JDigital's 23G Nano 'SPS' Build

[JDigital]

Well, I have decided to start a 23G Nano tank in my room. I plan to make it an SPS Dominated tank. I will be running a Fluval 305 canister filter with Carbon, Phosphate remover, and Live Rock. Flow will come in the form of the return from the Fluval and 2x Seio M620 Powerheads. Giving me about 1500GPH of flow. Sand bed will be 20lbs of Caribbean Live Sand, LR will total out at about 27lbs. Lighting will come in the form of an Aquamedic Ocean Light HOT5 Fixture. 4x24W, running 2 10K, 1 Fiji Purple, 1 Actinic.

The LR that I have is currently cooking to get rid of a bunch of NASTY THICK GHA.. it's so thick it looks like carpet! I worked for about an hour last night scrubbing with a wire brush, and only got about half if it scrubbed before the brush was pretty much useless... :lol: Need to get a new brush to finish the job.

Pics aren't much to get excited about, but I know we all love them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Tank.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Powerheads.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/LS.jpg

And my new toy for both of my reef tanks! :mrgreen:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/refractometer.jpg

[mseepman]

Looking good...I'm currently working on a 16G DIY SPS nano myself and so I look forward to seeing how yours moves along.

[JDigital]

^^ Nice Mark, Hope you make a build thread for it..:biggrin:

I am doing the Nano SPS just because as of right now, my MH lighting for my main 75 display is gonna be awhile before i can get it.. This will give me a chance to have frags growing out, that I can transfer once my lighting is complete on the 75. Plus I need a lil SW where I spend the most time. :lol:

[purplepolypeater]

i didn't know lightsabres were real

[brandy]

Josh,
since you are setting it up. Thought you might interesting in some crush coral (little bigger than sand, with some red stuff mixed.) I have extra with me here after my setup in may. About 1/2 bucket (the HomeDepot bucket)
Shout me if you want it.

[OCDP]

i didn't know lightsabres were real

haha.. took me a second to figure out what you were talking about..
they DO look like lightsabres.... :rolleyes:

Sorry to hijack. This should be neat... I tried going SPS in my 20g, and had some success. Not too much growth or polyp extension, but I did get really nice colours at least. It can be a challenge..

Have you considered BB ? I found having sand in a small system while doing SPS was the devil. Wayyy too much nutrients and just a general amount of crap that builds up that the SPS didn't care so much for. Obviously results vary, so to each their own! I'll be following along here. I love smaller tanks.

[JDigital]

haha.. took me a second to figure out what you were talking about..

they DO look like lightsabres.... :rolleyes:

Sorry to hijack. This should be neat... I tried going SPS in my 20g, and had some success. Not too much growth or polyp extension, but I did get really nice colours at least. It can be a challenge..

Have you considered BB ?

Not really, for the simple fact that I am not a huge fan of how it looks.. :lol:

[OCDP]

Fair enough.. it all comes down to a personal preference in the end. I just like to see how much crap is building up, and it makes it that much easier to remove!

Anyways.. tagging along!

[JDigital]

I think that's the only reason I would go BB, easy clean up, as there will be 1 or 2 small fish in the tank..

[DanG]

Refractometer, one of the best investments you can make for a reef tank.

[JDigital]

Refractometer, one of the best investments you can make for a reef tank.

haha! tell me about it.. i absolutely love it.. :biggrin:

[JDigital]

Ok, couple changes from my original post regarding equipment and LR.

1. Lighting:

Wattage hasn't change, just my units. I was originally going to go with a 4x24W Aquamedic unit, however, I was able to get my hands on 2x 2x24W Coralife units for much less money (even if I replace all the bulbs, it still saves me $100, plus the units are a lot more sleek). I will still be running 2x 10K , 1x Actinic, 1x Fiji Purple.

Also added one Coralife 1watt LED Lunar light.

2. Powerheads:

I am still going to be using 1 of the Seio M620's, but the other will be used in my water change bucket, and get replaced with a Koralia 2 for a bit more flexability in position and jet concentration.

3. Live Rock:

I picked up about 25lbs of Coraline covered (plus loads of bristlestars, snails, and misc live stuff) rock from a local Can-reefer today, so I will be returning the other stuff I had cooking where I got it. Hopefully save myself a bit of algae issue down the road.

Pics:

Last night after adding the CaribSea Live Sand:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/23GSanded.jpg

and tonight after adding the new lights and LR (this is not my final aquascape, just had to get the rock submerged to avoid die off):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/23Gloaded.jpg

[JDigital]

Aquascaped it this afternoon..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/23Gaquascape.jpg

[yeeg]

The pic above looks much bigger than 23g

[JDigital]

The pic above looks much bigger than 23g

That's a Koralia2 and Seio 620.... I think they make the tank small... :lol:

[JDigital]

August 18, 2008 - 48hours after rock was added.

