Nana's Reef

This isn't the first time I've thought of hanging up my flippers. I'm pretty discouraged with my tank. Not the corals nor fish but the tank set up period
First the Hydor nano skimmer isn't so nano in my tank. Much bigger then I anticipated and it looks like crap!! Second the Mp10 es is really going to take some getting use to. Definitely not the same flow as a Koralia. Totally limited to where I can put it, as the new skimmer takes up one entire side of the tank and my HOB fuge takes up the entire back. And last but not least. I replaced my bulbs last night only to get up this morning to see, hmm my tank looks pretty dim for this time. You guessed it, blown ballast! #1 so I had no whites. So after switching them around, I'm now running a special and the new coral plus. How long til I get a new ballast ( hoping that's what it is) about a week!! Am I worried? Of course!!
I feel terrible about this tank set up!!!

 

In sorry nana have you considered a sump? You could keep the fuge and skimmer out of the tank.

 

Yes I have thought of a sump/fuge. But people's have put the fear of an overflow into me drilling is not an option I want to consider.

 

I'll try to help a little. First off overflows aren't too bad with a little preventative maintenance. I hate them, but of the course of two years I really had very little mishaps with a whole lot of neglect.
Secondly, your tank is acrylic which makes the prospect of drilling a whole lot easier! It also a pretty quick process once you have your plumbing together, you can transfer your livestock into a Rubbermaid tote, drill the tank, screw on the bulkhead, and then clamp on your plumbing. your looking at 2-4 hours of prep time that can be done at will, and then probably 3-4 hours with the transfer drill and replace.
All said, a sump is the greatest thing imaginable. I went sumpless for 8 years in this hobby and never want to do it again. Im going to be drilling my 12g eclipse nano to hook into the main system in the future.

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply but.....my tank is NOT acrylic. And I said that drilling is NOT an option. Simply because I don't want to drill my tank

 

There are some really nice HOB self-priming overflows out there....

 

I'm getting frustrated beyond comprehension!! I need to up the flow to the surface of my tank due to surface protein. But if I do this then my corals get blown all to hell Mainly my Duncan and Fungia on the sand bed. And my Clam isn't liking the extra flow much either.
I'm very limited as to where I can put this Mp10. 1 side and 1 spot on the back of the tank, right under the return flow. Which I haven't tried yet.....

I'm thinking this is just to much of a pain and I'm no longer enjoying my tank. I spent so much money on what I'd hoped would be much better upgrades and I'm finding I just added more headaches

 

Nice scape Loving the maxi`s... Wish i had the space!

 

Sorry to hear it:/ can't you dial back the mp10 though?

 

If I dial it any further down I won't have any flow