Pimp My Nano - HR Edition

[RSnodgrass]

Going to kick off a new nano build… after extensive deliberations my wife and I agreed to a tank at home. Selfishly, I have my main 300 gal at the office and the kids love seeing it but are rarely there to enjoy it, also we don’t have any other pets. So far the Hello Reef instruction video‘s have been good to go through with my 9yr old (a major reason I went this route). I’ve thought for awhile that it’s sometimes better to have kids learn from “someone else” while curated by Dad.

Going to “pimp this ride” even though it’s fine as is… I can’t help myself! Was pretty stoked to see the upgraded stand is a perfect match to our “wood” floors (really nice IMO but I do like our floors alot). Also, helps that it’s small enough to fit off the side of our dining room table as kid stuff seems to have infiltrated everything else.

Definitely have some fun upgrades planned for this and to make it as maintenance simplified as possible.

Photo’s incoming, just need a few pieces of extra gear before adding water.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[RSnodgrass]

Following along!

Love the signature and avatar.

 

[RSnodgrass]

So far starting off well… need to add sand but it’s wet sand so going to hold off until I have water hauled home.
Definitely love the cabinet surface.

Collecting some gear to fit it for upgrades, mixing in some new and some used. After all, already having another running system means there’s plenty of things laying around I can repurpose to
Pimp this Nano!!!

 

[RSnodgrass]

Was thinking of using that a100 I picked up at a garage sale, not sure it will fit or if the x2/min turnover will be enough. May end up using my 2019 Tsunami PH instead.

 

[RSnodgrass]

I’ve had enough systems to know that part of my aquascape strategy is not only:
1) Look natural.
2) Lots of lines of sight.
3) Fight the urge to go too tall.
**4) It must also accommodate a means of catching fish! Sometimes that’s having straight gaps to place walls, sometimes it’s having your favorite trap.

This OG bubble trap has caught a number of fish in my 300 gal, I wanted to make sure I could use it in my nano as well so I don’t have to buy twice. Seems like a good fit and the fish will have almost no choice but to go in.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Working on lighting... the included light certainly works well and tuned to 1w / gal it still has alot of upside to increase power or provide enough under one color channel.

Kinda debating the blanket or single point for shimmer.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Time for lighting! When you hear a blanket light is all the rage to prevent shadowing and I also want a lid