New 12 Gallon Nano: advice wanted

[EbbTide]

I picked up an AquaPod 12 Gallon nano tank today and set it up with some new substrate and water out of my 220 gallon fish only tank. (you can read more about the setup and see pictures at my blog (http://jason.fransella.net/blogs/aquarists_notes/archive/2006/02/05/41.aspx).

I am planning to turn my 220 into a reef tank, but I decided I'd wet my feet with a small tank first. There are two main reasons for this. One, I'd rather screw up on a small scale than a large scale. Two, it's going to cost quite a bit to set up the lighting, water circulation, etc for the 220, and I'm a little impatient to see some coral in my house :P

Anyway, the next step is some live rock, I guess. Does anyone have any suggestion on where I can get a good deal on some nice live rock? Also, any suggestions for a first timer on what I can and can't put in this tank?

Thanks guys :D

[SBreef]

1st, where are you located? If you are in the San antonio area, CB Pets usually has a good deal. I was there on Sunday, and they gotten in some nice stuff.
2nd, you could check the for sale forum and buy from someone selling off their stuff.

[EbbTide]

I'm out 10 west in leon springs @ beorne stage road. (About 7 miles from 10 & nw 1604.

[GaryP]

Hello Ebbtide,

Welcome to MAAST. I have heard great things about the Nanopod systems.

A nano can be much more challenging then a big tank like your 220. The reason is that water quality is harder to maintain in a small volume of water. "Dilution is the Solution." Additionally, its hard to hang all the kinds of filtration equipment on a nano that you do on a bigger tank.

I'm not say thing its not possible on a nano, but starting off with your first reef tank as a nano is more of a challenge then you would think. Obviously it cost more in a larger tank, but if you look at it from a $/gal. basis it is actually higher. The maintenance time factor per gallon is also higher on a Nano.

I'm not trying to talk you out of proceeding, but rather just providing some facts. I'm sure you will get some great help from the Nano guys here. Guys like cpreefguy and Greenmako have some great nano systems that can put some much larger systems to shame. Please let us know what else we can do to help out.

I prefer using Tonga branch in a nano. It gives a better look then the bulkier fiji type corals in my opinion. It also provides an open architecture for your rockscape that is nice in a small tank. Another advantage is better flow between the branches.

[jap1]

I have the 12 gallon aquapod as well. It's my first try at saltwater and so far so good. It's been so much fun. I have found it a challenge, but not too hard. When I was BRAND new to all this, I was making it all much more complicated than it really needed to be. Thanks to the help from everyone here at MAAST, all has been well. Even my clowns that got really sick are still alive and well. I don't know from experience, but everyone's told me that a nano is harder than a big tank. I guess we just need to pay closer attention to it. I think you'll do just fine with such great help like we have here. Welcome to MAAST.

[EbbTide]

I think one advantage I have going in is a supply of good water. I tested the chemicals in the 220 last night, and everything looked really good. I can just scoop pitchers of water or syphon straight out of it into the 12.

[GaryP]

What you are getting from the 220 is the bacterial cultures to seed the pod. That will save you a couple of weeks of cycling, but putting some cured LR and live sand in there would probably do the same.

[bigdscobra]

Just do 1.5 to 2g water changes every week and you wont have to dose anything.

A pair of percula clowns with a nice anemone looks great in a nano IMO.

[gjuarez]

Ebbtide, a nano is definately much more of a challenge than a bigger reef tank. A nano has no room for error. You dont need a skimmer, but be prepared to keep up with weekly water changes, they are very critical. Problems in a nano are magnified. IF you can keep a nano you can keep any other size tank. You already started the right way by doing research. Good luck and keep us posted.
Jerry

[EbbTide]

Just do 1.5 to 2g water changes every week and you wont have to dose anything.

A pair of percula clowns with a nice anemone looks great in a nano IMO.

