New Nano. Feedback required.

[californian]

Have bought the following for a FOWLR nano setup. Yet to open / fit. Would appreciate if you can provide feedback on the following

1. Do you see any problems with any of the things that I have bought?
2. Which chiller should I go for?
3. Planing to keep couple of clowns. Will there be space for anything else?

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1. Display tank - 18''x18''x18'' (with 3 compartments/partitions at the back)
2. Weipro SA-2003 internal skimmer (sits inside one of the back compartments)
3. ZETLight ZN 1601 (7.5 watts, 12000K on,330 lumens, the blue LED wavelength 450-465 nanometers)
4. Return Pump - SunSun HJ-731 (550 L/H)
5. Aragonite Sand
6. Red Sea Salt
7. Filter Media
Compartment 1 - Sponge + Skimmer
Compartment 2 - Aqua clay ball + Lava chips
Compartment 3 - Bio lite

[IanWR]

I have questions/comments about your filter chamber set up. For the first chamber, if you are going to use a sponge make sure you are going to clean/change it often. It can quickly clog, impeding flow and increasing nitrates. For the second chamber, I would skip bio media assuming that you will have rock in your tank (10lbs is fine). I would use that chamber for GAC and/or GFO. As for chamber 3 if bio lite is another bio media (I found something with that name that looks like fluval ceramic rings), I would remove that as well (again assuming you will have rock in your tank). This is the chamber with your return pump, I would leave it with just your pump, and an ATO sensor.

As for your equipment, I would add an ATO. Will be very useful in keeping your salinity stable, and save you from having to manually add water to your tank daily. You may also want to add a powerhead for flow within the tank.

Your tank is about 25g, so you have room for 2 clowns for sure. I hope you add a BTA that will host them, that's half the fan of clowns. You could add another small fish or 2 if you like, certainly a goby would be a nice addition to a tank that size. Or something like a Midas blenny. Something else to consider for livestock would be some decorative macro algae. It's a nice way to get some colour and texture to a tank with no coral.

Keep us posted with your progress!

- Ian

[FTDelta]

In a 25G tank, the max number of fish you can have is 3. Be careful on which clown species you get for some require 30 gallons or more. Your best bet is either a pair of Percs or Occelleris clownfish. I'd go with a Yasha Goby paired with a pistol shrimp. That'll make it an interesting set-up IMO.

[Maxxumless]

Originally Posted by californian

Have bought the following for a FOWLR nano setup. Yet to open / fit. Would appreciate if you can provide feedback on the following

1. Do you see any problems with any of the things that I have bought?
2. Which chiller should I go for?
3. Planing to keep couple of clowns. Will there be space for anything else?

------
1. Display tank - 18''x18''x18'' (with 3 compartments/partitions at the back)
2. Weipro SA-2003 internal skimmer (sits inside one of the back compartments)
3. ZETLight ZN 1601 (7.5 watts, 12000K on,330 lumens, the blue LED wavelength 450-465 nanometers)
4. Return Pump - SunSun HJ-731 (550 L/H)
5. Aragonite Sand
6. Red Sea Salt
7. Filter Media
Compartment 1 - Sponge + Skimmer
Compartment 2 - Aqua clay ball + Lava chips
Compartment 3 - Bio lite

Looks good, but I'd get rid of the sponge and use something like Rite-Size, pre-cut ten to fifteen to the correct size, and put a new one in every three-four days. I'd also get rid of all the biological media and replace it with SeaChem's Matrix, a bag of Purigen, and finally a small bag of ChemiPure Elite. That should provide excellent nutrient export/breakdown and water polishing. Probably wouldn't see nitrates even begin to climb for the first few months if you keep up with tossing/replacing the Rite-Size pad's twice a week.

The AquaMaxx HOB 1 or AquaC Nano would probably serve you far better as a skimmer, but don't know about available space or your $$$ situation.

I don't have any really experience with chillers, but I would try to get away without one if at all possible.

In your size tank, bump up the territoriality by one degree for everything. The recommended filtration I gave can support more fish than you'd ever want in an aquarium that size. The key is finding compatible fishes, not a specific number. Ex. 3-4 Red Striped Goby's + 3-4 Sexy Shrimp - all around the same size would be far more interesting than clowns IMO. Especially if they were contrasted against black sand and a black background. I'd add a few low light mushrooms to add more contrast and extend the photoperiod to 9 hours - but that's me. I really don't like most clownfish, especially Nemo My first clowns were a pair of skunks about eighteen years ago. If I did get clowns it would be a bonded pair from Diver's Den and of some coloration that was very rare, but those go for $200+ so, probably not going to happen IMC.

Originally Posted by IanWR

It can quickly clog, impeding flow and increasing nitrates.

Actually, that's a popular myth - mechanical filtration does not lead to more nitrates. You really should clean it as often as possible, but regardless if you do or do not, the waist material is still inside your aquarium and will eventually break down to eventually become nitrates. The only way to prevent this is to export those nutrients out of the tank, which mechanical filtration is the easiest way to do. Clean it every two-three days.

Originally Posted by IanWR

I hope you add a BTA that will host them, that's half the fan of clowns.

I hope you do not get a BTA. All anemone are difficult to care for and that goes double for small aquariums.

Originally Posted by FTDelta

In a 25G tank, the max number of fish you can have is 3.

Really depends on the type of fish.

[Reeferz412]

Keep an eye on the sun sun return pump. Not the most reliable brand of pumps and powerheads out there. I used one of their powerheads (knockoff to koralia) and it was used on and off to circulate and mix water. Darn thing died after one year of service.

[californian]

Its been 12 days since this was setup.

With LR added. Planning to add fishes by Feb 15th. 8 weeks of cycling.

Should I add more rocks?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[FTDelta]

I think you have just the right amount of LR for your tank. What fish have you decided on?

[californian]

A pair of Ocellaris. And may be a wrasse or a shrimp.

[JAnwyl]

I got a 24 jbj and had 2 Ocellaris, Watchmen goby and Court Jester Goby. Court was a pain, Kind of a waste and I was new. Clowns hosted hammer or fragspawn coral. (forget what it was) I tried Anemone but tank is somewhat small for it, plus it needs target feeding. (clowns never hosted Anemone after hosting hammer, hammer was before anemone was introduced) Clowns and watchmen Goby were cool, Once I got large tank I just kept clowns in 24.

I'd say 3 fish 4 is pushing it.

I would also lose bio rings in chamber 3. Look up and maybe put hydroflo on return pump output. Used to be common upgrade for JBJ 24.

[californian]

All, thanks for the feedback.

Will go with 2 Ocellaris and a watchman goby.