The Nano Reef: a Step by Step Guide

kayliwolf76 · 03-08-2009, 07:51 PM

When i get my larger freshwater tank i'm thinking of converting my 10 to a saltwater. Love the article very infomative. Will i need to clean and throughly dry my ten before beginning. I have a small algae problem right now and don't want it to transfer over or is that even possible???/

1979camaro · 03-09-2009, 10:24 PM

The algae should not survive the switch (salinity will kill it), but it is always a good idea to clean everything out thoroughly.

Yandapanda · 03-10-2009, 04:07 PM

Fantastic article! Very comprehensive.

A question about carbon: does it really help? What does it remove from the tank? I had heard that carbon in any saltwater setup was a bad idea because it can throw off the chemical balance of the salt water mix.

TIA.

YandaPanda

rongav · 03-14-2009, 12:05 PM

I have heard mixed opinions about carbon. True it can pull out harmful toxins that might be in the water, but also filter out beneficial elements as well. Being new with a 14 gallon Nano, I am confused as the rest.
But, as my Dad used to say, moderation is everything. So I have been using my Chemi-Pure bag in the middle sump for several days every couple of weeks. It seems a good balance. Any thoughts?

Moshi-Cat · 04-30-2009, 09:56 PM

I just found out that my boss has a 24g saltwater tank with a lionfish! He said that saltwater tanks weren't as hard as I was thinking and now I kinda want to try one. I'm thinking 10g with a pair of clowns would be cool. I'm also thinking I'd have to upgrade my freshwater tank to a 20g first an where am I putting the new 20g... I've sort of maxed out my rooms capacity to hold furniture.

unwritten law · 06-10-2009, 12:50 PM

So i got an extra 10 gallon sitting around.... looks like its gonna be one of these.

I have an extra canister filter sitting around but I see that these don't necessarily need an actual filter? Or am I wrong on this. I was hoping that this canister filter (110gph) would be a nice substitute for at least one powerhead and then I can get another, less powerful for the other side.

That's really my only question. This will most likely be set up once I get another job, hopefully at a LFS

bulay234 · 09-04-2009, 05:26 AM

hi,im new member here and want to know if possible to use a crystal clear solution in salt water or it may affect to the salt living things??

mmenz22779 · 02-08-2010, 04:23 PM

Very very nice guide. This is perfect. I have been a fresh water guy for 20 years now i selling my 55 fresh water tank and am getting ready to make use of my 29 gal nano Biocube Tank. I now have kids and need something simple and fun for them. The freshwater tank I am finally board of and just takes to much work and time. Of course i have had some of those fish for like 10 years (yes 10 years) and they have kinda grown on me so I will look for a nice home for them. The 55 gal tank is also costing me too much in electric as i figured out it runs me about 50-70 a month in electric costs due to the amount of Kwh it draws i am always over my limit and get chaged the next tier rate. I figured out that this tank will cost me like 10 a month for electric so the money I save in a year more than pays for the tank and the set up.

I am after a simple set up now. Just live rock, soem coral and a few fun fish, I must get the clowns as the kids love NEMO. I have been wondering how to set up my tank as i am new to the salt water world but not new to the fish world. I used to have a 240 gal fresh water tank. Now I need simple and easy. This guide is a great start and I will use it to start my tank.

Thanks for all the hard work you put in it.

D.M.

Newman · 02-11-2010, 06:19 PM

Yes, A great Guide! I just started on one of these myself a little while ago, and am still in the cycling stage

What's odd is that after 6 days now there is no hint of ammonia or nitrite and I'm getting 10ppm nitrates in the tank...I can see dangling die off from the rocks and the water smells of stale coffee but why am I not seeing any Ammonia/NO2? Don't know if I got cured or uncured live rock but as you said in the guide, I'll give this thing 14 days to show me some ammo/NO2

03-08-2009, 07:51 PM	#31
kayliwolf76 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 78	???? When i get my larger freshwater tank i'm thinking of converting my 10 to a saltwater. Love the article very infomative. Will i need to clean and throughly dry my ten before beginning. I have a small algae problem right now and don't want it to transfer over or is that even possible???/

03-09-2009, 10:24 PM	#32
1979camaro Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 5,862	The algae should not survive the switch (salinity will kill it), but it is always a good idea to clean everything out thoroughly. __________________ "Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. " - Thomas Jefferson "In criticizing, the teacher is hoping to teach. That's all." - Bankei A Website Dedicated To My 90g Reef!