Yes, I'm definitely interested in an anenome & a pair of clowns. I know my girlfriend and kids would love that (and I would too :P). I know certain clowns work best with certain anemones. Does anyone have a suggestion of what combination I should get, and who in town carries them?

Also, I've added some pictures (http://jason.fransella.net/photos/12_gallon_nano/category1004.aspx) of the live rock in the tank. I picked up about 7 lbs of it at CB Pets. They didn't have enough small pieces though, so I went by Wolf & picked up the rest. A lot more small pieces at wolf, and generally better quality. The rock at wolf was fully cured. A lot of the rock at CB Pets had only been there a week.

Now to wait and watch the chemicals :P

Thanks for the help :D

[Reef69]

Welcome to MAAST!..The best advice i can give you is, PM the "Queen of all nano tanks" (username is C.Mydas )..She's had the most amazing nanos ive ever seen anywhere in my life. She'll give you the best advice there is.

[GaryP]

Here is an article on the best clown & anemone species pairings. HTH

[EbbTide]

Here is an article on the best clown & anemone species pairings. HTH

I don't see the link :P

[cbianco]

Ebbtide, a nano is definately much more of a challenge than a bigger reef tank. A nano has no room for error. You dont need a skimmer, but be prepared to keep up with weekly water changes, they are very critical.
Jerry

I agree 100%. I keep a 24 gallon NC. From my personal experience water changes are definately the most important aspect of keeping a tank this small. Also, make sure that your source of water is a good one. Remember that dosing is not really necessary and can throw off your parameters quickly and severely.

A small tank is a great addition to any household which has the time to care for it. They can be put in places that a traditional, larger tank cannot fit.

Enjoy your minature part of the sea! :)

Christopher

[jap1]

I love my aquapod. The biggest dillema I've had is that I like mine so much, I want another one for the other side of the couch! 2 aquapods are better than 1. You'll outgrow your 12 pretty quick. I might go for the 24 next time.

[EbbTide]

I love my aquapod. The biggest dillema I've had is that I like mine so much, I want another one for the other side of the couch! 2 aquapods are better than 1. You'll outgrow your 12 pretty quick. I might go for the 24 next time.

I have a 220 gallon Fish only tank I'm going to convert next, so I'm not too worried about outgrowing the 12 gallon ;)

[Myke7]

Im thinking about the nano thing to. My question is about the lights, how much do you need to keep a nice nano reef?

[jap1]

The aquapod has 2 X 27 watt lights. One daytime and one actinic + blue moonlights. My LPS and softies are looking great! Since they're so shallow, this lighting is more than adequate.

[EbbTide]

Ok, well, I've been watching my chemicals and the tank has already cycled (yay!). I started with water and bioballs from my 220, a bag of caribsea sand, and 14 lbs of already cured live rock, so it cycled pretty quickly.

I've been on a shopping spree. I probably added more life to the tank than I needed to :P You can see the latest pictures at: http://jason.fransella.net/photos/12_gallon_nano/category1006.aspx

Everything has been in there a few days, and it's all doing well. Water quality is still looking great. The Bubble coral actually appears to be thriving. I fed it some shrimp last night and it looked pretty 'happy' this morning when I got up.

[subber]

Well Ebb, I went from a 55g to 24g nano and now have a 2 1/2 gal
Pico nano which is doing great. I have it lit with 40w of PC lighting and have Zoo's , torch, frogspawn and one small tri-color anemone. I have two fish , a bi-color blennie and a neon goby. I decided to go with a 2 1/2 gal refugium with 10w PC light instead of a regular filter I had on it and, my last addition is a micro Fusion Skimmer which right now, I don't know if it's doing any skimming, but it areates the water just fine. I do a half gallon water change a week. Any questions, put them on the forum and someone will help...they have helped me alot.

[jap1]

One suggestion I would make is to not use the bioballs. Instead, I've been using live rock rubble. Also, I replaced the outflow nozzle with a hydor bioflo nozzle. It aerates the water and creates nice current and wave action.