Budget Pico/Nano tank, possible?

[Evolutionz]

Hey guys, few months ago i had plans to start a 2ft marine tank but i got caught up with some personal stuff and end up having to scrap the idea.. Im still keeping my freshwater set up and now i got a spare 34L tank (31x31x36cm front curve tank) im toying with the idea of a Pico/Nano marine(only intend to keep easy corals like Zoas, mushrooms and some small fishes) but on a budget set up.. and i hope to reuse as many stuff as possible. so is this possible? need some advice here... Tank : 31x31x36 front curve tank from seaview. This tank is only 4mm thick im wondering if its safe to use for marine? used for 2 - 3 months only on a flat surface though.. Filter : This tank currently is being filtered by a GEX L size hang on filter, should be 400 - 500L/hr filed with seachem Matrix. Most likely i'll use this filter but do i need the matrix to be inside? or should i put a bag of seachem purigen in? Lighting : I currently runs a Aquazonic 6.72 watt LED light.. 24 white(10k) and 4 acthnic blue.. i doubt it will be enough for zoas and mushroom. I noticed the Beamswork 6 x 3W (4white, 2 blue) seems to fit my tank well and not that expensive too. is this good enough? Wavemaker : Hydor Koralia Nano comes to mind straight.. At 900l/hr is this enough for flow together with my hang on filter? Chilling : Tank will be fan operated.. i have a Hexagon water filtering system meant for drinking installed (high pH water at 8+)and im wondering if i can use it to top up water and do water change... the filtering system do have carbon block and resin. Skimmer : I've read many nano/pico set ups and most advice to go skimmerless and just do more water change.. how often should i change my water to keep the tank healthy? I hope its possible to set up a budget nano/pico tank.. need as much advice as possible to make my dream come true of owning a marine tank!!! Thanks!

[Evolutionz]

Woah, i did have proper paragraphing and spacing but why did it turn out like this... and i cant edit.. can someone help?

[Evolutionz]

Let me try posting again with proper paragraphing...

Hey guys, few months ago i had plans to start a 2ft marine tank but i got caught up with some personal stuff and end up having to scrap the idea.. Im still keeping my freshwater set up and now i got a spare 34L tank (31x31x36cm front curve tank) im toying with the idea of a Pico/Nano marine(only intend to keep easy corals like Zoas, mushrooms and some small fishes) but on a budget set up.. and i hope to reuse as many stuff as possible. so is this possible? need some advice here...

Tank : 31x31x36 front curve tank from seaview. This tank is only 4mm thick im wondering if its safe to use for marine? used for 2 - 3 months only on a flat surface though..

Filter : This tank currently is being filtered by a GEX L size hang on filter, should be 400 - 500L/hr filed with seachem Matrix. Most likely i'll use this filter but do i need the matrix to be inside? or should i put a bag of seachem purigen in?

Lighting : I currently runs a Aquazonic 6.72 watt LED light.. 24 white(10k) and 4 acthnic blue.. i doubt it will be enough for zoas and mushroom. I noticed the Beamswork 6 x 3W (4white, 2 blue) seems to fit my tank well and not that expensive too. is this good enough?

Wavemaker : Hydor Koralia Nano comes to mind straight.. At 900l/hr is this enough for flow together with my hang on filter?

Chilling : Tank will be fan operated.. i have a Hexagon water filtering system meant for drinking installed (high pH water at 8+)and im wondering if i can use it to top up water and do water change... the filtering system do have carbon block and resin.

Skimmer : I've read many nano/pico set ups and most advice to go skimmerless and just do more water change.. how often should i change my water to keep the tank healthy?

I hope its possible to set up a budget nano/pico tank.. need as much advice as possible to make my dream come true of owning a marine tank!!! Thanks!

[Slayer213]

Hi,

4mm tanks abit risky, try not adding too much liverock and sand. If you want u can add a piece of acrylic at the bottom of the tank so that the liverocks will not give too much pressure on the glass.

Skimmer is always recommended, but for a tank this small i think u will be fine to go skimmerless. Anyway the nano skimmers one the market aint gonna do much, i have tried a few brands myself on my first 1.5ft tank...

yes, do 10% weekly water change should be sufficient.

