Help with my first nano (56k, I feel your pain)

[random_alias]

These little filters are really vibrating. Usually I can put foam underneath a HOTB filter to dampen the vibration or remove the cover or both but these little guys are shaking my desk!! I mean, resting my forearms and elbows on the desk to type I can really feel the vibration.

Returning them. So, now I'm back to square one on filtration. What's the deal with Azoo? Do they have a QC dept? I don't really need filtration anyway since these are gonna be plants and shrimp. I just need SILENT water movement.

Anyone know of any really really small, dead silent water pumps that throw out maybe 8-15gph and don't shake the tank?

What about other methods? I have really small air pumps that came with old betta tanks. I may just use one to blow up a few bubbles to turn the water surface and call it a day.

Man, I'm not having much luck with equipment for these little tanks. I guess companies figure smaller equipment, cheaper construction.

[Tino]

There's another option for you:http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/...tegory_id=1721

Maybe we have actual users here who could chime in with feedback.

[random_alias]

All these people that keep writing "Silent Operation" in filter descriptions should be shot! Why can't they just be honest. "You can't hear it unless you are 1.5 ft away." "You can hear it across the room at night but it's not bad if the TV is on or you sleep with a fan." "If you put your arms on the table, it will massage your upper body." These are descriptions I'd like to start seeing.

Thanks. That little filter looks like a good option. Yeah, anyone willing to chime in here is great. My only requirement is that it be silent. I'm gonna search for reviews of this thing. We gotta find some high quality nano equipment that doesn't interfere with the small tanks.

[mickey85]

Originally Posted by random_alias

These little filters are really vibrating. Usually I can put foam underneath a HOTB filter to dampen the vibration or remove the cover or both but these little guys are shaking my desk!! I mean, resting my forearms and elbows on the desk to type I can really feel the vibration.

Returning them. So, now I'm back to square one on filtration. What's the deal with Azoo? Do they have a QC dept? I don't really need filtration anyway since these are gonna be plants and shrimp. I just need SILENT water movement.

Anyone know of any really really small, dead silent water pumps that throw out maybe 8-15gph and don't shake the tank?

What about other methods? I have really small air pumps that came with old betta tanks. I may just use one to blow up a few bubbles to turn the water surface and call it a day.

Man, I'm not having much luck with equipment for these little tanks. I guess companies figure smaller equipment, cheaper construction.

Do you just want an internal pump, or an actual HOB filter? If you want a pump, look for a Rio 180. Good pumps, and they come with attachments to reduce the flow (it's only 70 GPH as is) and direct the flow to any part of the tank.

[random_alias]

Actually, I hate HOB filters but in the case of a 1.3 gallon tank I didn't think a mini submersible would fit well. A small, weak, silent water pump sounds like my best option.

The Rio Mini 180 is 120 gph.

Rio Mini 50 is 66 gph before attachments. 2.2" x 1.4" x 1.8". Same size as the 180 according to what I've read . Adjustable valve for flow rates.

Sounding pretty good if it's quiet. I could reduce the flow and then aim it to bounce off a wall or two and probably not have rip current probs. I've heard of reliability probs with Rios but in this application I don't think it would really matter. How quiet are Rio pumps?

[mickey85]

I lied, I was talking about the Via Aqua 180.

http://www.graystonecreations.com/images/va180.jpg

I have this in a 2G hex, and it's silent, but it does take up quite a bit of room, and I am planning on using a Red Sea HOB after Thanksgiving. But I really like this one - I have one in a couple salty nano tanks, as well las the hex and they work well.

[random_alias]

ok. I just ordered 2 ViaAqua 40 pumps.

2 watts
1.8"x1.75"x1.25"
40gph max flow. Flow is adjustable.

Here's a good chart for comparing the models.

They sound small enough to me. Hopefully they are silent. Getting these weaker ones, I will hopefully avoid having to do a lot of restricting, which I know can cause noise in pumps.

[Steven_Chong]

Ah, this brings back memories for me-- I don't know what the manufacturer for these all glass tanks are, but I have used many of these in the past. Almost all the LFs in Hawai'i carry this type. The manufacturer is almost certainly not ADA.

From my experience, 13 watts isn't enough to get "high" lighting for these tanks. Under 13 watts marsilea was very happy for me, but glosso would not stand a chance-- let alone HC. I had good experience with 19 watts with moss foreground. For some reason I didn't use creaping plants in that tank. Another time I used 30+ watts and got the glosso to be really happy-- unfotunately the moss died.

26 watts worked well for me all-around. The glosso didn't grow as fast, but everything else did quite well. I don't think HC will do well in anything under 20 watts-- which still probably isn't enough by itself.

Well, the lighting really depends. Amano's 1g from his book has 20+ watts of light. But I've also seen attractive tanks with only 7-9 watts, but those never involved creeping foreground plants other than marsilea.

[random_alias]

What kind of light were you using?

That sounds pretty crazy. I'm not saying you aren't right but 26w over 1g sounds pretty crazy. I mean, how do you physically get 2x13w over a 1g tank without having half the light spill out over the sides because the bulbs are pretty much bigger than the tank itself. I have to aim the end of my 1x13w down a little to get the light from the end of bulb into to tank without bleeding out the side. Seems like 1x13w centered over the tank would be just as effective as 2x13w with half the light overshooting the edges.

I guess I'll see. There's HC in the 1g now.

[Marc]

Nice tanks RA- Ive got 2 tanks similar to yours, they are 1/2 gal and got them from Tom Barr. Great Journal so far- my tanks are just sitting right now, your pictures are giving me ideas on how to do mine. Keep up the work!

[random_alias]

Water has cleared. Still waiting on plants. Thrown in some floaters in the meantime. I'd say it's 15% planted at this point. Had HUGE ammonia levels when I finally got around to testing. Forgot/neglected to seed the substrate and filter. Added some media from my established tank and the NH4 is disappearing.

There's 26w over this and I still can't photograph the subtleties from the lighting. Asked for a tripod for Xmas. Maybe then I can sit and fiddle with the camera settings/ambient lighting without having to worry about the camera itself.



So far I'm thinking Dwarf HG, HC and mini moss.

Rubberbands from braces are making an effective shrimp protector on this HOB until the mini pumps come in later this week to replace them.

Considering pressurized Co2.

[eds]

Too little too late, but I have no complaints about my Red Sea deco nano.
Looks nearly identical to your Azoo, down to the white and black foam pads. I've tossed some eheim "cocoa puffs" in there as well.

I have it on my 3g in my office, and sitting at my desk approx 8' away I can't hear anything.

Just closed my door and sat next to it - with my ear about 1' away or less, I can hear a slight hum/buzz. But sitting back in the chair so that I am 3' or more away - general casual viewing distance - can't hear a thing. Of course, I work in downtown Chicago, so there is some ambient noise from traffic outside (30 floors down) the HVAC system, other people in the office, my computer's fan, etc.

Than enough detail for you?

[jgc]

pretty sure azoo makes that red sea hob.

I have a hagen mini pump in a 10 gallon. It made a ton of noise when it first started, but think it has become much more quite since - bubbles make it loud. It has adjustable flow rate - wide open it is too much for flow for the 10 gallon - going to make a spraybar for it eventually, and a mattenfilter. It is not a show tank

[random_alias]

ok. The ViaAqua Aqua Pump VA-40 came in today. With the "gate" completely open it should put out 40gph. I have the gate almost closed and it gives good flow without stirring up the substrate or blowing over my precariously balanced "Drift Twigs". It's nice to know it has good enough flow to scale up to larger tanks. I've removed the noisy HOBs and am gonna try just using these pumps for circulation and see how the the biological stuff handles itself. I do water changes.

A lot quieter, cleaner looking and more versatile. Hoping it's also functional.

[fhqwhgads]

where did you get those branches that are sprouting leaves haha i thought it was driftwood, is that safe for fish and shrimp