03-14-2009, 12:05 PM	#34
rongav Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5	Carbon usage in reef Nano I have heard mixed opinions about carbon. True it can pull out harmful toxins that might be in the water, but also filter out beneficial elements as well. Being new with a 14 gallon Nano, I am confused as the rest. But, as my Dad used to say, moderation is everything. So I have been using my Chemi-Pure bag in the middle sump for several days every couple of weeks. It seems a good balance. Any thoughts?

04-30-2009, 09:56 PM	#35
Moshi-Cat Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pinellas Park, FL Posts: 64	I just found out that my boss has a 24g saltwater tank with a lionfish! He said that saltwater tanks weren't as hard as I was thinking and now I kinda want to try one. I'm thinking 10g with a pair of clowns would be cool. I'm also thinking I'd have to upgrade my freshwater tank to a 20g first an where am I putting the new 20g... I've sort of maxed out my rooms capacity to hold furniture. __________________ 10gal- 1betta(f), 4zebra danios, 1bristlenose cat 10gal- 3 bettas(f)-seperated 2gal- 1betta(m) Last edited by Moshi-Cat; 04-30-2009 at 09:58 PM..

06-10-2009, 12:50 PM	#36
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,351	So i got an extra 10 gallon sitting around.... looks like its gonna be one of these. I have an extra canister filter sitting around but I see that these don't necessarily need an actual filter? Or am I wrong on this. I was hoping that this canister filter (110gph) would be a nice substitute for at least one powerhead and then I can get another, less powerful for the other side. That's really my only question. This will most likely be set up once I get another job, hopefully at a LFS __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami

03-10-2009, 04:07 PM	#33
Yandapanda Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	Fantastic article! Very comprehensive. A question about carbon: does it really help? What does it remove from the tank? I had heard that carbon in any saltwater setup was a bad idea because it can throw off the chemical balance of the salt water mix. TIA. YandaPanda

09-04-2009, 05:26 AM	#37
bulay234 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	hi,im new member here and want to know if possible to use a crystal clear solution in salt water or it may affect to the salt living things??

02-08-2010, 04:23 PM	#38
mmenz22779 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1	Very very nice guide. This is perfect. I have been a fresh water guy for 20 years now i selling my 55 fresh water tank and am getting ready to make use of my 29 gal nano Biocube Tank. I now have kids and need something simple and fun for them. The freshwater tank I am finally board of and just takes to much work and time. Of course i have had some of those fish for like 10 years (yes 10 years) and they have kinda grown on me so I will look for a nice home for them. The 55 gal tank is also costing me too much in electric as i figured out it runs me about 50-70 a month in electric costs due to the amount of Kwh it draws i am always over my limit and get chaged the next tier rate. I figured out that this tank will cost me like 10 a month for electric so the money I save in a year more than pays for the tank and the set up. I am after a simple set up now. Just live rock, soem coral and a few fun fish, I must get the clowns as the kids love NEMO. I have been wondering how to set up my tank as i am new to the salt water world but not new to the fish world. I used to have a 240 gal fresh water tank. Now I need simple and easy. This guide is a great start and I will use it to start my tank. Thanks for all the hard work you put in it. D.M.

02-11-2010, 06:19 PM	#39
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,794	Yes, A great Guide! I just started on one of these myself a little while ago, and am still in the cycling stage What's odd is that after 6 days now there is no hint of ammonia or nitrite and I'm getting 10ppm nitrates in the tank...I can see dangling die off from the rocks and the water smells of stale coffee but why am I not seeing any Ammonia/NO2? Don't know if I got cured or uncured live rock but as you said in the guide, I'll give this thing 14 days to show me some ammo/NO2 __________________ Credit goes to Lludu