advice and suggestions for a new nano tank ?

[youdontnowm]

hello reefers!. newbie here planning to start nano reef for the first time after a few years of freshwater( planted , discus , flowerhorn )

have quite a few newbie questions.

currently planning for corals with fishes.

1st : what tank size is ideal ? im planning for a 45cm cube (~90L ? ) . is the height 45cm too tall ? how about the glass thickness ? is 5cm should be enough for braceless ?

2nd : im still undecided for the filtration. either HOB or ios. if i were to go ios , maybe the width will extend 10 cm more , making 45(L) x 55( x 45(H).

3rd : any good recommendation on skimmers ?

4th : was thinking of par 38. what do you think ?

feel free to recommend and suggestions will be asking more questions if im undecided please bear with me ..

[Evolutionz]

1) 45cm cube is a great tank to start, if can go bigger 2ft cube even better, generally the bigger the better, as for a 1.5ft cube braceless 5mm will be way too thin. at least 8mm - 10mm.

2) IOS will be a better choice compared to HOB, if can, custom make a sump will be even better.

3) If you are going IOS, get the bubble Magus Nac3.5

4) par38 is fine but you'll probably need 2 for your 1.5ft cube. you can consider the Razor Nano which will be a much better choice.

[youdontnowm]

1) 45cm cube is a great tank to start, if can go bigger 2ft cube even better, generally the bigger the better, as for a 1.5ft cube braceless 5mm will be way too thin. at least 8mm - 10mm.

2) IOS will be a better choice compared to HOB, if can, custom make a sump will be even better.

3) If you are going IOS, get the bubble Magus Nac3.5

4) par38 is fine but you'll probably need 2 for your 1.5ft cube. you can consider the Razor Nano which will be a much better choice.

thanks evo. no space for 2ft as my 422 planted have already taken up alot space

1) right will be going for 8mm minimum then.

2) will be going IOS then , maybe with a eheim compact 600 pump ( 600 L / hr ) ? ( will be adding wavemaker for circulation )

4) will razor nano 60W be a good choice ?

[Evolutionz]

thanks evo. no space for 2ft as my 422 planted have already taken up alot space

1) right will be going for 8mm minimum then.

2) will be going IOS then , maybe with a eheim compact 600 pump ( 600 L / hr ) ? ( will be adding wavemaker for circulation )

4) will razor nano 60W be a good choice ?

I used to be in freshwater and planted too! started with a 34L nano tank and just after 6 months, decommed my 422 altum tank and went full marine.

im not sure about the pump flow rate but you sure can improve the circulation by using wavemakers.

i personally use the razor 160W for my 4ft tank and the nano will be great for your 1.5ft cube.

[Endorrachua]

if possible go for at least 2ft cube with internal overflow system and sump. it will help you avoid alot of new tank issue. i just started this hobbie and i m very happy that i started with 2.5x2x1.5 ft. tank quite stable within 2 weeks cycle.

[youdontnowm]

I used to be in freshwater and planted too! started with a 34L nano tank and just after 6 months, decommed my 422 altum tank and went full marine.

im not sure about the pump flow rate but you sure can improve the circulation by using wavemakers.

i personally use the razor 160W for my 4ft tank and the nano will be great for your 1.5ft cube.

yup, have seen your 422 planted in AQ , and your 34L nano , it was AWESOME

and wow, marine tank setup is indeed not cheap so far i have no questions .. will be posting more questions if i have any doubt

[youdontnowm]

if possible go for at least 2ft cube with internal overflow system and sump. it will help you avoid alot of new tank issue. i just started this hobbie and i m very happy that i started with 2.5x2x1.5 ft. tank quite stable within 2 weeks cycle.

would love to. but limited space is the main issue followed by $ haha

[Evolutionz]

yup, have seen your 422 planted in AQ , and your 34L nano , it was AWESOME

and wow, marine tank setup is indeed not cheap so far i have no questions .. will be posting more questions if i have any doubt

Thanks, i have no regret upgrading to my current 4ft shallow tank.. you'll soon find yourself upgrading too!

enjoy reefing!

[youdontnowm]

Thanks, i have no regret upgrading to my current 4ft shallow tank.. you'll soon find yourself upgrading too!

enjoy reefing!

hopefully not .. , control control CONTROL !

oh , how many pounds of live sand would i need for my 90L ? about 1.5 - 2inch of live sand ?

