New 11.4 Gallon Nano Build planning stages..

[Ichthys]

Greetings, well I found a corner of the house that has no tank as yet, so am planning on a new build. This will be a different direction for me, going nano. I would appreciate any comments or input.
Tank - Mr. Aqua 11.4 Rimless
Drilled with oversized overflow kit from gl*******s.com the 700gph one.
10 gallon sump with Danner Mag 7 return.
Lighting - Innovative Marine 8 Watt 14000K Skkye Light Clamp LED Light

I need a suggestion for a skimmer. I want an In-Sump model, preferably cone. was thinking about a Bubble Magus BM-NAC3.5 Cone

Bioload will be mixed reef with 1 fish.

Comments or suggestions?

 

[Peppie]

That is a huge amount of flow for such a small tank. Why so much??

 

[dailydriven911]

I would reconsider the overflow it might take up half the tank lol...Looks like a good list otherwise!

 

[Ichthys]

That is a huge amount of flow for such a small tank. Why so much??

One of the things I have taken away from my experience with larger tanks is that i hate power heads. I have had Koralias the old and new kind, Vortechs, you name it, I have tried most other than the Tunze ones and they ALL develop issues, even with regular cleaning and maintenance. Noise, vibration, taking up real estate in DT, I have grown to hate power heads. I want all the flow requirements of future tanks to be handled with closed loops, and in this case, just the return from a sump run through a SCWD and plumbed to 2 bulkheaded loc lines. I am not set on the Mag 7, I need to play with some of my existing pumps in a 10 gal to see what type of flow is necassary, if i can get away with a mag 5 or even smaller, then great. Actually after thinking about this more, I am guessing 200 - 300 gph would be more than enough.
The overflow is only 5 inch wide by 4 1/2 inch tall by an inch or so .

 

[dailydriven911]

One of the things I have taken away from my experience with larger tanks is that i hate power heads. I have had Koralias the old and new kind, Vortechs, you name it, I have tried most other than the Tunze ones and they ALL develop issues, even with regular cleaning and maintenance. Noise, vibration, taking up real estate in DT, I have grown to hate power heads. I want all the flow requirements of future tanks to be handled with closed loops, and in this case, just the return from a sump run through a SCWD and plumbed to 2 bulkheaded loc lines. I am not set on the Mag 7, I need to play with some of my existing pumps in a 10 gal to see what type of flow is necassary, if i can get away with a mag 5 or even smaller, then
great. Actually after thinking about this more, I am guessing 200 - 300 gph would be more than enough.
The overflow is only 5 inch wide by 4 1/2 inch tall by an inch or so . View attachment 43331

That's for the 300 gph one I just bought it. The one you mentioned (700gph) is a bit bigger...good thing it's not that wide though only
2"

 

[Ichthys]

That's for the 300 gph one I just bought it. The one you mentioned (700gph) is a bit bigger...good thing it's not that wide though only
2"

So if the 300gph nano one is 5x4.5x2 and the 700 GPH is ony 6x6.5x2 thats only 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller, might it not make sense to go with the larger to have some built in safety tolerance?

 

[Peppie]

So if the 300gph nano one is 5x4.5x2 and the 700 GPH is ony 6x6.5x2 thats only 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller, might it not make sense to go with the larger to have some built in safety tolerance?

I like the insurance idea,
I totally understand the powerhead issue. IMO the are down right ugly and look out of place. I think 700gph is to much but the 300-400gph seems much better. An additional 300gph closed loop would also be a pluse IMO I use a Quite-One 1200 @ 300gph for my closed loop and I cant hear it. The main reason I run it is to get to dead spots.
Dont forget the pics!!!

 

[dailydriven911]

So if the 300gph nano one is 5x4.5x2 and the 700 GPH is ony 6x6.5x2 thats only 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller, might it not make sense to go with the larger to have some built in safety tolerance?

