New Nano

your tank sounds awesome, i really just wanted a small tank thats y i went with the 300 cube idea. i already have the glass if all goes well maybe i will start this weekend and should have it filled in about 2 weeks or so. are you going to build the tank yourself.

 

No, getting a manufacturer to do it. They actually make and supply tanks to the whole of SA.

I wish I was confident enough to make my own tank but it's not an easy task for a first timer. I do have 3 300mm cubes planned that I want to build myself.

I stayed up till 3am Discussing (with a fellow nightcrawler and user of the forum) and scouting equipment for this setup. It might just be a 120L but it's more exciting now that I am custom building an enclosure.


Are you adding on the sump section on to the dimensions or is it included in the 30X30X30 section?

TM

 

I actually prefer the thicker base at the bottom. You also need to bear in mind that you usually have a layer of substrate at the bottom ... so you not really covering the viewing at all... just covering the substrate. Yet is does give the impresion of limiting the view.. but in reality you not.. you just creating a better balanced overall picture.

 

I agree with you there. But seems like that bottom is like 70mm high? 40mm (minus 16mm for thickness of wood) would cover the tank polystyrene and substrate in that tank. For a planted tank I might go thicker with the substrate so the bottom would have to be taller to cover the capped layers of substrate.

It's personal appeal anyway so any of the ideas are great! It all depends on your needs and what you plan to use the tank for.

TM

 

yeah i am also liking the thicker bottom too now, run some 3d images with shadows and what not, its looking good. @ TM the total size is 300x300x300 so the tank itself will be 300x250x300.

 

Okay, what you gonna put in your sump as media? What tank is it going to be?

 

first section from the tank overflow with have filter floss/ sponge filters, then the middle section will be filled with bioballs. the filtration area is going to be huge for the tank volume but thats excellent. for livestock im not sure. i was thinking maybe 5/6 cardinals and maybe a pair of apistos with an oto, any livestock suggestions ?

 

I have no idea about nano fish but sounds like a good mix since your filter can handle the load. Where's the heater going to be?

 

the heater will go into the first section or will be horizontal along the first and second parts, will see which way works better

 

Hi Guys

Looks like you guys know what you rdoing

In regards to the lid being much thicker. The only reason this is because the base of the CFL is so damn thick. With my 1ft nano a plan to make the lid a lot thinner so it wont be so bulky. I found really small 9w daylight CFL tha would be perfect and still give me 3W/G.

Linga with a lid as small as your you will not need supports at the front. Just put in some decent metal hinges at the back and do not make the side structure that will hide the filter part to thin. Believe me that apart from sitting on it, its going nowhere.

BUt will post it all next week. Just need to get the glass finished for the sump rebuild. The other one was to low at the back and the heater did not fir

Gerhard

 

Okay. I'm using the Bigger 20W cfls and they are huge. Working on a CFL ballast too.

@Vis, what do you think about adding blue cfls to my tank?

TM

 

Your tank is biiger so would not look odd porportion wise.
I was looking like mad for 2 Blue LEDS for night lights but could not find in Ermelo. If I Had everything the whole lighting would have been LEDS and the cabinet super slick
If I were you I would add a very low wattage blue CFL.

 

yeah i know what you mean about the CFL size its horrible. the other bulbs would be those 9 w bulbs which are nice and slim but i cant find any fittings for them, everyone only sells those bulkhead type units, plus these things need a ballast which means need to find place for that too.

 

Linga you do get 9w slim cfl that fit in a normal light fitting.

 

Yeah, 1 X 12w. Don't want it too blue. It will look odd since its a planted tank. Just for night simulation.

Now to figure how to connect 2 CFLs in parallel with the Blue CFL and a timer that Switches between the 2 white and 1 blue when I want. Should I get 2 timers? How do I connect two CFL's safely? I've done this before with just 1 CFL. Is it much different?

Already worked on a ballast design linga. Fits very well.

Its just a plank with a hole in it and the plastic fitting screws in. This plank is at 90 degrees to the top of the lid so the bulbs sit parallel to the water.

TM

 

Bit out of my league when you talk electricity but would go with 2 timers. Whites on one and blue on the other.

 

Attached a sketch I did in paint.

That's the ballast I am going with.

 

havent bort the lights yet so i will look for these, thanks alot.

@ TM i think by your skecth you mean the support structure for your bulbs, the regular cfls can be connected directly to 220v power so they do not require ballasts. plus you should get 2 timers for your 2 different colour lights.

 

Awesome! Thanks Linga. Been meaning to build the blue and white cfl setup for a long time now. Just wasn't motivated enough. . .but now I am.

Where about in Durban you from?

TM

 

im near queensburgh, but i come past your area like every week, my wife is from that end of the world. if your tank is going to be on a stand i have seen somewhere a guy actually cutting those digtal timers and building into his stand so you see only the buttons and then you can wire your lights directly into the timer, no plugs needed