Hey, new here and need some tips on lighting and filtration.

[Taqpol]

Hi everyone! I'm new to these forums and just thought I'd stop in and ask a few questions I haven't found 'definitive' answers for. I'm a college student, so money and space are limited but I have finally been able to move my overcrowded FW tank to one thats much more approriate. I was wondering what to do with my leftover 20H All-glass aquarium when I stumbled upon nano reefs. Doing a nano as my first foray into the realm of saltwater might not be the smartest, but I don't have the money or room for anything else. Anyways, i have two major questions:

Lighting
I've read alot about people pulling off nano reefs with PC's, but the guy at my LFS said thats out of the question. I plan on having mainly soft corals with some LPS and maybe even some SPS near the top depending on availability. I am really interested in any lighting powerful enough to fit into my All-glass deluxe hood (LED's?), but if thats not going to work the LFS sells T5 set ups at a reasonable price. What I don't understand is he has been suggesting a two light enclosure with 1xTrue white Actinic and another marine light rated at 18000K. I didn't know they even went up to 18000, but is that perhaps a bit overkill? Last question, is it noticable how much UV is lost when you put a sheet of glass or plexiglass between the tank and the light?

Filtration
I plan on having a 4" DSB and 20-25lbs of live rock coupled with weekly water changes. I've heard people say this is enough filtration by itself, but I wanted some more experienced oppinions. I can get an AquaClear hang on tank power filter from a friend, but since my tank has to sit flush to the wall and I have no good places to hide anything I can't exactly fit any decent skimmers or external filtration. Are there any decent internal filters?

Thank you for your time!

 

[Anonymous]

I'm heading out the door and don't have much time right now, but I'd skip the DSB and just go with a shallow sand bed.

Hang on power filters are a great way to circulate the water in the tank, and if you take the sponges out they make a great refugeum. This is what I normally use instead of a power head to move water. You do not however need to use it as a filter per se.

You are also on the right rack using live rock/sand and water changes to export nutrients. Skimmers are more expense/hassle than they are worth on tanks under 20 gallons, and especially tanks 15 gallons or less.

20 gallons is about the capacity where I start to consider skimmer use, but water changes are still easy and quick enough that you can go either way.

Jim

 

[Taqpol]

I'm just showing off how inexperienced with saltwater I am when I say this, but a refugium is one of those extra chambers with some live rock/sand and maybe some macro algaes growing in it, right? Also, out of curiosity, why skip the DSB? From my understanding it adds a lot of extra filtration (anaerobic bacteria, nitrate -> nitrogen gas) without any extra work or maintenance.

Also, could someone explain nutrient export to me? If I went ahead and got a hang on tank skimmer (like one of the AquaC's or Tunze designed for nano tanks) would it actually reduce the number of water changes I make? As far as bioload goes, would 2x perculas, 1x flame hawkfish, 1x six line wrasse, and maybe 2x yellowtail damsels be too much for a 20 gallon to handle without skimming? Noise is important to me, so how does the AquaC and Tunze stand up?

I'm going to reword my lighting question. What is a good setup for lighting a 20g High (14" tall) to be able to Drow LPS and softies with the minimum amount of heating and power consumption? After looking around some more the question seems to be can I get away with PC's or should I just bite the bullet and step up to a nice T5 setup?

 

[Anonymous]

I'll chime in here again this evening Tag, but for starters a DSB just tends to allow detritus to accumulate, you don't have enough area to make it feasible anyway, and a shallow sand bed works just as well even on larger tanks.

I think most of us are over the DSB thing.

 

[Scoopy]

I just want to have a quick add here too.. I think your looking at too may fish for a 20gal even with optimum filteration/skimming. I only have 7 in my 75 and think that may be pushing a bit. Maybe 2x percula, the six line and one damsel. That would be more reasonalbe.

Your right, a refugium is somewhere to grow macro algae. Actually, doesnt look much like algae, its small plants. These use up nitrates to grow. Therefor exporting them from the system when you tear out and toss your macros when your fuge starts to get full. Basically, the plant grows and eats nitrates, and you throw them out. Dont throw them all out, I usually clean out down to half full when it gets full, usually 4-6 weeks. You will have to have some type of light for the fuge as well. The standard grow bulb and a clamp fixture will be fine. I run my fuge 8 hours a day.

