My Nano Tank

S

SeanH

Joined
17 Apr 2012
Posts
771
Reaction score
28
Location
Midrand
Hey all

OK so it begins! Day one - Now the owner of a 500x500x400 Nano cube! I am stoked. Got it from Express Reef at this link [FS]: 500 x 500 x 400 Cube : Vanderbijlpark - Marine Aquariums of South Africa. More info on the tank and build here: E.R`s new 500 x 500 x 400 cube build... - Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Yesterday I made a pass at Idol Marine and picked up a bucket of salt and a couple of other things. I have a 4ft freshwater tank in the place i want to put this tank. That should go this saturday or HOPEFULLY friday night. I will then place the tank in its place thereafter and fill and run for a few days checking everything works 100's and no leaks and take it from there...

Maybe put some fish in on Sunday.... :lol::lol::lol::lol: I am kidding - Seriously :tt2::tt2:

I want to perhaps make a small DB for the lights, pumps etc etc etc

So i guess stay tuned for the next 1-3 months OR more ;) Can't say it will be the best tank in the world but I am sure it will turn out great! :p
 
I just read the Post where you bought E.R's Tank...:biggrin:..Good Luck...:thumbup:...the waiting for the Tank to Cycle just SUCKS...I did mine for 5 months...:005::005:..such a nice size you got there...:)
 
belindamotion said:
I just read the Post where you bought E.R's Tank...:biggrin:..Good Luck...:thumbup:...the waiting for the Tank to Cycle just SUCKS...I did mine for 5 months...:005::005:
Click to expand...
Thanks Belinda :) looking forward to getting it up and running. I think my daughter will go nuts just seeing water for a while before i do hahaha but it is eventuallt worth the wait!
belindamotion said:
..such a nice size you got there...:)
Click to expand...
errrrrrrr thanks for the compliment -- ehem.... OHHHHHH you mean the tank! :whistling::lol::lol:
 
OK getting my RO unit delivered to my house today. 6 stage incl mineral injection stage BUT having it "T'd" off so i bypass that 6th stage for the tank water :thumbup: YEAH baby YEAH little progress at a time!
 
Last edited:
Nice one Sean this is a very neat tank.:)
 
mandarinman said:
Good luck im tagging on this cool one!
Click to expand...

So much work done on this i MUST do it justice :)

Got the RO Unit :)

picture.php
 
Looks like quite a hectic RO unit at Least you will also be able to drink from this one.
 
Mc said:
Looks like quite a hectic RO unit at Least you will also be able to drink from this one.
Click to expand...
Yeah sure is hectic - putting it together was a brain tease. Yes we can also drink from it and it has a tank that isn;t in the pic.

BUT if you look at the top there are 3 filters large white one, which is actually the RO filter then a smaller white one Top-Back with the blue lable - this is the final stage carbon - it has a T on the left with a short pipe - that is for the tank and the 6th stage - front top small "see-thru" filter adds minerals for human consumption :)

Pretty neat!
 
Now I sit and wonder about lr. 3 types immediately available - dead rock, cheaper sort lr and more pricy, from far off, lr. Would love with polyps shooting in and out hehehe

But ok all in good time...
 
Here we are - bunch of stuff to do!!
63184f9fd4d2f117f.jpg


RO unit installed. Note rolled up pipe for aquarium water!
63184f9fd569777b5.jpg


Tank ready to be worked on - water leak test on the cards but first - remove reactors...
63184f9fd4a1d93e4.jpg


Then re-engineer - NOT redesign! I realised that with the clear rubber tubing that to screw these things off and the elbows swinging around is a disater waiting to happen not only DIFFICULT to turn as the rubber CLINGS!
63184f9fd51ce9239.jpg

to this...
63184f9fd53a6c0c1.jpg
 
Tank on its way to below the stairs where the 4ft was...
63184f9fd58ddc5d6.jpg


in it's spot!
63184f9fd5b4e2fcd.jpg


Now to fit the reactors back in:
63184f9fd50209d49.jpg


63184f9fd5dfab558.jpg


63184f9fd638c854a.jpg


Screw them in 4 of 2x Matrix, 1 x Purigen and 1 x charcoal
63184f9fd656f179e.jpg


Water running - still murkey even after like 15 rinses:
63184f9fd67523513.jpg


So the last couple of days had me chasing water leaks with marine silicone!!

The ractor design is great but with the twisting on of the tubes some of the joins started to leak and it was plumber tape and silicone. Problem was once it was filled with water moving it was not an option so application of silicone onto trouble joints was a REAL pain.

I am rethinking the reactor setup and when it is time to clean or change the media I will perhaps rather run the media in the sump in a aircrate basket and just use the reactors empty as water flow regulators as the return pump is 5000lt/h and REALLY stirs the tank when not running through the reactors.

So now it is a little wait for the water to clear... I have added a bit of filter pad/mat into the skim chamber to help.
 
This is an awesome nano.
On your RO unit I see a big tank what is that, I have seen it before and always wondered about it?
 
Mc said:
This is an awesome nano.
On your RO unit I see a big tank what is that, I have seen it before and always wondered about it?
Click to expand...

Thanks Mc.

The tank is a reservoir for filtered water because the process is slow from pipe and through all the stages so this holds some to speed the process. It goes from here to the tsp for the aquarium or through the 6th stage which adds minerals for drinking
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom