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Unread 08/21/2011, 09:09 PM   #1
sam11909
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Sam's Stair-Stepping Nanos - The Complete Ecosystem

Goal: To create a small thriving complete reef ecosystem that is controllable, efficient, and simple using multiple nanos to separate conflicting species of organisms.

Display Aquariums: All rimless, Mr. Aqua 17.4 gallon (24x12x14 inch), Mr. Aqua 11.4 gallon (19x12x12 inch), and Do!aqua 7.5 gallon (12x12x12 inch).

Sump: DIY acrylic, 22 gallons with 4 sections (55x9x14 inch).

Filtration: SWC 160 Cone Skimmer, filter sock, refugium, and algae turf scrubber.

Lighting: All LED except for 17.4g which will be supplemented with t5s. Overall 7 DIY LED fixtures with controllable color spectrums.

Powerheads: Koralia nanos, and a Vortech mp10 for the 17.4g.

Configuration: Peninsula style stair-stepping nanos starting with the 17.4g mixed reef, then taking one step down to the 11.4g bubble tip anemone and clownfish tank, then another step down to the 7.5g mini anemone and sexy shrimp tank, and finally ending up back in the sump which is the same length as all 3 nanos combined, giving a very simplistic and clean look. This design allows for 3 sides of all display tanks to be viewable. A frag section will also be included in the first section of the sump with a refugium all the way to the right which will include mangroves and macro algae. The sump and all equipment will be viewable with no doors added to give more simplicity. All electrical and water change components will be on the other side of the wall that the system comes in contact with. I realize this is hard to imagine, so I'll post a Google Sketchup as soon as possible.

Just FYI, this will be a pic intense thread once I get things up and running.

Thanks for reading!


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A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

Last edited by sam11909; 08/21/2011 at 09:15 PM.
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Unread 08/21/2011, 10:45 PM   #2
nate82
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Sounds awesome! Although one issue you may run into is your ATS will out compete and starve the plants in your refugium of nutrients. You might want to consider making the fuge a cryptic DSB, or just more room for frags!

Can't wait to see it progress.


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Current Tank Info: 45g cube in the works. With 15g sump, 10g fuge, DIY LEDs. and more
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Unread 08/22/2011, 07:19 AM   #3
sam11909
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I'm planning to start it off as a fuge while my ATS is breaking in, but it will eventually house a wennerae mantis shrimp. one third of the fuge will be used as a DSB, I'll explain this later.


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Samuel

A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System
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Unread 08/22/2011, 08:15 AM   #4
ange062
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Sounds like a cool idea, look forward to progress!


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Unread 08/22/2011, 04:36 PM   #5
sam11909
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Google Sketchup of the Design




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Samuel

A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System
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Unread 08/22/2011, 05:46 PM   #6
NanoReefNoob
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That looks very nice. are you going to have the sump visible or are you going to put doors on the cabnet? Very neat and creative design I like it. It would be very nice as a divider between a kitchen and dinning room type thing. way better then just a blank wall.


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Unread 08/22/2011, 07:11 PM   #7
SushiGirl
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Very cool, I'll be watching this one!
How do you get the water to only run out the one side? Or are you pumping down?


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Unread 08/22/2011, 07:24 PM   #8
BlueChip
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SO F'n Sweet!! cant wait for this one!!!

FAST FORWARD PLEASE!!


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Unread 08/22/2011, 10:10 PM   #9
sam11909
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Thanks for the compliments!

Quote:
Originally Posted by NanoReefNoob View Post
That looks very nice. are you going to have the sump visible or are you going to put doors on the cabnet? Very neat and creative design I like it. It would be very nice as a divider between a kitchen and dinning room type thing. way better then just a blank wall.
There won't be any doors, the sump and all included equipment will be visible. And you guessed it, I will be using it to divide our dining area and living room. This way it will be more accessible and viewable than the average tank setup.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SushiGirl View Post
Very cool, I'll be watching this one!
How do you get the water to only run out the one side? Or are you pumping down?
Each tank will have an overflow and plumb into the next. The 11.4g and 7.5g will have bubble traps so that unwanted microbubbles do not come down from the previous overflow.


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Samuel

A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

Last edited by sam11909; 08/22/2011 at 10:15 PM.
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Unread 08/23/2011, 04:57 AM   #10
BlueChip
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WOW!! We need DAILY pictures of this one!


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Unread 08/23/2011, 06:18 PM   #11
SushiGirl
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Thanks for the response! Definitely looking forward to seeing this one come about.


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Unread 08/23/2011, 09:35 PM   #12
sam11909
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The Stand

DIY stand made out of 2x4's and plywood. Surprisingly, it's very level on all three sections. Holes in the plywood are for plumbing and bulkheads. All electrical wires, plumbing, and lighting will be hidden underneath each section directly below all three tanks. Already painted it with a double coat of flat black; I'll post pictures soon.




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Samuel

A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System
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Unread 08/23/2011, 10:43 PM   #13
SeaninMesa
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Thumbs up Awesome!

This is exciting! Great idea and nice work on the stand.


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Unread 08/23/2011, 11:12 PM   #14
reef_on
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cant wait to see this


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Unread 08/23/2011, 11:32 PM   #15
fishcomputer
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awesome build cant wait to see it finished and love the sig


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Unread 08/24/2011, 07:51 AM   #16
Virtuoso
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What a great idea. Definitely stealing this one at some point down the road.


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Unread 08/24/2011, 01:15 PM   #17
sam11909
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Samuel

A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System
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Unread 08/25/2011, 09:31 AM   #18
Tank2379
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Are you going to have the Sump/Refugium/Frag Tank custom fitted underneath?


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Unread 08/25/2011, 10:42 AM   #19
pico-reefer
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In the last pic, the second "shelf" from the top, is that plywood warping and peeling up?


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Unread 08/25/2011, 10:56 AM   #20
nirvanaandtool
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Really cool concept. Looking forward to seeing it set up.

And on the N. Wennerae in the fuge.


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Unread 08/25/2011, 12:19 PM   #21
Jeremy Blaze
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Very interesting design! Can't wait to see it come to life!


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Unread 08/25/2011, 12:23 PM   #22
mcmyeye
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really cool idea. hope it works well. looking forward to seeing it progress


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Unread 08/25/2011, 12:24 PM   #23
sam11909
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tank2379 View Post
Are you going to have the Sump/Refugium/Frag Tank custom fitted underneath?
I'm going to put together a DIY acrylic tank which will include the fuge and frag sections.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pico-reefer View Post
In the last pic, the second "shelf" from the top, is that plywood warping and peeling up?
All three levels have black shelf liner over the plywood to buffer each tank base.


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Samuel

A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox.

Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System
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Unread 08/25/2011, 12:29 PM   #24
Tank2379
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Sweet- I will be following on this one looks like this is going to an awesome setup..


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Unread 08/25/2011, 01:28 PM   #25
pico-reefer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sam11909 View Post
I'm going to put together a DIY acrylic tank which will include the fuge and frag sections.



All three levels have black shelf liner over the plywood to buffer each tank base.

Ah okay.


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