Also nutrient export is done with water changes and skimming. As said before, 20 gallons is just on the verge of needing a skimmer. YOu can do with or without, but dont get lazy on your water changes if you dont have one. It will keep you water in much better shape.

The deep sand bed will make a place for bad things to settle. Uneaten food, poo, anything else that may settle there. Much better off just to hav e a shallow one, maybe just enough to cover for looks.

Now lighting. If you want to keep SPS, settle for no less than halides. If you want to give your animals proper living conditions, and having no experience, you will need halide lights, no question. I know some people may chime in and say you can keep some SPS under PCs, and some have had good luck with t5s, most of these people are experienced reefers. Just keep it simple.. if you wanna keep sps, fork out the cash and go first class on lighting. If you just wanna keep softies, t5 would be great, and PC is good too. I wouldnt worry about 18k.. seems a bit strange to recommend that. You will want actenic to run 12 hrs a day, and your 10k bulbs to run 8. The 2 hours before and after will give you something of a dusk/dawn cycle which is good. Make sure you get timers for your lights so you have a good steady cycle.

Water movement is important as well. Along with your hang on the back filter, I would add at least one powerhead. The hydor koralia are great for the money. One in size #2 would be great along with a HOB fuge.

Thats about all I can think of right now and I hope you get something from it.

Sam

 

[Taqpol]

Thank you! You guys have been very helpful in answering my questions. Two more that i can think of right now, though...

Does anyone here have personal experience with putting something (acrylic, glass) between their light and the tank? I don't have a canopy, or room for a canopy, and this summer I'm going to be inheriting a very nosey cat. I want to protect the tank from her (as well as try to curb some of the evaporation), but i need to know if the material will absorb a significant amount of the UV light.

Second, I think i am leaning toward getting a skimmer. Besides the fact that i want quality, a big concern of mine is that the tank will be resting against the other side of the inside wall of my bedroom so noise is a big deal. I have heard only good things about the Tunze and the AquaC skimmers, so I was wondering if anyone here has personal preferences one way or the other, mainly centered around noise. Also, would the nano models (Nano Remora or Nano DOC) be acceptable for my tank?

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Taqpol]

For the record, before my 20 gallon is free for use I have to slowly transfer all the FW fish in it to a new tank I'm getting on Tuesday, so I probably won't be touching SW anything for near a month. That being said I am going to use this entire month as my prep time and get all the questions I have answered before I make a single purchase.

After reading around more, and seeing the layout of my new apartment, I have started thinking about plumbing an external 10 or 20 gallon sump. My tank is not drilled, and i don't care how easy the people who do it say it is, I am not drilling my own tank. CPR overflows look like the best option for not drilling, but the thought of losing my siphon in an apartment that technically doesn't allow pets sends chills up my spine.

Has anyone heard of a place that sells pre-drilled 20 gallons?

 

[Taqpol]

More questions.....

Between these three "Skimmers" (one isn't really a skimmer, but a filter), what do you think would be the best for my 20 gallon setup:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~ ... ndor~.html
Someone told me that this was all I would need, but it seems a bit sketchy. Anyone here have oppinions about Rio as a brand?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~ ... ndor~.html
This is my personal favorite, but it is spendy. Is this too much for my system? Also, any comments about the skimmer itself would be nice.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~ ... ndor~.html
What I don't understand about most HOB skimmers is that they don't seam to actually skim the water, but just take water from under the surface. This is a mechanical filter that skims the water and acta as a powerhead for a very reasonable price. I would not use the bioballs, instead I'd probably fill that compartment with live rock rubble.

Oppinions?

 

[Taqpol]

I really don't mean to sound whiney, but has the nano forum died? Its been two weeks since anyone has posted a thing in here...

 

[Wingnutt021]

I have a ten gal tank. I had a skimmer in there for about 2 days before I took it out. Most are too unsightly for such a small tank. Just keep up with the water changes.

My PC lighting has been plenty for everything I have in here.

I have the eclipse hood so filtration is done through the hood. I change the pad about once a week. If it stays longer, the nitrates start creeping up.

My sandbed is about 2 inches deep. My nassarius snails keep the sand churned about.

 

[Dryden234]

Miracle Mud - Do not overlook this product!

www.ecosystemaquarium.com