Rich's 15G Nano
 

I had quit the hobby a few years ago... but after visiting Dez' build a few times and getting offered free LR, I got back into it with a little 5G 12x12x8 tank... of course that wasn't enough, so after a couple of months of that, it ballooned into this current setup.

The tank is mr_alberta's old tank. Dimensions are 36"x12"x8". It was originally setup to run a closed loop, but I cut some glass and turned the intake into an overflow. The display drains into a 5 gallon sump. The original objective was to keep costs down and use as much existing equipment that I had... that fell through pretty quickly.

One thing I did differently on this tank compared to my old ones was that I decided to go with fairly slow flow through the sump area. With the return pump that I'm using, I'm getting about 50gph through the sump. As a result, I have no micro bubble issues, and the flow through the drain is so quiet that even if I open the gate valve all the way, it just makes a quiet trickling sound. The water quality is just as good as my old tanks, so I think all of my future setups will get low flow.

The refugium light is run on a reverse schedule to minimize pH swings... something I think is especially important on small tanks.

There is a cover over this tank unfortunately... the original diamond spotted goby I bought decided to go carpet surfing through an eggcrate cover less than a day after I bought it... I found it all dried up and crispy the next morning =(

Equipment:
1x Koralia nano
1x Koralia 1
1x Eheim 1048
1x Tronic 200w heater
1x Stealth 100w heater
1x Tunze 9002 Nano Skimmer
1x Bulk Reef Supply media reactor with Carbon and GFO running off a MJ400

Livestock:
~2-3lbs of LR
~5-8lbs of baserock
1-2" sandbed
1x Tailspot Blenny
1x Wheelers Goby
1x Diamond Spotted Watchman Goby
1x 8 headed candy cane
1x GBTA
1x Clip on light with a Phillips daytime bulb

I originally had a 70w JBJ Viper2 MH over the tank, but just recently upgraded to a Giesemann Nep-Tune 1x250+2x24w fixture. It is overkill for a 8" tall tank, but I bought the fixture with the intention of eventually moving it over to a big tank I'm planning for my new house.

Future plans:
- replace the 2x24w T5 bulbs in the fixture with actinics (10000k bulbs are the stock bulbs)
- start running Zeovit on my DIY reactor. Just going to give my tank another week or so to settle down before I start it up
- Replace the Koralia Nano with a Vortech MP20
- Get more SPS

Pictures:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5258.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5266.jpg
Original setup with the 70w MH.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5267.jpg
Sump/Refugium

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5289.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5291.jpg
New setup with the 250w fixture.

wow, i just picked up a tank with almost the same diamentions. for sure will be keeping an eye on how yours comes out

Sweet Rich,

I'll have to see it in person sometime!

Nice Rich!! Always loved the dims on this tank. :wink:

Thanks comments everyone =)

Took a couple of pictures today

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5310.jpg
Candy Cane

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5319.jpg
BTA. When I got this from another Canreefer, it was under CF lights in a sump, and not very bubbly. Its only been a few days, and its starting to look great =)

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC_5315.jpg
Tailspot Blenny

Couldn't get any decent shots of my gobies... those things are still far too skittish.

Claaaaaaam tank !!!!! :lol:

Wow, that blenny is the foshizzelnizzel!

Nice stuff!

i agree about the foshizzelnizzel part also, great looking fish. this is going to be a very fun tank as you can get very close to whatever is in the tank and just stare :eek:

very cool setup. this is going to be A -awesome.

Hey Rich, any updates?