monicalooze
Active Member
- Review score
- +0 /0 /-0
Midwest Reefer
Build Thread Contributor
The tank (as of 04/16/20)
See my first post below this list.
TL/DR Design Constraints + Vision
No visible equipment and no background. The tank should evoke an effortless, casual tide pool in my living room with sponges, NPS corals, oddball filter feeding inverts, gorgonians, macros, mushrooms, and zoas. I did not exactly start with an NPS tank design, but I fell in love, and I'm taking on the challenge with enthusiasm.
Equipment
Tank: 21g UNS 90L
Stand: UNS 90U
Powerheads: 1 Vortech MP10 (not added yet - will only add if necessary)
Filtration: Oase Biomaster 600 thermo canister filter (heater is integrated)
"Return + Overflow":Dymax Lily Pipes Aquario Neo Flow Pipes (made out of PETG - more flexible than acrylic, not breakable like glass)
ATO: Kamoer X1 doser (pre-calculated evaporation amount)
Light: 36" ONF FlatOne - Blue/White spectrum + hanging kit
Planned
Cooluli Concord 20L mini fridge (for liquid food)
RedSea ReefDose 4 Channel Doser (for liquid food)
Biological filtration
CaribSea Fiji Pink
KP Aquatics premium maricultured live rock
Marinepure Ceramic Bioballs (filled the entire canister)
PNS ProBio Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria (both food and dissolved nutrient reduction)
Planned
Pacific oysters
Chemical filtration
Chemipure Blue Nano (only when necessary)
Livestock
Fish
4 Thread Fin Cardinalfish
Planned
8 more Thread Fin Cardinalfish
Orange Spotted Blenny (maybe)
Sponges
Bright Red Encrusting Ball Sponge
Red Photosynthetic Plating Sponge
Planned
Yellow ball sponges
Purple vase sponge
Corals
Zoanthids (random rock covered in a few cheap varieties)
Discosoma mushrooms (blue + red)
NPS Yellow Finger Gorgonian
NPS Purple Sea Whip
Purple Candelabra Gorgonian
Purple Frilly Gorgonian (with symbiotic neon yellow micro starfish)
Golden Plume Gorgonian (I think)
Gold Candelabra Gorgonian (I think)
Planned
Gorgonia ventalina (my holy grail - if I can get one)
NPS Chili Coral
More NPS gorgs
Superman discosoma
Ricordia Florida
Maybe a candycane + hammer coral
Macros (currently in safekeeping in my 10g cube)
Blue Hypnea
"Wyld" Dragon's Breath
Caulerpa prolifera (eaten by Ken the Mithrax crab [see safekeeping])
Planned
Blue scroll algae
Inverts
2 Nassarius Snails
Planned
Fighting conch
Standard clean up crew (trochus, cerith, astrea, etc.)
Red Fire Shrimp
Flame Scallops
Purple tiger scallop
Scarlet hermits
Barnacles
Pacific Oysters (also for filtration)
Sea Apple (yes, I know the risks)
Common Sea Star
Coco worms
Fan worms
Christmas tree worms + porites
Live Rock Hitchhikers
~3 Red Mithrax Crabs (from live rock)
Myriad unidentified crabs (from live rock)
Brittle + Serpent Stars (many)
Tunicates (several different kinds)
Encrusting sponges (red, blue, yellow, gray)
Fan worms (many different kinds)
Spaghetti + Medusa Worms
Small scallop (?)
Copepods
Bristle worms
Snapping shrimp
Unidentified worms (if I find a Bobbit Worm I will burn my house down)
Astrea snails (both dead - Leopard Polyclad Flatworm attack)
Leopard Polyclad Flatworm - living in a bowl in my kitchen
Additives + Food
Reef Nutrition Live Phyto Feast
Reef Nutrition Roti Feast
Reef Nutrition Roti Feast
Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp
Reef Frenzy Nano
Planned
PNS YellowSno
PNS Probio purple non-sulfur bacteria
Other additions as necessary
My first post
Hey everyone!
I'm just starting to plan my new nano build, but I'm hoping that starting a build thread will help me keep track of my progress better than last time...
I currently have a 10g Waterbox AIO that's been up for almost a year, but I have never been satisfied with it aesthetically. I don't fancy the black background, and although I have an extremely minimal set up (no skimmer, ai prime on the bendy arm, placed on furniture rather than a stand, etc.), it's somewhat of an eyesore when mixed with my vintage decor. This is not to insult anyone's tank; it just isn't working for me.
Cue my new inspiration: Takashi Amano FW tanks. I am absolutely enthralled at the minimalism, extremely thoughtful aqua-scaping, and the ikebana-like (Japanese flower arranging) vibe of these tanks. So why not start a freshwater tank? ....because I love the salt water challenge and uniqueness of having a literal tide pool in my living room. And I love the ocean.
So for this first post, I am looking for opinions and suggestions on the following plan (bonus points if you have a similar set-up)! I'm a designer (big surprise), so I've set the following constraints to encourage creativity and unique solutions.
1. Equipment must either not be visible or be extremely minimal (i.e. no big black power heads showing, disguised lights).
