Chris' Nano Journal

[chr15_8]

This is going to be my first marine tank. Over the last month i haven't stopped planning my tank and got around to ordering it yesturday (ive changed the tank twice since then. feel sorry the tank manufactor thats building it for me with all the emails).

The Tank
29x16x14 (LxHxW)
Will hold 19 UK gallons (23 US gallons, 86 litre)
10mm glass
Black silicone
The tank will have 3 holes drilled into the rear for the return from the sump and one in the base for the durso.

The Sump
27.5 x 17 x 14.5 (LxHxW)
Will hold 20 UK gallons (25 US gallons, 93 litre)

Fish
Undecided at the moment but will more than likely have a couple of clowns.

Filtration
10kg LR in the tank.
5 kg LR in the sump.

Turnover
I am now thinking about using a sqwd.
I will have one pump with a turnover of 1000 litres per hour (probably will be more like 700 litres by the time it reaches the tank)
The other pump will have a turnover of about 2000 litres per hour ( will be around 1500 after the sqwd)

so total turnover will now be 2200 liters per hour. (480 imperial gallons, 580 us gallons)

which is about 25x turnover.




Skimmer
Aqua Medic Turboflotor Multi SL 1000.

Lighting
Will start off with a 54w compact (i think its 54w)
But when i decide i want a few corals will upgrade with another one.

Any advice/suggestions would be good and any suggestion regarding a CUC would be even better.

Thanks
Chris

 

[BigC]

Hi Chris,
Welcome to the salty box.
Looks good and you appear to have everything sussed.
For the CUC (your tank is pretty similar in volume to mine) I started out with a good mixture for different tasks. So I would go with 4-6 Turbo snails, These will probably turn out to be Astreas as most LFS label their stock wrongly. So go for Astreas as True Turbos get large and will actually topple rocks.
Then get yourself some Cerith snails around about 8 should suffice. I would also include about 4 Nassarius snails. Then you can pop in about 4-6 hermits. Blue legged I found to be more industrious than reds.
Of course you cannot add anything until the cycling process has fully run its course. If when it comes to dealing with algae (hair and such like) then opt for a sea hare, they will do the business if all else looks lost.
Keep posting and asking questions, we're always here to help
Regards

 

[1entra]

Good Luck with getting it all started mate, you seem to have spent some time looking into things and researching them so hope all goes well.

As far as CUC goes as said by BigC I would also suggest getting a mixture of snails including cerith, astrea, nassarius and possibly some money cories. Then I would get a few red leg hermits. Alsdo would be worthwile to read through some other peoples reef journals and see what they tried and wether it worked for them etc...

Ps. Reemember to put some pics up of the tank once it arrives...

 

[ben1987]

looks like you have done your research. Il be watching

 

[seffieuk]

to the salty side - looking forward to watching your journey

Seffie x

 

[chr15_8]

thanks all

the final plan was submitted to the aquarium manufacturer.

he said they normally take 3-4 weeks deliver them but as im picking it up it should be under 3 weeks. might need to tank a day off top pick it up and might go to stm to pick up some pipe work.

i hope i have everything sussed/remember all the research. my brain seems to remember all the things i enjoy doing but when it came to college i couldn't remember the easiest of things to remember lol

 

[SkiFletch]

Wow, looks like a great plan so far. Been lurking long?

 

[chr15_8]

Wow, looks like a great plan so far. Been lurking long?

my first salty post on here was the 15th April. i probably thought of the idea a couple of days before so just over a month.

No going back now with the custom tank with 4 holes orderd surprised my mum said just go and order it. im sure they are normally meant to moan about wasting money lol

Anyone know roughly how much ro water it at the lfs?

cheers

 

[ben1987]

at mine i think its £3 per drum, which is about 28L once they brim it.

 

[TigerIssey]

I pay £2.50 for 25 litres.

 

[Anguilla82]

anywhere between £2 and £3.50 per 25 litres, depends on the shop.

 

[chr15_8]

Thanks for the ro replies.

As ive got 3 returns which are all below water level if the power was to fail i would have about 75% (15 UK Gallons) of the tank water drain into the sump which has been designed to handle an extra 4 gallons.

So as non return valeves arn't really an option i have decided to try this (picture below makes it easier to explain)

As you can see i plan on looping the pipe work above the tanks water level and drill 2 holes with 4mm airline into the 1 inch pipework.

The reason i went for 2x 4mm airline was incase 1 got blocked. These would then get returned to the tank a few mm above normal water level.

 

[SkiFletch]

Looks good to me

 

[chr15_8]

The tank builder said the tanks going to be started end of this week start of next week. so will hopefully have it in another 2 weeks time (if i get round to picking it up)

Anybody else got any other comments of the anti syphon.

thanks
chris

 

[seffieuk]

Whoo hoo................soon, very soon, your arms will be elbow deep in the salty stuff

Seffie x