I get what you're trying to accomplish but that's way too much flow for such a small tank. Not to mention that much flow through your sump. You will end up having to dial it down a bunch probably in the 200-300 gph range. I had about 300-350 gph running through my 40b and I couldn't do much more. Just my opinion, I hope you're able to get the right amount of flow with no dead spots for your tank.

 

[Skimmy]

for gods sake people, put the damn powerhead behind the freakin rockwork!!!!!!!!!!
and of course, the one powerhead you havent tried is the one you should have tried...lulz
i stand by tunze powerheads whole heartedly, it only takes one, and where do you put it???
behind the rockwork.

and if you just have to use a completely oversized return pump,
then for gods sake dont use a freakin crappy mag...
get an eheim or bubble blaster or sicce syncra for a return pump.

so in my 20g, theres one tunze 6045(1200gph) and the bish is not visible from the front of the display at all.

also that 8 watt skyy light is just about worthless for anything other that fish only or maybe fresh water planted...
seriously look at getting/building something different.

and for skimmer get this instead of bubble magus 3.5:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Factory-dir...271?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589424617f

 

[Peppie]

for gods sake people, put the damn powerhead behind the freakin rockwork!!!!!!!!!!
and of course, the one powerhead you havent tried is the one you should have tried...lulz
i stand by tunze powerheads whole heartedly, it only takes one, and where do you put it???
behind the rockwork.

and if you just have to use a completely oversized return pump,
then for gods sake dont use a freakin crappy mag...
get an eheim or bubble blaster or sicce syncra for a return pump.

so in my 20g, theres one tunze 6045(1200gph) and the bish is not visible from the front of the display at all.

also that 8 watt skyy light is just about worthless for anything other that fish only or maybe fresh water planted...
seriously look at getting/building something different.

and for skimmer get this instead of bubble magus 3.5:
Factory direct sale 65 Gallon Protein Skimmer SCA-301 | eBay

Skimmy, You really shouldnt sugar coat it. Please let us know how you really feel about the OPs intended setup. LOL
Very good points.

 

[Ichthys]

Skimmy, You really shouldnt sugar coat it. Please let us know how you really feel about the OPs intended setup. LOL
Very good points.

After reading Skimmys reply I have switched, am getting a lava lamp with plastic clown fish and a bottle of vodka.. lol

Actually he made good points, Skimmy any suggestions on better lighting for the nano? Keeping in mind a Radion is a bit out of my price range.. have been looking at Rapidled website for DIY builds,

 

[Shane and John]

I agree on the light. In fact, if you are dead set on it, don't buy it. I have one that I replaced with a PAR38. There is enough light to grow soft corals comfortably on the top 1/3 of the middle of the tank
I prefer to light my tank and grow corals where ever I want to

 

[Skimmy]

well, if you wernt going to build a light, then check this out:
EvoNano 3w Cree : REEFKOI CORALS, SPS, LPS, Zoanthids

or this:
Kessil A150W Special Blend LED Aquarium Light

 

[Ichthys]

Here are a few pics of the stand. It is a corner kitchen cabinet that should work nicely.

 

[Ichthys]

duplicate post

 

[totem420]

you could light that tank with a par38 led, not a cheesy wholesale one, but look at rapid's new par38 led bulb

 

[Skimmy]

i also like these par 38:
LEDTRiC
LEDTRiC

and this fixture would be perfect for par 38 bulbs on tour tank:
LEDTRiC

 

[Shane and John]

The Par38 bulbs do work very well. I have a dimmable bulb that I am running over my 8 gallon Nano and I am pretty happy with it.
I like to be able to change the spectrum when I want to as well. I do have a bit of the spotlight effect though. I am growing LPS that are on the sand bed.

 

[Ichthys]

Stand for 11.4

OK so am going to start working on the stand. I am trying to decide wether to brace the top with some internal support or if it is structurally sound enough to hold a 100 pounds.

Any opinions?

 

[Skimmy]

that should be no problem just the way it is..
can you sit on it??