Help Me!! Starting a Nano, suggestions??? Ideas??

[AquaNovice]

I want a project , so looking for lots of input, of course there will be pics associated with this build, just don't know what I want.

Ok, I have (4) 10g, (2) 5.5g, (1) 29g, (1) 24g aquaod, (1) 75g aquarium, and a 70w HQI sunpod(new) sitting around. I want a nano, so the 75g is out(no lighting to fit a 48" tank either). Plenty of 1" bulkheads (I would like to use them and not buy any others). Plenty of PVC, unions, T's, 90's,
spa flex PVC, etc....

Pumps:
(1) Rio 12HF, (2) Quiet one 3000, (2) MJ 400, (2) MJ 600, (1) MJ 900

(1) 600gph HOB overflow

(1) Aqua Medics model 125 wet/dry filter (can be modified)

(1) Aqua C Remora Skimmer

I have the drill bit for drilling the glass to fit the 1" bulkheads

I do not want any sps, i like things like xenia, frogspawn, feather dusters, and many other softy types of corals.
Fish: give me some ideas, only 1 maybe 2 fish
Would love a clam if possible under a 70w.
So, give me some ideas using the things I currently have. I don't know what I want, just really want a project. I would like to keep things as simple as possible, but not a necessity.

[AquaNovice]

-bump-

[dobejazz]

I'd go with the 29 and a 10g sump

[AquaNovice]

Thanks, any stocking ideas? or anyone else have somer other ideas for a build?

[ski1297]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

I'd go with the 29 and a 10g sump

I would go with that. Put the HQI on it and you should be good for the most part with soft corals. You could put the skimmer in the sump. For fish do you have any that you like?

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by AquaNovice

Thanks, any stocking ideas? or anyone else have somer other ideas for a build?

are you thinking like a species tank? all zoas or an SPS tank? A pistol shrimp and a goby would be cool to watch

[AquaNovice]

Originally Posted by ski1297

I would go with that. Put the HQI on it and you should be good for the most part with soft corals. You could put the skimmer in the sump. For fish do you have any that you like?

Originally Posted by dobejazz

are you thinking like a species tank? all zoas or an SPS tank? A pistol shrimp and a goby would be cool to watch

Oh there are several fish I like, a lot of different gobies, firefish(manly fish I know). I don't want a lot of fish, 2-3 at the most. I do like the shrimp and goby pairs though. I don't want a really large bioload.
I like the idea of the 29g with 10g sump. It's a 20" light fixture, 29" wide tank, is that ok? Not really wanting a species tank, don't think any sps either. I like hammers, torches, frogspawn, xenia, some mushrooms, some zoas, some leathers, if it is very colorful and doesn't try and harm the other corals around it, I'll like it.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, very helpful, keep them coming.

[AquaNovice]

Ok, got bored, decided to drill one of my 10g,so, going to use it as a main tank, and either another 10g or 5g, as a sump, built a stand before for the 10g, just need to change out the top. Taking pictures to post.

Any Ideas on corals and fish, let me know.

[Reefyone]

Sorry, I am too late, but I really like the flow and photography in cube nano tanks.

What to place in the tank - you can see examples in "Idol nano" thread, including xenia forest in the cube and many others.

Can't help with fish, all I tried - percula, chromises, wrasse - are too big for this size of tank for a good life (percula is ~2.5" or 6 cm long and territorial, others require a lot of swimming space). But the blood (fire) shrimp is very good and can be kept in pairs. Lives in caves and doesn't like the bright light (mine, I mean).

Corals:
Hammers and frogspawns:
different kinds, may be better to have branching: this way you can easily remove the heads, when they overgrow the place. Cold-green hammer has heads 2"/5cm each, warm-green I-ending shape - ~3"/7.5 cm each head. Warm-green frogspawn with pinkish ends - about the same, 3" head, or a little more, and cold-green frogspawn with very few bubbles at the ends, actually closer to the torch - the small one has heads 1.5"/3.5 cm so far. Can touch each other without problems.

Bright green candycane will brighten the tank, very hardy, not aggressive, just keep it away from stingers.

Blastomussa Merletti is not too colorful, but small and easily fragged. Few polyps of Blasto Welsii - more color - should be nice too.

Generally speaking, anything you like from what you can find available and affordable, that will fit the tank. Other than open brains-like: the 3.5" scolymia and cynarina, when inflated, are 7 and more inches inflated, 6 month later. And those, who have too long stinging tentacles.

Xenia: white of iridescent blue kinds are looking good. White is shorter and is more suitable for nano (have this one, like it). The couple of stalks of anthelia (waiving hand) can be near xenia or gsp and touch them without problems (at least so in my tanks). Like hill or outcrops, covered by lawn of GSP.

Mushrooms: bright colors should grow well under such bright light. Only the small hairy mushrooms will grow big - 4-5" or more each, have this too. Will live even in lower light place.

Can't say about other corals, you mentioned, but wall of zoas you can see in "Ignazi Torralba" 16g tank (don't have link at hand, sorry), and the leathers I had seen, grow big.

[AquaNovice]

Thank you reefyone, very helpful(still looking for more ideas), I can still use the cube (thought about it mostly for convenience), just had never drilled a tank before and wanted to, so, I did it. I think the aquapod is tempered so I didn't try drilling it. I am loading some pics, so I will put them in my next post.

[AquaNovice]

Pics of drilled tank and stand

[AquaNovice]

bump, I really gotta work on the sizing of my pics(figured it out).

Any others?? Ideas? Suggestions?

[AquaNovice]

More Pics

[AquaNovice]

Wanting to know if this will work.


1" pvc the green lines represent a 3/8" groove cut all the way down the pipe. wondering if this will work similar to a coast to coast overflow. Has anyone tried this?? I will not glue the horizontal pipe, so i can adjust my water level, just by turning it.

[AquaNovice]

bump..... need to know about the diagram above.