14gal Nano Reef Build

[Discus-n00b]

Something I also need to consider is upgrading. I'd love to upgrade the tank so maybe I should just hang on to the money and wait it out lol. No use buying a new HOB skimmer if I'd have a sump on the next system. Would be nice to make the move by the end of the year but still TBD.

Side note, I haven't dosed this tank with anything in a month. Slower growth for sure but still looks great. I want to get back to it, just need to figure out numbers again as far as how much per day.

[zchauvin]

Something I also need to consider is upgrading. I'd love to upgrade the tank so maybe I should just hang on to the money and wait it out lol. No use buying a new HOB skimmer if I'd have a sump on the next system. Would be nice to make the move by the end of the year but still TBD.

Side note, I haven't dosed this tank with anything in a month. Slower growth for sure but still looks great. I want to get back to it, just need to figure out numbers again as far as how much per day.

Yeah I gotcha, be careful for RTN or STN in the Acropora of your calcium or kh gets to far out.

[Discus-n00b]

I'm feeling major regret not drilling my 100gal tank when I had it made. Would make such a nice reef tank, but it's not drilled and an HOB overflow just isn't as good. If it was drilled it would cost me less to turn that into a reef than get a new tank and upgrade almost from scratch. Might look into having to go traditional style rather than a new peninsula, will cost less but not sure yet....not sure it's what I want lol.

[zchauvin]

I'm feeling major regret not drilling my 100gal tank when I had it made. Would make such a nice reef tank, but it's not drilled and an HOB overflow just isn't as good. If it was drilled it would cost me less to turn that into a reef than get a new tank and upgrade almost from scratch. Might look into having to go traditional style rather than a new peninsula, will cost less but not sure yet....not sure it's what I want lol.

Why not drill yourself and put a ghost overflow?

[Discus-n00b]

Don't trust my drill work, especially on the 100gal that cost an arm and a leg. And moving it is a whole other process itself. Don't even know if I can drill the back.

I guess a new custom tank 70gal or under isn't THAT expensive all things considered but I wish I could avoid it haha, more money for stock and such. Originally, and currently, looking at a 36x20x20 type of tank with a ghost overflow/bean animal on a short side, but might look into 36x20x16-18 type. Got to check price difference, only about a 10gal difference I think.

[rickztahone]

Get someone to drill it for you. If you decide to drill yourself. Let me know. I'll shoot you a link for drill guide and bit as well as a few vids. It isn't so difficult. A friend helped me out and after seeing him do it I was like, "I could've done that!". Matter of fact, I'm drilling glass today

[Discus-n00b]

I'd have to turn it on it's side though right to keep it wet? That's the problem lol. That's at least a 3 man job, tank is incredibly heavy. And I'd need to move the tropheus out of course first.

Problems 2 and 3 are the glass is scratched and the starphire is on the wrong 3 sides....but that's not a big issue with that size tank I wouldn't care about peninsula. Scratches would be.

[rickztahone]

Actually, let me take that back. Cracked a huge pane of glass just now. I know 2 areas where I went wrong but still lost a good pane of glass lol.

Moral of the story, it is EASY if you do all the necessary steps

[Discus-n00b]

Question is would you be willing to risk a custom made low iron/starphire 100gal that costs over $1000 to do it? LOL That is why I am hesitant. While drilling it may save me money, it could also cost me a lot more money if it goes wrong which is easy to do. I think I'll leave it be for now and start looking into a totally new setup. Going to wait to see what the quotes come back as.

[rickztahone]

Question is would you be willing to risk a custom made low iron/starphire 100gal that costs over $1000 to do it? LOL That is why I am hesitant. While drilling it may save me money, it could also cost me a lot more money if it goes wrong which is easy to do. I think I'll leave it be for now and start looking into a totally new setup. Going to wait to see what the quotes come back as.

If you pay a pro to come do it they'd probably do it for a good amount but you'd still be able to save over a new tank

[Bala de Plata]

I drilled a $2k+ low iron 150g tank, three times as a matter fact.

Oh, I'm also Ric's friend.. Lol

It can be done very simply, just gotta plan it out to the T.

[Discus-n00b]

Been having nutrient/algae type issues. Not really issues, but algae seems to be springing up fairly quickly. More than my WCs seem to be taking care of it. Could be because my skimmer isn't running correctly 24/7, just keeps losing the prime it seems. I guess I need to bite the bullet and get a new skimmer. Was trying to wait for an upgrade but I think this may be one of those smart investments you need to make even before selling/trading your car. Thinking about putting an Algae scrubber into this setup as well just to have more passive nutrient export....or re-direction really. Any thoughts?

[rickztahone]

Been having nutrient/algae type issues. Not really issues, but algae seems to be springing up fairly quickly. More than my WCs seem to be taking care of it. Could be because my skimmer isn't running correctly 24/7, just keeps losing the prime it seems. I guess I need to bite the bullet and get a new skimmer. Was trying to wait for an upgrade but I think this may be one of those smart investments you need to make even before selling/trading your car. Thinking about putting an Algae scrubber into this setup as well just to have more passive nutrient export....or re-direction really. Any thoughts?

If you have plans for a future tank, make sure you get a skimmer that will cover the new tank dims and stocking nicely rather than getting one to fit your current tank. I like the idea of algae scrubbers. Joey (King of DIY) had a cool build thread on one that looked pretty useful. I also saw this one:

[Discus-n00b]

I would Ricardo but the problem is a new tank would be drilled and have a sump and a skimmer that lives there, for this tank I pretty much have to go HOB with whatever I do currently.

[rickztahone]

I would Ricardo but the problem is a new tank would be drilled and have a sump and a skimmer that lives there, for this tank I pretty much have to go HOB with whatever I do currently.

oh crud, I forgot you have to go HOB. Well, in that case I would shop used locally and hope for the best and try to get some back when selling which almost never happens. You may have to part it out and that way you can get close to what you paid for it.