What comes first?

[Bobby brown]

Also I'm not sure of what the acronym "ato" stands for

 

[Bobby brown]

Oh, oh, how often do you all test your water parameters? I didn't want to purchase a ammonia, nitrate, nitrite kit use it once or twice then watch it sit there for the life of the tank. That being said I did purchase phosphate tester, tested, things look good. How often should I be checking?

 

[Scampy]

Oh, oh, how often do you all test your water parameters? I didn't want to purchase a ammonia, nitrate, nitrite kit use it once or twice then watch it sit there for the life of the tank. That being said I did purchase phosphate tester, tested, things look good. How often should I be checking?

You will want those kits. Bad things happen FAST in a nano. I never went more than a couple days without testing. Inverts are sensitive to nitrates so you definately want to keep track of those. Ammonia is even more deadly. Keeping a nano long term is going to require a lot of work but worth it and rewarding. You are only going to get out of it what you put into it.
As for ato...auto top off. Evaporation happens quick and as the water evaporates the salt in the water doesn't. So salinity goes up. Along with other polutants in the tank which is why daily top offs or an "ato" is important.

 

[Bobby brown]

Ahhhh,Thanks for the heads up scampy! I guess what I'm wondering is will my parameters ever be "stable"?

 

[10gnano]

What if I were to buy a larger return pump and outfit it with a spray bar?i worry that Two powerheads would be an eyesore!

I tried this and didn't get good results. The spray bar only moved around the top 1/3 of the tank. What kind of corals are you trying to keep? I going with softies, you probably could get away with a single small nano powerhead and hide it behind your rock work.

 

[pandora32]

Before you go buy a larger return pump, you need to make sure your overflow can handle it. You might just empty out your return into your display and cause it to overflow. I would just buy a powerhead and put it in there. Hydor pico pump is pretty small from my understanding.

 

[Derbird]

I would also advise agains just a larger return pump. Just having a return limits you greatly on what kind of flow you are able to have and where you want it to go. Granted its in a 29 gallon but I really like my Tunze nano stream. Very affordable and adjustable, it also isn't too much of a eye sore in the tank If the look of the power heads really do drive you crazy just put a rock blocking its view (but not the flow)

Tunze Turbelle NanoStream Pump 6015

I have it low in the tank pointing oposite of the return

The ato is also a great help in a smaller tank, it even helped my 125 and I can go a few days without lugging water through the house, which is nice.

Happy reefing and looking forward to an update

 

[Bobby brown]

I tried this and didn't get good results. The spray bar only moved around the top 1/3 of the tank. What kind of corals are you trying to keep? I going with softies, you probably could get away with a single small nano powerhead and hide it behind your rock work.

ideally I would like a forest of lps. I'm certain I need more current just trying to do it with as few items in the tank as possible as i only have a 10gallon

 

[Derbird]

ideally I would like a forest of lps. I'm certain I need more current just trying to do it with as few items in the tank as possible as i only have a 10gallon

I hear ya, its a challenge in this hobby. It takes a lot of equipment to do what is needed to keep these little beauties going :doh:

Have you looked in to a HOB refugium, it would let you keep some of the equipment in there and out of your main display, and a little extra water volume will help keep things stable. Not to mention having a fuge

 

[Bobby brown]

I have one already, it's a 5gallon sump. I keep more rock in there as well as my macros, heaters,carbon,skimmer and return pump. I found a little giant (45$) and thought it would have plenty of power to return water, too much hopefully,enough for a spray bar. I hadn't even thought about an ATo or return limits! Currently I only need to top off every four days. I change water every seven days. The nano stream pump blends pretty well in the tank. Thanks everyone, many helpful suggestions

 

[Bobby brown]

Well not an hob but a regular sump I post pics soon

 

[pandora32]

You can also build a closed loop for your tank. That way your pump would be outside your tank. Krish sent me a link of his that went over the top instead of through the glass. I think it was Krish...hmmm.

 

[10gnano]

You can also build a closed loop for your tank. That way your pump would be outside your tank. Krish sent me a link of his that went over the top instead of through the glass. I think it was Krish...hmmm.

+1 A closed loop could be a good option for you