Hi,
I too am starting down the Nano tank / Reef tank route. I have just come back from a holiday on the Gold Coast whereby I took in a trip to Lady Elliot Island at the southern tip of The Great Barrier Reef.....bloody awesome. This is where I got my impidus to start such a project.
I have been keeping tropical freshwater killifish for over 30 years and I guess it's time to move on.
Below is a list of equipment that I am currently in the process of purchasing and as you can see I don't intend to skim at the initial outset.
I have written this to show you the path that I am following and maybe you could adapt your tank to incorporate some of the following to suit the constraints of your own personal setup and ideas.
24"x12"x18" all glass tank and cabinet
Water Movement
2 - 900ltrs per hour powerheads
1 - Eheim 2217 canister filter only for flow and loosely filled with some reef carbon and Rowaphos (phosphate remover)
Lighting
3 - T5 55w compact starter units and triphosphor tubes with reflectors
Heating
1 - Jager (Eheim) 100w thermostatic heater
Filtration
20kgs Cured Live Rock (Fiji)
Substrate
Carib Sea Coral sand (I intend to place around 25mm substrate on the tank base)
Test kits
Red Sea Marine (all in one test lab)
Hydrometer
Salt Mixture
I have bought a large bucket of "Red Sea Coral Pro" specially formulated for use with Reverse Osmosis water which I can also buy from my local aquarist shop.
I think that is about it really apart from the little things like buckets and backup facilities for making weekly waterchanges (spare heater, buckets, airpump and powerhead) after that there is a certain order of doing things ie, live rock....cleanup crew......inverts and fish. This all takes time and I reckon it will take me a year to achieve my goal (if that is possible) In essence "Don't rush the Job" take it nice and slow.
My goal, albeit on a smaller scale is to achive a mini reef system initally using soft corals only similar to the picture below.
I am currently researching where I can place such corals within my aquarium as some do not like being with others and will kill their rivals. I am currently lookin at the species below and as I said earlier doing a little internet research. Incidentally I purchased a good little book whilst I was in Sydney for the day entitled "Saltwater Aquarium Models" Recipes for Creating Beautiful Aquariums That Thrive by John Tullock. It cost me $29.95AUD Well worth it.
Look for species form the following,
Sinularia
Lobophytum
Sarcophyton
Rhodactis
Ricordia
Discosoma
Amplexidiscus
Zoanthus sp.
Pachyclavularia sp.
Xenia sp.
I am no expert but I have been doing a lot of research and my aquarium is not yet up and running but I thought I would share with you the route that I am taking. I am fully aware that there will be trials and tribulations along the way but if I achieve anything like the tank in the photo then I will be well pleased. Also a great many thanks must go to SkiFletch on this fourm for his continual help and assistance.
By the way I spent 3 weeks down under and never run into so much as a pet shop never mind an aquarium outlet. Even in Brisbane.. I am planning another trip next year any pointers as to where to locate these illusive establishments would be much appreciated.
I hope this was of some help to you.
Regards
BigC
/www.amazon.com/Simple-Guide-Mini-re...4944&sr=8-1
