FishWife

Thx for links... so, nothing for nanos yet, I guess. Nanotuners had DIY kits for LED... but I'd need a little more hand holding to make it work. It's good to think about, though...

This one's for Larry! Here's a video that shows how much great viewing space these little tanks provide... also with happier corals fully extended. Honey hangs out about halfway down the rock work on the left side. You can see her peeking out when the camera takes in the front of the tank.

We have had the Red Sea Max (see specs here) up now for a little over two weeks. Below are details of the changeover, in case anyone else wants to repeat our experiences. 1. We took rock and sand and water out of our existing system and cycled for four days. I did an ammonia test every day at the same time and never saw any measurable ammonia from disturbing/repositioning the sand (we put in about 4-5" all told in the bottom of the tank). 2. Honey was in a rock; we picked up the rock and put it into the new tank the night before we broke everything else down, along with some of our favorite unpromised sponge-encrusted rocks, which also had zoos on it that I had failed to list for sale (thankfully). 3. We put as much good LR in as we could comfortably fit: I think there must be about 40 lbs. in there. 4. Next day, we added softies and fragged a few more favorite LPS corals to put into this "ark." Readings: No measurable nitrates or ammonia yet. Our trusty pH monitor has us hovering right around 8. (Scott giggles as he doses by the teaspoon!) Maintenance: 1. We do need to top off frequently (daily). 2. Temperature has been an issue: it ranges two to four degrees each 24 hours. We have finally purchased a mini-chiller that has dual controls for both heater and chilling so that we can have peace of mind. Should come today. Hopefully, Scott's going to plumb it w/our 40w UV sterilizer inline (should be plenty!). I am ich-averse, even in a small system. 3. I am a devotee of copepods, so we're going to breed them and phytoplankton in a 10g inside the stand, and since we can't think of a good way to make it automatic, we'll use the old fashioned "scoop with a net and backwash them into the tank" method. Hopefully, we'll get a good crop going before I find my desired court jester goby.

Come again? Powered down... how? Got a site I can read? TIA!

So, in drooling over the (expensive) kits and mods for nanos at nanotuners.com website, I've been struck by an idea. Why not add lumens with LEDs for nanos? I mean, the problem with them that I've most frequently heard is that they don't penetrate deeply into tall tanks and that large arrays are super 'spensive. Nanos aren't tall tanks. Nanos are small tanks, requiring small arrays, if "arrays" is even the word I want. Ergo, why not add light with LEDs? Any thoughts? Also... how does one equate LED lumens with MH wattage? Like, is it lumens/gallon, as with watts/gallon as a rule of thumb? And... do LEDs do the job for SPSs? These are the questions we must ask ourselves.

Have been doing a lot of reading about AquaPods and BioCubes because we now need a QT tank for our Red Seas Max (that doesn't qualify as a nano ). I finally decided after a ton of research to get an AquaPod 12 for my desk at work. It will house zoos and LPS and inverts, and each fish that I bring home for our Max... for four weeks. Then, when the Max is stocked I'll add one or two fishies to the 12 and be done. ( for awhile? maybe?) In reading, I've found some REALLY clever mods: here is an amazing thread for all us nano devotees: Mods on an 8g biocube I am definitely looking into the fuge idea, and the auto water changes intrigue me. Not up for the expense of the pump yet, but it's very clever. Enjoy!

Have been doing a lot of reading about AquaPods and BioCubes because we now need a QT tank. I finally decided after a ton of research to get an AquaPod 12 for my desk at work. It will house zoos and LPS and inverts, and each fish that I bring home for our Max... for four weeks. Then, when the Max is stocked I'll add one or two fishies to the 12 and be done. ( for awhile? maybe?) In reading, I've found some REALLY clever mods: here is an amazing thread for all us nano devotees: Mods on an 8g biocube I am definitely looking into the fuge idea, and the auto water changes intrigue me. Not up for the expense of the pump yet, but it's very clever. Enjoy!

