Help me create the perfect Nano Reef !!!

[mchenrytl]

I'm new to Saltwater aquariums, and am thinking of taking the plunge. Right now I'm just in the research mode. I have a 30 gallon cube Oceanic tank I'd like to use as the basis for a reef with live rock and sand. My real goal is to have a nice tank with 1-3 Mandarin gobies and whatever else would play nice with them. Is a refugium going to be that useful and if so, do I have enought space for one in my 30 gallon tank?

What sort of equipment would you guys suggest??? Budget isn't so much an issue as I'm more concerned about doing it right and I have plenty of time. My only major concern is noise and space for equipment in the tank stand. Thanks in advance!

[nanoman123]

first of all, you should only have one mandarin at most, and that might even be a little risky. nano reefs are more challenging to keep than large reefs, so you should do a little more research on them. ive never made a cube tank, but i have a 10 gal nano myself. if you plan on getting a mandarin, you will need a refugium. mandarins only eat copepods. they are little tiny shrimp looking things that grow on live rock. refugiums help produce those. you should probably get one or 2 clownfish, of your choice. those are one of the best beginners fish. avoid damsels (besides chromis) because those are very aggressive. as for lighting i dont know what to say.

sorry i have to go now no time to type anything else but ill get back to you on this one later today or tomorrow.

good luck with your nano :)


~Matt`

[mchenrytl]

Matt,
Thanks for the post. I posted a similar message in the beginner forum, since I figured 30 gallons is kinda on the line between small and nano reef tank and everyone said the same thing about "just say no" to the mandarin. So I'm kinda holding off on that until my first tank goes well, etc.

Thanks for the suggestions for fish, I just wrote them down for future reference.

-Troy

[nanoman123]

if you want something like a mandarin that you can probably keep, mabye try looking up a scooter blenny. they arent as colorful, but i like them.

as for fish some really nice and REALLY easy to keep ones would be

royal gramma

any type of firefish

chromis (they do best in schools of 3 or more ive read)

clownfish

MOST gobies. i like the clown goby personally

what are you most interested in? schooling fish? colorful fish? bottom dwelling fish?


well, fish might be jumping a little too far ahead. lets talk about filteration.

as for skimming, aqua C remora or a CPR backpak would be your best choice

powerheads are very good for your tank too. they provide your tank with current. youll want about 10 times GPH as the gallons of your tank. so with a 30 gallon tank, youll want about 300 GPH (gallons per hour)

it is your choice to do a sump or refugium. if you want a mandarin though, you would want a refugium.

sorry but i have no clue on what lights to use for a cube tank. try PMing icereefer. he has a 30 gal cube tank. one of the best fish tanks ive ever seen, also.

good luck and if you need anymore help feel free to ask me or anyone else here :)


~Matt~

[nbaker]

Icereefer uses VHOs, I'm about to go that route my self. The kit is comming in to tomorrow. I picked up the double ballest PFO, VHO's, @ premium aquatics. Now with a 30 cube you will want about four bulbs thought. The dual ballast will still work thou. This allows you to create a dawn to dusk setting, since there are usually two switches in a dual ballast set up. One for eash ballast. Now in my case each ballast handles one tube, on your's you will want each ballast to handle two. The setup I got which works for 24" to 48" was $139.00 shipped. This included every thing but bulbs which I picked up somewhere else. All around VHO is the way to go, all of the experienced reefers I've talked with think the only thing better really is to add Metal Hallides w/ the VHO's.

As for skimmer I my self have the Aqua C and it's awesome, Icereefer uses CPR and his tank is beautiful, one of the nicest small tank setup I've seen. You might also look at MikeJS's sight linked buy his any of his post. He has a 55g tank with VHO's as well and his is awesome too. HTH

[mchenrytl]

Thanks for both replies. I've been talking to another memember, Sugar Magnolia, and she has the identical tank as I have. So I'm planning on creating a setup with the following equipment:

Aqua Medic Metal Halide Mini-Pendant Ocean Light 150W HQI 20K ($230.00) includes balast, bulb, etc.

AquaC Remora Skimmer with MaxiJet 1200 ($164.00)

Millennium 3000 Filter ($36.00)

Ebo-Jager 100W heater ($20.00)

Plus a couple of MaxiJets 900's to move some more water around.


Fish wise, I am very fond of Gobies so I'm glad Matt you mentioned them as being somewhat easy to care for. I currently am thinking of a watchman goby, maybe some shrimp gobies, etc. These I've heard are all mostly bottom dwellers so I'd like some good suggestions for fish that I could see higher up in the tank. Though part of me thinks it could be cool to do an "all Goby' tank.

I want to go for colorful fish, regardless if they're a bottom dweller or not. I was thinking a maroon clown fish and/or royal gamma. With the light setup I want I should be able to get some anenomes growing, etc. What does everyone think?

I was also thinking of getting the 30 gallon "The Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater, which comes with 30 lbs of live sand, 60lbs of live rock, and a huge cleanup crew, including crabs, snails, and peppermint shrimp.

Thanks for any advice!
-Troy

[Sugar Magnolia]

I just put a royal gramma in the tank after removing my attack clarkii. Very pretty fish but it's a bit on the timid side and darts into the rockwork when I walk up to the tank. Now that the clown isn't in there, my yellow watchman goby is out and about most of the time. He darts into the rocks when he sees me coming too. (the clarkii used to bully him all the time) My bicolor blenny is the coolest fish in the tank. He swims from perch to perch and is very inquisitive. The neon goby is a cool fish too, mine being a bit on the odd side in that he swims most of the time rather than perching. I think I"m going to get another six line wrasse - I had one for close to a year and not long after moving him into the 30 he got a bit too close to one of my powerheads and...well...he lost the fight. Yup, I hadn't put the safety cap on the end of the Remora's powerhead yet. Either the six line or I might look into an eyelash blenny or a lawnmower. I think they have the neatest faces.

[nanoman123]

sounds like you and sugar magnolia have figured out a great setup for your tank! :o



~Matt~

[mchenrytl]

I'll say it really helps knowing people who have similar setups to what I want plus all the other advice from everyone on this forum has been great!

I'll keep everyone posted on any new developments, but I'm thinking I'm still 3-6 months away from having everything I want to where I can start filling my tank with water.

Thanks,
-Troy

[29NaNo_ReEf]

if you want a madarin get established live rock, along with a refuge. If you can try finindg some rock that has been in possibly other reefers setups for atleats a year old. If not run your tank for about ayear, then add a mandarin if you please.

Mike