The Modern Nano, of sorts

WZHANG · 01/08/2008, 12:18 AM

I have always dreamed of a simple, minimal nano tank. This is my attempt at minimalism, but with rationality. The tank's stand and canopy were designed to hide equipment and at the same time, not be visually obtrusive. I decided to make it hide the ugly black tank trim. I am working on hiding the heater and pumps behind the main penninsula.

as for tank design, I'm not using much equipment. I am also not stocking any type of fish or invert. My idea is that by simply not adding larger life to the tank (organisms larger than bacteria and microfauna, like fish, snails) I won't have to deal with nutrient problems. And I shouldn't have to deal with algae. the tank is bb, so I can easily get rid of any detritus with waterchanges.

its a work in progress and I will keep updating progress, enjoy!

Specs-
aga 10gallon
50 watt heater
small tunze pump with phosphate remover media
maxijet 1200 with prop, soon to be sureflow mod.
150 watt aquamedic space light
110 v cooling fan
Dual stage temp controller

ShootMe · 01/08/2008, 12:26 AM

Very nice tank. Love the clean cut look of the tank and stand. Dose it not recieve any direct sunlight being so close to the window?

WZHANG · 01/08/2008, 12:52 AM

It gets indirect sunlight during the morning, but the window is southfacing, and has an awning over it. I love the look of indirect sunlight + the 14k bulb.

CamBarr · 01/08/2008, 02:37 AM

did you build the stand ???

E30 E T A · 01/08/2008, 02:45 AM

Looks good!

CamBarr · 01/08/2008, 03:25 AM

where did you get the feet

CamBarr · 01/08/2008, 01:14 PM

Won Digity check this thread out http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...7#post11550627

WZHANG · 01/08/2008, 02:17 PM

Cool! The stands a total DIY.
I used feet from Ikea, lol. Theres a couple of different ones they carry.
The stand has a 2x2 lumber skeleton, skinned in 1/4" ply to keep things less bulky. I really like those tanks you posted, drool.

sammyfish · 01/08/2008, 02:33 PM

Looks great. I love that clean look. I'm shooting for something like that with a rimless 18" cube. Good Job!

WZHANG · 01/08/2008, 04:33 PM

thanks! You should go for it. Just keep it simple and clean.

Here are some more pics, just because pics are fun. I am working on getting shots of the livestock.

a shot showing the environment

one day I want to have a mangrove tank on this window ledge.

CamBarr · 01/11/2008, 11:50 PM

nice

Jester · 01/12/2008, 07:07 PM

Awesome tank...!!! I love modern simplicity... I guess its the architect.designer in me... heheheee

BlakDuc · 01/13/2008, 12:08 AM

Whats up with the empty picture frames?

The tank looks good, lets see the inhabitants.

Rosseau · 01/13/2008, 12:25 AM

thumbs up.

ooja3k · 01/13/2008, 01:11 AM

What type of corals do you have in there?

Are you planning on feeding your corals at all?

glassbox-design · 01/13/2008, 11:57 AM

very nice tank and home. we can definitely see the bohemian side

responding to your previous PM now...

Felix1021 · 01/13/2008, 12:50 PM

really nice..i digg it...

WZHANG · 01/14/2008, 01:00 AM

to all, thanks for the comments.

I currently am stocked as a mixed reef (sps+ lps+softies) and I will eventually get together a coral list. I recently had to rescaped the tank to get more flow to the sps. I will post an update pic with corals soon. I also made a prototype filter box like the one that current USA put out. I am hoping to make it sleeker and a triangle shape instead of a box on version 2.

CamBarr · 01/14/2008, 01:58 AM

won any thought son adding sand??? i think it will add a better more natural look to your aquarium it will also help provide a stable source of nutrients i ran a BB tank and it was actually too clean my sps didn't do to well untill i added sand. i will now always run my sps tanks with sand.

