coral only tank

[alfani]

if i only have corals with T5 lights and couple of powerheads do I still need a skimmer.
just corals and perhaps few hundred pods

 

[Deanos]

Not if you performed enough water changes to remove unwanted organics.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

are you planning to feed the corals?

there are many "nano" reefers that keep reefs w/o skimming. the most important thing is that you keep up w/ your water changes.

 

[alfani]

my cousin wants me to him setup a 30gal tank for him but is too lazy to clean and maintance, I would feel sorry for the tank-mates so I just suggest no animals, just corals and do top off water every couple weeks

 

[alfani]

probably no feeding for corals, just the lights

 

[Deanos]

Corals are animals too :grumpy:

 

[Deanos]

probably no feeding for corals, just the lights

What are they supposed to eat? :smash:

 

[alfani]

:dead1:

considering how lazy he is, don't think he would clean the skimmer cup

 

[tosiek]

Reefing isn't for lazy people. :irked: Specially if they won't clean out the skimmer cup. If he can;t do that he will stop doing the water changes and upkeep on the tank. So why bother?

Get him a tank and fill it with FW and put in plastic coral :teeth:

 

[alfani]

it's not that he won't clean, he would use the forget or don't have time excuse

 

[Deanos]

Cleaning the skimmer cup is much simpler than performing scheduled water changes.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

no offense but it's people like your cousin who get animals just because they like the way they look and give them no care. eventually the pets die or have to be given away.

 

[Dace]

In my opinion you knowing your cuz would seem to me that your being a accomplice in the death of the corals if you help him set that tank up. sorry if I'm being too drastic

 

[steveo32]

I don't think its a good idea. I mean why does he want the tank in the first place if he doesn't want to reserach it and set it up him self. The process of research and plaining a tank is like half the fun, not to mention buying all the hardware and aquascaping. Sitting and watching your tank is great but I think the real thrill is watching it evole.

 

[jhale]

I agree with all the above.

how about a tank with fake corals, just don't tell him :shhh:

to answer the original question I would still put a skimmer on a tank with just coral. there will still be some nutrients to skim. you would still want a small clean up crew and there will be some life on/in the live rock that will be making poo

 

[tosiek]

I always thought the majority of waste and dissolved mins/waste comes solely from the coral/LR/critters and the least amount from the fish.


I concur with Jhale, fill it with fresh water and add fake coral, he'll be too lazy to notice :Up_to_som