"Cost is No Object" Nano

[wjcastiglione]

Hey all - its been probably 8+ish years since I had a reef tank. I had a bio cube and I absolutely hated it after a while because I tried to do everything - SPS coral, dosing, over stocking the tank, constant adds of fish - blah blah blah, every rookie mistake in the world really.

I think my biggest problem as a new reefer was trying to do everything all at once. Too much, too fast - I got frustrated with the tank. I got frustrated with trying to piece together random equipment in the back of the bio cube - I got frustrated having to constantly pull out everything in the back of the tank to do maintenance.

I now have an office - and I'd like to put a 20 gallon cube in it.

Heres my desired list of inhabitants:
- 2 clown fish
- Anemone
- hammers
- torches
- a leather or two
- a clean up crew

I just want a nice flowy tank that is easy to maintain. I dont want to add stuff to it nonstop - I dont want to worry about dosing.

I plan to just buy saltwater from the LFS and bring it in - so I'm not mixing saltwater in my office disrupting other people.

I DO NOT WANT TO TINKER NONSTOP - I WANT TO BUY ONE SYSTEM AND BE DONE. I just want to enjoy the peacefulness of watching the tank with as little thought or work as possible.

I do not really care what it costs (obviously within reason) - but if I can achieve a self sustaining system and it costs a pretty penny and I dont have to think much about it - that's what I'm looking for.

I'm looking for suggestions:

What AIO system would you pick? Right now I'm leaning toward the Red Sea Max Nano G2 with their 3 in 1 ATO. I've also considered waterbox.

What I like about the red sea max nano is that it seems to be extremely well thought out - even the ATO system just plugs and plays right into the system.

additionally - is there any new technology in the aspect of testing water parameters? I'd love something thats just automated to my phone - and not have to deal with reagents and taking water out of the tank with pipettes etc.

Do you have any better suggestions?

 

[bradreef]

Here is the latest and greatest in automated testing

HYDROS Maven Auto Water Tester

The HYDROS Maven is a sophisticated aquarium controller designed for saltwater aquariums that can automatically test water parameters. It can automatically test Alkalinity (dKH), Nitrate (NO3), Phosphate (PO4), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg).

www.coralvue.com

You could setup a system that doses, tests, auto top off, auto water change, ect.

 

[wjcastiglione]

Here is the latest and greatest in automated testing

HYDROS Maven Auto Water Tester

The HYDROS Maven is a sophisticated aquarium controller designed for saltwater aquariums that can automatically test water parameters. It can automatically test Alkalinity (dKH), Nitrate (NO3), Phosphate (PO4), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg).

www.coralvue.com

You could setup a system that doses, tests, auto top off, auto water change, ect.

Good option - probably a little over kill for my purposes - but I like where your head is at. Too bad its not released yet. Have any recommendations on something with a little more track record?

 

[bradreef]

Good option - probably a little over kill for my purposes - but I like where your head is at. Too bad its not released yet. Have any recommendations on something with a little more track record?

Triton is the standard, you just need to rinse and service regularly. For what you are doing, you could simply dose all for reef and test weekly.

 

[aztoza]

I just got a Red Sea max nano peninsula so idk if you’d get the same ATO this has…it is so small we have to fill it twice a day. The weekend away from the office might not work. At the moment I wish I had not gone AOI, but instead pick out each equipment and hang it on the back, making cords neat as possible. I’m a noob tho.

 

[dimedup]

I love my innovative marine 25g aio if you’re interested in something like a lagoon style. Love the style and all the things you can add to it. They have a manual fleece roller on sale right now for $50 each instead of $100. Enough space for probes in the back and lighting options for it are easy. Kh guardian is a great unit to keep alk in check, I dont really test anything else except for nitrates and phosphates.

 

[X-37B]

My 20g 18" nano cube AIO was a very simple setup.
Ato, 1 powerhead and esv 2 part dosed daily.
10% 2 gal a month WC and thats it.
Built with live rock.
Zero to 10 months. This is by far the easiest system I have ever ran.
You dont need all the automation to run a simple system as mine was mostly sps.
You could use a dosing pump but I just did daily adds of 2 part by hand.

 

[wjcastiglione]

Triton is the standard, you just need to rinse and service regularly. For what you are doing, you could simply dose all for reef and test weekly.

This is a good one - thank you.

 

[wjcastiglione]

I just got a Red Sea max nano peninsula so idk if you’d get the same ATO this has…it is so small we have to fill it twice a day. The weekend away from the office might not work. At the moment I wish I had not gone AOI, but instead pick out each equipment and hang it on the back, making cords neat as possible. I’m a noob tho.

I was going to do this one - this is an upgrade, but it's pretty sweet - and pulls from a different container, so it has much more capacity.

3-in-1 ReefATO + Auto Top Off System ATO (SALTWATER ONLY) - Red Sea

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[wjcastiglione]

I love my innovative marine 25g aio if you’re interested in something like a lagoon style. Love the style and all the things you can add to it. They have a manual fleece roller on sale right now for $50 each instead of $100. Enough space for probes in the back and lighting options for it are easy. Kh guardian is a great unit to keep alk in check, I dont really test anything else except for nitrates and phosphates.

I like it - but it's a little too a la carte for me. seems I have to piece everything together.

 

[wjcastiglione]

My 20g 18" nano cube AIO was a very simple setup.
Ato, 1 powerhead and esv 2 part dosed daily.
10% 2 gal a month WC and thats it.
Built with live rock.
Zero to 10 months. This is by far the easiest system I have ever ran.
You dont need all the automation to run a simple system as mine was mostly sps.
You could use a dosing pump but I just did daily adds of 2 part by hand.