Nanocube-6 · 01/14/2008, 12:02 PM

sorry to be *** but????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????WOW

conorwynne · 01/14/2008, 01:04 PM

Its very nice I must say, and I totally understand where you are coming from. My tank had no fish at all for months.

It is entirely possible to run without a skimmer, but you still get protein buildup. I did, and could imagine why. Nothing that a weekly / bi-weekly WC wont solve though.

On the plus side, you will have a ton of pods, and tons of beneficial stuff for you corals to feed on -- stuff that usually gets taken out by the skimmer so I believe.

Regards,
Conor.

Chad Vossen · 01/14/2008, 10:21 PM

looks good, but you would be fine with a small fish (neon goby or two!) and still not have any nutrient problems if you keep up with water changes.

WZHANG · 01/17/2008, 08:52 PM

Cam,
I was thinking of possibly running a DSB in a bucket type of set up. I just really don't want to deal with sand blowing around. I have a minijet with a prop jammed in it, hidden behind my rockwork and it would be too much flow too low to the bottom of the tank.

Nanocube-6,
Thanks for the encouragement!

Connorwynne,
I am noticing pods galore right now. There is all kind of life on the panes of glass and it looks kinda cruddy. I am torn between cleaning the glass, or letting them populate the tank for a while. there might be a little lazyness in the mix as well.

armagedon48,
I like the idea of a fish in the future maybe.

*UPDATES*
-I haven't been able to do much due to a new job. But I terminated myself today... oh well back on the job hunt.

-The skimmer box I made is working good, I need to get on and build a better version than my mock up. It is too bulky.

-I lost a mille that I got from Jason (faded1004). It had been upset because my powerhead got too close to it, triggering STN. I waited 4 days then fragged off the dead portion in hopes of saving the coral. The STN stopped for a while, then I had a pump issue recently. The pump issue re-stressed the coral and it didn't make it. None of the other SPS were affected or had any issues, including another frag from the same piece. I'm stoked that I still have a sister frag of it alive. I rescaped my tank because of it, I don't want my sps too close to the powerhead. I think it works better now because the sps get better flow.

Working on getting tank pics up and running soon as well.

I worked on some designs with Faded1004 that I hope he doesn't mind me sharing.. We are going to be trying to build the larger one (standard 30gallon tank.) We will be starting our own thread for it soon I think.

CamBarr · 01/17/2008, 09:05 PM

Won You rock great designs I like the angeled door and miked materials using a dark wood door and a solid stand

Jester · 01/17/2008, 09:09 PM

Like the renderings... the stand are awesome...!!!

01/08/2008, 12:18 AM	#1
WZHANG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long beach, CA Posts: 651	The Modern Nano, of sorts I have always dreamed of a simple, minimal nano tank. This is my attempt at minimalism, but with rationality. The tank's stand and canopy were designed to hide equipment and at the same time, not be visually obtrusive. I decided to make it hide the ugly black tank trim. I am working on hiding the heater and pumps behind the main penninsula. as for tank design, I'm not using much equipment. I am also not stocking any type of fish or invert. My idea is that by simply not adding larger life to the tank (organisms larger than bacteria and microfauna, like fish, snails) I won't have to deal with nutrient problems. And I shouldn't have to deal with algae. the tank is bb, so I can easily get rid of any detritus with waterchanges. its a work in progress and I will keep updating progress, enjoy! Specs- aga 10gallon 50 watt heater small tunze pump with phosphate remover media maxijet 1200 with prop, soon to be sureflow mod. 150 watt aquamedic space light 110 v cooling fan Dual stage temp controller Last edited by WZHANG; 01/08/2008 at 12:26 AM.

01/08/2008, 12:26 AM	#2
ShootMe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 215	Very nice tank. Love the clean cut look of the tank and stand. Dose it not recieve any direct sunlight being so close to the window? __________________ "I plan to live Forever, so far, so good"

01/08/2008, 02:37 AM	#4
CamBarr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Irvine, SOCAL Posts: 2,365	did you build the stand ??? __________________ Cam Barr

01/08/2008, 03:25 AM	#6
CamBarr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Irvine, SOCAL Posts: 2,365	where did you get the feet __________________ Cam Barr

01/08/2008, 01:14 PM	#7
CamBarr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Irvine, SOCAL Posts: 2,365	Won Digity check this thread out http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...7#post11550627 __________________ Cam Barr

01/08/2008, 12:52 AM	#3
WZHANG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long beach, CA Posts: 651	It gets indirect sunlight during the morning, but the window is southfacing, and has an awning over it. I love the look of indirect sunlight + the 14k bulb.

01/08/2008, 02:45 AM	#5
E30 E T A Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Norther VA Posts: 278	Looks good!

01/08/2008, 02:17 PM	#8
WZHANG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long beach, CA Posts: 651	Cool! The stands a total DIY. I used feet from Ikea, lol. Theres a couple of different ones they carry. The stand has a 2x2 lumber skeleton, skinned in 1/4" ply to keep things less bulky. I really like those tanks you posted, drool.

01/08/2008, 02:33 PM	#9
sammyfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the back, with the ladies Posts: 77	Looks great. I love that clean look. I'm shooting for something like that with a rimless 18" cube. Good Job! __________________ The night time is the right time Don’t sweat the petty stuff, pet the sweaty stuff

01/08/2008, 04:33 PM	#10
WZHANG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long beach, CA Posts: 651	thanks! You should go for it. Just keep it simple and clean. Here are some more pics, just because pics are fun. I am working on getting shots of the livestock. a shot showing the environment one day I want to have a mangrove tank on this window ledge.

01/11/2008, 11:50 PM	#11
CamBarr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Irvine, SOCAL Posts: 2,365	nice __________________ Cam Barr

01/12/2008, 07:07 PM	#12
Jester Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Va Beach, Va.... Posts: 795	Awesome tank...!!! I love modern simplicity... I guess its the architect.designer in me... heheheee __________________ click my "little red house" for my 29gallon SPS tank build... 30 gallon breeder prop tank build started... soon to be added to my build above... Current Tank Info: 29 gallon drilled and plumbed thru-wall, Custom 10 gallon sump/fuge, Gen-X 4100 return, 2 Tunze Nanostream 6025s, AquaEuro Recirc 135 skimmer, 150watt HQI 14K Pheonix MH w/ 2x55watt PC lighting, lebos Lunar lights, 45#s live Rock, 20#s live sand...

01/13/2008, 12:08 AM	#13
BlakDuc Fragger Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waldorf, MD Posts: 4,518	Whats up with the empty picture frames? The tank looks good, lets see the inhabitants. __________________ Joe Cude Current Tank Info: IM Fusion 40

01/13/2008, 12:25 AM	#14
Rosseau Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 2,049	thumbs up. __________________ Still fighting entropy.

01/13/2008, 01:11 AM	#15
ooja3k The Reef Producer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Costa Mesa Posts: 1,192	What type of corals do you have in there? Are you planning on feeding your corals at all? __________________ -Ryan PBITAWA

01/13/2008, 11:57 AM	#16
glassbox-design Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SF Posts: 3,041	very nice tank and home. we can definitely see the bohemian side responding to your previous PM now... __________________ GLASSBOXDESIGN the modern reef blog LEDs are a 50,000 hr investment. Choose wisely. Current Tank Info: ...a new glassbox is coming

01/13/2008, 12:50 PM	#17
Felix1021 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 739	really nice..i digg it...

01/14/2008, 01:00 AM	#18
WZHANG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long beach, CA Posts: 651	to all, thanks for the comments. I currently am stocked as a mixed reef (sps+ lps+softies) and I will eventually get together a coral list. I recently had to rescaped the tank to get more flow to the sps. I will post an update pic with corals soon. I also made a prototype filter box like the one that current USA put out. I am hoping to make it sleeker and a triangle shape instead of a box on version 2.