Seachem matrix is fine, but do try to monitor parameters often so that u can act on any issues like ammonia spikes or high nitrate... Do keep in mind that the smaller the tank, the higher the tendency to fluctuate in terms of nitrate, temp and salinity...

You might want to hold off the wavemaker. Setup the neccesary things first and see if the current generated by your hangon is sufficient or not.. then decide on the wavemaker. im worried the wavemaker might be too strong.

Equipment wise, you can try to use existing ones, shld be ok for sof corals mushrooms zoas and fish. i think u shld do fine...

i hope this helps. post a pic once u set up! good luck!

[Evolutionz]

Thanks alot for your reply!! i will be adding eggcrates in the bottom of the tank so the LR weight is not concentrated on any 1 point... Im still thinking of wanting to go skimmerless or not.. i've fixed my eyes on the RIO nano skimmer which seems to be perfect for my tank.. though i understand without skimmer is ok but with skimmer will definitely be better.. i plan to do 10% WC every week..

[Firestarter]

I would be wary about the thickness. 4mm on a rectangular tank that size is still ok, but on a curved thank I'm not too sure. Better to get at least 5mm.

1. Get the biggest HOB filter you can find.

2. I'll forgo the skimmer. Waste of time and space. Additional pump also heats up the tank. 10% WC twice a week would do.

3. Trash the aquazonic, go for at least the beamswork 6x3W... but that's still not bright enough considering your tank is 36cm high. Best to DIY LED if you can.

4. Hex water filtering system - Best to use RO/DI. the system may have added minerals to the water that will fuel algae growth.

[Evolutionz]

I would be wary about the thickness. 4mm on a rectangular tank that size is still ok, but on a curved thank I'm not too sure. Better to get at least 5mm. 1. Get the biggest HOB filter you can find. 2. I'll forgo the skimmer. Waste of time and space. Additional pump also heats up the tank. 10% WC twice a week would do. 3. Trash the aquazonic, go for at least the beamswork 6x3W... but that's still not bright enough considering your tank is 36cm high. Best to DIY LED if you can. 4. Hex water filtering system - Best to use RO/DI. the system may have added minerals to the water that will fuel algae growth.

Oh, i always had the impression that front curve tank are stronger.. Anyway if i put eggcrates on the bottom on the tank, and a thin styrofoam to let the tank rest on it. will it help? 1)I intend to get the Rio Nano Skimmer (2 in 1 skimmer + filter). 2)i've read lots of people saying nano can go skimmerless but ive also seen alot going with skimmer.. i read that the rio nano skimmer is one of the best hang on filter skimmer so i guess i'll give it a try.. 3) the beamswork 6x3w should be enough for Zoas, Mushroom and those easy soft corals right? i dont think they are enough for SPS right? 4) yeah your right.. better not risk using my water drinking system.. i probably run some carbon and DI resin in a container for a day for TDS to reach 0 before topping up or doing WC.

[Evolutionz]

Here's my current plan for my tank :

Tank (31x31x36cm 5mm tank)
Filter : GeX L size Hang on OR Rio Nano Skimmer.
Skimmer : Either the Rio nano skimmer or i do without one.
Lighting : Beamswork 6x3w LED light.
WaveMaker : Considering BOYU if i cant find a hydor koralia Nano the rest seems too high flowrate.
Additives: Prodibio Nano Reef Kit
Substrate : Substrate: Carib-Sea Ocean Direct Aragonite sand (should i go for 5lb or 10lb?)
Salt : I was given TropicMarin (small amount) and a 4kg pack of RedSea salt. can i mix both together for initial cycling period? and after that change to D-D h2o Instant Ocean mix, is this ok?

[Firestarter]

No problem with mixing the salt together.

Suggest you setup your tank with LR because you still need time to cycle it.

[Evolutionz]

Thanks for ur advice, Yesterday just mixed salt with tropic marine and red sea salt and SG at 1.024 (with refractormeter). will be getting live sand and live rock in a few day time..

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Bought a Rio Nano Skimmer yesterday from c328 and this last set turns out to be faulty.. im back to using my GEX filter and still thinking if i should upgrade this to a bigger HOB filter.. meanwhile im thinking of getting Rowa Phos (to control po4) and seachem purigen (to control no3 and all the rest of not needed stuff) and put inside my HOB filter..

