New nano tank?

WUTABUZZ · 06/05/2006, 06:47 PM

i am not really new, but my wife got rid of my last reef tank. i had a few fish and shrimp and lots of softies. i have a bit of knowledge but i need more as always.
i am thinking of going small and getting a 12 or 24 gallon tank. either the nano cube or the aqua pod.
i want a live substrate with lots of live rock. i will probably add a small power head for more current. i maybe want one fish, probably a mandarine. they are low maint(with good water) and won't be destructive. do i need a shrimp for scavaging in such a small space? what about snails? i want to try some hard corals. can a small tank handle this or not? the 12 nano has 48 watts. the 24 aqua has 64 watts.(not quite enough) the back of the tank will have a nano skimmer. not gonna have a refug.
i really want to get a tank but space is limited with all of my wifes stuff. haha so that is why i am downsizing. please help with any suggestions and ideas to make this a successful nano reef.
i am leaning to the 12 with 48 watts. has plenty of light for all corals. thanks

bertoni · 06/05/2006, 07:50 PM

You could grow a number of low-light stony corals in a setup like that, I think. Trachyphyllia or Caulastrea might be two corals to consider. This book is helpful, IMO:

[ericsbook]

I wouldn't put a mandarin in a 12g or 24g tank since they often eat only live food, and thus tend to need a much larger amount of live rock. I would guess you'd want a couple of snails for cleanup, but you won't need a shrimp.

There's a nano forum here on RC. That's probably another good place to look for information.

WUTABUZZ · 06/05/2006, 08:02 PM

what type of small fish would you recommend? i know that 3 to 4 watts per gallon is recommended for most corals. how much would i need for other hard corals?

bertoni · 06/05/2006, 08:10 PM

Well, sun coral (Tubastrea) doesn't require any light, for example, although they're a bit harder to keep. There are many corals that don't require a lot of light. You could also look into the nano tanks with built-in metal halide lighting or perhaps consider setting up your own system with a MH fixture, although that'd be more expensive, I think.

For a 12g tank, some neon goby fish or a similar species would be fine. A 24g would hold percula or ocellaris clowns.

WUTABUZZ · 06/05/2006, 08:24 PM

so no on the sps corals? only lps or softies? i kinda wanted to try sps, but if it won't work, don't wanna waste money or kill em.

funman1 · 06/05/2006, 08:33 PM

Yeah don't waste the dough.. Save it for a bigger tank or upgrade the nano to MH

WUTABUZZ · 06/05/2006, 08:46 PM

the aqua pod 24 gallon has an option for a MH but it is only 70 watts. the compacts are 64 watts. is there a big difference or would i need a bigger MH?
tell me about your nano....please

WUTABUZZ · 06/05/2006, 09:06 PM

what about clams?

bertoni · 06/05/2006, 09:47 PM

The lower-light clams might be okay, but they will outgrow that tank eventually. Not an issue if you don't mind trading the animal for a smaller one, etc. The clam forum is the best place to go for advice on those animals.

MH is a point light source, so it probably has better penetration for high-light corals. I'm not sure I'd try it, though, but I don't have much experience with such animals.

06/05/2006, 06:47 PM	#1
WUTABUZZ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 30	New nano tank? i am not really new, but my wife got rid of my last reef tank. i had a few fish and shrimp and lots of softies. i have a bit of knowledge but i need more as always. i am thinking of going small and getting a 12 or 24 gallon tank. either the nano cube or the aqua pod. i want a live substrate with lots of live rock. i will probably add a small power head for more current. i maybe want one fish, probably a mandarine. they are low maint(with good water) and won't be destructive. do i need a shrimp for scavaging in such a small space? what about snails? i want to try some hard corals. can a small tank handle this or not? the 12 nano has 48 watts. the 24 aqua has 64 watts.(not quite enough) the back of the tank will have a nano skimmer. not gonna have a refug. i really want to get a tank but space is limited with all of my wifes stuff. haha so that is why i am downsizing. please help with any suggestions and ideas to make this a successful nano reef. i am leaning to the 12 with 48 watts. has plenty of light for all corals. thanks

06/05/2006, 07:50 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You could grow a number of low-light stony corals in a setup like that, I think. Trachyphyllia or Caulastrea might be two corals to consider. This book is helpful, IMO: [ericsbook] I wouldn't put a mandarin in a 12g or 24g tank since they often eat only live food, and thus tend to need a much larger amount of live rock. I would guess you'd want a couple of snails for cleanup, but you won't need a shrimp. There's a nano forum here on RC. That's probably another good place to look for information. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/05/2006, 08:10 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, sun coral (Tubastrea) doesn't require any light, for example, although they're a bit harder to keep. There are many corals that don't require a lot of light. You could also look into the nano tanks with built-in metal halide lighting or perhaps consider setting up your own system with a MH fixture, although that'd be more expensive, I think. For a 12g tank, some neon goby fish or a similar species would be fine. A 24g would hold percula or ocellaris clowns. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/05/2006, 08:33 PM	#6
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	Yeah don't waste the dough.. Save it for a bigger tank or upgrade the nano to MH __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

06/05/2006, 09:47 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The lower-light clams might be okay, but they will outgrow that tank eventually. Not an issue if you don't mind trading the animal for a smaller one, etc. The clam forum is the best place to go for advice on those animals. MH is a point light source, so it probably has better penetration for high-light corals. I'm not sure I'd try it, though, but I don't have much experience with such animals. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/05/2006, 08:02 PM	#3
WUTABUZZ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 30	what type of small fish would you recommend? i know that 3 to 4 watts per gallon is recommended for most corals. how much would i need for other hard corals?

06/05/2006, 08:24 PM	#5
WUTABUZZ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 30	so no on the sps corals? only lps or softies? i kinda wanted to try sps, but if it won't work, don't wanna waste money or kill em.

06/05/2006, 08:46 PM	#7
WUTABUZZ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 30	the aqua pod 24 gallon has an option for a MH but it is only 70 watts. the compacts are 64 watts. is there a big difference or would i need a bigger MH? tell me about your nano....please

06/05/2006, 09:06 PM	#8
WUTABUZZ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 30	what about clams?