Nathan Freedenberg's 16 gallon:

1)Size of tank?

16gal
 
2)Was this your first reef tank?

No

3)Do you have any traditionally sized reef aquariums? If so, of what size?

At current no, but have had tanks from 75 to 300gal. I also maintain 28 reef tanks ranging from 125-600gal. In addition I work at a lfs with ~6000gal of F/O and ~3400gal of inverts.

4)How long has this tank been setup?

6mths

5)What hardware are you using, including lighting? If you're using a sump, include it here. Also if you're experimenting with any of the "new" systems, such as mangroves, ATS, or mud filtration, list it here.

10 gal sump, ETS Reef Devil, 2 Rio 2100 (1 for skimmer, other for return from sump), 3 Aq Systems 250 powerheads for circ in tank,  Tsunami wavemaker, Ebo Jager 250w heater, Aquanetics 1/3hp chiller, 175w 14kk Metal Halide


6)How much live rock are you using?

14lbs

7)Are you using live sand? If so, how much? If not, are you using any other substrate? Are you using a plenum?

3lb LS

8)Do you perform water changes? If so, how much and how often?

1gal per week

9)Do you add trace elements? If so, what?

Combi-San, Kalk drip, ~1/2gal/day, C-Balance 2ml per day

10)Do you experience problems with overheating? If so, how have you solved them?

Did have overheating problem, adding 1/3hp chiller solved that!! 

11)What corals are you keeping? Indicate how long you've had them, how large they are, and wether you've observed growth in them.

All sps types, most are salvaged from broken/dying specimens that arrive at my place of employment.  Growth is evident in almost everything I have put in this tank, and I have returned frags for sale in the lfs.

12)What other invertebrates are you keeping? Again, indicate how long you've had them, how large they are and wether you've observed growth in them.

6 Camel shrimp, they have grown ~1/3 in size since setting up the tank

13)Are you keeping any fish? If so, what?

None

14)Would you say you have a large population of other micro fauna, such as copepods and similiar?

Tank is overrun with brown isopod of unknown variety

15)Are there any species (vertebrate or invertebrate) you seem to fail with regularly in this tank?

No, but I have been VERY selective with inhabitants.

16)Likewise, are there any species you'd describe as remarkably successful in this tank?

sps's, BUT the tank was planned around them

17)Do you feed your tank? If so, how often and with what?

Rotifers, daily

18)On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being completely unsuccessful and 5 being very successful, how would you rate your experiences with this tank?

5

19)Is there anything about your tank you wish you could change? Something you could have done differently?

I would have drilled the sump and used non-submersible pumps

20)Would you recommend a Nano to another reef keeping hobbyist?

Yes, it is fun but for my setup requires a bit of work

21)Would you recommend one to a non-reef keeping hobbyist?

No, but basing that on MY setup

22)Would you recommend one to a NON hobbyist?

See 21

23)Are there any pieces of equipment you've used on this tank you would never use again? If so, what, and why not?

Being in the biz for like 20 years now I think I've tried almost everything out there, I use what works right the 1st time now.

24)Are there any pieces of equipment you'd recommend reservation-free to another hobbyist?

Yes there are many, but all geared to larger tanks. Finding low priced gear appropriate for a tank this size is almost impossible

25)Do you test your water parameters? If so, what do you test for? And how often?

Weekly tests for CA, NO3, PO4, Alk. Pinpoint pH monitor is hooked up to tank. I plan on hooking up an Octopus Controller in order to learn its use so I will be well versed on installing them on a customers tank.

26)Are there any mistakes you've made you think others might be able to learn from? If so, feel free to include them here.

I picked the wrong size tank, 16 gal is the same footprint of a 10 but taller, a 15gal which is longer and the same width, but shorter in height would have been a better choice.

27)If you have any additional comments you'd like to make, by all means, include them here.

As I'm sure you noticed by now my situation is atypical for a nano-reef. I had most everything laying around from other tanks I've had. If I had to purchase all that I have specifically for this tank I'd have thunk I was insane for the amount of $$'s invested in hardware.