I also have 15 - 20 sticks of Biohome Plus spare.. should i throw inside the filter too?

[Evolutionz]

I upgraded my Gex filter to a Dolphin H-800 filter. its 1020L/hr and it seems to be providing quite a high flowrate (30x overturn) Do i still need a wavemaker?

Another question is that, i was given a harden read sea salt from another reefer.. but i went on to break it apart and add into my tank with DI water. its been running for 2 days but still milky/chalky.. any idea why?

issit because of precipitation?

This HOB provides quite a big space for additional stuff.. probably gonna add some biohome Plus, Rowaphos and purigen..

The 6x3w Beamswork LED is also very bright!!!

[Firestarter]

Skip the wave maker... the hob will provide enoigh flow for now. You can always add in if you find it too low at a later stage. Cloudiness should clear in a few days. Quickly add liverock to start the cycle now.

Lights are ok but dont on them during cycling to minimise algae growth.

[Evolutionz]

Thanks for helping firestarter. I'm getting live rock and live sand too. If I get live rock with coralline aglae on them. Do they need light to grow well?

[Marine_fanaticz]

Great set-up! any mechanical filtration in the hob? Sponges woo ect? Remember to clean these frequently because they trap nutrients.

you can take a look at ah being, they've got a great nano running on hob filter only, more than enough flow.

[illumnae]

imo the only problem with relying on strong HOB flow is that the area directly under the flow is going to be hard to place corals, since the strong laminar flow can tear the soft fleshy portions of corals.

[Evolutionz]

Great set-up! any mechanical filtration in the hob? Sponges woo ect? Remember to clean these frequently because they trap nutrients.

you can take a look at ah being, they've got a great nano running on hob filter only, more than enough flow.

Filter comes with a Wool/Activated Carbon cartridge. its ok to keep the AC in the tank right.. i will clean the wool weekly..

You mean ah beng? where issit?

imo the only problem with relying on strong HOB flow is that the area directly under the flow is going to be hard to place corals, since the strong laminar flow can tear the soft fleshy portions of corals.

Hmm.. probably can use live rock to disperse the strong flow?

[illumnae]

Yup you can, but the area where the flow meets the live rock is where you can't place corals due to the strong flow that will likely tear the flesh of corals. You'll have to adjust your scape accordingly as it will look weird to have the entire top row of the life rock empty

[Evolutionz]

Yup you can, but the area where the flow meets the live rock is where you can't place corals due to the strong flow that will likely tear the flesh of corals. You'll have to adjust your scape accordingly as it will look weird to have the entire top row of the life rock empty

Hmmm true.. will look really weird. ill see if i can DIY something to direct the flow..

Thanks!

[stevenchia]

hangon filter water flow wont be that strong to tear away any corals. Its looks good having a big wave on top.

[peacemaker]

Another question is that, i was given a harden read sea salt from another reefer.. but i went on to break it apart and add into my tank with DI water. its been running for 2 days but still milky/chalky.. any idea why?

issit because of precipitation?

Did you measure salinity?

[Evolutionz]

hangon filter water flow wont be that strong to tear away any corals. Its looks good having a big wave on top.

Noticed my filter has a ledge that direct the flow infront instead of straight down.. Thats why have a wave effect.. and the wave hits the wall and disperse downwards.. making the flow well dispersed.

Did you measure salinity?

i use a refractometer to measure SG.. salinity can also be measured by the refractometer right?

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Anyway, i was contemplating between D-D H2Ocean salt and Red Sea coral Pro salt and i ended up with the red sea coral pro.. reason being it was cheaper and madpetz wasn't really accessible for me. Will try H2Ocean after i finish my current tub..

Is there any other stuff i need to dose to keep corals healthy? subce the coral pro salt comes with many minerals already...

[stevenchia]

A good water change plays a big role.. Dosing will be an extra..Not much needed if u change water weekly.

[Evolutionz]

Will definitely do 10% weekly since I don't have a skimmer..

[sgslic]

For a tank like this, what additives would you all dose?

[Evolutionz]

For a tank like this, what additives would you all dose?

for myself im thinking of adding Prodibio Nano kit or Goodbye po4 or maybe both..