here's an idea for upgrading my tank.

[Gilraen Took]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/totm/index.php

I dunno. The tank was over a year old in that issue, but of course they never say if things are still running or if they were taken down/IF they were taken down WHY it was(moving, got bored with something so small, roommate dumping stuff in there, tank wasn't as maintenance free as thought and crashed etc) I'd have less fish, a different clean up crew(2-3 hermits and snails for the rest of it) and instead of trying clams have a 10 gallon sump with chaeto(would figure a way to screen the cheato out of the return) and then put powerheads in so I don't have to calculate the exact spot for the return and have different coral than that one does. . .

Anyone see any huge issues that may arise? I'd love to try it out, but would rather ask first than set it up and have it kill everything on me because I wasn't caring for it right.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/totm/index.php

I dunno. The tank was over a year old in that issue, but of course they never say if things are still running or if they were taken down/IF they were taken down WHY it was(moving, got bored with something so small, roommate dumping stuff in there, tank wasn't as maintenance free as thought and crashed etc) I'd have less fish,

Few fish is always better. Less bioload on the system to deal with.

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

a different clean up crew(2-3 hermits and snails for the rest of it) and

I didn't read far enough to see what his cleanup crew was. 2-3 hermits and snails would do fine on a nano tank.

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

instead of trying clams have a 10 gallon sump with chaeto(would figure a way to screen the cheato out of the return)

Filter sock coming out of the refuge chamber to trap any from getting back into the display.

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

and then put powerheads in so I don't have to calculate the exact spot for the return and have different coral than that one does. . .

Powerheads, to me, take up too much room in a small tank. They also take away from the viewing of the tank. The tank is small to start with, no point in blocking part of it with powerheads. If you need more flow, look into a CLS type setup. Have an inlet pipe run over the back, down to a second "return" pump, then pump it back over the back of the tank into the water. It would let you move things around (outlets) to figure out the best place for them then drill the tank if you wanted.

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

Anyone see any huge issues that may arise? I'd love to try it out, but would rather ask first than set it up and have it kill everything on me because I wasn't caring for it right.

I love my nano tank, but I hate it also. Its a tradeoff.

[dobejazz]

what is your system like now?

[Gilraen Took]

The system now is a 10 gallon tank with EVERYTHING in the main display, coral, LR, powerheads, and chaeto. I have 2 hermits and some snails someplace in there. Along with my coral. No fish. I've also got a 65 watt pc on it.

Are there any articles here on how to do a cls system? One thing I'm not doing is drilling. No one guarantees it and if I lose a tank it isn't being replaced.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

The system now is a 10 gallon tank with EVERYTHING in the main display, coral, LR, powerheads, and chaeto. I have 2 hermits and some snails someplace in there. Along with my coral. No fish. I've also got a 65 watt pc on it.

Are there any articles here on how to do a cls system? One thing I'm not doing is drilling. No one guarantees it and if I lose a tank it isn't being replaced.

I am sure there is somewhere. Easier for me to give you a comparison though.

Let's say you have a tank that has a PH in it that pumps 300gph. You also have a return type pump that pumps 300gph. If you put either in the tank, you have 300gph. If you take the return type pump and pull it out of the tank, run an inlet from the tank to the pump, and run the return back into the tank, you have 300gph of flow in the tank without having a powerhead in the tank.

A CLS is basically an external powerhead. Whether you drill the tank or simply have it run over the back of the tank is a personal preference. The key to the CLS is that it is never open to the air. The inlet comes from within the tank, the outlet goes back into the tank, never hitting air. It also doesn't have an anti-siphon hole in it anywhere because there is no air for it to siphon in a power loss.

I hope I explained it and if I didn't, or left something out, feel free to ask more questions

[fish.freak]

Id say use you current tank for the sump, add baffles to keep cheato out of the return.

*Randy filter sock goes on drain line not between fuge and return.

Get a bit bigger tank like a 20 or so if you can. If you are worried about your stuff like lights not fitting, get a 15H is the same foot print as the 10. have someone drill it, if it cracks go to a glass shop and get a replacement pane and have them pre drill it. shouldnt be too much on a small tank.
you can also get a hob overflow, but on such a small tank it takes up too much room. IMO
Just my

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by fish.freak

*Randy filter sock goes on drain line not between fuge and return.

That is where most people put them

The idea is to put some type of filter on the return side that can trap any small pieces of chaeto that may break off or get suspended in the water column so that you don't end up with chaeto in the display.

[fish.freak]

if the flow is set correctly w/ baffles you dont need it, and that would block and pods from escaping to main tank. Besides all the maintenance...

[YLChik]

too add

a ten gallon with baffels doesn't leave a whole lot of room for a skimmer- trust me- I've done it.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by fish.freak

if the flow is set correctly w/ baffles you dont need it, and that would block and pods from escaping to main tank. Besides all the maintenance...

That is true I just have a fear of it getting into a display.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by YLChik

too add

a ten gallon with baffels doesn't leave a whole lot of room for a skimmer- trust me- I've done it.

Very true Amy. That is why I gave up on a 10 gallon sump for my nano tank. The skimmer and return pump didn't leave very much room. It is a very small tank but short of a custom tank to fit the stand, he doesn't have a whole lot of options to be able to get it in the stand.

[fish.freak]

1 baffle on return side and Coralife super skimmer 65 hanging off the other side with just the pump in the water. Agreed bigger is better, but it can be done. Besides if its just softies the fuge might be enough filtration with water changes.

[Gilraen Took]

But the tank was set up to run skimmerless Which is what really made me think about it. I'd be a 20 gallon, and the bottom of my stand is set up to carry a 10 gallon and I figure I can just use the 10 I have now as the sump. All that guy has is a 20 gallon draining into a 5 gallon rubbermaid.

Also, something I was considering is saving up and going for clams. Someone on another forum I'm on was saying that when she(he?) had a 75 gallon that she had clams in it and if she started to get a rise in nitrates that she'd add another and it would usually get better. With the 150 watt halide on a 20 gallon tall, I should have enough light. And they are really pretty <_< And I think I have read someplace that xenia/anthelia is good at taking crud out of the water too? Could I do a barebottom sump with a frag of that tossed in and just do like with the macro and rip a chunk out and give it away when it starts to take over? I know it wouldn't do NEAR the job that the macro does(and the clams do?) but I'm assuming it couldn't hurt, and besides, it'd make the sump look a bit more attractive since my stand is open, so it'd be visible all the time.

[dobejazz]

If you have light on the fuge Xenia would be good for Nitrate removal - I read in Anthony Calfo's book the mane escapes me - but he talks about using aiptasia as a filter

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

If you have light on the fuge Xenia would be good for Nitrate removal - I read in Anthony Calfo's book the mane escapes me - but he talks about using aiptasia as a filter

Aiptasia willingly introduced into a tank for a filter? Interesting concept.