Renee's nano

mielikkishunt · 01-16-2008, 02:46 PM

hehehe. . my friend who's tank is almost empty, offered to take my fresh water fish, so i can clean out the 10 gallon and attempt a nano tank with ya'll
It's goign to unfortunatley have to be a nano tank on a string budget. I can't afford to do it extravagantly this time around. And it's a learning curve for me

I hope that what i learn with this, will enable me to do more with my 'baby'(the 55 gallon)
What I would like is to have a mini 'garden' of pretty corals and some shrooms maybe, depending on what I can afford/find/beg, with the ultimate goal to mimic what someone else did and have a mandarin goby. I plan on subsidizing his food with a small copapod tank that grows 'em just in case.

The tank'll be in my bedroom (Ohmy, will the kitties be pleased) so it'll have to be quiet, but I hope to make it a gorgeous 'living portrait' that i can enjoy looking at.
My thoughts are to make home made caverns, supplementing with a couple of lbs of live rock. I have a nifty idea that'll act like the strawberry carton idea someone suggested for copopod colonies without having to use one. .we'll see how it pans otu LOl
What I have:
10 gallon tank
1 15 gallon filter & 1 up to 40 gallon filter. . had it on my 55 gallon fresh water, but not sure if I can use these on a saltwater.
What I definitely need:
1. small power head I'd wager
2. hood
3. Heater
4. better testing equipment

It'll go to use on the big tank if I decide to start expanding on the corals and stuff in there

5. sand
6. live rock
7. more salt lOL
I will more than likely get my butt creamed by ya'll, but i'll learn as I go LOL

AND REMEMBER GUYS: if you give me any advice, PLEASE make it simple and clear, cuz I don't understand half the abbreviations you use to describe things LOL

Wiskey · 01-16-2008, 02:48 PM

Welcome to the build off! Creamed or not the important part is you have fun

Whiskey

fish.freak · 01-16-2008, 05:24 PM

Welcome to the contest Renee!
Those filters should do the trick for a 10 gal, or even just bigger one to limit the amount pipes in the display.
Get 1 bag of sand and then add a few cups of sand from your 55 steal some LR too, and fill the whole tank with water from the 55 and you will have a very small cycle. Also cuts cost.

Then start fraggin!

Loverotties · 01-16-2008, 06:00 PM

Good Luck!

luvmylo · 01-16-2008, 06:02 PM

Welcome Renee! If anyone gets creamed it'll be me. (the guy that's not spending a dime)

dobejazz · 01-16-2008, 06:22 PM

Welcome to the build off Renee!

you can use the HOB filter empty for flow and/or carbon and shouldn't need apowerhead

mielikkishunt · 01-16-2008, 07:16 PM

what's HOB mean? LOL

went to a LFS I was recommended to (exotic equatics) and droooooooooooooooooooled. . .

I think I'm still going to get more live rock, don't want to take too much out of my 55, not sure how many lbs are actually in there, but will take some and seed the sand like is suggested. . .might just take some rocks and see how much nicer it may or may not look, the LR I saw at the LFS seemd sooo darn big!!!! Think I'll have to buy one small one and break into rubble, as I didn't see any rubble, but will check the other LFS store.

Also pricing hoods, saw some marine fish bulbs, do those fit right into a normal fish hood? This baby doesn't have a hood yet, just bought the tank itself when I made this move.

thanks guys, I'm kinda excited

I am disappointed I can't afford some of the gorgeous coral/shrooms I saw at the store, to DIE for

dobejazz · 01-16-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mielikkishunt

what's HOB mean? LOL

went to a LFS I was recommended to (exotic equatics) and droooooooooooooooooooled. . .thanks guys, I'm kinda excited

HOB = Hang on Back

I assumed the power filters you had for freshwater were HOB types

mielikkishunt · 01-16-2008, 07:29 PM

yeah, i just get so confused still LOL

OK, do I need to use a different filter pad?

I think a mini power head might be better, as it'd be quieter for my room.

dobejazz · 01-16-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mielikkishunt

yeah, i just get so confused still LOL

OK, do I need to use a different filter pad?

I think a mini power head might be better, as it'd be quieter for my room.

If you use the power filter I'd run it empty (no filter pads)

a mini jet is a good choice as well

DarthOcellaris · 01-16-2008, 10:24 PM

Welcome to the build-off

miniwhinny · 01-17-2008, 07:59 AM

Welcome to the build off. I'm fairly new myself (compared to some of these folks) but have found everyone here just awesome when it comes to help and advice. Good luck.

mielikkishunt · 01-17-2008, 06:53 PM

thankg guys, I'm having to hold back from running out and BUY BUY BUY LOL. Thankfully the weather's cooperating with the side of caution, and I had to come straight home due to snow LOL

The light is where I'm stumed, but will go to the LFS store next week and pick their brains, I don't have a hood yet, the fresh fishies leave Sunday, so i can start getting the water going and cycling

mielikkishunt · 01-17-2008, 07:19 PM

Gah, seeing how people already have rocks and shrooms and etc, etc, etc in their tanks makes me feel like I'm being left behind, as mine doens'te ven have salt water!!!

I'm not going to paint the back black. Why? I like seeing little kitty faces on the back of it LOL And I'm sure they'll be watching closely.

More thoughts on the light: I have it where it will get some sun in the summer, which may change my idea to not put something on the back for now. . .but wondering how that'll affect the heat, as there is no AC in the house.

thoughts, thoughts, thoughts, took a nap and had a dream I went bugnuts at the fish store LOL

dobejazz · 01-17-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mielikkishunt

Gah, seeing how people already have rocks and shrooms and etc, etc, etc in their tanks makes me feel like I'm being left behind, as mine doens'te ven have salt water!!!

I'm not going to paint the back black. Why? I like seeing little kitty faces on the back of it LOL And I'm sure they'll be watching closely.

More thoughts on the light: I have it where it will get some sun in the summer, which may change my idea to not put something on the back for now. . .but wondering how that'll affect the heat, as there is no AC in the house.

thoughts, thoughts, thoughts, took a nap and had a dream I went bugnuts at the fish store LOL

Ahh don't worry I still have to tear mine down before I can start