Dawg's Low Rent 20 Nano Tank

[Anonymous]

Just for you Tom...went to the LFS and picked up three new goodies. Some palys, another favia and a stunning echino-it's a beauty! Will be re-aquascaping this week and will post up pictures when I've finished.

 

[Anonymous]

You're building up quite a collection! Particularly like the echino. 8)

Looking forward to the re-scaping!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks buddy. I feel bad I let it slip while I was so busy.

 

[Anonymous]

Comming along nicely. My oldest was bugging me over the weekend to set up another SW reef tank. Not yet and not bigger than 40 gallons was the answer.

 

[Anonymous]

'nano' and the sizes smaller are the most under-rated around

 

[Anonymous]

I dunno Vitz...I'm running out of room here and already thinking I should have gone bigger :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

that's a self discipline issue :lol:

then again, i have the same 'problem', heh. My limit is forced, which is probably a good thing

i find them to be more of a 'challenge' in more than one aspect, and very close to bonsai, from a certain 'philosophical' standpoint-

nanos are alot more involved with issues of compatability/competition-that extra constraint makes meeting the challenge all the more rewarding, dontcha think ?

my goal is the opposite of larger systems-i want things to grow/spread as slowly as possible, (well, now that i have everything i wanted to put in the damn thing, for inverts/corals ) in order to prevent a 'forced remova//pruning, as opposed to getting 'antsy' about wanting alot of emtpy space to fill up asap, heh

 

[Anonymous]

True enough. But I do like the convenience of the nano in terms of care and overall cost.

 

[Ben1]

Time for a new FTS! You are lucky to have tropicorum so close. Did ya see all the hoopla over their acid trip chalice? Did you happen to see the mother colony?

 

[Anonymous]

I did see it and yeah it was spectacular! Will post a FTS soon, I've been so busy lately...

 

[Sea Turtle]

Those are nice. Are they watermellon zoa's?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry guys, I haven't had much time to update this, and due to circumstances will either be changing the tank (upgrading to a bigger setup) or shutting it down. I'm not sure which option I'll go with yet. Here's a shot of my leather, it seems to be moving up and splitting itself.

 

[Ben1]

Well here's to hoping you go the the bigger tank option and not the no tank option! Having no tank would be lame after you just got so many awesome pieces! I am not sure what your circumstances are but best of luck to getting things where you want them.

 

[Anonymous]

What Ben said. This was shaping up really nicely. Go bigger!

 

[Anonymous]

I'll be thinking about things and I'm sure I'll opt for either rehabbing the existing tank when I move it or going bigger. Right now with the economy the way it is there is a ton of good used equipment out there.

 

[Anonymous]

Good thinking! I'm thinking I might peruse the used sections of some British reef forums before I head to Japan. See if I can't pick up some bargins myself!

 

[Anonymous]

Great tank LD!

Did that Rainbow Montipora ever color up?

 

[Anonymous]

No, it didn't, I think my tank is too nutrient rich. I ended up trading it to a guy with a more suitable setup for some zoas. I've pretty much decided to redo the tank. Now I just have to decide how. The smartest/easiest thing would be to get a JBJ 28 complete from nanotuners. The price has dropped on them and it's all complete, easy to automate and no sump to (potentially) have flooding concerns with. Whatever I decide to do, I can set up the new tank while my current tank is still running and that should make for an easy transition. Once the old tank is broken down I'll sell the parts and offset a little of the cost on the new tank.

There are a lots of 60 cubes around (not drilled) for sale used, but I'd have to go with some type of HOB skimmer :| and I'm not liking that idea. I'd really like to go bigger, like a 50 though. The good news is I am in no hurry and have a month or so to make any transition. I'd like acrylic if I go bigger though.

 

[MartinE]

The low rent tank looked good. Good luck with the future one.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks...I was looking at the new space I have to work with and am still waffling about whether I should go with a bigger footprint. My biggest issue is the tank is left for up to 48hrs with no oversight. Which is why the integrated JBJ (which doesn't need much fussing) is attractive.

Of course a larger tank has more volume and can go two days without tinkering as well

Component-wise, the 20 high tank I'm using for a sump now would go under a 50gallon tank, the skimmer could handle it as could the Mag7 return pump. I think I'll go on a LFS tour today and see what inspiration I can get.