Gonna need help with this build.

[surfnsalt]

Gonna put this 14g bio cube back in action. I would like to make this a sps nano. Due too limited space and the fact I want this to be "cheap" build I want to see how possible this tank is for me. As far a lighting I have my choice between a reef radiance 155e or a metal halide? As for flow I need help. Wanted to get maxspect 130( one of the only things I would have to buy) but it might be overkill and take up valuable space in the small tank? Weekly 15% water changes with a media box running chemi pure, purgen, carbon?, and maybe the cheesy bio cube protein skimmer because I have it and it was dirty a lot in the old tank, so I'm assuming it was doing something. With monitoring parameters and manual dosing I'm hoping to keep a sps nano reef. Bare bottom or sand ?and would it matter or help or hurt in any way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. This is one of the scapes I like best so far. I'm in no rush and have learned a bit of patience in my few years reefing. I've also had great success with the nanos I've ran so far, imo.

 

[surfnsalt]

The scape looks better in person. Second pic is my current 29.

 

[surfnsalt]

Anyone.

 

[FL_Reefer]

I think your on a good track, if it were me I'd go no sand, with putting a lot of flow through that tank you might have a sand storm ya know. I don't think it will hurt you in any way just make life easier. If it were me I'd go MH with a small reefbrite XHO for actinics.

 

[surfnsalt]

Thanks I think I will go bare bottom.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have a jbj 28g. Dual mh1200 returns push a lot of water a Chinese 500 and a hydro 420 creates turbulence against the returns.
I have a deep sand bed SPS dominant tank. I have no sand blowing problem. It's fast super turbulent flow and there's no way I could put Zoas in it its so strong.

Keeping the nutrient down in such a small volume of water is hard. I'd upgrade to a good HOB skimmer first and then see if you need the chem back up.
Live rock and sand are your primary bio filter why limit that. That's also the most basic Reefing method called the Berlin Method.
I used black sand first as an asterisk choice and it failed as a bio filter and my nutrients went nuts even with a skimmer. I added 3in of live sand and it has begun to settle.

Check out some of the nano only boards for some ideas. Some are pretty nuts but there are some good tank specific hacks on filtration and flow that will save you heartache down the road.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This is just after I put in the new sand. Next day actually.
Still brown SPS from the nutrient problem. And the frags haven't been placed yet.
There's a powerhead in back left side pointed strait up. And the two mj1200 are top left and right blow right at the front on an alternating timer wave maker box.

 

[surfnsalt]

Looking at this today at lfs

 

[surfnsalt]

Just set this up in the final spot, not 100% on the scape yet but. I think that the wavemaker pump is in a good spot, reliable guy at lfs said it would be enough flow with return pump and this. I am going bare bottom since this will be only sps and maybe one or two little gobies.

 

[surfnsalt]

Put water in and a 2lb piece of live rock to seed. Also my 2 year old cleaner shrimp died from my 29g today so I threw it in the new tank as a ammonia source. Not sure if the powerhead is good where it is or should be on the glass for better flow, it's hard to tell? Big purple rock in front is the seeding rock and is not part of the scape so I gonna break it up when the tank is done cycling and hide it at the bottom or behind. Now I just gotta stare at the empty tank for a while. Gonna open a betting pool on how long it will take so pick your date for a cool prize.

 

[surfnsalt]

Gonna be lots of open space for flow and shelfs for sps once that purple rock is gone. It really looks better in person the pics are making some rocks look different, it's weird. Heater will go in the back. Does anyone know if higher or lower temp is better for cycling or it really don't matter?

 

[surfnsalt]

Everyone cooking turkey I'm over here waterchanging and reefin Happy thanksgiving everyone.

 

[surfnsalt]

6 days and nitrites are up and nitrates are starting to rise.

 

[surfnsalt]

Fish or no fish in the sps nano? I was thinking of adding a group of clown gobies (3 or 4). Other suggestions? Moving along ammonia at 0. Nitrites are still up. Nitrates are going up. Cleaned up the scape. I'm really excited about this build. Trying to keep it simple 15% weekly wc, 1st chamber protein skimmer, 2nd chamber refugium with chaeto to help ph, nitrates, pods. 3rd chamber purigen and chemi pure elite. Auto top off is on the way also. Tips and suggestions welcome as this is my first sps nano.

 

[Huy]

Do you think that the RW-4 is too strong for that tank size?

 

[stupid recruit]

I would say no just keep it in the lower settings

 

[surfnsalt]

I was still worried about flow I was going to upgrade the return pump

 

[surfnsalt]

Cycling is complete. Everything is 0 and nitrates are at 5 to 10ppm. Did a big water change. The rest of the media is in.

 

[surfnsalt]

Tank is underway, what do you guys think? Moved a few sps from my mixed reef and bought a new big frag. I have the leds super low and will slowly bring them up over time.

 

[Ice]

looking good so far