[TimberTDI]

Well after much procrastination, here is my tank thread for the AP 24:

I've always wanted to experiment with a nano tank. I decided to go with and all-in-one because of the need to have to tank completely covered. I went with the Aquapod simply because it was a lot cheaper than the JBJ. I think I paid $169.99 from Drs Foster and Smith. The first tank came cracked. I'm amazed that there is absolutely no warning labels that the package is heavy and contains glass. Anyway they sent me out a new one right away.

This is what the tanks look like out of the box.



and this is with the lights on



The stock pump that comes with the tank is a no-name brand that you may as well just use it for mixing salt. It adds tons of heat and uses a lot of electricity. So I replaced the stock pump with 2 maxi jet 900 added a Hydor Flo and two locline returns.











To add the locline, I had to drill to the plastic false back. The hole size 1 1/8" for a 1/2" bulkhead.






The locline assembled


I had a very hard time trying to attach the maxi jet to a hose that would fit onto or into the 1/2" bulkhead. The real problem was that my hands are too big to get back into the little space. So what I did is shave down a 1/2" PVC pipe and I was then able to slip the hose over that.







I decided to also replace the stock fan with two Vantec Stealth fans.





Here's the stock canopy





This is with the plastic off



This is a real easy mod, basically you cut the wires off the old fan and hook up the two new fans to the transformer. You will need longer screws to attach the new fans, you'll see why in a second.








The reason you need longer screws:

Stock fan on the left Vantec on the right.

I decided to have both fans blowing in, this way the hot air is forced out of the vents on top of the bulbs. Otherwise since the fans sit behind the light, the air coming in would just get sucked right out, without touching the bulb area.

Both fans wired and secured.




The old four glasses and a plastic sheet trick





Tank with water and black sand




For a skimmer, I went with the Sapphire Aquatics Nano Skimmer. It's not bad but it throws too many micro bubbles in the tank.




Two or three days of skimming










Livestock

I used tank water and some rock from 92 and cured rock that I got from Warren (pecan2phat), so I only had a mini cycle. I began adding livestock one month after initial setup.

The FTS
note the micro bubbles aren't as bad now as they are in this pic




Bubble gum zoos




Yellow polyps




Yuma Yuma




Silver Xenia




False Perc
This is the first fish I bought for my 92, I had to move him here because of my maroon clowns.




Flameback Angel




Skunk Shrimp



There are few other zoos, some GSP that I'm trying to grow on the back wall, a few pieces of capenella and kenya and bunch of snails and hermits. I'm also fighting some bubble algae. I had a goby in there but had to take him out because he kept picking on the snails. I definitely won't be adding anymore fish. I'll be adding some more softies and choice specimens come along.

Thanks for reading my tank thread,
Steven

Stay tuned for my next mod; upgrading the stock hood from 64w PC to 120w PC.

[jhale]

what an awesome tank thread, it looks great!

[KathyC]

Looks really nice Steven! For the price you paid plus all those mods, looks like you got a good deal for yourself.
Best of luck with it!

[EmilyT]

congrats, fellow nano reefer !

[Tonyscoots84]

congrats timber and best of luck.. About time ... You need anything just let me know....

[LeslieS]

wow! great diy beginning to a tank thread! Can't wait to see how it progresses from here.

[NYreefNoob]

great explanation of set-up and how you did the mod's. keep telling myself i want to get a nano. i have the same bubble gum zoa's. didnt know the name of them though

[crox99]

Nice nano. Good luck with it.

[1QuickSubaru]

doesnt the angel eat corals??

[crox99]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1QuickSubaru doesnt the angel eat corals??

Not necesserily.