Considering a small saltwater tank...

[aidensmomma2000]

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[az]

lighting plus 1-2 powereheads are the only other things u'd need for a nano IMO!

[Julie]

Not sure the purpose of the bio wheel.

[yellowtang]

As I have read.
its not a good idea to have an enemone is such a
small tank........
few xenais mushrooms softies. but an anemone?
not something to consider.
cheers.

[Julie]

The live rock and sand is your filter, the bio wheel is not necessary - that's a freshwater theory.
Your bacteria is in the rock and sand and that's what converts ammonia eventually to nitrate.
The pumps are for flow, you want to simulate the ocean waves....  The biowheel could be used for water turnover but the wheels aren't necessary, this filter would create nitrates more than anything.

[mseguin]

The bio wheel would work on a salt water tank as well, but I would just go with live rock and powerheads.

[Julie]

Matt, please explain the purpose of the bio wheel on a salt tank?  I realize it would increase bacterial colonization in the tank but on the other hand it would increase nitrate and it should be zero.

[mseguin]

How would it increase nitrate? All the bio-wheel does is provide a greater surface for nitrifying bacteria to grow on. Same as bio-media, and live rock.

[Julie]

If you keep the bio balls in the filter and don't clean it on a regular basis, you have increased waste.

[BigDaddy]

If the tank is properly cycled with live rock and a sand bed, then denitrifying bacteria will still be able to process nitrates.  The biowheel will simply make the nitrification process more effecient.

[Julie]

You'd be further off to place an ac sponge in the tank than have a hob collecting waste.
Check Reefcentral.

[mseguin]

If you don't collect the waste in the filter, its jsut staying in ur tank. At least with the HOB you can easily remove the waste however often yuo want.

[Julie]

That's the purpose of the sand bed and clean up crew.

[rockgarden]

I use HOB's without filter media for my SW setups.  I consider them to be equivalent to minisumps.  I leave a small chunk of filtration media in just so that the creatures will have a place to go (pods and bristleworms inhabit the small piece of sponge) and add carbon filtration for short periods after fragging some corals that react with chemical defenses.  Otherwise the primary purpose of the HOB in my setups is to supply a relatively cheap source of water flow since there are lots of used HOBs around which lack baskets or lack media, etc. but suit my needs perfectly.

As far as using HOB with biowheel, let me start off by saying that I have never had too much success keeping a biowheel operating propertly in a FW setting so would be very reluctant to use one in a SW set-up.  My primary additional concern with biowheel in a SW setup would be the problems or potential problems relating to salt buildup as the water evaporates from the biowheel material and leaves behind the salt residue.  Never tried it though so it might not be a problem.

Re Commercial nanocubes in general (have one so speaking from experience): Nice to look at but very expensive for what you get.  You are paying for the filtration chamber and media but don't need it and won't likely use it but the built-in space for it reduces the internal space in the tankso less space for your live-rock (and for my clown at least, gives it a space to jump into that is tough to get it out of). Summer heat buildup in non-air conditioned environment can be a problem with a nanocube.  Fan noise when lights are on can be somewhat distracting in a quiet environment. BUT having said that, they do look nice. I think that a cheaper alternative than a commercial nanocube would be a regular sized aquarium with specific lights purchased separately to fit the tank and the type of SW set-up that you want. Greater flexibility with standard aquariums choices.

Ron   

[rockgarden]

Okay...so what do I do? 

Do what many others have done.  Give me a call (PM) and come for a visit the beautiful metropolis of Kanata and I'll show you the results of my low budget approach (both good and bad) and you can compare that to what you are hoping to achieve.

Ron

[murgus]

I was at the LFS, and they had a counter top (nano?) tank with a small clown, an anemone, and a shrimp.

I was chatting away with the owner at how to set this up, and she was saying a 10g with an bio wheel and of course the appropriate salt level was all that was needed (plus, the appropriate lighting for the anemone).

Wanted to get a consensus on this before I attempt to set it up- your opinions are wanted and valued 

Hi aidensmomma,

I recently started a 20 gallon FOWLR.  The tank is a Hagen Tropiquarium 68 (http://www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/hagen-tropiquarium-o-14.html) that has a very tight fitting hood and prewired heater and internal filter (only 1 power cord!!).  The filter is really a powerhead and filter box, so after removing the filter box, voila, one power head.  However, the included powerhead was replaced with an Aquaclear Powerhead #201 for more flow and I also wired in a Zoo Med Power Sweep 214 Powerhead.  The lightings is 2 x 15W NO fluorescent (one being Actinic).  Another neat feature is a built in timer for the lights.  Overall a very good (small) tank, IMHO.

I have ~20 lbs of live rock (from Aquaria Canada) and ~20 lbs of live sand (from rockgarden).There are currently ~6 hermits (blue and red legged), ~6 snails (Astrea and Nassarius) and 2 common clowns (also from Aquaria Canada).

That's all the equipment I have - I think you can have a very enjoyable SW aquarium without blowing your brains out moneywise.  Everyone is doing great, it is a joy to watch all the critters doing there thing - it is very cool to see a hermit switch shells!

I think the total cost so far, including livestock, is ~400$ (the tank is used).

BTW, in case you did not know, Aquaria Canada (aquariacanada.ca) is run by Ivan in Gatineau, so you can pick stuff up and not pay shipping - Ivan's basement is very cool!

Andrew

PS: Defnitely take rockgarden/Ron up on his offer - his amazing, low tech/budget tanks are what convinced me I could maintain and SW setup

[Julie]

Robin, mine is a 20l reef.  FOWLR is a less expensive option to reef because the saltwater flowers are pricey.
Go bigger than 10, go min 20, less headaches imo.  More water, more room for errrr...
You have ac's on hand etc....use these as pumps and then buy one or two maxi jets to increase flow.
Purchase live rock from a hobbiest or make a trip to ott and pick up some nice rock.(avg 5/pound x 25-30pds)
Buy some sand, not seeded (waste of money).
Nitrate, PH, GH kit.
Away you go.
(and of course a bag of salt and hydrometer)

[Julie]

Some use the ac's as refugiums, the 500's.  This is an option and would increase volume.
You can keep your macro algae(nitrate consuming) right in the tank if you'd like - it's green and not all goes asexual.
I have a whisper because I need something to place carbon in when required.
You don't need tons of salt I use about .75-cup per gallon, specific gravity at .24 - .25. 
I believe Fowlr can be at a lower density. 
Lighting is key if in the future you plan on keeping corals.
Refractometer works best.

[Julie]

Did I forget to mention a Margarita?

[rockgarden]

Oh, so I need:

a tank
tons of salt
sand
an a/c
a powerhead
A salinity meter
test kits

critters

Three necessities: water, light, flow
Most useful gadget: a plastic turkey baster
Second most useful gadget: log handled stainless steel tweezers or forceps or equivalent.
Most unneeded: test kits . - I have just started a flame war!!!!