Starting a Nano

[Thunderkat]

I am starting a nano tank, right now I have a 10 gallon with some live rock and a pump going. When I get some time, hopfully this weekend (keep saying that every week) I will be able to hook up the plumbing to my new 75 gallon and convert my 55 to a sump. With that done I will have quite a bit of freed up equipment.

The problem I am running into is the dirty surface water in my nano. I will have an overflow box, refugium, skimmer, and pump freed up by the upgrades in my new main tank. Sure I can hook up the overflow box, a fuge bigger than my nano, and a big skimmer. I know that would clear up the problem but I think that would defeat the idea of a NANO tank.

Lighting is another concern, right now the hood and lighting is inadequate, it is one of those freshwater kit jobbers with the single flourescent bulb. Could I have SPS in a 10 gallon nano with a http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=orbit_2x40_2 0&Category_Code=d2&Product_Count=16 or perhaps change out the actinic with another white light, would that work or do I have to use a http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=sunpod_20_15 0&Category_Code=d5&Product_Count=15 to grow SPS?

I kind of want to keep this a nano tank and not a freak show with a big overflow box and fuge so recommendations are very welcome.

Oh, and by the way, I have noticed my plankton swimming upside down eating the stuff on the surface and it appears clean for the moment. If I don't add fish would they keep the surface clean?

Could this bad boy allow me to run SPS with the lighting it currently has? http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=nano_cube_dx _12&Category_Code=a6&Product_Count=5

[villjr]

I think you could use the first light for SPS. I've read they can do well w/ low lighting as long as there is a lot of flow and they are close to the surface w/ all areas of the colony getting light(no shadows). Also most of my reading on nanos says to use only live rock, heater, and powerhead. With regular routine water changes. Like you said all the extra stuff defeats the purpose of a nano. Just as much lie rock as you can get in there.

[Ross]

The stock nanocube really wont grow sps, unless you add a mh.

[villjr]

Doesn't have enough flow either.

[Ross]

Thats easily fixable with a MJ 900. Even still though its not enough for some people. In mine i have a MJ 900 along with the stock pump.

[Thunderkat]

Ok, I can make the tank shallow, I have plenty of live rock (too much actually, for months I have just been using it to hold live rock that wouldn't fit in my main tank that I got in a mail order thing), and with that done I should be able to grow an SPS with this lighting hood (http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=orbit_2x40_2 0&Category_Code=d2&Product_Count=16). Would I still need to take out the actinic and replace it with a white light or is that good the way it is for SPS in a shallow 10 gallon with lots of live rock?

[villjr]

I think the way it is would be okay.

[Ross]

A 70w halide woudl be better and cheaper.

[Thunderkat]

I found this 70 watt fixture (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01059) and that was the cheapest I could find for that item.

There is also a 150 watt (http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=sunpod_20_15 0) for just a bit more.

The price difference is not very much and you get slightly more than double the wattage for the second one.

The only problem I can see is heat. Would a 10 gallon nano be able to take the heat from either of those two metal halides? I haven't used metal halides yet, my new 75 gallon has a fancy metal halide hood but my new tank is still not running yet so I still don't know about the heat.

If neither of those would be a heat problem would the 150 watt fry corals?

I am also still worried about a fire hazard from the metal halides, not going to let the ones I have for my new tank run when I am not home until I feel safe with them.

[greatwit]

I had a 150w metal halide over a 15H and heat was not an issue for me. As long as you keep the top open with a pendant you should be ok(maybe even an additional fan blowing across the surface of the water). You will however have alot of evaporation.

Think about how close to the surface corals grow in the ocean, so frying your corals is not an issue as long as you acclimate them to the light. I would recommend having an adjustable pendant so you can raise and lower it to get the right combination light spread, heat dissipation, and light intensity.

Although coloration is not as great and growth is not as fast, you can grow sps under almost any type of lighting especially montiporas. If I were to setup another nano I would get a 20 long and run either t5s or a 150w hqi over it, but thats jmho. :)

[Thunderkat]

I apologize for my plethora of questions but I have more as I could not find any definitive information online. Is it ok, to keep zoos under metal halides or do they like a more subdued lighting? I was reading about blue zoos and all that is said is that they are very rare and sell for quite a bit. Are blue zoos harmed by metal halide lighting or should I stick with the 10ks in a nano for zoos?

I am starting to think I should just have a nano with nothing but blue zoos in it, hopefully I can get them growing all over my nano then take pics of it and put it online to make folks drool :lol

Oh, and if the zoos will grow faster under metal halides then that is what I will go with (assuming it doesn't hurt them).

[Ross]

Yes zoos will grow faster under a mh, not a 150w is not too much for a 10g.