Nano tank questions.

[Scott817]

ok after reading for a few weeks I am now completely confused as to what should really go in the back of a nano tank. Here is what I have come to so far.


Stock with bio balls......not very good and not the healthiest way to go.

Fudge....not really sure about this since it requires a light no biggie but is this the best way to go with Cheato or that grape stuff? How is this arranged in the back? This make some kind of nutrients for the coral?

crushed live rock .... seems simple to do is this effective?

external skimmer.... I get that its trying to take proteins out the water but is this all that is needed? seems lacking to me.

I have soon so many mods all over and differnet arrangments I would appreciate input on these setups.

I come from the fresh water world where a undergravel filter and fluval external have made life pretty simple. I remember when it was just floss and charcol 3 decades ago hehe

Thanks for your help. Back to my reading

 

[stole2]

Scott,
What tank do you have? Sounds like the JBJ.

If so, when I had my 24

Removed all sponges and media and just put purigen in chamber one. Really didnt need much.

 

[mo]

Here's my setup on the JBJ 24
This all assumes you want to make a refug out of the 3 chamber filter.

Take all sponges out along with bio balls, ceramic and carbon.

I installed a SRS pre-skimmer to the tank
http://smallreefsolutions.com/select-a-flow.htm

In 1st chamber I installed a skimmer and a touch of cheap filter floss which I change the floss once every 3 to 5 days depending on how dirty it is. Here is the skimmer http://www.sapphireaquatics.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3&zenid=7b1fd42a68119f77e74530d4a843166d

Add a 6700° K light to 2nd chamber ( attached to outside with HD velcro )
This is what I use http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES53122
In second chamber i added a small amount of LR rubble and then cheato.
Have this on a reverse light cycle to help keep the heat down but if you use any Caulerpa macro you'll need to leave the light on all the time.

In the 3rd chamber I added the heater and upgraded the return pump to a MJ1200 ( 20 watts ) and is rated for 295 gph but another good choice with a lot lower heat output is a Rio Hyperflow - 6HF ( 15 watts ) and is rated for about 350 gph.

I also installed a loc-line 1/2 inch Y and a 4 or 6 inch piece to add flow in the display from 2 directions.

I am also running a total of 132 watts of PC lighting 3*36 watts plus 1*24 watts.
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=288


Hope this helps on some of the mod's

Mike

 

[Scott817]

Does this mean have the light on when the other light is off?

What is the difference and or benifits between chaeto and Caulerpa macros?

Thanks for your insight this is kinda how I was thinking of doing about what you described.

 

[Ashlar]

@Scott817 wrote:

Does this mean have the light on when the other light is off?

What is the difference and or benifits between chaeto and Caulerpa macros?

Thanks for your insight this is kinda how I was thinking of doing about what you described."]

Correct, a reverse light cycle (or Reverse Daylight Period - RDP) is a lighting cycle 180 degrees offset from your main tank.

Chaeto and Caulerpa offer similar benefits, but there are some caveats.

Caulerpa grows wicked fast (as much as an inch a day!), faster than chaeto, but it also has the tendency to sexually reproduce, which can cause it all to melt and poison the tank. The recommended way to keep this from happenning is to keep the tank lit 24/7 and trim it frequently.

Chaeto grows fast, but doesn't 'go sexual' like caulerpa. So it's a better choice if you don't want to keep the light on 24/7 or you don't want to have to keep caulerpa trimmed regularly.

 

[mo]

Thank you both. Could not have said it better!


Mike