setting up a reef tank ( complete noob!)

[Andy]

How to setup a Nano Tank - UltimateReef.com

[Corsetts]

I didn't know we could post links to other forums, this is my tank on there

That tank is a nano though, and although small, I wouldn't class a 2 X 1 X 1 as a nano, personally, and IMO it would be worth running it Berlin style.

[fantapants]

Originally Posted by Andy

How to setup a Nano Tank - UltimateReef.com

thanks andy, i fell asleep looking through that site last nite!

Originally Posted by Corsetts

I didn't know we could post links to other forums, this is my tank on there

That tank is a nano though, and although small, I wouldn't class a 2 X 1 X 1 as a nano, personally, and IMO it would be worth running it Berlin style.

The berlin style appeals to me ALOT as its cutting down on the amount of hardwear i need to get going and i love the "natural" approach. I dont want to heavily stock the tank, i am in love with the idea of putting live rock in there and letting it flourish, along with just a little few pretty fish and some inverts.

ok, so lets say i have set my tank up with a heater, power heads, lights and sand in the bottom. Then i add live rock. i get it up to now. Theoreticaly, even if i do nothing then the live rock should slowly spring to life and stuff will just grow? at what point can i decide to add other bits and pieces? and is there a kit i can but with all the water testers i need?

[Love_snakes]

You wouldnt class a 12 gallon tank as a nano? Most people say below 5 gallons is a pico, 6-30 gallons is a nano.

[Corsetts]

Originally Posted by fantapants

thanks andy, i fell asleep looking through that site last nite!



The berlin style appeals to me ALOT as its cutting down on the amount of hardwear i need to get going and i love the "natural" approach. I dont want to heavily stock the tank, i am in love with the idea of putting live rock in there and letting it flourish, along with just a little few pretty fish and some inverts.

ok, so lets say i have set my tank up with a heater, power heads, lights and sand in the bottom. Then i add live rock. i get it up to now. Theoreticaly, even if i do nothing then the live rock should slowly spring to life and stuff will just grow? at what point can i decide to add other bits and pieces? and is there a kit i can but with all the water testers i need?

1) Yes, if your rock is from a good source, you should get some hitchhikers floroushing. Not all of them will be desireable though of course

2) No. Salifert kits are the best, and they are only available seperately.
You don't need them all, just the basic ones (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, pH, phosphate)

Originally Posted by Love_snakes

You wouldnt class a 12 gallon tank as a nano? Most people say below 5 gallons is a pico, 6-30 gallons is a nano.

Well it could be a nano, I don't like to put clear dividers based on size, it's down to how you run them as well.
The tank in that link is a self-contained nano, and they work well.
In fact I ran one for a while alongside the reeftank with a Mantis shrimp in it.

[Corsetts]

Originally Posted by fantapants

thanks andy, i fell asleep looking through that site last nite!



The berlin style appeals to me ALOT as its cutting down on the amount of hardwear i need to get going and i love the "natural" approach. I dont want to heavily stock the tank, i am in love with the idea of putting live rock in there and letting it flourish, along with just a little few pretty fish and some inverts.

ok, so lets say i have set my tank up with a heater, power heads, lights and sand in the bottom. Then i add live rock. i get it up to now. Theoreticaly, even if i do nothing then the live rock should slowly spring to life and stuff will just grow? at what point can i decide to add other bits and pieces? and is there a kit i can but with all the water testers i need?

Sorry, forgot this bit.
You can slowly start adding stock once your nitrie and ammonia levels have dropped to zero and your nitrate levels have started stabilising.
As for how long? that's a real "piece of string" question and depends on loads of variables.
Google "Marine tank cycle" to bore yourself silly

Typically, very roughly, it would be about a month before you can start adding stuff.
Also depends very much on what you want, some livestock is very, very fragile and other things are almost indestructible.

[Love_snakes]

Originally Posted by Corsetts

Well it could be a nano, I don't like to put clear dividers based on size, it's down to how you run them as well.
The tank in that link is a self-contained nano, and they work well.
In fact I ran one for a while alongside the reeftank with a Mantis shrimp in it.

Most people these days who run nanos run them closed, as in, not off of another larger tank. Even people I know who run mantis tanks set them up completely seperate. But yeah, its all just lables.

As for when you can add stock, it depends on where you get the live rock. If you find someone breaking a tank down close to you and keep the rock wet while transporting you might not even have a cycle.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Corsetts

I didn't know we could post links to other forums, this is my tank on there

That tank is a nano though, and although small, I wouldn't class a 2 X 1 X 1 as a nano, personally, and IMO it would be worth running it Berlin style.

I love your plating monti if you ever are getting rid of any frags

I see you are using the lowbays I have two of those in the garage I need rid of if anyone wants them they can have them.

[Corsetts]

Originally Posted by Andy

I love your plating monti if you ever are getting rid of any frags

I see you are using the lowbays I have two of those in the garage I need rid of if anyone wants them they can have them.

I'll certainly let you know mate

I must update that thread actually, the lowbays have gone and been replaced with T5's now

[Bearnandos]

Originally Posted by fantapants

thanks andy, i fell asleep looking through that site last nite!



The berlin style appeals to me ALOT as its cutting down on the amount of hardwear i need to get going and i love the "natural" approach. I dont want to heavily stock the tank, i am in love with the idea of putting live rock in there and letting it flourish, along with just a little few pretty fish and some inverts.

ok, so lets say i have set my tank up with a heater, power heads, lights and sand in the bottom. Then i add live rock. i get it up to now. Theoreticaly, even if i do nothing then the live rock should slowly spring to life and stuff will just grow? at what point can i decide to add other bits and pieces? and is there a kit i can but with all the water testers i need?

Other thing's I would suggest - get yourself some egg crate - place this 1" from the bottom of your tank using piping suitable for drinking water usage (DIY shop) - this will provide a stable platform for your rocks and prevent rock settling which can cause your rocks to topple in the future.

When you buy your aragonite sand - make sure it is the fine grade as copepods and other critters need this grade inorder to thrive..this in turn will feed any corals or fish.
2" sand bed will be fine for your size tank - just remember to top up every 6 months as the aragonite will dissolve slowy...thats why its a excellent substrate as it will buffer your PH to 8.2 and replemish your calcium lvls.
I do prefer live aragonite sand as I don't need to wash the sand!!! really hard cleaning sand you know...... if you wish to use live sand...buy from ebay or check around...again huge price differences.

T5's if keeping LPS corals will need changing every 6-7 months so if you buy a second hand unit - do check how old the tubes are.

Salt - if you are planning to use good RO water, TDS reading of under 30 is good...many RO water from shops are over 200...which is pretty close to my tap water!!! (would rec buying TDS meter - pretty cheap from ebay) Use a good marine salt like Red Sea Pro as it is designed for RO water. Do shop around as price difference is huge - I get mine from Porton Garden Aquatic & Pets: Home which is pretty cheap.

Live rock - ratio required is 1lb min to 1.75lb max per gallon.
When picking up cured live rock - smell it first...make sure that it smells like a fresh day at the sea side....if it smells like rotting eggs - it is un-cured. Make sure that it feels light compared to size.....dense live rock is not as effective as a filter so not worth the money.
When you find live rock that you like - make sure you bring a bucket to contain the rock filled with 50% marine water - live rock will start to die off at a rate of 20% per hour....tho many shops will deny this as they wish to save their water............

Hang off refugiums are great for small tanks if you don't want a sump...really fun as well when you see all the life that pops up in there.
Good Luck