mantis...) ? A goby/shrimp partnership? I've always liked skunk cleaner shrimp, but do they need something to clean, and is the tank big enough?

I'd say you could do a cleaner shrimp in there happily, just feed it every oter day and it would be fine. I reckon a small clown goby or firefish goby would do okay in a 9g cube but if you went with the 7 just the clown. I'm not sure about shrimp/goby pair, i don't know anything about how much room these guys need.

5. How fussy are said shrimp etc about SG? IMO it wouldn't be worth buying a refractometer, so I'd be looking at a floating hydrometer or swing arm, are these accurate enough?

Shrimp are meant to be more fussy about parameters then fish so you need a stable SG along with everything else. I'd reccomend a refractometer you can pick them up for as cheap as £26 now.... Too many stories about hydrometers being 0.004+ out of range

I think that was about it for now, and in case you were wondering, I'd either be using RO (from a lfs) mixed with whatever salt, or after testing etc (not sure on state of water), NSW.

Sounds good

 

[Mr Miagi]

Well there isnt much left un-turned after those two responses!

 

[OohFeeshy]

It can make the water nasty. If the tank is close to unstable, it could crash from the sudden nutrient excess. Macro dying off suddenly can have the same effect, just like any other organism dying in a small volume of water. Quick changes in salinity/pH can cause macro to shrivle up and be unhappy, and that may preceed a dieoff. Overgrowing is different issue...when the macro is really healthy and growing well, IME you have to keep it in check manually by trimming.

Fair enough... How likely is that to happen though? And are there species that are less likely to go sexual than others? Or indeed, a substitute?

If you wanted a cube shape tank i think a 12" cube would be about 9 gallons and wouuld be pretty cool. I'd reccomend use 100% LR in such a small system where LR is your sole Filtration. In smaller tanks there really isn't that much room for the denitryfying bacterias to work their magics and giving them even less space wouldn't do anyone any favours (Will maybe your wallets) LR is a part of nano you really shouldn't skimp on.

Yeah, a 12" cube would be the cube size, although I'll look into prices compared to rectangular tanks as a lot are very pricy, if nice to look at. Although, I recall seeing one shop offering a 'nano setup' with one of the Aquacubes- what it came with I don't remember, although it didn't have live rock, but it seemed like not a bad deal. RE the rock, I'm just not overly happy about the extortionate 14.99 a kilo somewhere like MA is charging, or 19.99 a kilo for lr with coraline on it (and not even very much!). But I suppose needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle....

you could do a cleaner shrimp in there happily, just feed it every oter day and it would be fine. I reckon a small clown goby or firefish goby would do okay in a 9g cube but if you went with the 7 just the clown. I'm not sure about shrimp/goby pair, i don't know anything about how much room these guys need.

Really? Thats good news I'll do some more looking for info about shrimp/goby pairs, but some of them look really spectacular.

Shrimp are meant to be more fussy about parameters then fish so you need a stable SG along with everything else. I'd reccomend a refractometer you can pick them up for as cheap as £26 now.... Too many stories about hydrometers being 0.004+ out of range

Right-o, considering some shops want to charge £15 for a rubbish swing arm, a refractometer would be good. Plus I love gadgets like that

Thanks for all the input people . This seems like it would be fun, if rather expensive

 

[AMS]

Are you planning on doing mushrooms? It really wouldnt cost much as getting lighting for a tank this tank would be cheap. If you are planning corals I wouldnt reccomend any fish as now you are into pico-land, not really suitable for any thing but clean up crews. Mushrooms and sfoties would be fun in a tank this size, but I dont think it would be best for a novice (no offense).

 

[OohFeeshy]

Are you planning on doing mushrooms? It really wouldnt cost much as getting lighting for a tank this tank would be cheap. If you are planning corals I wouldnt reccomend any fish as now you are into pico-land, not really suitable for any thing but clean up crews. Mushrooms and sfoties would be fun in a tank this size, but I dont think it would be best for a novice (no offense).

No offence taken I'll have a look at lighting prices, but as I already said, corals wern't really on the menu due to lighting, care, price, etc. etc. And I don't want to go to too much hassle for things that forall the world look like lumps of pulsating snot

 

[demonmagus]

I'm just not overly happy about the extortionate 14.99 a kilo somewhere like MA is charging, or 19.99 a kilo for lr with coraline on it

Look around for bargains, also, try classifed (sp? ) adverts as some people sell their rock

Hope it all goes well

 

[OohFeeshy]

Well, I've estimated I'm going to have nothing better to spend my money on (nothing that I can ever house, afford, or is likely to be what it says on the import list), so methinks I'll go ahead. I've found I have about £30 just in spare change, so by the time I've converted that to proper money there should be just enough to buy either the tank, 2kg of LR, a powerhead and a HOB for a fuge or a big bag of salt. Or a refractometer.

Speaking of which, I've found some pretty cheap floating hydrometers. While they won't be much use for the long run, would one be OK just for cycling?

 

[@ombomb]

I used one when cycling although I had to take the readings with a pinch of salt (sorry, couldn't resist) as occasionally it would give a reading that was clearly well off. I'd really recommend buying a refractometer though, they're so much more reliable and once you've spent all your cash on the set and live rock etc why risk it for the sake of £25 (which is what I paid for mine on ebay).

£14.99 is daylight robbery, I paid £7.50 a kilo for mine, keep shopping around, forget places like MA, look for the smalls specialist marine shops.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yeah, I want to look at a fairly specialist marine shop near me, they also have a lot of good equipment so that seems like a good bet. Currently after a nice and affordable ~1ft cube, some of the 'childrens' tanks on the market are quite nice.