As members to date know, we suddenly decided to sell our house and thought that we should just call it quits. I listed all the equipment and animals in our 175 bowfront for sale, and WAMAS members were great about shouting out for stuff. But, I went into withdrawl, and, with the support of wonderful club members, I decided to buy a Red Seas Max 34g tank and save frags of my favorite corals plus my one favorite fish, Honey the Midas Blenny, in an "ark." We have had the Red Sea Max (see specs here) up now for a little over two weeks. Here are stats, in case anyone else wants to repeat our experiences. 1. We took rock and sand and water out of our existing system and cycled for four days. I did an ammonia test every day at the same time and never saw any measurable ammonia from disturbing/repositioning the sand (we put in about 4-5" all told in the bottom of the tank). 2. Honey was in a rock; we picked up the rock and put it into the new tank the night before we broke everything else down, along with some of our favorite unpromised sponge-encrusted rocks, which also had zoos on it that I had failed to list for sale (thankfully). 3. We put as much good LR in as we could comfortably fit: I think there must be about 40 lbs. in there. 4. Next day, we added softies and fragged a few more favorite LPS corals to put into this "ark." Readings: No measurable nitrates or ammonia yet. Our trusty pH monitor has us hovering right around 8. (Scott giggles as he doses by the teaspoon!) Maintenance: 1. We do need to top off frequently (daily). 2. Temperature has been an issue: it ranges two to four degrees each 24 hours. We have finally purchased a mini-chiller that has dual controls for both heater and chilling so that we can have peace of mind. Should come today. Hopefully, Scott's going to plumb it w/our 40w UV sterilizer inline (should be plenty!). I am ich-averse, even in a small system. 3. I am a devotee of copepods, so we're going to breed them and phytoplankton in a 10g inside the stand, and since we can't think of a good way to make it automatic, we'll use the old fashioned "scoop with a net and backwash them into the tank" method. Hopefully, we'll get a good crop going before I find my desired court jester goby. This little tank is so MANAGEABLE after our 175. Do I miss the big tank? Yep. Do I like the nano? YES! It's really got a LOT of bang for the buck. I hope to post pictures soon, but in staging our home for the move, my camera's going missing...

You all are the best! We have had the Red Sea Max (34g, not 28 ) up now for a little over two weeks. Here are stats, in case anyone else wants to repeat our experiences. 1. We took rock and sand and water out of our existing system and cycled for four days. I did an ammonia test every day at the same time and never saw any measurable ammonia from disturbing/repositioning the sand (we put in about 4-5" all told in the bottom of the tank). 2. Honey was in a rock; we picked up the rock and put it into the new tank the night before we broke everything else down, along with some of our favorite unpromised sponge-encrusted rocks, which also had zoos on it that I had failed to list for sale (thankfully). 3. We put as much good LR in as we could comfortably fit: I think there must be about 40 lbs. in there. 4. Next day, we added softies and fragged a few more favorite LPS corals to put into this "ark." Readings: No measurable nitrates or ammonia yet. Our trusty pH monitor has us hovering right around 8. (Scott giggles as he doses by the teaspoon!) Maintenance: 1. We do need to top off frequently (daily). 2. Temperature has been an issue: it ranges two to four degrees each 24 hours. We have finally purchased a mini-chiller that has dual controls for both heater and chilling so that we can have peace of mind. Should come today. Hopefully, Scott's going to plumb it w/our 40w UV sterilizer inline (should be plenty!). I am ich-averse, even in a small system. 3. I am a devotee of copepods, so we're going to breed them and phytoplankton in a 10g inside the stand, and since we can't think of a good way to make it automatic, we'll use the old fashioned "scoop with a net and backwash them into the tank" method. Hopefully, we'll get a good crop going before I find my desired court jester goby. This little tank is so MANAGEABLE after our 175. Do I miss the big tank? Yep. Do I like the nano? YES! It's really got a LOT of bang for the buck. I hope to post pictures soon, but in staging our home for the move, my camera's going missing...

