Newbie Nano-Reef Tank (20 gal)

I personally have no experience with a fuge so I can't help you there but I will give you some nano advice as I have had a 10gal nano before. I think a necessary component for such a small tank is some form of ATO. With evap and little water volume, you can get very rapid sg swings if you don't stay on top of your top off. I'm also curious, what type of lighting did you get?

 

2 Coralife T5's

 

Ok, cool. Good choice going with the T5s right from the start.

 

Any answers out there?

 

I'm going to have to completely disagree with everyone saying don't do a fuge. Minimum fuge size should be proportional to system size. With a system volume that will probably end up around 20-25 gallons you really don't need a huge one for it to do an amazing job. Many people are using one of the back chambers a nano cube tank as a fuge. Talk about tiny. Anyway I think we just need to think outside the box a little here. When people design there sumps, they always seem to think in a completely linear pattern. Water can do more than just run from left to right or right to left. Here's a design that should work pretty well while still giving you a good fuge size and return chamber size. If you go with a Coralife 65 skimmer it has a pretty small footprint to keep that chamber small, and it's rated for a decent sized tank so it will do a very good job.

 

If the dial on the pump is attached at the output, than it most likely is a ball valve.

 

I like, I like! I may try that...I love DIY anyhow. It was also suggested to use an old HOB filter and fill it with LR as a refuge for pods...make sense?

 

That can work pretty well, but IMO live rock is near useless in a fuge. Most systems house plenty of it in the DT, so why waste valuable space for nitrate exporting macro algae? I used to run a HOB filter as a fuge like that. The only drawback I saw was that you can't see in easily. I like to be able to see into my fuge and check on growth.

One thing I forgot to mention with the design I posted. I would put some supports under the fuge. Even if it's just a few pieces of PVC standing vertically under it, it would add some piece of mind.

 

I think I'm going to try it...I mean I have an extra 10gal that needs some tinkering with...hehehe8)8) Even if I destroy it, it's worth the fun. What material is best to use as the baffles?

 

I like glass because I know for a fact that silicon sticks to it. Acrylic would be much stronger, but I hear mixed reviews on whether or not silicon sticks to it.