Blitheran
Well-Known Member
Alright where to start... well to begin, my saltwater hobby brings me back all the way to 2014 when I went from a 20 gallon, to 50 gallo, then ended with a 90 gallon (as pictured below). I realized how much work it was to keep a 90 gallon after a year which brought my entire hobby to an utter end, which was around 2015ish?? . I love the idea and creation of reef aquariums. They fascinate me and everyday, I want to learn and know more about the hobby. I have always been on here over the years, but I have never been much of a "thread" type of guy. I am always in the background just watching and learning 
But today marks a new day I am going to do a build thread! So lets begin rant is over!
Okay, so lets get on with what the title says. I envisioned a nano tank with strictly SPS, yes I know the is not going to be especially since I am heading into my senior year of college, oops.
TANK - Innovative marine 10 Gallon nuvo Fusion
So I decided for the tank, I was going to go with the innovative marine 10 Gallon novo fusion, with the upgrade mighty nano jet for easier controllability. It also came with the caddy which I will be utilizing for carbon, maybe GFO? and polyfilter!
STAND
I decided I would put my wood working skills, to the test! Being that the tank with water and stuff would only weigh about 100lbs ish, I was not crazy worried about making this built to support a tank (like the one you drive in the military). I simplicity used 1x4, and used .25" plywood for the "outer shell".
CONTROL BOARD
Yes I know, some of you are already question what I just typed a control board for a 10 gallon tank? Yea I know, I went a little overboard with the equipment. I basically created a place to house all of my excess wiring, being that I built my stand my self, I had a lot of options on what I wanted to do.
LIGHTING - AI Prime HD black
I went with the AI Prime HD as I can see it can grow, SPS very or as I have read and seen.
SKIMMER - Reef Glass Protein Skimmer
I don't have a lot of room to work with... I saw that the reef glass protein skimmer was sleek and would fit in just nicely, I am using a tetra whisper for the air pump which is hidden away behind the control board.
ROCKS
Man, I sure had fun building my rock work! I made it super simple and only three points of contact at the bottom. I went with the dry rock and bottled bacteria approach.
FLOW - Ice Cap Gyre 1k
I went with the ICE CAP GYRE 1k, now I know I already see a few of you guys thinking woah, way over kill, but to be honest I think it will work perfectly being that the tank is Bare Bottom and I am strictly doing "colored sticks".
AQUARIUM CONTROLLER - Neptune Apex Lite
Yes I know, I put a Neptune Apex Controller on a 10 gallon tank! My reasoning behind it was simple, I watch craigslist a lot... like a ton. I saw a post of a tank break down and saw a super sweet deal on this apex. I did however go ahead and buy a new temp and PH probe, just to be on the safe side.
CHEATO REACTOR - Vertex 2.0 Reactor
I know, I know, I know... why in the HECK would I put a vertex 2.0 on a 10 gallon tank!?! Two reasons, first is I bought the reactor for a crazy steal, when I say crazy I mean crazy and it looks and performs new. Second is I need to add as much volume the tank as possible to help alleviate any possible wings that may occur.
MISCEALLANIOUS - ATO, Reverse, testing, dosing
In the past, I have always used my "well" water thinking it was safe, man was I wrong, my TDS read 190! Idk how I keep any SPS and has very little algae problems, lol. I went with the BRS 4 stage with a TDS meter, I ended up upgrading to the 150 water savor and bought the pressure pump thingy, can't remember the name off the top of my head. I also went with the Tunze ATO nano, which has a 5 gallon home depot bucket in the bottom of the stand so I rarely have to fill the tank. When I bought the Neptune Apex the dude selling it gave me a the Jebao doser with it because he was getting ready to move and was not interested in holding onto and selling anything else, so win in my opinion.
Well I have more pictures to post but I hope I did will with my first build thread. There is still a ton of other stuff I did not include but ask away if you would like to know anything. I will try to keep you guys updated as much as possible!!
But today marks a new day I am going to do a build thread! So lets begin rant is over! Okay, so lets get on with what the title says. I envisioned a nano tank with strictly SPS, yes I know the is not going to be especially since I am heading into my senior year of college, oops.
TANK - Innovative marine 10 Gallon nuvo Fusion
So I decided for the tank, I was going to go with the innovative marine 10 Gallon novo fusion, with the upgrade mighty nano jet for easier controllability. It also came with the caddy which I will be utilizing for carbon, maybe GFO? and polyfilter!
STAND
I decided I would put my wood working skills, to the test! Being that the tank with water and stuff would only weigh about 100lbs ish, I was not crazy worried about making this built to support a tank (like the one you drive in the military). I simplicity used 1x4, and used .25" plywood for the "outer shell".
CONTROL BOARD
Yes I know, some of you are already question what I just typed a control board for a 10 gallon tank? Yea I know, I went a little overboard with the equipment. I basically created a place to house all of my excess wiring, being that I built my stand my self, I had a lot of options on what I wanted to do.
LIGHTING - AI Prime HD black
I went with the AI Prime HD as I can see it can grow, SPS very or as I have read and seen.
SKIMMER - Reef Glass Protein Skimmer
I don't have a lot of room to work with... I saw that the reef glass protein skimmer was sleek and would fit in just nicely, I am using a tetra whisper for the air pump which is hidden away behind the control board.
ROCKS
Man, I sure had fun building my rock work! I made it super simple and only three points of contact at the bottom. I went with the dry rock and bottled bacteria approach.
FLOW - Ice Cap Gyre 1k
I went with the ICE CAP GYRE 1k, now I know I already see a few of you guys thinking woah, way over kill, but to be honest I think it will work perfectly being that the tank is Bare Bottom and I am strictly doing "colored sticks".
AQUARIUM CONTROLLER - Neptune Apex Lite
Yes I know, I put a Neptune Apex Controller on a 10 gallon tank! My reasoning behind it was simple, I watch craigslist a lot... like a ton. I saw a post of a tank break down and saw a super sweet deal on this apex. I did however go ahead and buy a new temp and PH probe, just to be on the safe side.
CHEATO REACTOR - Vertex 2.0 Reactor
I know, I know, I know... why in the HECK would I put a vertex 2.0 on a 10 gallon tank!?! Two reasons, first is I bought the reactor for a crazy steal, when I say crazy I mean crazy and it looks and performs new. Second is I need to add as much volume the tank as possible to help alleviate any possible wings that may occur.
MISCEALLANIOUS - ATO, Reverse, testing, dosing
In the past, I have always used my "well" water thinking it was safe, man was I wrong, my TDS read 190! Idk how I keep any SPS and has very little algae problems, lol. I went with the BRS 4 stage with a TDS meter, I ended up upgrading to the 150 water savor and bought the pressure pump thingy, can't remember the name off the top of my head. I also went with the Tunze ATO nano, which has a 5 gallon home depot bucket in the bottom of the stand so I rarely have to fill the tank. When I bought the Neptune Apex the dude selling it gave me a the Jebao doser with it because he was getting ready to move and was not interested in holding onto and selling anything else, so win in my opinion.
Well I have more pictures to post but I hope I did will with my first build thread. There is still a ton of other stuff I did not include but ask away if you would like to know anything. I will try to keep you guys updated as much as possible!!
