10 gallon nano reef build

[Beanz]

Hi all just thought that since I'm starting up this new 10 gallon tank that i would post my progress. I have already siliconed some acrylic in place for the skimmer to b housed and some LR the filter cheato and the return pump with a spray bar. I thought that this little compartment would b handy for the skimmer cause then i dont have to keep adding water every day, especially if i got on vacation or am not here for a couple days, casue the tank water overflows into the first chamber and that level will always b the same (also providing good flow into the skimmer). Then it will flow into the second part where the LR and cheato will be located so that will b good flow over the LR and through the cheato for some good biological filtration. Anyways the equipment that i plan on using consists of:

This stuff i already have laying around
10 gallon tank
Oceanic biocube protien skimmer
Wal-Mart HOB filter
Koralia nano powerhead
Quiet-One 1200

For lighting (maybe a nice Christmas present hint hint parents )
JBJ 70w K-2 Viper HQI

A question I have for u guys is do u think I'll need a chiller with this light. I have never used MH's before only T5s on my 45. I was planning on having the light high enough to cover the whole tank with light so would this not cause the tank to heat up a lot???

I gotta go tho so ill post some pics of the tank tomorrow. Maybe add some LR from my 45, sand and water. Hopefully the silicon will b dry.

Cheers, Ian

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Beanz

A question I have for u guys is do u think I'll need a chiller with this light. I have never used MH's before only T5s on my 45. I was planning on having the light high enough to cover the whole tank with light so would this not cause the tank to heat up a lot???

You may very well have problems with evaporation running metal halides. I would employ some sort of chiller if you can't position the light far enough away from the water for desired temp. I can only assume that if you want metal halides you are planning on a reef setup?

[Beanz]

Ya I do plan on keeping a mixed reef in this tank. Well I guess I have a while to decide on a light but do u think this 70w fixture would b enough to keep some hardy sps, zoas/palys, and some lps. Or if I plan on keeping sps do u think I should go with the 150w version. Or would the sps just need to b higher in the tank with the 70w. I will have some time to test the temp. when I do get a light to c if I will need a chiller cause the tank will still b cycling. If I do need a chiller what would b a good one for this small of a tank? O and is there any other equipment that u can think of?

Cheers, Ian

[Wayne]

A 70w over a 10 gallon should be enough for sps, you will need supplimental lighting (atinics). Have you looked into chillers?

[Beanz]

ok sweet, um i have a coralife dual t5 fixture that has a daylight and an actinic bulb i could probably just get another actinic bulb instead of the daylight. the only problem i c with having this other light on the tank is it would b under the MH and block the light... would i b able to get away with this u think? or what would b another option? and do you really need the blues or is it just aesthetics? i was maybe thinking of some diy leds and hanging then somehow so the MH light is not obstructed. maybe even going with just an led setup. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... hahaha

Cheers, Ian

[TheMikey]

I wouldn't say it was strictly necessary to put supplemental lighting over your tank. You certainly wouldn't need it for growth and a 8-10 hour photoperiod with either a 14K or 20K halide bulb should give you good colouration and growth.

The only think you need to worry about is evaporation.