Ammonia - 2.4-3.7 ppm
Nitrite - No Kit
Nitrate - 5-10ppm.

Could be a quick a cycle with this new rock I picked up.. :biggrin:

[JDigital]

August 20, 2008 - 96hours after LR addition.

Ammonia - 0-0.1 ppm
Nitrite - No Kit
Nitrate - 10ppm.

[JDigital]

These two beauties will be the main inhabitants of this tank, along with a small yellow clown goby... No pic of him yet..

True Percula Clowns already paired:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/truepercs.jpg

[JDigital]

FTS for today:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/23FTS.jpg

YCG:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/YCG.jpg

Porcelain Crab:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/porcelaincrab.jpg

[mseepman]

Looking great...makes me want to work even faster on mine.

[JDigital]

First corals in the tank!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/PinkYuma.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/GreenYuma.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/YellowPinkyuma.jpg

[fishytime]

Schweeeeeet man! Where did you get those?????:surprise:

[JDigital]

Schweeeeeet man! Where did you get those?????:surprise:

Just some little place called Red Coral Aquarium..... ever heard of it?? :lol:

[OCDP]

Hey buddy,

Things are looking great! Nice perc's ;)

So what are you using for lighting on this bad boy? (sorry if I missed that..) The Yuma looks amazing.. once they grow/split, frag me off some of that!

What happened to your SPS dominated tank huh? :razz: jk.. everything looks really nice. I'll post some new pictures tonight or tomorrow of my tank.

[rocketlily]

Those pictures are amazing. Could you tell us what type of camera you are using?

[JDigital]

Hey buddy,

Things are looking great! Nice perc's ;)

So what are you using for lighting on this bad boy? (sorry if I missed that..) The Yuma looks amazing.. once they grow/split, frag me off some of that!

What happened to your SPS dominated tank huh? :razz: jk.. everything looks really nice. I'll post some new pictures tonight or tomorrow of my tank.

It's still planned to be an SPS tank, but I am waiting for the system to mature alot more. I am currently running 4x24W T5's (2x10K, 1 Fiji Purple, 1 Actinic) however I have a 175W MH waiting to be added, just need to order a better reflector for it, or find one used here in calgary ;)

Those pictures are amazing. Could you tell us what type of camera you are using?

Thanks for the comments. :) I use a Canon 40D w/ Canon 60mm Macro lens for the above shots, FTS shots are done using the 40D w/ Tokina 12-24mm. :smile:

[JDigital]

New FTS for today.. Added a 175W MH.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/20GFTSSept.jpg

[JDigital]

It's amazing how a tank can change over night...

Added 2 fish.. The Copperband Butterfly will not be staying in this Nano (just incase anyone wants to say anything... He's getting transfered to the 75G when its back up and going) The 2nd fish is a Royal Gramma, which has been in hiding since adding.

Can someone ID the SPS for me please?? LOL i suck with coral names/id.

Updated FTS:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/20GFTSSept08.jpg

Purple Yuma:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/PurpleYuma.jpg

Green Yuma:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/GreenYuma-1.jpg

My FIRST SPS colony: :mrgreen:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Acropora1.jpg

And a Macro shot of a couple tips:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/AcroMacro1.jpg

[fishytime]

Not bout that one Josh. You could give Snappy(Greg) a pm and ask real nice if he could id it for you...and then tell me so I know too.

[karazy]

holy cow, ive seen this before, but i never realised how nice those percs were!
o, and is that a cleaner wrasse i see? whats the story on him?

[JDigital]

holy cow, ive seen this before, but i never realised how nice those percs were!
o, and is that a cleaner wrasse i see? whats the story on him?

The Percs WERE nice... one carpet surfed, and the other got stressed to death from the pygmy angel. :cry:

The cleaner wrasse was in my 75G before I tore it down to rebuild, so just tossed him in the 20 while I work on getting the 75 back up and running.

[karazy]

oo, ok.

dang, thats harsh man. was the pygmy angel introduced after the percs?

[JDigital]

^^ Yea, he was, but I brought him over from my 75G which was HIS tank... so I think he just took over my Nano after the female Perc went for a jump..

Well the 'SPS' part of my build is starting to come alive.. haha.. couple shots of some new frags i got from Red Coral tonight. and 1 unknown Anemone, if anyone could ID it for me that would be great.. plus 3 of the SPS..

