Jacob Morgan
Aquarium Advice Freak
I've been researching to get back into this hobby. Specifically a small nano tank. I had initially set my eyes on a Fluval Evo, but it was not available anywhere. Then started looking at a custom tank once we found a good location to place the tank..then ended up looking at the 45x45x45 Red Sea Nano Max... Amazing how quick you go from 36L tank to an 80L tank.
I went to visit the store who sold the Red Sea solution, and next to it was an Aqua Media Yasha, complete with a stand. This wasn't on their site or I'd of likely been looking at it. The size is what I had initially envisioned in my mind.
When I asked about it, turns out they had quit selling the model all together. They then returned with an offer I couldn't refuse -- about 80 USD for the tank + protein skimmer + stand + sand as it was. https://imgur.com/a/Lu11e
Considering the Red Sea was 900USD with stand.. felt like a safe gamble.
The tank itself was missing the return pump, and lights but otherwise appeared complete. -- the protein skimmer looked complete except the air hose.
I've just begun research into options to replace this, so far I haven't been able to source the original pump -- nanoprop 5000 . Nor could I find a workable pump at the two local LFS.
I have a couple questions:
1.) Is there any recommended pump that would work with minimal DIY on this tank?
2.) Did I get a bargain, or pick up a nightmare?
3.) What should I do with the sand? She poured what was in the tank -- i.e. been on dry display for god knows how long into a bag. There was also another bag of sand in the case. It had a small pinhole in the top... She said it was 'good' sand -- red sea aragonite .. It's never been in water, but at the same time exposed to general 'air' for a long time?!
The goal for this tank is corals, some invertebrates and either no fish or a single fish.
I went to visit the store who sold the Red Sea solution, and next to it was an Aqua Media Yasha, complete with a stand. This wasn't on their site or I'd of likely been looking at it. The size is what I had initially envisioned in my mind.
When I asked about it, turns out they had quit selling the model all together. They then returned with an offer I couldn't refuse -- about 80 USD for the tank + protein skimmer + stand + sand as it was. https://imgur.com/a/Lu11e
Considering the Red Sea was 900USD with stand.. felt like a safe gamble.
The tank itself was missing the return pump, and lights but otherwise appeared complete. -- the protein skimmer looked complete except the air hose.
I've just begun research into options to replace this, so far I haven't been able to source the original pump -- nanoprop 5000 . Nor could I find a workable pump at the two local LFS.
I have a couple questions:
1.) Is there any recommended pump that would work with minimal DIY on this tank?
2.) Did I get a bargain, or pick up a nightmare?
3.) What should I do with the sand? She poured what was in the tank -- i.e. been on dry display for god knows how long into a bag. There was also another bag of sand in the case. It had a small pinhole in the top... She said it was 'good' sand -- red sea aragonite .. It's never been in water, but at the same time exposed to general 'air' for a long time?!
The goal for this tank is corals, some invertebrates and either no fish or a single fish.