CalmSeasQuest's 36" Nano Build

[CalmSeasQuest]

When Does a Nano Not Look Like a Nano?...When it's 3 feet W I D E

I'm a bit late getting this started as I just ordered the tank and lights today. I've been contemplating a tank for my office desk, and the Nano contest seemed like a good prompt. I considered a Biocube, but decided on something a bit less conventional.

This will be a mixed reef, rimless glass with dimensions 36" X 8" X 9" - A whopping ~12 gallons (7.5 gallons water,)

Finding a lighting solution that would work with such a narrow tank was a challenge. I decided to use T5s, but virtually all the 4X39W fixtures were too wide. I finally located an inexpensive, off-brand model that was narrow enough to work so this build will be lit by 156W of T5s. Obviously 13 Watts/GAL is overkill - but it gives me more potential bulb combinations, the option of mounting the lights higher, varying photo periods and using lower PAR bulbs as desired. I also plan on creating an aquascape that provides partially shaded areas.

Here's the equipment list..

• Tank - Mr. Aqua 12 Long (36" X 8" X 9")
• Lights - Catalina Solar Black 4 X 39W T5 (ATI Blue+, Blue+, AquaBlue, KZ Fiji Purple) ReefBrite 36" LED 50%/50% Royal Blue / White
• Controller - Apex Aquacontroller, lab grade pH, ORP, PM2 with salinity probe.
• Skimmer - Tunze 9002 w/ custom InTank collection cup.
• Mechanical filtration - AquaClear 70 fitted with surface skimmer and custom InTANK media insert using BRS ROX 0.8 GAC and BRS HiCap GFO as needed.
• ATO - Tunze 3155 Osmolator feeding Kalk laden RO/DI
• Automated daily water changes (3% daily) via 2 BRS Top-Off pumps (50ml/min) controlled by the Apex
• Water movement - 1X MP-10Wes running ReefCrest @ 50%. 1X Tunze 6015 Nano Stream
• 20 lbs Custom made "Puzzle" Rock created from BRS Dry Pukani
• Substrate - 1.5", Tropic Eden Aragalive ReefSnow and Miniflake (50%/50%)
• Heater - Hydor 50 100 Watt

Here's the final livestock that has been placed in the tank.

No code has to be inserted here.

Copies of all livestock receipts are available here.