I've had good luck at Congressional... so I was thinking there...

Yeah... well, even BRK (an hour's drive) has ich from time to time. They run copper because of that, says Johnny. With fish in and fish out, it's bound to break out even in the best of stores, imho. Where's Aqua Co.?

So, I have been a DIE HARD quarantiner from day one, and we've only ever had ich once, back at Christmas. Since then, I've been running a UV and no new fish have had ich after 4 solid weeks of QT. I want to buy a pair of clownfish for my new nano, and don't have a QT tank since I sold all my stuff. We're putting a chiller on the nano (no kidding; it's necessary 'cause of our house temp fluctuations) and Scott's going to rig our UV inline with the chiller, since we still have it. So... should I... 1. Get a 10g tank for QT when I pick up the clownfishies? (I need one as a fuge/copepod breeder anyways, eventually.) IF so, how do I hold that little tank stable for 4 weeks... a couple of pieces of LR and a heater, I guess? (LOL. I still have my Excelsior hob skimmer. How funny to put that on, too!?) 2. Never mind QT: the chances for ich are low...? Just put the clownfish directly into the nano with beloved midas blenny and hope for the best? What do other nano tank users do about QT? I've enjoyed a large deluxe system for QT up until now and never had to worry about it before. This brand new microworld has me stumped!

I'm stocking my nano and am taken with this little guy... court jester goby But, in researching I'm finding some sites say "readily eats prepared and frozen foods" and other hobbyists on other boards saying theirs died of starvation despite HOB refugia. Anyone know from experience how hard these guys are to keep in a 30g nano? TIA!

We fed ours twice a week, and their tentacles always looked better afterwards. Feed small pieces, no bigger than the mouth opening can ingest.

Yeah... but these are all for 28g... can't see dimensions... they do look good, tho!

Never seen this before. Two large snails are puffing out "smoke"... over and over... and our nano water is truly cloudy. Need a water change or do corals lap this stuff up???

Your clownfish can really love a small anemone to death. Our first anem went this way. If your 'nem hasn't had a chance to settle in and you can catch your clownfish, it might be something to consider. How big are the two animals, relative to each other?

VERY cool. I love those little bluestripes! Thanks for sharing you pics. I am definitely doing zoos and frogspawn. Have already fragged my favorites from the big tank.

Do you like it? Is it pretty? The picture is, I assume, magnified. How big are they really?

Anyone kept/know about these? http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expand.asp...Code=05-5056-10 Thinking of them for my nano 34g...

We went to Congressional, since they had several models immediately available in stock, and our goal was to put our blenny directly into her new environment on Saturday. If I had had more time, I might have looked for one used, but the sale of our big tank more than covers the splurge of buying retail (and on sale) and having researched Internet sites and other LFSs (two of them) we found that the going price was what we paid at Congressional. Seems everyone has them "on sale" for c. $800 w/stand.

My blue xenia took off like a weed in my big tank! People who come on Saturday will get quite a bit on two rocks. Forrest: have you gotten any yet?

Right; I'm thinking I should pay most attention to scale. Thinking that my midas blenny is a bit oversized, but that's ok 'cause I love her so much. Looking at bright zoos, small LPSs, etc.

So, I only have T-5's and actinics now: no halides. Ahh, a new challenge. Leaveing out SPSs, what are the best colorful LPSs and Zoos? Also, fish. Hmmm. Looking at a Court Jester Goby... anyone have one? Can I keep more than one type of goby? http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/2008...jester-goby.jpg How many fish can I put into a 34g nano (soon with 10g refugium/sandbed)? Hmmm. Midas Blenny and....?

Cool; thanks folks! A new adventure in miniature. Cool! And ( ) I'm already plotting for two years from now when we may buy a new house with a fish room built in and mount a tank like Dan's!