Minimum equipment for a lightly stocked 40G

[Julian H]

I am helping my mom set up a tank in her classroom, and stuff gets expencive, so I was wondering, what is the minimum equipment for a 40 gallon tank with a pair of clownfish and coral only? I have heard of tanks with LR and LS as the only filtration for coral only tanks but could this support a pair of clowns as well?

[Aquabucket]

I have a AquaClear hang on back filter and only use it to run carbon on my 40G. I also have 4 powerheads located in each corner. My main filtration is chaetomorpha algae and the LR. I have 2 green chromies, a damsel, and a yellow watchman goby but I do raise baby yellow tangs from time to time.

Here is recent pic:

[Julian H]

Damb, nice tank.

[fishnut321]

i would really suggest a effecient skimmer

[LoudProudNPunk]

Originally posted by Aquabucket
I have a AquaClear hang on back filter and only use it to run carbon on my 40G. I also have 4 powerheads located in each corner. My main filtration is chaetomorpha algae and the LR. I have 2 green chromies, a damsel, and a yellow watchman goby but I do raise baby yellow tangs from time to time.

Here is recent pic:

goodwork. how often do you change your water and what percent? what type of powerheads?

[Aquabucket]

Originally posted by LoudProudNPunk
goodwork. how often do you change your water and what percent? what type of powerheads?

Since I got the purple gorg (feed it heavily) I change 5 gallons a week but before that I have gone more than 4 months without a WC.

The powerheads are off-name brands and I really don't remember. I have 2 @ 180 GPH in the front and 2 @ 240 GPH in the back. The HOB puts out another 200 GPH. It all totals up to a tank turnover rate of 26 times an hour.

[Julian H]

Could I get away without a skimmer if I ran carbon in a phosban reactor instead? I am thinking carbon, RDSB, and fluidized bed reactor, cause I can DIY everything that way.

[Pattylucylaura]

I would say yes I ran a 29 with a HOB with Cheato in it and a canister filter with carbon with a damsel and clown. What will be more of a problem than anyhting will be topping off what will be done on weekends and holidays?

[Julian H]

I plan on making a Sun tea autotopoff.

[pledosophy]

IME if you are going to drill the tank anyways for the other media, skip all of that and get a refugium with chaetomorpha. Add a clip on light and your good.

I have run a few tanks with just a refugium for filtration. I was running a 34g tank with a midas blenny, pair of clowns, pink watchman, and 25 or so corals (mostly zoo's but some SPS, LPS, and a couple leathers). The only filtrationw as a 25g refugium lit with a shop light and a good bulb. No skimmer, no DSB, no phospban, no anything. Would be cheaper maintence long term and would help to teach the kids of the biological filtration instead of mechanical.

JME