01/14/2008, 01:58 AM	#19
CamBarr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Irvine, SOCAL Posts: 2,365	won any thought son adding sand??? i think it will add a better more natural look to your aquarium it will also help provide a stable source of nutrients i ran a BB tank and it was actually too clean my sps didn't do to well untill i added sand. i will now always run my sps tanks with sand. __________________ Cam Barr

01/14/2008, 12:02 PM	#20
Nanocube-6 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cherry Hill, New Jersey Posts: 23	sorry to be *** but????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????WOW __________________ Yea... Im a NOOB! Current Tank Info: 6 gallon nano

01/14/2008, 01:04 PM	#21
conorwynne Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 433	Its very nice I must say, and I totally understand where you are coming from. My tank had no fish at all for months. It is entirely possible to run without a skimmer, but you still get protein buildup. I did, and could imagine why. Nothing that a weekly / bi-weekly WC wont solve though. On the plus side, you will have a ton of pods, and tons of beneficial stuff for you corals to feed on -- stuff that usually gets taken out by the skimmer so I believe. Regards, Conor. __________________ New tank (468L or 120G) has salt and rock, just add coral and fish! Current Tank Info: New tank in progress....

01/14/2008, 10:21 PM	#22
Chad Vossen Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota Posts: 1,313	looks good, but you would be fine with a small fish (neon goby or two!) and still not have any nutrient problems if you keep up with water changes. __________________ Chad Vossen Current Tank Info: just a bunch of fish :)

01/17/2008, 08:52 PM	#23
WZHANG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long beach, CA Posts: 651	Cam, I was thinking of possibly running a DSB in a bucket type of set up. I just really don't want to deal with sand blowing around. I have a minijet with a prop jammed in it, hidden behind my rockwork and it would be too much flow too low to the bottom of the tank. Nanocube-6, Thanks for the encouragement! Connorwynne, I am noticing pods galore right now. There is all kind of life on the panes of glass and it looks kinda cruddy. I am torn between cleaning the glass, or letting them populate the tank for a while. there might be a little lazyness in the mix as well. armagedon48, I like the idea of a fish in the future maybe. UPDATES -I haven't been able to do much due to a new job. But I terminated myself today... oh well back on the job hunt. -The skimmer box I made is working good, I need to get on and build a better version than my mock up. It is too bulky. -I lost a mille that I got from Jason (faded1004). It had been upset because my powerhead got too close to it, triggering STN. I waited 4 days then fragged off the dead portion in hopes of saving the coral. The STN stopped for a while, then I had a pump issue recently. The pump issue re-stressed the coral and it didn't make it. None of the other SPS were affected or had any issues, including another frag from the same piece. I'm stoked that I still have a sister frag of it alive. I rescaped my tank because of it, I don't want my sps too close to the powerhead. I think it works better now because the sps get better flow. Working on getting tank pics up and running soon as well. I worked on some designs with Faded1004 that I hope he doesn't mind me sharing.. We are going to be trying to build the larger one (standard 30gallon tank.) We will be starting our own thread for it soon I think.

01/17/2008, 09:05 PM	#24
CamBarr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Irvine, SOCAL Posts: 2,365	Won You rock great designs I like the angeled door and miked materials using a dark wood door and a solid stand __________________ Cam Barr

01/17/2008, 09:09 PM	#25
Jester Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Va Beach, Va.... Posts: 795	Like the renderings... the stand are awesome...!!! __________________ click my "little red house" for my 29gallon SPS tank build... 30 gallon breeder prop tank build started... soon to be added to my build above... Current Tank Info: 29 gallon drilled and plumbed thru-wall, Custom 10 gallon sump/fuge, Gen-X 4100 return, 2 Tunze Nanostream 6025s, AquaEuro Recirc 135 skimmer, 150watt HQI 14K Pheonix MH w/ 2x55watt PC lighting, lebos Lunar lights, 45#s live Rock, 20#s live sand...