Thinking about a sw nano set-up...

[gator]

Can you use regular tap water for water changes?

I used to use tapwater for changes/top-offs, but I had some problems with cyanobacteria.  I bought a cheap RO unit, and my algae problems disappeared.   I don't do water changes anymore, though, only top-off with RO water.

[Julie]

Do you think my coliform laden water would be appropriate?

Julie

[gator]

Do you think my coliform laden water would be appropriate?

Er...I think an emoticon would have been appropriate after that question :roll:

[Marx]

go 70w MH on the 5 gal.. 20k lamp.. it will be sweet.. no need for heater..

[Julie]

But my south americans adore my water.

Julie

[squeeker]

I've never done SW myself, though I'd like to some time in the very distant future.

I'm a member of a number of different fish forums.  I've found this thread to be particularly interesting WRT salt water nano setup.  It's basically a diary this guy wrote as he set up his 24g nano cube.  Be forewarned, though:  it's 17 pages long, but worth the read IMO.

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=84931

This was his end result:

[gator]

But my south americans adore my water.

Well...that's no wonder, when was the last time you checked out the state of most south american sewage treatment facilities?

[Mettle]

Does anyone know if the nano cubes from places like Big Al's are any good? In terms of what they provide in lighting and such? I've heard a lot of people say they crack over time. Not what I would want.

I was also thinking... At my work we have these 2 gal bowfront water homes. And I think it would be possible to rig this 13w cf bulb into them, without much of an issue. Would that be appropriate lighting for corals at all? Even softies maybe?

Also... I don't think I could do a mh pendant over the 5 gal after all. It's an acrylic tank. I don't want it melting on me.  :lol:  But it would be sweet.

[mseguin]

In terms of lighting, there's the regular cube and the deluxe cube, the deluxe has more lights. Not sure exactly how much.

[Aiglos]

Ive never had a nano cube but from what I have heard about them they are CRAP.  I have heard many reports of them cracking and poor customer service from JBJ lighting who makes the product.  The amount of money in Rock, corals and fish you spend in salt water I would not risk buying a tank that has a track record of cracking.

[Mettle]

Just out of curiousity Matt... Do you know how much the nano cube retails for at you BA location? And has it ever gone on sale?

And as an open question... Does anyone know WHY the nano cubes crack?

[Mettle]

Would 130w (2x65w cf) be sufficient for a 15 gallon nano tank? Or how about a 10 gallon nano?

Also - thoughts on Odyssea products?

Thanks.

[mseguin]

I can't remember off the top of my head, I'll check tomorrow. I seem to rememebr the 12 gal reg was 199.99 and the deluxe 299.99. But I'm not sure, And thre's now a 24 gal nano. As fro cracking, I haven't heard anything btu who knows.

[Mettle]

The 24 gal is very prone to cracks. It has something to do with shipping and a weakness in the right side of the tank. I think 99% of the cubes that have cracked have been on the right... I did tons of reading on them. Not only are they not a very good deal (so many mods need to be made to make it adequate for sw) they're prone to cracking. Thanks but no thanks to the nano cube.  :lol:

[kennyman]

Well I always figured Nano was small and cube was well  . . shape. So rather than look at it as a product name I took it as a Small Cube Shaped self Contained SW tank. I'd never buy a kit or package of any kind tbh. They are full of junk thats ok for a beginner but not going to make an expearenced hobbyist happy.

This is why I bought a 37g 20"x18"x24" at Big all's for $80 and have been making the rest. Insted of it being SW it's going to be brackish. If I decide to change over all I have to do is upgrade my home made 67W CF light box to MH pendands, and replace the canister filter with a algae truf scrubber.

http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/photo-gallery/displayimage.php?album=174&pos=3

[Mettle]

You'd actually be better off gutting everything out of the cannister and filling it with chunks of live rock and rubble. And you'll need some hardcore fans for those MH pendants if you make them into a hood of any type. They give off so much heat.

You said you did a custom 67w cf. What types of bulbs do you have in there? And where did you pick up the endpieces for it? I want to do my own hood with 2x65 cf for a total of 130w and also install some moon lighting - but I don't want to pay the $$$ for a new one from a company, and I think I could do it for cheaper myself anyway.

[kennyman]

they are spiral cf's Mettle. Mounted vertical in a seperate reflecting box sitting on a glass pannel section of the wooden hood.

The algae scrubber thing is similar to what alot of people try to do with a refugium. Not only is it a sink for nitrAte but it also spabalizes the O2/CO2. Thats very important from what I have read about corals.
Oh and a tip bucket type return into the tank for wave action. But I guess a 37g is more a mini reef than a nano.

[Julie]

Kenny, nice tank - excellent work.  Is it up and running sw?

Julie

[kennyman]

Thanks Julie, its not running yet. I need to pull together some coin to get the last parts going. Its going to be Brackish for now. I'm not ready to lay out the big bucks to do SW yet. But when I do finaly go for it I think I'll do it in this tank. Thats what I was saying to Mettle, that i bought the 37g cube tank for only like $80 brand new insted of these small kits for a couple of hundred

[Mettle]

Yeah. I think I'm going to wait on this whole sw thing. Save my money and really do it right... I've got some ideas for a nice little 15 gallon nano set-up now. And now I'll just wait for the right deals to come along.