Birdsnest Frag:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Birdsnest.jpg

Unknown SPS 1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/unk-sps3.jpg

Unknown SPS 2:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/unk-sps2.jpg

Unknown SPS 3:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/unk-sps1.jpg

Unknown Anemone:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/unk-anem.jpg

[bsyoun]

I bought a similar looking anemone from Red Coral (from previous owner) about two years ago, and I was told that it was a Carnation Anemone. I really couldn't find much info on it online, other than that it needed to be target fed regularly, wasn't photosynthetic and likes to wedge itself at the base of live rock or sometimes bury its foot into a sandy substrate. It may also be called a Sun Anemone.

I gave mine a small squirt of mysis every couple of days and it seemed pretty happy and after a few months, it split into two anemones. My false percs never really seemed interested in hosting it. I don't know if these anemones have an appetite for fish, but mine left my fish alone.

Ben

[michika]

Very nice! I love all the little frags, so cute.

[Tarolisol]

Yarrr, there be a nice water box, wit' plenty o grand corals. Best be sleeping with one eye open, for many o bucaneers be eyein yarr booty.

[JDigital]

I was a busy beaver today.... Built a canopy for my MH today. Still needs to be painted (probably black).. but I like how it turned out..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Canopy.jpg

[Oscar]

I was a busy beaver today.... Built a canopy for my MH today. Still needs to be painted (probably black).. but I like how it turned out..

Other than the label why paint black? That size of a board is getting harder to find all of the time.

Oh yeah, nice tank!

[mseepman]

Any details on how you built the canopy? How is it supported over the tank?

[fishytime]

Hey! You got er done. So does that mean no trade? Or do you want frags instead? Looks good bud.

[JDigital]

Other than the label why paint black? That size of a board is getting harder to find all of the time.

Oh yeah, nice tank!

I got alot of stuff around the tank that has black or black trim... speakers, my FW tank, etc... Just figured it would look better if it matched.. haha I've been finding this size board at HD for awhile, always plenty of stock..

Any details on how you built the canopy? How is it supported over the tank?

There is a set of rails inside the panels that rest on the frame of the tank. They are positioned high enough up that when placed on the tank, the face panels cover the black frame on the tank, the MH plate then just spans the width of the canopy and rests on top... However I am looking to add a set of hinges to the MH plate so that I can lift the light up instead of completely moving off to the side or the floor when changing water or feeding etc..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/canopy2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/MHPlate.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/canopy3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/canopytop.jpg

Hey! You got er done. So does that mean no trade? Or do you want frags instead? Looks good bud.

Haha! Yea, all I needed was a mitre saw, which a buddy has, so had the day off, figured I'd give it a try.. haha... I will need another one for my 75G tho... ;)

[JDigital]

Finally got a good shot of my Porcelain Crab... I rarely see him in any detail, and he fancied coming out closer to the front of the tank this evening...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Porcelain.jpg

and also made a short tank tour vid..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/th_NanoVid.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/?action=view&current=NanoVid.flv)

[Marlin65]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Porcelain.jpg

Very nice I really like it.:biggrin:

[REDNECK_REEFER]

Looks really nice I like The DIY hood!!
how are the sps doing under that intensity of light, any heat issues?

[karazy]

i love how active your tank looks,
great job!

[JDigital]

Looks really nice I like The DIY hood!!
how are the sps doing under that intensity of light, any heat issues?

The only SPS i can judge right now, is the colony, as I've only had the frags for a couple days... I am seeing lots of white tips on the colony, so it seems to be showing new growth, but ya, I do currently have a bit of a heat issue... Today wasn't too bad when I got home this afternoon, the tank was around 27-28... but the couple days before it was pushing 30-31 i think.. was barely readable on the thermometer (cheapo LCD sticky ones).. if I leave the window open it seems to help keep it cool, but then I freeze my butt off.. haha Planning to add a fan or two shortly.

i love how active your tank looks,
great job!

Thanks alot!! :mrgreen:

[karazy]

any new FTS?

[JDigital]

Modded my Canopy today... Added 2 CPU cooling fans.. and a controller to control them. The wiring was cleaned up after it was all where I wanted it... so excuse the sloppiness of the first pic.. haha

The controller is dual channel so I can adjust the speed of each fan seperately if I need to... it also comes with 2 tempurature sensors, so I set one up to keep track of the air temp in the canopy and one of them just under the water level to track the water temp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/fans1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/controller.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/FTSOct08.jpg

[fishytime]

Das is getting high tech. Looks good man.

[JDigital]

Picked up my first clam yesterday from Red Coral.

A Paisley Maxima:

Last night under 100% Actinic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/clam1.jpg

Today under 13K MH:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Clam2.jpg

[mseepman]

Is that temperature controller for a PC or for aquariums? Where did you get it if I may ask?

[JDigital]

Is that temperature controller for a PC or for aquariums? Where did you get it if I may ask?

It's for a computer.. Got it at Memory Express.

[mseepman]

How are you powering it? I thought about doing that before I got my Reefkeeper but didn't really know how to power the controller. I looked at using an old AT computer power supply but it seemed like more of a pain in the butt than it was worth.

[JDigital]

How are you powering it? I thought about doing that before I got my Reefkeeper but didn't really know how to power the controller. I looked at using an old AT computer power supply but it seemed like more of a pain in the butt than it was worth.

I'm using a low power (185W) ATX power supply... It's dead simple (alot simpler than how it was originally described to me on another thread I made), you just need to create a closed circuit (i used a bobby pin) between the Green wire and any black one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/power.jpg

[JDigital]

Couple shots from tonight..

Birdsnest Growth pics.

This was when I got the frag a few weeks ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/Birdsnest.jpg

and this is from tonight.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/birdnestgrowth.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/birdnestgrowthactinic.jpg

My Leather with full PE under Actinic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/leatheractinic.jpg

and I think its a Monti Cap???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/monticap.jpg

[JDigital]

Look who I caught hosting my Torch coral tonight.. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/crabhost.jpg

[karazy]

aw, thats cute

[michika]

Cute!

I also forgot to tell you I love your clam. Its very pretty, the pattern is really nice.

[JDigital]

Cute!

I also forgot to tell you I love your clam. Its very pretty, the pattern is really nice.

Thanks!

I hope I don't kill it.. :razz: Hasn't opened as wide as it was in the store, hopefully that changes.

[JDigital]

I also forgot to tell you I love your clam. Its very pretty, the pattern is really nice.

Just for you Catherine! :mrgreen:

Macro shot!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/clammacro.jpg

[OCDP]

Eeesh, nice clam! Everything looks great!

I have had MH's on my tank for less than 24hrs and I am already itchin' to get some SPS and clams.

[JDigital]

Eeesh, nice clam! Everything looks great!

I have had MH's on my tank for less than 24hrs and I am already itchin' to get some SPS and clams.

Lets see some new pics then!

[JDigital]

fishytime.. this pic is for you! LOL

This has to be one of the biggest Left Handed Hermits I have seen, and its in my tank!! I'm pretty sure he de-housed the Red Scarlett that WAS in that shell.. I haven't seen the Red Scarlett for along time..

So to give you an idea, he (with shell) is about the size of a medium size Yuma Ric. Look at that claw!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/lefthandbeast.jpg

[michika]

Awe, thanks for the macro!

[JDigital]

Couple updated shots...

Getting some fast growth on my birdsnest..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/birdnets3.jpg

Finally getting some PE on this acro frag.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/PEYAY.jpg

Monticap is spreading nicely.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/monti2.jpg

FTS for November.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/FTSNov.jpg

[karazy]

your yellow clown goby looks happy in his thrown

[JDigital]

your yellow clown goby looks happy in his thrown

He sits EVERYWHERE... but since that Acropore stn'd on me, he has taken up alot of his lodging on my Leather. :lol:

Anyways... Couple pics of my new clam I got from Red Coral on tuesday.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/clam1-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/clam2-1.jpg

Size comparison to my Paisley Maxima which is still recovering from a Yuma sting as you can see the mantle is sucked in... was alot worse 1.5months ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/23G%20Nano/clam3.jpg

[karazy]

nice clam! both are them are beauties

[fishytime]

:lol: your a reef junkie...welcome to the club.

[Trigger Man]

that clam from red coral really colored up well in your tank.

[JDigital]

:lol: your a reef junkie...welcome to the club.

What gave it away??? lol

that clam from red coral really colored up well in your tank.

Thanks.. I actually got them both from Red Coral.. :mrgreen:

[JDigital]

Well, Looks like I will upgrading this tank soon.. Should be picking up a 24x24x16 Braceless Cube this week.

Now couple questions for the switch..

1. Should I keep the water from the 20G and mix with a new batch or start with fresh salt water?

2. Re-use the Sandbed, or start fresh? This 20 has been going for about 6.5 months I think.

3. Anything I need to remember when doing the transfer?

[Trigger Man]

I would use the water from your 20g and mix with the new batch of saltwater to fill the new tank. I mix water from my display tank with some fresh saltwater everytime I setup my qt tank.

[rocketlily]

I would start with a new sandbed. Also, when I have done transfers, I mixed new water in the new tank, then everyday over a period of a week (if you're not adding fresh rock) exchange a few jugs of water between the tanks. On the day of the move I exchange quite a few jugs of water and I have not lost anything while changing tanks.