My custom DIY nano build

[mattaytayan]

Hey guys! Just wanted to say whats up and show off my custom build nano setup. Used to reef years ago and moved but my previous nano tank didnt come with me. Spent the summer custom making my setup. Custom stand, sump, plumbing, everything custom, just bought a 12 inch cube that i drilled and a 5.5 gallon to convert into a sump. Currently running an AI prime. I want to do it right this time and try to acheive as stable of parameters as possible. Goal is to keep acros in a nano tank. My current livestock is doing great and im keeping my nitrates and phosphates stable, gonna dive into the world of dosing soon and start doing all i can to achieve perfect parameters and stability. Total volume around 10-12 gallons

Current livestock:
2 clownfish
Royal gramma
2 sexy shrimp
Cuc, 5 snails 3 hermits
Gold torch
Stratosphere zoas
Gmk zoas
Utter chaos
Jf My miami chalice
Mummy eye chalice
Grafted monti
Jb mushroom

Check it out!

I havent started skimming nor anything else in my sump, any fellow nano reefers have recommendations or tips to create the perfect mixed nano reef?

 

[zerozero]

I new to saltwater so I'm afraid I have next to nothing to contribute to your thread but to say you've done/are doing two things that make me nervous:
1) drilling glass
2) SPS corals

Do you have any pics of the construction?

 

[nate761]

What’s your plan to get adequate flow for SPS ? Flow in general is super hard in smaller tanks especially cubes. Otherwise it looks like you know how to maintain proper parameters !

 

[mattaytayan]

I new to saltwater so I'm afraid I have next to nothing to contribute to your thread but to say you've done/are doing two things that make me nervous:
1) drilling glass
2) SPS corals

Do you have any pics of the construction?

Unfortunately no pics of construction. Drilling was pretty simple with the proper glass bit. I was nervous too but was super simple, just make sure to keep the area wet for cooling and using a guide out of plywood helped a lot, tons of youtube videos on it.

As for sps, you shouldnt be worried unless you want to keep acros, everything up until then is pretty easy to care for

Best of luck to you!

 

[mattaytayan]

What’s your plan to get adequate flow for SPS ? Flow in general is super hard in smaller tanks especially cubes. Otherwise it looks like you know how to maintain proper parameters !

So far i have pretty good flow, have a 400gph return pump which is moving some water.
Plan on getting a ai nero 3 eventually for its compact size

 

[mattaytayan]

Also let me note, i mapped out my par, heres what it is during its peak period and heres what my chart looks like. Corals love it, took me a little while to master my lighting for this setup

 

[nate761]

Also let me note, i mapped out my par, heres what it is during its peak period and heres what my chart looks like. Corals love it, took me a little while to master my lighting for this setup

I started my tank with the intention of making it a mixed reef , but found it was really difficult to get adequate flow and lighting for SPS and have LPS survive in those conditions . 200 might be a little low for most acros especially tenuis. I have 2 Nero 5 and love them so good choice on the Nero 3.

 

[mattaytayan]

I started my tank with the intention of making it a mixed reef , but found it was really difficult to get adequate flow and lighting for SPS and have LPS survive in those conditions . 200 might be a little low for most acros especially tenuis. I have 2 Nero 5 and love them so good choice on the Nero 3.

My loval coral guy whos an acro head said i should be able to get by with 200 with stabile parameters, i understand some require more than others so ima be strategic in choosing what i put in. If anything thinking of upgrading to a xr15. But need to be careful cause theres not much par drop on such a shallow system, dont want to burn my softies

 

[nate761]

My loval coral guy whos an acro head said i should be able to get by with 200 with stabile parameters, i understand some require more than others so ima be strategic in choosing what i put in. If anything thinking of upgrading to a xr15. But need to be careful cause theres not much par drop on such a shallow system, dont want to burn my softies

If you pick the right ones then you’ll probably be fine ! Good luck I’ll be following the build hope it goes well.

 

[Flameback Pair]

@mattaytayan looks good. Subscribed!!

-Mitchell.

 

[mattaytayan]

Tank update!
Tank is doing great. Since i last posted i got a mummy eye and placed that somewhere to encrust and moved around the my miami. My JB has 2 babies this last 2 weeks which is awesome, gonna try to put one on a plug. Also utter chaos has been growing great with 2 new heads.
Things seem to be going well and my corals happy

Unfortunately one of my clowns jumped on me, i assume. I cant find it and hes been jumping recently so i assumed he jumped. Just cant find it, i think the dog picked it up.

Besides that, changed my drainage pipes from pvc to just a clear tube so its more “moveable” and easier to manage if i need to work on the sump.

Picked up a golden goose hammer the other day which is doing great and gonna mount it on my rock soon.

Got a nano ATO from amazon, trying it out, seems to be doing good so far.

I have been running into a bit of cyano recently, not much but its getting there, not gonna touch it or do any sort of treatment just gonna let it run its course and deal with the look for now.

Besides that, next step is livestock, i wanna get rid of the gramma and get a possum wrasse to take care of critters, and possible get rid of my 1 ocellaris clown and get 2 “designer” clowns. Looking into a blue cb shrimp to add to the tank but im just worried it might mess with the sexy shrimp, which have been glued to the base of the torch and have not moved an inch in months.

Thats all I have to update now!

 

[zerozero]

Sorry to hear about your clown mate.

Why do you think you're getting cyano? And curious how you'll tackle it.

I was thinking about getting a gramma, any particular reason you want to return it?

 

[mattaytayan]

Sorry to hear about your clown mate.

Why do you think you're getting cyano? And curious how you'll tackle it.

I was thinking about getting a gramma, any particular reason you want to return it?

In terms of cyano its hard to pinpoint exactly why. My parameters are fine, lighting may be too much but the corals need it, keeping up with weekly 20% water changes. Everythings fine, it always seems to be something that just happens and fixes itself. The cyano is only in the lower flow areas so that could be the cause but its hard to tell

As far as i take it my tanks maturing, ill just let it run its course and clear itself with time.

As for my gramma, i love it, lots of personality. But in my case with such a small tank and such limited stocking capacity, id rather prioritize a wrasse which i think is essential and plays a bigger role in the overall ecosystem im trying to create by helping control pests. Besides that i think grammas are awesome, wish i could keep it but dont wanna crowd my tank.

 

[zerozero]

As for my gramma, i love it, lots of personality. But in my case with such a small tank and such limited stocking capacity, id rather prioritize a wrasse which i think is essential and plays a bigger role in the overall ecosystem im trying to create by helping control pests. Besides that i think grammas are awesome, wish i could keep it but dont wanna crowd my tank.

That's interesting. I have room for one more fish (in a 13.5g) so am in the process of finding the right addition. My son likes the gramma, but I've not made a firm decision.