Which Nano tank is the best?

[jerobi5000]

Hi, I'm new to the forum so I guess this is kind of an introuction of myself and a question to get my hobby started.

My girlfriends dad bought a saltwater aquarium awhile back and ever since I saw it, I was hooked. I've been wanting to get a tank but I have limited space in my room so I thought I'd go with a Nano tank.

I'm looking to go with 18 gallons and above but I'm in limbo on which brand to go with. At first I was looking to buy a JBJ 24g deluxe tank like this one....

http://www.aquabuys.com/page/aqb/PROD/a5/nano_cube_24g

but then when I was browing this forum, I've noticed a lot of people had aquapods.

But then I went to nanotuners.com and found out about finnex and I just fell in love with their tanks. I've been considering the 18 gallon....

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_in...roducts_id=308

the 20 gallon with built in refugium (btw, what does the regium do, I'm a newbie )

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_in...roducts_id=310

or the 32 gallon (but it might be out of my budget at the moment)

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_in...roducts_id=153

what do you experts think about each tank? What tank do you think is the most effecient turn key aquarium and what would you do to upgrade it to make it even more effecient? What are the high and low points to each brand? Sorry if I'm bombarding you with questions, I just found out about this forum and my saltwater tank books hasn't came in the mail yet, heh.

Thanks in advance to each and everyone who helps out this newb start his hobby.

[jenajet]

I have the aquapod and love it. Take my advice and get the biggest you can afford! We always want bigger so start with as big as you can! If you can budget it get the aquapod with sunpod mh lighting. You will pay as much for the light fixture alone than if you just get it with the tank. This lighting will let you have pretty much what ever you want in the tank as well as the open canopy will help with cooling issues. The closed canopy like mine gets hot so I have to prop the hood and run fans over the water. I wish I had gotten the mh version but decided to just get a bigger tank! Oh and Welcome to TRT! You will find alot of info from very helpful people here. Oh and reef keeping is an addiction not a hobby.

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT
The 24 gallon is a great size I have a stock 24g Nano cube but like Jena I also bought a larger tank!

[jerobi5000]

thanks for the welcome guys.

well what tank do you think would be the best to keep my livestock healthy and happy? I've heard a lot of benifits about the refugium/sump filtration (how does this work btw?) so I was leaning towards the finnex.

Not to take anything away from my Girlfriend's Dad but he had his tank for awhile and his livestock always seem to die off. He's always buying new lights, new filtration systems, not to mention EXSPENSIVE livestock. It's not like he doesn't take care of it because whenever I'm over their house, he's always fiddling with it. I know he takes care of his fish to the best of his knowledge. He's new to the hobby too so he is also learning.

But since I do not have a lot of money to spend, I would want to do it the right the first time. Meaning, I want all the necessary equipment the first time I set up my tank so I don't spend a lot of money buying fish once my old ones die off.

Is a Refugium really necessary for a healthy tank? How does the Sump filtration actually work and does it's benifits far exceed the back of the tank kind? So, so many questions! I try to talk to the folks at local Fish stores around my area and I get conflicting arguments on both sides all the time. HELP!!!

[dobejazz]

For my Nano it's the 24g JBJ deluxe (slightly modded) I run it very simply. If you are interested in a few soft corals (leathers, mushrooms,zoos) and a couple fish you don't need much else but regular waterchanges and stock lighting. I did add a retrofit lighting kit to the top to boost my light from the stock 72w to 144w.

[derf9h]

i tell you what, i have a 15 gallon nano going right now and had a 45 gallon going for 3 years until about a year ago. i like the nano much better because i don't have to buy a million dollars in rock or corals to make it look colorful and awesome. whether its 45 gallon or 15 gallon people like to see a healthy, colorful, and vibrant reef tank. i do a 3g water change every sunday, add some calcium every once in a while and my tank looks great. i have 190W of lighting (175 6500K, 15W actinic), a penguin 330, and an in-tank overflow box that uses a small hagen 20 pump to pump surface overflow into the penguin (this is just to get rid of that nasty surface gunk). the water flow from the penguin (considering it has its normal flow plus the extra flow from the overflow box) is plenty to keep the corals happy as well as my clown. this whole setup only cost me the following (minus corals and fish):

15g glass tank from Meijers: $10 on sale from i think $20
sand for bed: $30
Live rock: about 20 lbs or so, maybe 25 $ 150-$200
Pengiun: had from previous aquarium
Hagen pump: had from previous aquarium
Overflow box: DIY out of acrylic, my first acrylic project, turned out nice
Heater: had
Hood: diy to hold lighting

i will post pics when i get home on friday


just my two cents


erick

[110galreef]

Hey DERF,

Where you located in Toledo

I am in toledo area as well!

[110galreef]

Here is what I'd do...

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82602

If not this, either get the 24 gallon or 32, don't get the fudge...more headaches and hassles than needed!

[VWD]

Yes Welcome, my wife loves her 24 aquapod.



Welcome

[pballer]

id go w/ the 24g nano cube dx i have the 12 and love it and then i saw the 24g in the store the other day and i almost wanted to buy it and have 2 tanks

[darthteddy]

10 Gallon AGA FTW>....lol

Nano Cubes and Aqua Pods are sweet starter tanks.....Get one and pretty soon youll fill up your hottub full of salt and still want more

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT!Kelli's 24 looks great!

[derf9h]

i'm right near the university of toledo, in old orchard. i usually go to tropical reef on mccord and angola and also trilby on monroe street, i find TR to be much better for corals and stuff

[110galreef]

Originally Posted by derf9h

i'm right near the university of toledo, in old orchard. i usually go to tropical reef on mccord and angola and also trilby on monroe street, i find TR to be much better for corals and stuff

Cool. I work here at Svage & Associates Monroe/Talmadge (tank here as well).....I have seen triliby has saltwater yet haven't stopped in to see yet. Sounds lIke I'll have to check it out.

I often stop by Coral Reef or Gary's now in maumee. I usually now order stuff as I am getting picky on the colors and types as my tank is getting somewhat full!

[reefermike1]

those finnex tanks look pretty nice tho i must say! bit on the pricey side though