Think you'd be able to achieve the same results with sand in it? I understand the benefits of bare bottom tanks - but I just dont like the look.

 

[alindell]

I wouldn't get a nano. If you want to go smaller get something like 36 long 25 wide 25 tall. Probably around 60 to 70 gall. As far as dosing and not having a lot of SPS. I would buy 2 new QD doses and have 1 dos continuous dose ro water into kalk reactor to drop kalk I to tank and the other all4reef. The other dos would be continuous auto water change. I would probably do like half a gallon a day change. You need to have 3 storage bins. One holds fresh ro, the other fresh salt and the other a waste container for the output of the water change. This system I think ensures a simple easy low maintenance system. Basically all elements are added in correct ratios from the water change. The all4reef helps buff up ones that get taken up that water change can't do and kalk provides a reliable source of calcium and alk but not in very high concentrations while also buffering ph. I do this and it's low stress and I'm growing about everything including SPS but eventually with SPS you will probably need more like a calcium reactor. This system should do good with lps and softies with few SPS. It's a good system that works and doesn't have too much maintenance. You would need to also hook up an ato system to your ro bin and a large container ensures not filling up often so you can go leave without worrying about topping off the tank. Auto water change also helps remove nutrients and toxins. I would also consider adding a carbon reactor with a purigen baggie in reactor and rox .08 carbon. Run it like 5 hours a day to remove unwanted heavy metals toxins and to clean up water. It also helps keep water clear and orp up. Also only buy fish that can eat pellets so you can feed them with pellets while you are away.

 

[wjcastiglione]

I wouldn't get a nano. If you want to go smaller get something like 36 long 25 wide 25 tall. Probably around 60 to 70 gall. As far as dosing and not having a lot of SPS. I would buy 2 new QD doses and have 1 dos continuous dose ro water into kalk reactor to drop kalk I to tank and the other all4reef. The other dos would be continuous auto water change. I would probably do like half a gallon a day change. You need to have 3 storage bins. One holds fresh ro, the other fresh salt and the other a waste container for the output of the water change. This system I think ensures a simple easy low maintenance system. Basically all elements are added in correct ratios from the water change. The all4reef helps buff up ones that get taken up that water change can't do and kalk provides a reliable source of calcium and alk but not in very high concentrations while also buffering ph. I do this and it's low stress and I'm growing about everything including SPS but eventually with SPS you will probably need more like a calcium reactor. This system should do good with lps and softies with few SPS. It's a good system that works and doesn't have too much maintenance. You would need to also hook up an ato system to your ro bin and a large container ensures not filling up often so you can go leave without worrying about topping off the tank. Auto water change also helps remove nutrients and toxins. I would also consider adding a carbon reactor with a purigen baggie in reactor and rox .08 carbon. Run it like 5 hours a day to remove unwanted heavy metals toxins and to clean up water. It also helps keep water clear and orp up. Also only buy fish that can eat pellets so you can feed them with pellets while you are away.

I appreciate your feedback - but that is simply not achievable in my office.

 

[alindell]

Yah if you get any smaller it's just harder to have a tank with stability, but you could probably still do fine. You could go for AIO tank or red sea tank that's around 2 ft long that has a stand and sump. Pretty small. If you want to keep it even easie. I would buy just one dose then and have all4reef in a 1 gallon jug and kalk in a reactor being dosed into the tank. Forgo the auto water change since it's too much. You should have room in a stand for that. That would probably be enough for your dosing needs. Maybe once a month do a 5 gallon water change. You can put some carbon in a bag in the sump if you don't want to mess around with a reactor to help polish and Clean water. I would suggest buying a jug though that can sit next to the stand for ATO.. I would not skimp out on that for sure. Your ato is super important. Get a 5 to 10 gallon jug. Maybe Even put it in a little cabinet to hide it and keep the decor on the office. It also gives you more room for storing stuff and a place to put a bucket on to do a water change. This would be a small but relatively low maintenance system. Change out the carbon every couple weeks, empty skimmer, fill up ro jug, a gallon of all4reef for a small tank could probably last 6 months, the kalk reactor would need to be topped off with kalk probably every couple weeks, but it's always going to be filled with ro water being dosed in it continuously from the dos connected to the ro jug. You definitely need a water management system like Neptune or hydros. The red sea ato is okay but you need something to monitor temp, ph and control the doses.

 

[aztoza]

I was going to do this one - this is an upgrade, but it's pretty sweet - and pulls from a different container, so it has much more capacity.

3-in-1 ReefATO + Auto Top Off System ATO (SALTWATER ONLY) - Red Sea

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

Sweet!

 

[Spare time]

PS If you ever need water from the office to top off, zero water pitchers work. I use third party replacement filters though.

 

[X-37B]

Think you'd be able to achieve the same results with sand in it? I understand the benefits of bare bottom tanks - but I just dont like the look.

For sure!
My old 45 frag system, 1" sand, and 30g, 3" sand. You cant see the 3" because I blacked it out.
All LR.

 

[wjcastiglione]

PS If you ever need water from the office to top off, zero water pitchers work. I use third party replacement filters though.

Dude that’s awesome. Great tip.

 

[wjcastiglione]

For sure!
My old 45 frag system, 1" sand, and 30g, 3" sand. You cant see the 3" because I blacked it out.
All LR.

Alright dude. All of this stuff leads me to believe you know what you’re doing lol

Tell me more about your 20gal. What’s the setup? What kind of filtration are you using? What are you testing for?

Do I have to even dose for soft corals? I’d rather not dose to be honest. It’s just one extra thing to get screwed up.

 

[slingfox]

If you want lower maintenance and care you should consider dropping the anemone from the list. Anemone move anround and split.