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New Nano Build (kinda....) (1 Viewer)

Fisherman

Fisherman

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Feb 11, 2009
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Saint Cloud
So I am starting a new setup consisting of primarily SPS and maybe 1 LPS piece in the front of the tank. The tank itself is 10"wide x 18"deep x 10"tall. Tiny peninsula style that will be plumbed to a 40b underneath.

Now for the equipment:

AI Sol Blue w/controller
SRO XP1000-SSS
1.1ml doser (X2)
BRS 2 part system
LR Rubble for fuge
Carbon reactor

I'll probably use a mj1200(cobalt) for the return pump since the display tank size is so small. I don't think I'll need anymore flow. One thing I am unsure about is the lighting I chose.....

While I am sure it would provide more that enough light....I almost wonder if I could have gone with the little brother version AI Nano and saved 100$ or put the extra towards a RKL unit or some other equipment. But I am always a fan of the "One and Done". I figure that even if the standard AI Sol is a little big for the setup, it will still fit well but will still be quite adequate if I move up to a bigger tank down the road. But I still would like to see what some other people think about the lighting situation.

Onto the aquascaping.....

Having always been a fan of Bonsai trees and their branching looks I have been thinking I will make or at least try to make a branching tree rock structure and place/keep tabling acros and plating montis. With any luck my attempts at SPS will be successful.

Another thought was to do a similar rock structure and keep varied colors of birdsnest.

Livestock list:

Corals:
Acros
Montis
Birdsnest
Ricordia
Rarer Zoas
Elegance coral

Inverts:
Clam (don't know kind)

So when it comes to fish I plan on following in path similar to a friends who does all coral and no fish......except I can't stand not having at least ONE fish. But because he has no fish there is less for him to manage......
My thoughts are that a mandarin would do well as long as I can keep the pod count up (which shouldn't be an issue). Any other ideas here let me hear um'.

More to come when I think of it.....and pictures!
 
You will love the AI Sol Blue. I have four of them over my 150 and have been very happy with them. Now you can always expand as well.

For the Mandarin I would suggest seeding with Pods on a couple of different cycles to get them growing really well before you introduce him. Do some searches for Arcti-Pods on RC as well. Found a few good threads that got into detail on long they take to reproduce and other cool details. There are some people using cake pans at room temp and reproducing them that way.

Sounds like a very cool set up. Please post pics as you go.
 
ArstenA said:
Have you thought about DIY LED lighting? Then you can save money and design for the tank.
Click to expand...

I did look at some kits from rapidled.com and they were cheaper yes, and COULD be controlled via RKL/APEX etc. I was really a fan of the clean look and program-ability out of the box that AI's have.

Realistically I would've gone with Radion light fixture, but with AI being almost half the price I figured I still couldn't go wrong.

Adam G said:
You will love the AI Sol Blue. I have four of them over my 150 and have been very happy with them. Now you can always expand as well.

For the Mandarin I would suggest seeding with Pods on a couple of different cycles to get them growing really well before you introduce him. Do some searches for Arcti-Pods on RC as well. Found a few good threads that got into detail on long they take to reproduce and other cool details. There are some people using cake pans at room temp and reproducing them that way.

Sounds like a very cool set up. Please post pics as you go.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on the pods I will definitely have to look into that. What kind of spread would you guess your AI Sol's produce?
 
For the sump I plan on using a 40 breeder. But I am not sure I want to put traditional baffles in it have thought about just using some egg crate to keep things separated. If I do go the route of keeping a mandarin, the sump would basically have rubble in the large middle section with lots of macro algae and then return back to the display. Or maybe I could see if a certain someone could cut me some baffles if I decide to go the other way.

But again I like to see what others think of the idea and what others may come up with. :help:
 
for the baffle layout take a look at the sump ArstenA is building me on my build thread, sounds like exactly what I will be doing, lots of LR and macro algae.
Looking forward to seeing some progress!
 
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.Marshall said:
for the baffle layout take a look at the sump ArstenA is building me on my build thread, sounds like exactly what I will be doing, lots of LR and macro algae.
Looking forward to seeing some progress!
Click to expand...

PM'ed you a lil' about the sump you're working on. I too have thought about doing the led fuge light you've come up with. Having done an ATS before using cfl's but always wondered how well leds would do, will be interested to see the results.
 
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Get a large refugium section in that sump for the mandarin. If you can pull off a mandarin in that tank it would be awesome because he'll be easy to spot. In my 72 gallon, half the time he is behind the rocks hunting for pods.
 
SmnParish said:
Get a large refugium section in that sump for the mandarin. If you can pull off a mandarin in that tank it would be awesome because he'll be easy to spot. In my 72 gallon, half the time he is behind the rocks hunting for pods.
Click to expand...

Yea I definitely think it's doable. It's just making sure that there is a really healthy pod production and establishment happening before I introduce the mandarin. And yea they're one of the prettiest fish in my opinion I just wish people were more responsible when it comes to keeping them. But anyways another reason I was thinking mandarin is because if the pod production is there and established, he/she would be a virtually maintenance free fish. If I were able to get it to eat frozen etc. that would be a nice little bonus.:agree:
 
PICTURES!!!!

IMG_20120918_123351_807.jpg


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IMG_20120918_122735_309.jpg
 
So i have tried using dr.tims one and only to cycle tanks and have had ok success but i was wondering what others have tried. I was thinking about bio spira as well but havent heard from anyone who's used it.
 
I have used bio spira not sure it is with the $.

Best is to get some water change water from someone else.

If you start with dry rock soak it for 3-4 weeks in salt water with circulation and heat and no lights.
 
Fisherman said:
Thanks for the info on the pods I will definitely have to look into that. What kind of spread would you guess your AI Sol's produce?
Click to expand...

One will do you on the tank size you are dealing with. My dimensions are 48L x 30W, 24D. I had 3 of the AI's for a year till last week. Added a fourth. I replaced the 40 degree lenses in the center 4 with 70 degree lenses after lots of research on RC. Because I have them 4 inches over the water this helps with spread. If you can mount them 12 inches above the water then leave the standard lenses.

I think with one AI Sol about 10-12 inches above the tank you will be good. I have my 4 at 55% power and get good SPS growth. Getting LPS growth on the substrate as well.
 
*UPDATE*

So I know its been a bit since updates, been busy with work and other projects around the house. But I finally managed to get some pictures. Apologies on the quality, these were all taken with my phone....

IMG_20121011_205711_273.jpg


and the Sump, simple yet effective...

IMG_20121011_205809_875.jpg


More stuff to come :)
 
Also thought I would add a vid of my nem currently being held in a friends frag tank until my tank finishes cycling. It's a beautiful nem courtesy of Jay from DA.

http://youtu.be/GE5acxsYbHg?hd=1

Its a sped up video originally 18mins in length of my clown and the new nem being hosted.:):):)
 
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