New and need help

Hi Gents and ladies,

I am new to the hobby and want to start a nano tank first. Can you please advise me on what hardware you would recommend? Note that the nano will be custom build with a sump.
The dimensions of the nano cube will be 1000mm x 1000mm x 1000mm with a centre overflow.

 

Welcome to MASA. You came to the right place. If thats the dimensions then its not a nano. Take a look at Mekaeels cube. Mekaeel's 1m Cube SPS Reef - Marine Aquariums of South Africa

1m deep will be difficult to work in.

 

thats a bit big to be called a nano i think? not sure but hey Have you decided what you're gonna keep? fish only corals? what type of corals? well you would need a skimmer, heater, power heads, return pump, pvc piping, lighting(go as good a Metal halide as you can cause your tank is quite deep) maybe a T5 or two for colour, Ro filter if you can afford it(trust me, not getting one eventually is asking for trouble unless you can easily access RO water), Are you going to have a Deep sand bed? chiller or fans(gonna get hot in summer), hmm, i may be forgetting some stuff...

 

oh, and

 

I would like to have a full on reef system. I have a idea on the equipment the only tricky part is what name brands do I use?

 

Hi Stingray, welcome to MASA, sounds like a great project.

Couple of points, a braceless tank would look awesome but it will need to be around 12mm glass (or thicker) get a specialist to make it for you.
Read up as much as you can before you buy, it can save you lots of money and heartache.

 

Thanks Mike. I got a new shop in Somerset West to build it for me. They build realy nice systems. They advised me on 12mm aswell.

 

Can any body tell me were is the best place to shop for hardware?

 

Good stuff, what else did you have in mind?

Sump? skimmer? lighting?

 

A very WARM WELCOME to MASA Stingray! Glad to have another Cape Town Reefer (to be) on board.... how did you get to hear of MASA?

BTW: a 1 metre by 1 metre by 1 metre tank will give you nearly 1000 litres of water without the sump water volume.
So - definitely NOT a nano... ;-)

With the tank being 1 metre high (1000mm), you will need some SERIOUS lighting, especially taking into account that you want to keep corals as well as fish (I can only presume that at some stage you will want to go the SPS route as well).

What skimmer did you have in mind? I would want to suggest something like the ReefTek TS3 or TS4 (for this size tank), or alternatively ReefOctopus DNW-250/300..... OR perhaps even the new Bubble Magus skimmers (our new sponsor Sam's Aquarium sells the Bubble Magus skimmers).....

Also - w.r.t the lighting, you will have to look at having at least either 2 x 150 watt metal halides or perhaps 1 x 150 watt metal halide over the tank....

Good luck on your journey - please do not be shy to ask questions - as many as it might take you to become a successful reefer!

 

How do you feel about Aqua Medic and Deltec's products? I am looking at 250W haylights. The only problem I dont know what brand will be my best choice?

 

welcome

 

Both are proven makers, neither of them are cheap but you do get your money's worth, a single 250w lowbay or 400w if you decide on mainly sps. Aquamedic do a good single unit, as do geissman.

 

Please PM me the place and more details. I am in the somerset area and would like to assist you with whatever. Maybe I can meet you at the LFS and assist you with your purchase.

 

Thanks Keyaam, but I am not living in Somerset West. I am living in the Southern Suburbs. The shop building my tank is in Somerset West.

 

I only work in somerset west. Live in southern suburbs as well. By when will your tank be ready?

 

Welcome

 

Ditto to what Mike said - just on the higher side of the pricing scale.....

I have an AM lighting unit (2 x 150 watt Metal Halides and 2 x 54 watt T5's) - and I am very happy with this unit.

 

Thanks for all your assistance. I realized my tank sould be 800mm x 600mm x 800mm.
The store told me that the system I was planning is to large for a nano system. I am new to the hobby and planning to learn from all the good advise you reefers pass my way.
Thanks again!!!!!