[youdontnowm]

Hello evo, did you make any thread for your 422 marine? Curious to see what equipments and stuff your using (:

[Endorrachua]

my tank take 1 bag of caribsea livesand and 2 bottle of ARM to make a sandbed of 1 inch.

[HappyReef]

Bro Evo's thread :

[starfish123]

another 1.5ft cube!!!

mine is 1.5ft with 6 inch ios, using bubble magnus 3+, 1200 dymax return and eshine 24*3w bridgelux led.

you can check out skimz sm 121, might fit ios, but not sure.

am using ard 6kg of sand for 1-1.5cm.

[youdontnowm]

another 1.5ft cube!!!

mine is 1.5ft with 6 inch ios, using bubble magnus 3+, 1200 dymax return and eshine 24*3w bridgelux led.

you can check out skimz sm 121, might fit ios, but not sure.

am using ard 6kg of sand for 1-1.5cm.

nice do you have any pics of your 1.5ft cube ?

i am deciding if i should go with 45 x 55 x 45 with 10cm ios at the back or 45 x 45 x 45 with 10cm ios at the back. price difference is about 2 blue note 10cm width for ios , is it enough ?

[youdontnowm]

Bro Evo's thread :

thanks bro !

my tank take 1 bag of caribsea livesand and 2 bottle of ARM to make a sandbed of 1 inch.

your tank is 1.5ft cube too ?

[youdontnowm]

By the way, is hob filter / canister or ohf necessary?? If its not, i think i will skip on that

[Evolutionz]

If your using IOS, then HOB/canister is not needed. infact they can become a nitrate factory if left unclean.. i used to use a big HOB for my 34L tank and there was once i forgot to clean for about 3 weeks - a month and my nitrate was 10ppm. after cleaning (lots of yucky gunk), nitrate gradually drop to 5ppm or so.

[youdontnowm]

i see.. somehow im considering 2ft cube with 6inch ios. still checking price with the pricemaker.. if out of my budget i will go 1.5ft cube.

lets say i did not have ios but using HOB, where do i place my skimmer then ? in the hob or in the tank( look ugly ) ?

still in the planning process haha

[starfish123]

nice do you have any pics of your 1.5ft cube ?

i am deciding if i should go with 45 x 55 x 45 with 10cm ios at the back or 45 x 45 x 45 with 10cm ios at the back. price difference is about 2 blue note 10cm width for ios , is it enough ?

sorry mine is 1.5ft exclude 6inch ios. so it is 2*1.5*1.5ft.

who is yr tankmaker??? pm me tks

[Evolutionz]

Go for the biggest you can afford. And don't go for HOB if u can make ios. You'll have to get hang on skimmer if u go for hob. Good ones are BM E3 or deltec MCE series.

[youdontnowm]

Go for the biggest you can afford. And don't go for HOB if u can make ios. You'll have to get hang on skimmer if u go for hob. Good ones are BM E3 or deltec MCE series.

I see. Evo, how much will it cost for waterchange, topping off for a 422 tank??

[Endorrachua]

my is 2.5x2x1.5ft. i make the tank with ios at ard 4 blue notes

[Evolutionz]

I see. Evo, how much will it cost for waterchange, topping off for a 422 tank??

my tank's just 4x2x1.2ft actually.. WC i do 15L weekly (5%), you'll need to get a RO/DI or 3 stage DI filter if you planning on corals. tap water is a no no for reef tank as it contains lots of impurities that will feed algae. cost is minimal since i use my own 3 stage Crystal Pro DI filter with Red sea coral pro salt.

topping up with DI water too from my filter.

[youdontnowm]

my tank's just 4x2x1.2ft actually.. WC i do 15L weekly (5%), you'll need to get a RO/DI or 3 stage DI filter if you planning on corals. tap water is a no no for reef tank as it contains lots of impurities that will feed algae. cost is minimal since i use my own 3 stage Crystal Pro DI filter with Red sea coral pro salt. topping up with DI water too from my filter.

Most probably i wont be getting rodi or di filtration.. will just use distilled water from ntuc ! Haha. Have anyone fitted their bmc 3.5 skimmer in a 6 inch ios? The skimmer dimension is stated 4.5x6.6x17 1 inch. So the skimmer wont be able to fit in 6inch ios right? 6x

[youdontnowm]

alright. im in the midst of selling my 422 together with all the equipments. selling off BMC 3.5 cone too if anyone is interested.

after selling away , will get a 4x2x1.5 ft dont know if i should use 422 as my 1st reef tank. suggestions ? 422 volume of water is big...