2. Lighting must look relatively normal and natural. I want this to look like a natural reef rather than cosmic bowling.
3. The stand must look like furniture, ideally with a mid-century modern credenza vibe (if I can pull it off).
4. Filtration methods must be simple and natural - I'm not a gear head.
In short, I want it to look like a casual tide pool in my living room...
Inspo:
TL/DR: I want a minimalist, Japanese freshwater inspired reef tank that looks and feels as natural as possible, and I would like your opinions and suggestions on the following plan:
The tank
UNS 75S Shallow
Dimensions:
Length: 29.52"
Width: 17.72"
Height: 11.81"
Glass thickness: 8mm
Volume: 26 gallons
Lighting
ATI Straton + Kessil H80 Fuge Light
I will build or buy a rectangular lampshade to disguise the light and make it look more proportional to the tank.
Dimensions:
Fixture Size: 18.5"x18.5"
Lighting area: 15.7"x15.7"
*Concern: this light is wider than the tank. I'm still a new reefer, so I don't know if this could be mitigated by hanging the light higher? Otherwise, I'd probably have a custom tank made.
The overflow
Mame Overflow OR (ideally) FW Glass lily pipes, but I have concerns about using a canister filter
Filtration
KP Aquatics live rock shipped in water
Refugium
Filter Floss
Substrate
Bahama Oolite Live Sand
*Concern: Very fine sand can blow around....but I'm not planning SPS, so the flow doesn't have to be that strong...
Pumps
Varios 2 - if there is room in the sump
Sicce?
I'd like a DC pump if possible...
2 Nero 3 (or Nero 5 if needed) power heads, but hidden in the back, behind the rock
xv
*Concern: will hiding power heads behind rocks be an issue?
Sump
Looking for recommendations here - I run an AIO now, so I don't know that much about sumps.
10g?
Heater
Innovative Marine Helios PTC Smart Heater - 200 watt
Fish + Inverts
TBH - I think I want a single dwarf lion fish, but I have heard they can be hard to feed, and I don't think they can be housed with other fish.
If the lion fish can be housed with other fish, I would add 3-5 blue green chromis, although I have heard they sometimes kill each other.
And if not a lion fish, I want a maroon clown
Tuxedo urchin
Long spine urchin (maybe a bad idea?)
Fighting conch
Snails
If I go with the clown, I'll add a BTA
If I don't go with the lion fish, I'll add a fire shrimp and pom pom crab
Coral+Macro algae
Softies and LPS, but not many - maybe macro algae of some kind
Thinking easy gorgonians, nepthia/sinularia, zoas, maybe a candycane, mushrooms, and maybe an acan or torch
Controller + other gear
Profilux vs. Apex vs. Coral Vue Hydros???
Tunze ATO
Well....if you made it this far, I commend you. Thanks for all your feedback!!
See my first post below this list.
TL/DR Design Constraints + Vision
No visible equipment and no background. The tank should evoke an effortless, casual tide pool in my living room with sponges, NPS corals, oddball filter feeding inverts, gorgonians, macros, mushrooms, and zoas. I did not exactly start with an NPS tank design, but I fell in love, and I'm taking on the challenge with enthusiasm.
Equipment
Tank: 21g UNS 90L
Stand: UNS 90U
Powerheads: 1 Vortech MP10 (not added yet - will only add if necessary)
Filtration: Oase Biomaster 600 thermo canister filter (heater is integrated)
"Return + Overflow":
ATO: Kamoer X1 doser (pre-calculated evaporation amount)
Light: 36" ONF FlatOne - Blue/White spectrum + hanging kit
Planned
Cooluli Concord 20L mini fridge (for liquid food)
RedSea ReefDose 4 Channel Doser (for liquid food)
Biological filtration
CaribSea Fiji Pink
KP Aquatics premium maricultured live rock
Marinepure Ceramic Bioballs (filled the entire canister)
PNS ProBio Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria (both food and dissolved nutrient reduction)
Planned
Pacific oysters
Chemical filtration
Chemipure Blue Nano (only when necessary)
Livestock
Fish
4 Thread Fin Cardinalfish
Planned
8 more Thread Fin Cardinalfish
Orange Spotted Blenny (maybe)
Sponges
Bright Red Encrusting Ball Sponge
Red Photosynthetic Plating Sponge
Planned
Yellow ball sponges
Purple vase sponge
Corals
Zoanthids (random rock covered in a few cheap varieties)
Discosoma mushrooms (blue + red)
NPS Yellow Finger Gorgonian
NPS Purple Sea Whip
Purple Candelabra Gorgonian
Purple Frilly Gorgonian (with symbiotic neon yellow micro starfish)
Golden Plume Gorgonian (I think)
Gold Candelabra Gorgonian (I think)
Planned
Gorgonia ventalina (my holy grail - if I can get one)
NPS Chili Coral
More NPS gorgs
Superman discosoma
Ricordia Florida
Maybe a candycane + hammer coral
Macros (currently in safekeeping in my 10g cube)
Blue Hypnea
"Wyld" Dragon's Breath
Planned
Blue scroll algae
Inverts
2 Nassarius Snails
Planned
Fighting conch
Standard clean up crew (trochus, cerith, astrea, etc.)
