Powerhead for Oceanic Nano 29g

[BriGuy]

Alright I am brand new to Salt tanks, and have an Oceanic Nano 29g that has been setup for a month now. I am looking at getting (looking for the advice here) a small powerhead to help create some current in the tank. The tank and filter system has not been modified at all (as of this initial post), and my only real problem is flushing out the filter cartridge every 2-3 days, if not the last chamber empties out and causes a nice tank of bubbles. Anyone have any suggestions on this?

Thanks,
Brian

[bigmoe21]

a koralia 1 or 2 will be good depending on how much current you want..and they are readily available in s.a. lfs...and if you still use the cartridge with carbon in it those things get clogged fast you could just use a filter pad that they also sell at the stores, comes in a big sheet and you cut it...or like you said..you can just rinse it alot...

[LoneStar]

Koralia's if you are starting out in the hobby or if you like good, fairly inexpensive powerhead pumps.

Tunze makes a nano version of their Stream pumps that work really well also. They do cost more.

[akm]

It sounds like you don't really have much of any water movement in you tank at all so just about any sort of powerhead would be great. 2 or 3 used maxijet's would probably be the cheapest way to get some flow, and it could be fairly good flow.

[BriGuy]

So here is another question, when looking for a powerhead is there some kind of formula on calculating how much flow I should have in an X by X tank? GPM per gallons of the tank or the size of the tank? I also want to make sure that the powerheads are small as possible since I am working with a small tank already.

Thanks,
Brian

[RayAllen]

No there is not a formula for how much flow you should have. It really depends on the corals you want to keep. Softies require moderate to low flow. LPS require moderate-high flow. SPS require high flow.

When I had my biocube 29 I had the Koralia nano as a powerhead and it was perfect for the small tank. I think going any bigger they take up to much room.

[KyleV]

I have a Bio29 and purchased a Koralia1. It was rather big and stirred the sand a little so I sold it and put in Koralia nano for $28. I have the output aimed at the oposite corner and the nano replicated on the other side.

On the filter I cut the first lip another inch longer with a dremal saw to get better flow and replaced all the bio balls with live rock rubble.

I'll post some pics in a minute.

[KyleV]

Oh yeah, I also did the nanotuners light upgrade and silentx fans.

[BriGuy]

I understood all the way up to the nanotunners light upgrade and silentx fans...... I assume a local shop would know what I am talking about there. Thanks this is a lot of good info, and pics would be great. For live rock crumbs, got plenty of those I have an emerald crab in there that is making a duplex in one of my big rocks, nothing like a $10 crab destroying $80 work of rock.

Thanks,
Brian

[KyleV]

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb44/choicecom/IMG_2764.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb44/choicecom/IMG_2772.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb44/choicecom/IMG_2755.jpg

[KyleV]

Here is a link http://www.nanotuners.com/index.php?cPath=62&osCsid=f54b2619023133208e0bbced958bfafc. They make kits that will increase the amount of bulbs you can put in

[BriGuy]

Ok, so in the second chamber you removed the bio-balls and filled that with live rock; I also see that you dont use the filter cartridge. I like that tank setup you got there, I am still in the process of figuring out what I like and what will work. Though a question on using no chartridge filter, what is removing the nitrate and ammonia? The Live rock?

Thanks,
Brian

[KyleV]

Yes it is a great biological filter. I do run carbon and phosgaurd as needed but I don't feed that often and it has a low bioload with only 4 small fish so it is rare.

[BriGuy]

Right now, just have a small clown, a green chromis, an emerald crab, 4 small cleaner crabs (2 green, a red, and a blue legged one). Was thinking about getting maybe 2 more small fish to put in there, but stuck on between 10 different fish.

Thanks,
Brian

[RayAllen]

You should check out http://www.nano-reef.com/ I too am a registered member and these guys pretty much exclusively have small reefs. There is a section called All-in-one where they all have Bio Cubes, REd sea max or other brands related.

[BriGuy]

Sorry also have a sand siffting star fish and a royal urchin, everything is fairly small in the tank.. And Kyle that is nice tank setup you have there.

Thanks,
Brian

[RayAllen]

Sorry also have a sand siffting star fish and a royal urchin, everything is fairly small in the tank.. And Kyle that is nice tank setup you have there.

Thanks,
Brian


LOL, why are you apologizing. just check out nano-reef.com. Those guys do every modification you can think of when it come to these tank. Very cool stuff. When I had mine I did these mods

Removed bio balls replaced with rubble and macro algae and put a small light above the chamber.

I removed the carbon from the filter provided and used filter material to catch any debri

I also added the koralia nano

Have fun with it. Really cool tanks and easy to care for.

[KyleV]

Thanks and good luck with yours.