overkill?

[frosty]

i have two questions regarding overkill on a 5.5 aga nano-tank

1- if im only going to keep corals like zoo's ric's and maybe a few lps (frogspawn and such) shoud i go with
a. 40 watt current usa 20"model 50$
b. 2x 40 80 watt same light 100$
c . 16.5 inch 70 mh sunpod light 150$
money is a little issue (i will get the most exspensive if its that big of a deal but not if i dont need it)

2. how big of a sump/refuge should i make if size is nothing to worry about? 30 gallon 75 gallon? at what point is it pointless to go any bigger? also if i go that big ie. 75 ill probably make it a frag tank and a sump

thanks matt

 

[fungia]

i have a 5 gallon nano and use the sunpod 70w. i like it but it gets hot, i would think about the current usa model. one should be enough for lps and zoos.

there is no limit for how big a sump/refuge so get the biggest you can get. the more water the better. but it seems weird to have a big sump/refuge and a small tank. why not use the big tank as the display?

 

[frosty]

the sump will be in my basement ( right below the tank) so i can really make it as large as i want was going to use a rubbermaid poly tank maybe 50 or 75 gallon

 

[Chubosco]

Yeah, overkill is right. A 75 gal sump for a 5 gal nano? WOW! Maybe you should consider reversing the process. I would. But that is just me.

 

[Anonymous]

It's a great way to go. Maybe he doesn't want or have room for a display that size in his house, but has plenty of room in the basement.

The larger the better, as it increases the actual volume of the display - period.

 

[frosty]

yes i dont have room for a 75g upstairs, however i am going to like to put a small tank on my desk and thts what the 5.5 comes in to play.

what i was worried about is all the "things" in the tank that make the denitrification process take place wouldnt live if there is little to no nitrates. i dont think there will be very many nitrates in a tank that has 85g volume with a total of 5.5g of actuall fish and corals in it. I guess im just not sure how that works? Will the pods in the sump create enuff living organism's to keep everything going always?

 

[cindre2000]

Denitritication is not as important when you can do a 10% water change everyday. A basement sump on a nano is ridiculous. It is so easy to do a water change on such a small tank, you don't need the extra filtering power.

As for lighting, I would say 40w would cover most medium and low light corals. Metal halide is going overboard unless you want acro's.

 

[fcmatt]

lol nano users are funny.

you have 50+ gallons of water in the system, but since your display
is only 5 gallons, you call it a nano. whatever.

 

[Anonymous]

lol nano users are funny.

you have 50+ gallons of water in the system, but since your display
is only 5 gallons, you call it a nano. whatever.

:?

 

[frosty]

i dont really see how what i call it really matters - if you think it's not a "nano" because of the sump size, don't call it that
i have room to plumb a huge sump so:
1. i dont understand why not to
2. i can use it as a frag tank for my other tanks
3. i wouldnt have to be religious on doing water changes becuase my tank volume is too small- bigger tank volume total = easier to manage
4.i don't want to pay for lights,liverock,live sand,fish,corals and overall everything on a 75g display tank
5. i dont want to have to do a 10% water change everyday
6. what does it really matter how big my sump/fuge is

I just wasnt sure if there was a point in which it actually has adverse effects to have to much sump/fuge area. Just thought i would ask.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you're going to have a great setup...keep us posted.

 

[MartinE]

I say do whats right for you within reason of the livestocks health. Anything other than that is up to the caretaker, time and money. Keep a thread going it does sound like an interesting build.