Red Fire Shrimp
Flame Scallops
Purple tiger scallop
Scarlet hermits
Barnacles
Pacific Oysters (also for filtration)
Sea Apple (yes, I know the risks)
Common Sea Star
Coco worms
Fan worms
Christmas tree worms + porites
Live Rock Hitchhikers
~3 Red Mithrax Crabs (from live rock)
Myriad unidentified crabs (from live rock)
Brittle + Serpent Stars (many)
Tunicates (several different kinds)
Encrusting sponges (red, blue, yellow, gray)
Fan worms (many different kinds)
Spaghetti + Medusa Worms
Small scallop (?)
Copepods
Bristle worms
Snapping shrimp
Unidentified worms (if I find a Bobbit Worm I will burn my house down)
Additives + Food
Reef Nutrition Live Phyto Feast
Reef Nutrition Roti Feast
Reef Nutrition Roti Feast
Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp
Reef Frenzy Nano
Planned
PNS YellowSno
PNS Probio purple non-sulfur bacteria
Other additions as necessary
My first post
Hey everyone!
I'm just starting to plan my new nano build, but I'm hoping that starting a build thread will help me keep track of my progress better than last time...
I currently have a 10g Waterbox AIO that's been up for almost a year, but I have never been satisfied with it aesthetically. I don't fancy the black background, and although I have an extremely minimal set up (no skimmer, ai prime on the bendy arm, placed on furniture rather than a stand, etc.), it's somewhat of an eyesore when mixed with my vintage decor. This is not to insult anyone's tank; it just isn't working for me.
Cue my new inspiration: Takashi Amano FW tanks. I am absolutely enthralled at the minimalism, extremely thoughtful aqua-scaping, and the ikebana-like (Japanese flower arranging) vibe of these tanks. So why not start a freshwater tank? ....because I love the salt water challenge and uniqueness of having a literal tide pool in my living room. And I love the ocean.
So for this first post, I am looking for opinions and suggestions on the following plan (bonus points if you have a similar set-up)! I'm a designer (big surprise), so I've set the following constraints to encourage creativity and unique solutions.
1. Equipment must either not be visible or be extremely minimal (i.e. no big black power heads showing, disguised lights).
2. Lighting must look relatively normal and natural. I want this to look like a natural reef rather than cosmic bowling.
3. The stand must look like furniture, ideally with a mid-century modern credenza vibe (if I can pull it off).
4. Filtration methods must be simple and natural - I'm not a gear head.
In short, I want it to look like a casual tide pool in my living room...
Inspo:
TL/DR: I want a minimalist, Japanese freshwater inspired reef tank that looks and feels as natural as possible, and I would like your opinions and suggestions on the following plan:
The tank
UNS 75S Shallow
Dimensions:
Length: 29.52"
Width: 17.72"
Height: 11.81"
Glass thickness: 8mm
Volume: 26 gallons
Lighting
ATI Straton + Kessil H80 Fuge Light
I will build or buy a rectangular lampshade to disguise the light and make it look more proportional to the tank.
Dimensions:
Fixture Size: 18.5"x18.5"
Lighting area: 15.7"x15.7"
*Concern: this light is wider than the tank. I'm still a new reefer, so I don't know if this could be mitigated by hanging the light higher? Otherwise, I'd probably have a custom tank made.
The overflow
Mame Overflow OR (ideally) FW Glass lily pipes, but I have concerns about using a canister filter
Filtration
KP Aquatics live rock shipped in water
Refugium
Filter Floss
Substrate
Bahama Oolite Live Sand
*Concern: Very fine sand can blow around....but I'm not planning SPS, so the flow doesn't have to be that strong...
Pumps
Varios 2 - if there is room in the sump
Sicce?
I'd like a DC pump if possible...
2 Nero 3 (or Nero 5 if needed) power heads, but hidden in the back, behind the rock
xv
*Concern: will hiding power heads behind rocks be an issue?
Sump
Looking for recommendations here - I run an AIO now, so I don't know that much about sumps.
10g?
Heater
Innovative Marine Helios PTC Smart Heater - 200 watt
Fish + Inverts
TBH - I think I want a single dwarf lion fish, but I have heard they can be hard to feed, and I don't think they can be housed with other fish.
If the lion fish can be housed with other fish, I would add 3-5 blue green chromis, although I have heard they sometimes kill each other.
And if not a lion fish, I want a maroon clown
Tuxedo urchin
Long spine urchin (maybe a bad idea?)
Fighting conch
Snails
If I go with the clown, I'll add a BTA
If I don't go with the lion fish, I'll add a fire shrimp and pom pom crab
Coral+Macro algae
Softies and LPS, but not many - maybe macro algae of some kind
Thinking easy gorgonians, nepthia/sinularia, zoas, maybe a candycane, mushrooms, and maybe an acan or torch
Controller + other gear
Profilux vs. Apex vs. Coral Vue Hydros???
Tunze ATO
Well....if you made it this far, I commend you. Thanks for all your feedback!!
Last edited: