Low Budget 10 Gallon Nano

severum mama said:
As long as you're bumping up your budget, I'd suggest looking for a refractometer. It's pricey I know, especially when you're trying to do this on the cheap, but it can save you a LOT of trouble as compared to a hydrometer, since many are so inaccurate. Case in point: I was working last weekend and someone came in wanting a water test. Their hydrometer was reading 1.025 but when SG was checked with a refracto we found that it was actually 1.030!:( My refracto was one of the best purchases I have made for my nano reef- IMO it is essential for a nano because SG can change so rapidly due to evap, especially one that is open-top (not sure if yours is or not).

Good luck!
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Your fighting a losing battle there
 
My concern here is using silicone to reapir a damaged wire,this is probably not the greatest idea in the world. There is almost no guarantee that the silicone will seal the wire enough to keep it dry and safe, my advice to you is this : Buy a new powerhead they are not that expensive.
 
Found a store that will test for copper and phosphate. It'll be 4 bucks but that's better than buying my own test kit that I'll use once. Bought 2 Astrea Snails and an Emerald Crab. 7 dollars total. Gonna let the tank sit for a few days and probably add 3 more hermits, 3 more snails, and a cleaner shrimp.

@severum mama
I have increased my budget a bit but the refractometer is a little further down that list. Was the hydrometer that you tested against a plastic or glass one? If it was plastic, the glass ones seem to be a lot more accurate. I think with calibration and testing against a refractometer I'll be all right to start. My water quality (no phosphate or copper) will be taken care of first. My tank is pretty well covered and in the past 4 days I've noticed VERY little water evaporation.

@mandy21
I'm not too worried about the water quality changing here. People in my area are way too picky about things like that. Since I just found a place that will test my water for the necessary parameters, I'll be doing that tomorrow or Saturday. If it fails I'll switch to RO/DI water.

@rwspear76
I wasn't too worried about it not holding. I don't see why something used to make auqariums water tight wouldn't be able to keep my wires dry. Nonetheless there are risks. And it's not worth saving 15 bucks with those risks. If you look a few posts up you'll see the one I made about a Koralia Nano for 22 dollars. I've already ordered it and it should be here within a week.
 
Test kits are never used just once. If your testing the correct things you will use them at least once a week to ensure your water params are stable. I have test kits for calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, phosphates, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph and I use them religiously before and after water changes to ensure everything is as it should be and if it isn't then I can adjust accordingly
 
Water tested for phosphates and copper today. Both are at 0. But I fell for the premixed, high nutrient, saltwater they're selling at 1.10 a gallon. As I'm starting classes again soon, this is going to make things a lot easier for me. Gonna do some water changes and let my tank mature for another 2 weeks. Add a little more cleanup crew and give my tank another 2 weeks to mature some more. Then time for some fishies.
 
Nice. Keep us informed. Oh and good call on the Nano powerhead. I just got mine and it is WAYYYY better than my last powerhead.
 
Awesome, thanks. They vibrate much? The glass for my tank seems to be thin so any heavy vibration makes it rattle real loud. I have to unplug the rio 800 I'm running on it now when I sleep because of the noise.
 
Koralias are a bit hit and miss at the moment. I had 2 Koralia nanos, one you cant hear at all the other after a month started to rattle and vibrate then after 3 months just stopped working. I replaced it with a koralia 1 which I have to turn off on a night (tank in bedroom) as it makes loads of noise. I am currently waiting for some washers from the UK Hydor rep to see if they make any difference, if they dont then it looks like I've wasted my money and will seek out a more silent power head. There are 2 extensive threads going on another forum about lots of people having rattling problems recently
 
Got my Koralia Nano today. Superb product. Noise is nonexistent. Flow is nice and widespread. I'm thinking the noisy Koralia Nanos only hit the UK market. When I looked up the issue, I only saw it on a UK forum.
 
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