Druluv's 22gallon Real Nano

[druluv]

I wanted to try out one of these nano tanks. Can they really work? Well I'm going to find out.

The tank is a 22 gallon nano with internal filtration. The filtration is a basic wet-dry. I really don't like wet drys, but if I do weekly water changes, I should be fine. I did get a current fission protein skimmer to see how it works.

Here are some pics.
The tank itself is well made and it is made out of glass! no scratchy plastic tank.

Real Sweet Set up. I really don't feature the stand, but the stand is a birch wood stand, I love the grain and wood work.

I need a nice clean look nothing sticking out or protruding.

The lighting is 4 t-5 bulbs. That should be good light for yumas, mushrooms, soft corals, and lps.

Here is the filtration unit
Again I don't like wet-drys, I need to do a mod. It does have space for ample filter media though.The return pump is big one for a nano-tank. I hope it lasts. I don't know the name of it.

Here is a new salt I'm going to try. I know you see that 450!

 

[druluv]

now it is time to add the sand!

 

[Tonyscoots84]

yea i see the 450 cal. but does everyone see the bottle of purple up :lol2: lmao... :joke:

going to look like a sweet nano druluv.... keep us updated...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

T Purple up is just a calcium/Iodine additive. It works well for that purpose. I use it all the time.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

dru

i know that is a t5 fixture but which one? i'm looking for a smaller t5 fixture.

 

[druluv]

what size are you looking for ?

Has anyone tried the redsea salt?
if does anything to what the label says, this could be a good salt to use. I'm going to do a full chem test on this water with rodi water, stay tuned for the results.

 

[jf2381]

That's a nice looking tank. I might pick one up in the near future.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i just gave it some thought and since it's going on a sea horse tank i don't need that much light. i'll get a retro pc kit or something.

dru you putting rocks from an established tank? i would love to see this stocked. rock on.

 

[druluv]

I wanted to try this chiller out

To this nano, I want to add a protein skimmer and a mud filter. Need to do some research to find the right sized equipment to fit this nano.

 

[druluv]

Well I add water to the nano. I was very impressed with the redsea salt.
The packaging said it was for formulated for RO Water.

Red Sea Salt Numbers:
KH - 2.9meg
mag - 1100
CA - 460

This may be a good option for the "frugal Reefer". I going to see how the corals react to it.

 

[loismustdie]

Nice Dru. Cool tank. DIY the fuge. Can you build a shelf into the stand? Maybe you can make something to fit above or below the chiller?

 

[druluv]

Chris Good Idea, Instead of a DIY project, I'm going to try and use the ecosystem hang-on filter. I still need a good protein skimmer.

Here is pic of the rock work

 

[LeslieS]

Nice rock work!

 

[MightyMike]

what kinda rock you got in there?? Looks Be-yoo-tee full !!

 

[chazertis]

so fresh and so clean!

 

[druluv]

Thanks all, the rock is a combination of Tonga Branch, Fuji Branch, Marshall, and Tonga Fussion. I did not want to use regular fiji boulder rock. The rocks I mentioned above are very light, pourous, and less dense than the fuji boulder.

 

[druluv]

update: Well I wanted to add a fuge to my tank, so I decided on an ecosystem hang on mud filter. The mud filter was well built, but anyone with an acrylic experience can probably make quick work with this. The nano was already cycled before I got filter, so I just hooked it up, filled with mud, and some new saltwater. Here are some pics

 

[druluv]

update:

I added some more corals that were getting stung in my main tank. These corals are in bad shape so I hope this nano can give them a chance to get better.

I added a protein skimmer to the mix to help clean the water. I'm using the Tunze Reef Pack 200. The reef pack includes a skimmer, power filter, and water bucket for top-off. I don't know much about Tunze products except for the streams and wave box. I had good experiences with these products. So I should trust them on the other products they make.

Here are some pics

Here is the whole Unit.

Here is my problem. The skimmer take a little bit more space than expected. Nothing in this hobby ever fits perfectly! My t-5 lighting doesn't fit because the skimmer cups takes up too much space for the lighting legs to hold on the glass rim; so basiclly I'm stuck.

I may have to hang a lighting fixture over the tank.

 

[druluv]

Being that I'm mostly putting corals that weren't doing well in my main tank in to this nano, I really have to make sure the water is clean and the water is very stable.

My first objective is to clear the coral of Apastia. Apastia is one of the worst pest you can have in your reef tank. Joes Juice and other products is just a surface treatment and don't really clear the tank of this pest.

Now there are natural predators for Apastia. There is the Copperband Butterfly fish, Peppermint Shrimp, and the Apastia Eating Nudibranch. The problem with these animals is that it can be a hit or miss on them eating these pests. I have grand respect for Apastia, they seem to survive in any condition. They are almost the water version of rats.

In the Nano tank, I did not add any fish. By not adding fish the temptation to feed the tank is gone. The corals will have to survive on just clean water and whatever the hang-on fuge provides. This first step should at least start starving some of the Apastia.

It is not practical to add a copperband to this tank. So the next step is to start breeding Apastia eating Nudi-branches. I'm not really into buying 20 dollar animals that fit into a pipette and have them disappear into the reef tank abyss.

So I bought a little betta tank kit, I need to add some sand and apastia to this tank, and some nudibranches. I will be able to better document the progress with these animal. Once they get fatten up, I can add them to the nano tank.

 

[Deanos]

My first objective is to clear the coral of Apastia. Apastia is one of the worst pest you can have in your reef tank. Joes Juice and other products is just a surface treatment and don't really clear the tank of this pest.

Great thread so far!! But can you elaborate on your statement about Joe's Juice being only a surface treatment for Aiptasia? Have you found the pest anemone return, once it has been Juiced?