Running a nano reef from a mini reef?

[Paul]

So i have 2 spare mini cubes lying around ............ would be a shame to waste them

I would probs set up close to the main tank (2ft cube), and was thinking of hooking up a closed loop using the main tank as a water supply, therefore only having an inlet and an outlet in the small cube for flow (no heater etc needed as this is supplied by the main tank.. Any suggestions on best way to do it? Equipment available? I haven't givne much thought to this yet, so please forgive my vagueness :D

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8748/minireefqr3.th.png (http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=minireefqr3.png)http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1590/minireef1ra6.th.png (http://img117.imageshack.us/my.php?image=minireef1ra6.png)

[instantsquid]

You'll effectively have to run one tank as a sump (or refugium). Water would be pumped from the lower tank into the higher tank, and then an overflow in the higher tank would allow water back into the lower tank.

My main tank has a sump below it - water goes over the weirs and falls into the sump. A pump then returns it from the sump to the main tank.

However I also have a refugium above it. Inside my weir is a small powerhead which pumps water up into the refugium. The overflow in the refugium allows water to fall back into the main tank.

One way or another, this is what you'll have to do.

- Ian

[fras]

I know you have a sump on your main tank, so I think the best Idea would be an overflow on the minicube to the sump, and the return pump in the sump to the minicube.

Do you have specific stocking plans for the minicube? Seems like alot of bother if not :)

[dan-the-man]

Dont forget that if you have water gravity feeding to the new tank then this is where evaporation will become apparent and may need monitoring in a smaller tank so as not to expose corals etc :p

Looks a good plan, as Fras says, do you have any stocking plans for it yet?

Could ask for some ideas, I'm sure you'd get some good ones ;) I'd go for a nice little display with shrimp and goby :D:D

[Paul]

Was just gonna stock inverts, keep it as a frag tank. Still lots of thought and lots of time to be given to the idea ;)

Kept a pistol shrimp before, never again!!

[instantsquid]

Why not a pistol shrimp? Great characters IMO!

- Ian

[dan-the-man]

Oh its in your bedroom IIRC?! ;)